Best Pistol for Women

[msqueen3999]

I am looking to purchase a pistol that I can carry daily in a purse. I currently have a .380 but it just to heavy. Im looking at several things.

1- Weight- I really need something light weight that will be easy to carry
2- Recoil- I am a really small woman therefore recoil is big factor.
3- Power- I really dont want something along the lines of a .22 cal I want something that If I need to use it will take care of the problem and not just make someone mad.
4- Distance- Im looking for something that will be accurate for more of a arms length.

I have looked at the S&W ultralight 38cal but have been told it may not be a comfortable gun to shoot.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[dad2thebone]

try the kimber line of small carry pistols. In 38 cal should fit your demands. look online then go to a range that rents guns and test away! good luck, and dont forget to have a carry permit lol.

[dad2thebone]

oops how rude of me , sorry .Welcome to TFF! Ps you could try 32 cal.

[msqueen3999]

Thank you for the quick relpy, welcome, and info. I will look into the kimber line. Any other suggestions out there???

[Juker]

Hello, and welcome! You'll get plenty of responses once the members see this thread; carry guns for women are a popular topic here.

You say your .380 is too heavy; what pistol do you have currently?

[jedwil]

Recently got my wife the S&W Bodyguard .38. I really like it myself and the wife was not bothered by std. loads. She prefers the simplicity of a revolver to the semi's. Daughter just acquired my S&W 638 because she was uncomfortable with a Bersa .380 semi. Try all the variations you can.

[Jay]

Welcome to TFF...


This is strictly my opinion, and has worked in many years of firearms training, and for men and ladies alike. Buy a handgun just like you would buy a pair of shoes. If Ol' Joe over here says he likes Charlie China tennis shoes, and you're looking for a new pair of shoes, do you run out and buy Joe's pick, just because HE likes 'em? Probably not. If a new shooter is asking what to buy for a carry gun, it doesn't matter what works for me, or anyone else. I suggest telling that new shooter to go to many gun shops, and/or gun shows, and handle all the guns they can get hold of. Just like they would try on shoes. Before long they'll be able to make a list of guns that feel ok, pretty good, real good, and "that really feels great in my hands". The last two are the ones to pursue, and here's why I say that....
If a given handgun doesn't feel "right" in your hands, you'll not shoot it enough to become proficient with it, because it's not comfortable, and you won't like shooting it. Just like you rarely wear shoes that are UNcomfortable. If you're not gonna become proficient with it, save your money, and buy a ball bat to carry. With proper fundamentals, he/she can learn to shoot almost any handgun, or any caliber. Very few folks can re-train their hands to make just any handgun feel comfortable. The last suggestion.........proper shooting techinques, practiced slowly, but proficiently, will breed speed. Do it slowly, and do it the right way, every time.......If you practice speed first, and introduce less efficient techniques into your training, you'll have to do it all over again to get it right.

By the way..... anyone who introduces a new shooter to our pastime by having them start with a large-caliber handgun, makes a very poor decision. Yes, some folks do ok starting out with large calibers, but the vast majority will not continue to shoot if their very 1st experience is with .50 S&W. Start with a .22 caliber something, and as your technique/accuracy improves, work up from there.

There always will be a trade-off..... light weight, more recoil...... shorter barrel, more recoil... just sayin'....

Again, just my ramblings.... but they work for me...

Shoot Safely....

[pinecone70]

I carry a J-frame Smith & Wesson (.38 Special) revolver with a 3" barrel strapped directly onto my body. Small, light and powerful, and anyone would have a devil of a time getting it away from me if they knew I had it. The 3" barrel allows for comfortable target practice, yet it conceals well. I prefer holster carry and this is an ideal size for me. The .38 Special or .40S&W are my preferred carry calibers.

[RunningOnMT]

Welcome aboard msqueen. I am curious what .380 is too heavy. Honestly I wouldn't go any smaller caliberwise. I would think something like a Bersa .380 would fit nicely in a purse and not be too weighy. There are any number of relatively small and light .380's out there and I wouldn't risk my life relying on less.

Here's my concern though; you understand in any given caliber generally the lighter you go in frame weight the stonger the felt recoil. Not always true because some handguns just have a better fit and feel and produce less perceived recoil than others. But just keep in mind that the smaller and lighter the handgun is, the more you will feel the recoil.

I'm going to disagree with Jay just a bit although he offered what is generally sound advice. My suggestion to you is...get used to the recoil of the .380. One technique that might work for you is to go shooting with someone that has several different stronger calibers. No I wouldn't recommend any magnums. But I think it might help for you to step outside your comfort zone a bit and practice a lot with a stronger caliber. Then try shooting the .380 again and see if the recoil still feels too much. I'm willing to bet you'd find it manageable.

[Bill DeShivs]

My suggestion is the Keltec P32. I pocket carry one, my wife carries one, and my daughter carries one. Very easy to shoot.

[msqueen3999]

I think I gave you wrong info, I have a Bersa .380, I love to shoot it, there is very little recoil. It is not too bad to carry, but the new S&W ultralight is so much lighter. I had a 9mm it was not my favorite because it had a large grip on it, but someone else wanted it more than I did. I have to replace my pistol along with my rifles but I'm not sure what pistol I want. I am not a new shooter, just small framed with small hands. My hunting guns are all youth size and they fit nicely. There is really no place around here to rent and shoot guns, therefore, I'm looking for ideas then may cn find someone locally I can borrow it
from before I buy and don't like. I really appreciate all the ideas and will research all of them. I really don't want to go smaller than a .380.

[JLA]

I personally think the S&W bodyguards will fit you nicely. They have a Bodyguard .38 spec revolver as well as a bodyguard .380ACP pistol and both come standard with laser sights already installed..

My secondary recommendation would be a Walther PK380, roughly the same size as the P22, but chambered in .380 and a tad lighter than the bersa, but still comparable in power and feel.

Ill also offer a tertiary recommendation, Look into a Keltec P3AT or a P32, both are the exact same gun, one chambered in .380 (3AT) and the other in .32ACP (P32). They are about as small and light as you can get without going with a derringer..

[joncutt87]

I like the feel of the lcr and lcp from ruger, but they're too small for me. Well, the lcp anyways

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by msqueen3999

There is really no place around here to rent and shoot guns, therefore, I'm looking for ideas then may cn find someone locally I can borrow it from before I buy and don't like. I really appreciate all the ideas and will research all of them. I really don't want to go smaller than a .380.

Well, where is local for you? We have members coast to coast in the U.S., and many more internationally. You may just find that one of us is in your general area.

[Infidel]

I recommend a Beretta .32 Bobcat. Bought one for the wife, she got mad at me and wanted a Kimber .45. She got a crimson carry ultra and I kept the Bob for awile and carried it in a pocket holster in my shorts. Was super light and handy when I didn't want to tote the hog.

Super good gun, like the features like the tip up barrel and mag cap.

[savage170]

here isa chart that may help



http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf

[TerragonSix]

I've said it in other threads, but you really can't go wrong with a snub-nosed, double action revolver. There are plenty of garden variety .38 Specials out there to choose from for a reasonable price.

Then, when you carry, make sure to load your pistol with hollow points. You're all set. Welcome to the site, btw.

[JUNKKING]

Don't overlook the Kahr pistols. They make some nice polymer ones in all calibers.

[Old Guy]

Welcome to TFF. There are many good pistols out there and has been mentioned you have to find what you like. I don't carry a purse but I do pocket carry. I have an LCP which has been a fine gun but I wanted a little bit more power so I recently switched to carrying a Kel Tec PF9 in 9 mm. So far it has worked well for me. It is a little snappy to shoot but it is double action only so there are no external safeties to have to worry about. My daughter has a bit of a time racking a slide and she chose the Ruger LCR in 38+P as the gun of choice. The trade off for lighter will be more felt recoil regardless of what you decide is best for you. Good Luck.

[msqueen3999]

Thank you for all the ideas. I plan to research each and every one of them. Yall have really been a big help and made me look at options that I would have overlooked. Thanks

[JLA]

Yes maam, I hope you find the one that fits.

[gdmoody]

This past Sunday afternoon, a friend brought his girlfriend over to my house. She has been looking for a gun for carry. On Saturday she had been to the local indoor range that rents guns. She was not impressed with the range or the people trying to push her into buying a Glock. She wanted to shoot a P22 but the range people kept bad mouthing the pistol!

Before they got here, I laid out several pistols for her to look at and shoot if she wanted to. I had a NAA Mini Revolver in .22 Mag, a Beretta Bobcat .32, a Sig Sauer P238, a Ruger LCR, along with some 9mms, .40S&Ws and others, all the way up to .44 Magnums laid out for her to see. I also laid out one cartridge next to each pistol so she could see what the "bullet" looked like.

She immediately gravitated toward the Sig P250 in 9mm and wanted to shoot that first because she had shot a 9mm at the range the day before. She shot it and said it was too big so she next shot the Bobcat and then the Sig P238 and the LCR. After shooting all of the small guns, she just kept wanting to shoot the Sig Sauer P238. She basically fell in love with it.

For someone who had not even touched a gun before Saturday, she was throwing quite a few rounds in the 8, 9, and 10 ring of the target after the first few shots and a little instruction on trigger pull.

You might want to look at one of the little Sigs as a carry piece for yourself, msqueen, they are very well made, small, light pistols.

[JLA]

ill agree with that one as well. The 238 is a pocket/purse carry .380 with the heart of a full size 1911 .45. Very well balanced for a little gun too and accurate.

[Double D]

I started carrying the p238 about 4-5 months ago. It has been my best seller since. Women love the looks, and they can rack the slide much easier than most others, not to mention the night sights and function. They cost more but are worth the extra money in my opinion. P.S. I dont recommend purse carry. Always carry on your person.

[jbmid1]

Originally Posted by TerragonSix

I've said it in other threads, but you really can't go wrong with a snub-nosed, double action revolver. There are plenty of garden variety .38 Specials out there to choose from for a reasonable price.

Then, when you carry, make sure to load your pistol with hollow points. You're all set. Welcome to the site, btw.

Got a Taurus .38 snubby for my wife. Seems to be her favorite accessory now.