pistol suggestions - The Firearms Forum

John'sWife · 09-22-2009, 02:35 AM

Hello everyone, most of you know "Johnlives4Christ", I am his wife. I'm new to the gun thing and I got on here to see if anyone had suggestions. My situation is I want a self defense pistol but I have really small and weak hands. I can't shoot real big calibers b/c of the recoil. I was thinking about a sig mosquito or a mini revolver for a .22. My husband suggested a 1911 in 9mm. On most semi-automatics that I've tried is was really hard to rack the slide and I can't pull back a double action trigger. I'm looking for a lightweight, easy to operate gun that would get the job done should I ever need it.

thanks,

SaddleSarge · 09-22-2009, 03:28 AM

First, WELCOME!!

If where you are located and it is legal, I would look at the Ruger LCP .380. We can't get them in CA except for LEO's, but it is a very nice personal protection firearm. Personally, I wouldn't go below a .380 for personal protection, but that's my opinion.

If you can own purchase one where you live, I would suggest looking at it. IMHO.

358 winchester · 09-22-2009, 04:15 AM

Mrs John's wife,
I have been around some and have helped lots of older ladies and smaller young ladies as well as some handicapped folks find what is right for them.
Now only you and no one else can pick your gun.
I tried at least fifty different handguns with my wife before she made her pick.
She went with a Smith & Wesson model 317 air lite with a three inch barrel and high visible sights in 22 Long Rifle. It was her decision.

Now many people will; tell you that that is to small a caliber or that you shouldn't shoot anything smaller then this or that caliber, I agree with them in most cases! I love a 1911 45 or a revolver in 357 mag. 44 mag or 45 ACP
I own and shoot them all.

Just remember one thing the smaller the caliber the more important shot placement is. A 22 caliber is what I call a doctor gun, it should be placed in the ear - eye - nose -throat before the trigger is pulled. The wife has her custom 20 gauge pump 18 1/2 barrel as well as her M1 Carbine close at hand when she is home alone, nothing beats a pump shotgun!!

Last thing I would strongly recommend a revolver over a semi-auto to start with. The revolver is simple pick it up, point it at what you want to shoot and pull the trigger. With a semi-auto the slide will need to be racked or the hammer cocked back then the safeties checked then you are ready to point and shoot ( takes lots of learning to do all this in a dark room from a dead sleep). The other option is a DAO and the trigger on most is very hard for a smaller lady to pull.
NO ONE CAN PICK OUT THE RIGHT GUN FOR YOU BUT YOU!

carver · 09-22-2009, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John'sWife

Hello everyone, most of you know "Johnlives4Christ", I am his wife. I'm new to the gun thing and I got on here to see if anyone had suggestions. My situation is I want a self defense pistol but I have really small and weak hands. I can't shoot real big calibers b/c of the recoil. I was thinking about a sig mosquito or a mini revolver for a .22. My husband suggested a 1911 in 9mm. On most semi-automatics that I've tried is was really hard to rack the slide and I can't pull back a double action trigger. I'm looking for a lightweight, easy to operate gun that would get the job done should I ever need it.

thanks,

First Welocome to the forum! I'm another fan of .380's for ladies, and men as well. The .308 is really a minimum round for self defence. The recoil is low, and the spring in the slide is not as strong as it is in more powerfull pistols, thus making it easier to rack the slide. Head on down to your local gun dealer and try the feel of a few. .380's can be had in 8 to 20 round capacities.

oscarmayer · 09-22-2009, 04:27 AM

my suggestion would be a nice revolver perhaps a ruger, smith or taurus. 38/357 caliber. heavy enough to soak up recoil, option of using in single action, no slide racking. fool proof, timeless, reliability is top notch. less costly than most 1st rate automatics barrel lenght from 2 in to 6inch. a 3 inch barrel being in my opinion the best for both home or carry. the newer lite weight guns from smith and taurus pack easy but they have more recoil. my wife has the choice of 50 different handguns to pick from. she has tried most of them and has settled on a colt single action army, in 44 special 4 3/4 in barrel she has small hands and likes the idea of having to cock the gun for each shot. thats her house gun. when she feels the need to toss one in her purse to travel she has picked a colt cobra in 38 spl.

Crpdeth · 09-22-2009, 04:49 AM

Welcome to the forum.

Crpdeth

kutaho · 09-22-2009, 05:26 AM

Greetings John's Wife.

I'm +1 with 358 on this one.

graehaven · 09-22-2009, 06:08 AM

+1 on Winchester's coments.

There are many variations of the venerable .38 revolver - so many that there is likely one for you. I believe you should start there.

I might also say take a look at a .32 revolver. They seem to be scarce though.

Welcome and good luck!

Terry_P · 09-22-2009, 07:35 AM

I agree on the revolver post. Simple to operate and always ready. You didn't state if it's for carry or just in the home/car. A S&W Mdl 10 or a Ruger SP101, both great revolvers. Once you get one shoot it often.

Double D · 09-22-2009, 08:11 AM

Hello and welcome! You have already got some good suggestions. It does take some hands on to figure out what your comfortable with. If you have the opportunity to shoot some different calibers before you shop that might help. Even if you find what feels right, the recoil may not be what you can handle comfortably. There are many lightweight choices but the recoil will be increased. Dont let someone talk you into something your not comfortable with. Take your time.

artabr · 09-22-2009, 09:26 AM

Welcome, Johns Wife.
It great to see another lady join the forum and shooting. The more the better.

I have to agree with Winchester 358. YOU chose your gun.
You have to find something that you are comfortable with.
And practice, practice, practice.

Art

Bubblehead · 09-22-2009, 10:06 AM

Mrs. John,

You've been getting a lot of good advice regarding the selection of a personal defense weapon. I have no arguments with anything posted so far.

However if you have some physical limitation such as hand size, strength, dexterity, etc., you might want to consider a less conventional option such as a NAA Mini-Revolver in 22 magnum. This is a small, easily concealable, short-range handgun. It definitely has it's limitations regarding stopping power and range but again, if you're not comfortable with a larger weapon, it's better than having no weapon at all. Here is a link to check out:

http://www.naaminis.com/magnum.html

I have a pretty good array of personal protection firearms from 22 to 45 caliber. The 22 is a NAA mini.

Good luck,

John

rosierita · 09-22-2009, 10:13 AM

welcome aboard!

i agree w/ the revolver suggestion. our daughter insists on 22s. she has shot my 32 mag ultralite before & does okay. that's actually what i carry most of the time simply bc i love my gun.

like i tell her, shot placement is key, but i would highly recommend the revolver. all you have to do w/ those is point & click.

& nothing substitutes for PRACTICE. caliber means nothing if you cannot hit the broadside of a barn!

ARB · 09-22-2009, 10:16 AM

I, would suggest a PPK .380 or a .22 revolver. You stated that your hands are weak. Is this from arthritis? If so, stay away from semi-autos. And, welcome to TFF!

OBrien · 09-22-2009, 10:22 AM

Welcome Mrs. John I am going to agree with the revolver but like 358 said pick the one that feels right to you.

Vladimir · 09-22-2009, 10:35 AM

Am I missing something? I thought the .38 I shot kicked worse than any 9, 40, or 45 I have ever shot?

oscarmayer · 09-22-2009, 10:55 AM

could be the 38 kicked harder . what model were you shooting what was the guns weight ? what type of bullet were you firing ? a nice mid range wad cutter in non +p form doesn't kick much from a smith model 10 but the same round in one of those new fangled air weights can feel aggressive

gdmoody · 09-22-2009, 12:26 PM

Hi Mrs. John, I am not going to suggest a gun to you, 358 pretty much said it best. I just wanted to welcome you the The Forum!!

Double Deuce · 09-22-2009, 02:17 PM

My wife is also in the process of getting a hand gun, she was shown the Ruger LCP and liked the gun but was turned off by the lack of safety features on the gun. She is going to try a Bersa Thunder and the walther PPK next and see how she likes them. I do agree that you need to find what is right for you. When I went to the gun shop with her I walked away from the counter because it needs to be something she likes and is comfortable with.

pinecone70 · 09-22-2009, 02:34 PM

I think it's best to try as many models as you can. I like a variety of calibers and can handle them fine usually, but my Walther PPK/S is not easy to rack. That little sucker has a tough spring and needs a thorough breaking in, once I can find .380 ammo....

Shop shop shop!

40CalJoe · 09-22-2009, 02:48 PM

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have part of the group. I to would advise a nice lightweight revlover to start with like this one on the link I posted.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/725327341093.html

I tried to get my wife to go the revolver route, but she insisted on taking my beloved Glock 23 and that I should go get something else.

Good luck with your choice.

glocknut · 09-22-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John'sWife

Hello everyone, most of you know "Johnlives4Christ", I am his wife. I'm new to the gun thing and I got on here to see if anyone had suggestions. My situation is I want a self defense pistol but I have really small and weak hands. I can't shoot real big calibers b/c of the recoil. I was thinking about a sig mosquito or a mini revolver for a .22. My husband suggested a 1911 in 9mm. On most semi-automatics that I've tried is was really hard to rack the slide and I can't pull back a double action trigger. I'm looking for a lightweight, easy to operate gun that would get the job done should I ever need it.

thanks,

How do we really know that you are indeed johnlives4christ's wife...and not just johnlives4chirst himself....sitting in front of the computer in his wifes underwear having fun yanking our chains.....??

Like...hey...it could happen??

mike
gn

TOOHSOTKIL · 09-22-2009, 04:12 PM

sig mosquito You will need to be very strong if you make this choice. More than likely you will have to beat your attacker with it, it will be an expensive plastic hammer. The .22 caliber is not where to start-ever!!

.380 minimum

miata55 · 09-22-2009, 04:28 PM

Welcome to the wonderful world of gun preferences

So since everyone else has one - so do I. For a small hand and needing something that won't kick your brains out - has anyone suggested a 9mm revolver to you? Yes they make them (S&W, Taurus) and mine doesn't kick nearly as hard as my Sig P250 9mm, Bersa Compact Pro 9mm, or Bersa Plus .380. And since you won't be practicing as much as a lot of us old gun nuts - a revolver is a definite plus - open purse, hold grip, pull trigger, problem solved. My wife has small hands and her Taurus 9051CH fits very well. Occasionally you can still find a 9051 for sale and Taurus still makes a Model 905 in 9mm. S&W (You know - $$$$$$$) has a Model 60LS . Just a suggestion. But whatever you get - - practice, practice, practice. Ammo is a LOT cheaper than a casket.

John'sWife · 09-23-2009, 04:28 AM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are going to a gun show this weekend and I am going to try out a lot of different kinds of guns. I'm not looking for a small pocket pistol, I want something just for at home. I like the feel of a revolver but I like the way semi-autos look. I might try the 9mm revolver, I haven't thought about that yet. I'm really thinking about a 1911 in 9 mm.

09-22-2009, 02:35 AM	#1
John'sWife Former Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 33	pistol suggestions Hello everyone, most of you know "Johnlives4Christ", I am his wife. I'm new to the gun thing and I got on here to see if anyone had suggestions. My situation is I want a self defense pistol but I have really small and weak hands. I can't shoot real big calibers b/c of the recoil. I was thinking about a sig mosquito or a mini revolver for a .22. My husband suggested a 1911 in 9mm. On most semi-automatics that I've tried is was really hard to rack the slide and I can't pull back a double action trigger. I'm looking for a lightweight, easy to operate gun that would get the job done should I ever need it. thanks, -->

09-22-2009, 03:28 AM	#2
SaddleSarge Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,025	Re: pistol suggestions First, WELCOME!! If where you are located and it is legal, I would look at the Ruger LCP .380. We can't get them in CA except for LEO's, but it is a very nice personal protection firearm. Personally, I wouldn't go below a .380 for personal protection, but that's my opinion. If you can own purchase one where you live, I would suggest looking at it. IMHO.

09-22-2009, 04:15 AM	#3
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: pistol suggestions Mrs John's wife, I have been around some and have helped lots of older ladies and smaller young ladies as well as some handicapped folks find what is right for them. *Now only you and no one else can pick your* gun. I tried at least fifty different handguns with my wife before she made her pick. She went with a Smith & Wesson model 317 air lite with a three inch barrel and high visible sights in 22 Long Rifle. It was her decision. Now many people will; tell you that that is to small a caliber or that you shouldn't shoot anything smaller then this or that caliber, I agree with them in most cases! I love a 1911 45 or a revolver in 357 mag. 44 mag or 45 ACP I own and shoot them all. Just remember one thing the smaller the caliber the more important shot placement is. A 22 caliber is what I call a doctor gun, it should be placed in the ear - eye - nose -throat before the trigger is pulled. The wife has her custom 20 gauge pump 18 1/2 barrel as well as her M1 Carbine close at hand when she is home alone, nothing beats a pump shotgun!! Last thing I would strongly recommend a revolver over a semi-auto to start with. The revolver is simple pick it up, point it at what you want to shoot and pull the trigger. With a semi-auto the slide will need to be racked or the hammer cocked back then the safeties checked then you are ready to point and shoot ( takes lots of learning to do all this in a dark room from a dead sleep). The other option is a DAO and the trigger on most is very hard for a smaller lady to pull. NO ONE CAN PICK OUT THE RIGHT GUN FOR YOU BUT YOU!** __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

09-22-2009, 04:27 AM	#5
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: pistol suggestions my suggestion would be a nice revolver perhaps a ruger, smith or taurus. 38/357 caliber. heavy enough to soak up recoil, option of using in single action, no slide racking. fool proof, timeless, reliability is top notch. less costly than most 1st rate automatics barrel lenght from 2 in to 6inch. a 3 inch barrel being in my opinion the best for both home or carry. the newer lite weight guns from smith and taurus pack easy but they have more recoil. my wife has the choice of 50 different handguns to pick from. she has tried most of them and has settled on a colt single action army, in 44 special 4 3/4 in barrel she has small hands and likes the idea of having to cock the gun for each shot. thats her house gun. when she feels the need to toss one in her purse to travel she has picked a colt cobra in 38 spl.

09-22-2009, 04:49 AM	#6
Crpdeth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Location: Location Contributor Posts: 8,247	Re: pistol suggestions Welcome to the forum. Crpdeth __________________ Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. ~Eric Hoffer

09-22-2009, 05:26 AM	#7
kutaho Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Peoples Republic of the Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,852	Re: pistol suggestions Greetings John's Wife. I'm +1 with 358 on this one. __________________ No man stands in the same river twice If all else fails grab a rock Mi Taku oyasin

09-22-2009, 06:08 AM	#8
graehaven Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,853	Re: pistol suggestions +1 on Winchester's coments. There are many variations of the venerable .38 revolver - so many that there is likely one for you. I believe you should start there. I might also say take a look at a .32 revolver. They seem to be scarce though. Welcome and good luck! __________________ The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." - Thomas Jefferson RESISTANCE IS FEUDAL... PREPARE TO SERVE.

09-22-2009, 07:35 AM	#9
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: pistol suggestions I agree on the revolver post. Simple to operate and always ready. You didn't state if it's for carry or just in the home/car. A S&W Mdl 10 or a Ruger SP101, both great revolvers. Once you get one shoot it often. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

09-22-2009, 08:11 AM	#10
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,259	Re: pistol suggestions Hello and welcome! You have already got some good suggestions. It does take some hands on to figure out what your comfortable with. If you have the opportunity to shoot some different calibers before you shop that might help. Even if you find what feels right, the recoil may not be what you can handle comfortably. There are many lightweight choices but the recoil will be increased. Dont let someone talk you into something your not comfortable with. Take your time. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

09-22-2009, 09:26 AM	#11
artabr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Iberia, Louisiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: pistol suggestions Welcome, Johns Wife. It great to see another lady join the forum and shooting. The more the better. I have to agree with Winchester 358. YOU chose your gun. You have to find something that you are comfortable with. And practice, practice, practice. Art __________________ God and the soldier we like adore, In times of trouble, not before. When troubles ended and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier is slighted. Francis Quarles 1592 - 1644 __________________ When asked for my race, I answer CauCajun. Hope is not a plan, and not all change is good. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST! These hands are neither cold nor are they dead!!

09-22-2009, 10:06 AM	#12
Bubblehead V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pioneer, CA Posts: 480	Re: pistol suggestions Mrs. John, You've been getting a lot of good advice regarding the selection of a personal defense weapon. I have no arguments with anything posted so far. However if you have some physical limitation such as hand size, strength, dexterity, etc., you might want to consider a less conventional option such as a NAA Mini-Revolver in 22 magnum. This is a small, easily concealable, short-range handgun. It definitely has it's limitations regarding stopping power and range but again, if you're not comfortable with a larger weapon, it's better than having no weapon at all. Here is a link to check out: http://www.naaminis.com/magnum.html I have a pretty good array of personal protection firearms from 22 to 45 caliber. The 22 is a NAA mini. Good luck, John __________________ There are only two types of ships: Submarines and Targets.

09-22-2009, 10:13 AM	#13
rosierita Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,218	Re: pistol suggestions welcome aboard! i agree w/ the revolver suggestion. our daughter insists on 22s. she has shot my 32 mag ultralite before & does okay. that's actually what i carry most of the time simply bc i love my gun. like i tell her, shot placement is key, but i would highly recommend the revolver. all you have to do w/ those is point & click. & nothing substitutes for PRACTICE. caliber means nothing if you cannot hit the broadside of a barn! __________________

09-22-2009, 10:16 AM	#14
ARB Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 1,184	Re: pistol suggestions I, would suggest a PPK .380 or a .22 revolver. You stated that your hands are weak. Is this from arthritis? If so, stay away from semi-autos. And, welcome to TFF!

09-22-2009, 10:22 AM	#15
OBrien Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bangor Maine Posts: 554	Re: pistol suggestions Welcome Mrs. John I am going to agree with the revolver but like 358 said pick the one that feels right to you.

09-22-2009, 10:35 AM	#16
Vladimir Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Issaquah WA Posts: 3,558	Re: pistol suggestions Am I missing something? I thought the .38 I shot kicked worse than any 9, 40, or 45 I have ever shot? __________________ -JVRR меня зовут Владимир или Джеймс. Я знаю только немного русский язык (я американец, но мой пра дедушка русски). STEAM (CSS, TF2, etc): Ask me! Xbox LIVE! GT: "Vlad is Rad" PS3 PSN: "Vlad_Is_Rad"

09-22-2009, 10:55 AM	#17
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: pistol suggestions could be the 38 kicked harder . what model were you shooting what was the guns weight ? what type of bullet were you firing ? a nice mid range wad cutter in non +p form doesn't kick much from a smith model 10 but the same round in one of those new fangled air weights can feel aggressive

09-22-2009, 12:26 PM	#18
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,409	Re: pistol suggestions Hi Mrs. John, I am not going to suggest a gun to you, 358 pretty much said it best. I just wanted to welcome you the The Forum!! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

09-22-2009, 02:17 PM	#19
Double Deuce V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 313	Re: pistol suggestions My wife is also in the process of getting a hand gun, she was shown the Ruger LCP and liked the gun but was turned off by the lack of safety features on the gun. She is going to try a Bersa Thunder and the walther PPK next and see how she likes them. I do agree that you need to find what is right for you. When I went to the gun shop with her I walked away from the counter because it needs to be something she likes and is comfortable with.

09-22-2009, 02:34 PM	#20
pinecone70 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Minnesota Gal! Posts: 4,730	Re: pistol suggestions I think it's best to try as many models as you can. I like a variety of calibers and can handle them fine usually, but my Walther PPK/S is not easy to rack. That little sucker has a tough spring and needs a thorough breaking in, once I can find .380 ammo.... Shop shop shop! __________________ _____________________________________________ "Miss Scarlet, in the library...with a revolver...."

09-22-2009, 02:48 PM	#21
40CalJoe V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: In the middle Posts: 421	Re: pistol suggestions Welcome to the forum. Glad to have part of the group. I to would advise a nice lightweight revlover to start with like this one on the link I posted. http://www.impactguns.com/store/725327341093.html I tried to get my wife to go the revolver route, but she insisted on taking my beloved Glock 23 and that I should go get something else. Good luck with your choice. __________________ *I will give hussein obama exactly the same respect liberals gave George W Bush: NONE.*

09-22-2009, 04:12 PM	#23
TOOHSOTKIL V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Curracus Posts: 318	Re: pistol suggestions sig mosquito You will need to be very strong if you make this choice. More than likely you will have to beat your attacker with it, it will be an expensive plastic hammer. The .22 caliber is not where to start-ever!! .380 minimum

09-22-2009, 04:28 PM	#24
miata55 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Coppell, TX Posts: 7	Re: pistol suggestions Welcome to the wonderful world of gun preferences So since everyone else has one - so do I. For a small hand and needing something that won't kick your brains out - has anyone suggested a 9mm revolver to you? Yes they make them (S&W, Taurus) and mine doesn't kick nearly as hard as my Sig P250 9mm, Bersa Compact Pro 9mm, or Bersa Plus .380. And since you won't be practicing as much as a lot of us old gun nuts - a revolver is a definite plus - open purse, hold grip, pull trigger, problem solved. My wife has small hands and her Taurus 9051CH fits very well. Occasionally you can still find a 9051 for sale and Taurus still makes a Model 905 in 9mm. S&W (You know - $$$$$$$) has a Model 60LS . Just a suggestion. But whatever you get - - practice, practice, practice. Ammo is a LOT cheaper than a casket.

09-23-2009, 04:28 AM	#25
John'sWife Former Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 33	Re: pistol suggestions Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are going to a gun show this weekend and I am going to try out a lot of different kinds of guns. I'm not looking for a small pocket pistol, I want something just for at home. I like the feel of a revolver but I like the way semi-autos look. I might try the 9mm revolver, I haven't thought about that yet. I'm really thinking about a 1911 in 9 mm.