My wife shot my .40 yesterday. This was the first time she ever handled & fired a gun. She took my instructions well, took her time and had a 3" group about .5" off of bullseye at 7 yards. Now, I am considering a handgun for her to have for home protection. Her grandfather has a .25 semi-auto for her, but I thinks she needs a little more stopping power. I will probably go the semi-auto route. Any suggestions?
Handgun for my wife
- Thread starter hohmfree
- Start date
Tucker's Mom
New member
For home protection, nothing beats a Mossberg 500, mate! For personal protection, don't be fooled by what you perceived you saw that she can handle your .40 caliber. Don't ever, ever, ever choose a gun for her. Let her do the choosing. It may not be what you like, but if it fits her hands well, that is already a plus. Take it from me...it took me years to get to familiarized myself with an actual gun. Long story and I will not bore you with it. But I did went to a reputable gun store with a firing range and tested different models. Actually I did not find the gun that I want in that store but from another one, also with a firing range. Anyway, her first gun will not the only gun she will ever own. Let her do the choosing and save yourself from blame later on because you chose her gun for her.
Don't take my experience as a bible. Different strokes for different folks. Take into consideration your relationship with your wife, her attitude towards guns, etc...the best you can do is encourage her to choose a gun with the same caliber as your carry. It is a cheaper alternative.
Don't take my experience as a bible. Different strokes for different folks. Take into consideration your relationship with your wife, her attitude towards guns, etc...the best you can do is encourage her to choose a gun with the same caliber as your carry. It is a cheaper alternative.
Curmudgeon
Member
Suggestions? Yes. Let her choose the handgun. Together you two can discuss things like caliber, but ideally, take her to a range that rents guns and let her try various calibers, grip sizes, barrel lengths, revolver vs auto, etc.
This is what we did, and it has made her trips to the range infinitely more exciting for her now that she has sized and picked out her own gun. Now, instead of dragging her to the range, she keeps asking me when we are going again!
Lastly, not knowing you or your wife's backgrounds, get her into a class or 2. Bare minimum of one for range-handling including safety and accuracy, and one for personal defense. Statistically speaking, women are amazing learners at the range, but there are often dynamics at work between couples that can hinder the process.
More advice than you were looking for, I think, but most of this is my own experience. I've had decades of experience with all types of firearms before my wife ever fired her first shot, so we've recently gone through all this.
Let her choose it. You help out, bringing your experience to bear, but let her pick. After all, who picked your guns for you?
.
This is what we did, and it has made her trips to the range infinitely more exciting for her now that she has sized and picked out her own gun. Now, instead of dragging her to the range, she keeps asking me when we are going again!
Lastly, not knowing you or your wife's backgrounds, get her into a class or 2. Bare minimum of one for range-handling including safety and accuracy, and one for personal defense. Statistically speaking, women are amazing learners at the range, but there are often dynamics at work between couples that can hinder the process.
More advice than you were looking for, I think, but most of this is my own experience. I've had decades of experience with all types of firearms before my wife ever fired her first shot, so we've recently gone through all this.
Let her choose it. You help out, bringing your experience to bear, but let her pick. After all, who picked your guns for you?
.
TlWheatley
New member
Tucker' s mom gave good advice.Let your wife make the choice.
Handgun for your wife
There are already several threads with this topic, so I will keep my response short.
The best advice is to take your wife to a range that rents guns and try a bunch until you find one that she says "fits her."
I agree with you, I would go .380 or larger in caliber (assuming JHPs) for self-defense.
FWIW, I have 3 handguns, and I am a research nut. I researched the heck out of my first gun, narrowed it down to 3 weapons, and came home with an entirely different gun because the 3 that I identified as fitting my needs just didn't feel good to shoot.
My favorite carry gun is a Kahr MK9, which not only fits my needs but I have to say that no other gun feels so good in my hands. I am comfortable with it, and I am comforted by it because I know I will always carry it and that in my hands it will be a reliable, accurate, and deadly tool should I ever need to use it.
For home, I like the Springfield XDm 9mm 3.8. 19+1 shots, soft recoil, and extremely accurate with a simple take-down for cleaning. Perfect for beginners, but difficult to conceal.
Hope this helps.
There are already several threads with this topic, so I will keep my response short.
The best advice is to take your wife to a range that rents guns and try a bunch until you find one that she says "fits her."
I agree with you, I would go .380 or larger in caliber (assuming JHPs) for self-defense.
FWIW, I have 3 handguns, and I am a research nut. I researched the heck out of my first gun, narrowed it down to 3 weapons, and came home with an entirely different gun because the 3 that I identified as fitting my needs just didn't feel good to shoot.
My favorite carry gun is a Kahr MK9, which not only fits my needs but I have to say that no other gun feels so good in my hands. I am comfortable with it, and I am comforted by it because I know I will always carry it and that in my hands it will be a reliable, accurate, and deadly tool should I ever need to use it.
For home, I like the Springfield XDm 9mm 3.8. 19+1 shots, soft recoil, and extremely accurate with a simple take-down for cleaning. Perfect for beginners, but difficult to conceal.
Hope this helps.
dkmatthews
New member
I agree with all the previous users who suggest letting your wife pick the handgun. If you haven't already, you might want to take a look at the XS Sights Big Dot sights. They are incredibly intuitive and super-quick for sight alignment. I highly recommend them for self defense pistols. If you like that style of sights, you might want to narrow the field of potential pistols to those where the XS Sights are available.
Rick Randall
Geodkyt
If she had no problems with the .40 and didn't find the recoil objectionable, I would say have her check out the reliable guns in 9x19mm through .40 until she finds one that fits her hand. (Of course, if your .40 is a steel frame service piece, before plunking down money on mid sized "Combat Tupperware" such as a Sig P250C, Glock 23, or XD, try and get her to shoot something like that first -- the recoil impulse is different, and what may not have been objectionable in some steel frame CZ75 variant might be more than she cares for in a polymer framed compact.)
But if she can handle a polymer framed .40 (which I'm guessing your pistol is), she should have ZERO problems handling anything that size or larger in 9mm Parabellum, .40, or .45ACP, if it fits her hand and she likes the control ergonomics and layout. The gun that "fits like a glove" and kicks no harder than something she likes is probably the very best choice for her, regardless of caliber, trigger system (although I'm a fan of DAO or Glock-style striker triggers for newbie defensive guns; not as sensitive as a 1911, yet you get the same exact pull every time), magazine capacity, etc.
While I'm a die hard .45ACP fan, realistically, ANY modern major US manufacturer JHP in a normal bullet weight for the caliber (for instance, avoid 147 grain 9x19mm like the plague, unless you're shooting it through a suppressed SMG -- that's what it was designed for <grin>), and a standard "service caliber" (9x19, .40 S&W, .45ACP, .357 Sig, or for revolvers, .38 Special or .357 Magnum) will do pretty much the same, regardless of it's caliber. Hit location is WAY more important than the almost statistically insignificant differences in caliber.
For a gun whose primary use is home protection, concealbility is not really an issue -- "shootability" is. If it turns out she likes Glocks or Springfield XDs, well, a second, smaller gun is certainly not a kidney-selling experience if and when she decides to CCW.
But if she can handle a polymer framed .40 (which I'm guessing your pistol is), she should have ZERO problems handling anything that size or larger in 9mm Parabellum, .40, or .45ACP, if it fits her hand and she likes the control ergonomics and layout. The gun that "fits like a glove" and kicks no harder than something she likes is probably the very best choice for her, regardless of caliber, trigger system (although I'm a fan of DAO or Glock-style striker triggers for newbie defensive guns; not as sensitive as a 1911, yet you get the same exact pull every time), magazine capacity, etc.
While I'm a die hard .45ACP fan, realistically, ANY modern major US manufacturer JHP in a normal bullet weight for the caliber (for instance, avoid 147 grain 9x19mm like the plague, unless you're shooting it through a suppressed SMG -- that's what it was designed for <grin>), and a standard "service caliber" (9x19, .40 S&W, .45ACP, .357 Sig, or for revolvers, .38 Special or .357 Magnum) will do pretty much the same, regardless of it's caliber. Hit location is WAY more important than the almost statistically insignificant differences in caliber.
For a gun whose primary use is home protection, concealbility is not really an issue -- "shootability" is. If it turns out she likes Glocks or Springfield XDs, well, a second, smaller gun is certainly not a kidney-selling experience if and when she decides to CCW.
The_Outlaw
~The Dude Abides~
Home protection for the wife?
I would go with the following firearms for her;
Semi Auto Handgun = Glock 19 (9mm).
Revolver = Any reliable .38 special revolver with either a 2" or 4" barrel.
Long Gun = Nothing beats a good defensive 12 gauge pump action shotgun loaded -w- 00 buckshot i.m.h.o.
Have her practice & train with her firearm/s at least once per month for the first year.
Also get yourself a good guard dog for the homestead, guard dogs are probably the best alarm system that money can buy.
Good luck & stay safe.
ArizonaNRAsupporter
New member
The key is find something she is comfortable with. Go to a range, rent a few that fit her hands well, and shoot them. She needs to be able to grab it in a hurry, chamber one (if not carrying loaded) and hit the target. Any caliber will do better than no gun, but if she's good with a .38 or a 9mm go for it. If she wants something more aggresive, .357 sig and .40 are awesome calibers also. (.40 is cheaper to shoot than the .357 sig, but both are extremely effective). I also agree with Outlaw and his weapon suggestions.
In my mind, the scariest sound in the world would be hearing a pump-action shotgun cycled/cocked... especially in the dark when you have no idea where the sound is coming from. That in it-self, may be enough deterrence to have someone turn around and run like hell! :laugh:
NoviceSquared
New member
The LC9 is very nice for carry, but unless it's going to be a carry gun you can do better.
For a home defense gun, as has been stated, you can't beat a shotgun. If you're worried about recoil, get a 20 gauge with some nice padding.
For a home defense gun, as has been stated, you can't beat a shotgun. If you're worried about recoil, get a 20 gauge with some nice padding.
Let her try the Ruger SR9C. It feels much like a 1911, but a very mild recoil. It is my conceal carry everyday all day long. Without getting into the debate about caliber, the SR9C is a 9mm, it is all about shot placement. It is the most accurate compact I have ever shot, with quick double and triple taps. I will never get rid of this one!
Let her look at ALL the guns online, and also as many as possible in person. She might like a Bersa Thunder .380, or a Taurus Slim 9mm or a Ruger SR9c 9mm, but let her get the info on different guns. Also it might be important to make sure she is comfortable with safety features, or lack of. She needs to feel good about a gun and have confidence in it. Don't try and persuade her into your choice for her.
:dance3:
:dance3:
rbaker5150
New member
You should get her something very powerful, like a .357 or .44. You'd buy her the bigger diamond, right? So buy her the bigger gun!
I am kidding, of course. I took my wife gun shopping. She picked the LC9, which would not have been my pick if I was going to buy a gun for her. She loves that little gun, and it's not my fault for buying her a gun she doesn't like. Save yourself, let her choose.
I am kidding, of course. I took my wife gun shopping. She picked the LC9, which would not have been my pick if I was going to buy a gun for her. She loves that little gun, and it's not my fault for buying her a gun she doesn't like. Save yourself, let her choose.
wolf_fire
New member
I have to echo what a lot of the folks have already said. Let HER pick our HER gun. Carrying a firearm is a very personal decision and like many, the particular firearm that you carry will probably change based on comfort, ease of use, etc. Be supportive, offer your input and experience, but ultimately let her make the decision.
My thoughts, based on my experience. Good luck to both you and her.
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