What's a great firearm for a beginner female CCW holder?

[pondiferous]

I was thinking that a smaller firearm such as a Ruger LCP would be great for my girlfriend, but I've heard from a friend that the smaller guns are best for more experienced shooters. What do you think?

 

[shooterfan1974]

Find a range with a well stocked rental cabinet and find what works. I'm 38 yr old male w/rheumatoid arthritis and found the LC9 kinda snappy but love my Glock 26.

 

[SGB]

Smaller guns are easier to carry but generally harsher on recoil and harder to shoot well. Find her a NRA Basic pistol class then take her gun shopping. Years ago my Mrs settled on a steel framed S&W J frame but now carries a M&P 9c.

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[Kalamity023]

May want to start with a full size 22 revolver or semi to build her fundamentals. Then move her to what SHE's comfortable with. Definitely take her to a range that rents to see what SHE likes. The decision needs to lie with her.

 

[n8ygn]

Please take into account of her knowledge of guns. When training my sons they always have these little cute short guns for kids which I feel are dangerous. The barrel length just long enough to shoot a beginner in the head by accident. Now pistols are a different story, me personally I would reccomend something mid sized like the Bersa 32 cal. ,I've never own a Bersa I have read a few good reviews. I did own one of those small frame guns (popular name brand) they are just too small got rid of it, but I have big hands. This just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt. I even deer hunt with a pistol and have been hunting for 45 yrs so I am not some dummy blowing smoke.

 

[Sandy Scott]

I would recommend the Ruger LCR. It weighs 15.5 oz loaded with +P ammo, fires EVERY time you pull the trigger, obviates the need to learn and practice malfunction drills. I recommend the model with the laser grip. Point the red dot, pull the trigger and the bullet goes where the red dot was shining. Easy to carry in a purse - I usually carry mine in an ankle holster.

 

[RUGERFAN314]

Whatever firearm she can safely control! Don't buy into that ******** about women shooting small firearms they can handle anything you can shoot! Let your girlfriend or wife pick it out! My wife carries a p345 Ruger and I carry a LC 9 so that tells you to never pick for your female let them because they know what they can Handel

 

[Fitch]

The best firearm for her is the one she picks out based on having fired a bunch of them and time spent trying to figure out how to carry them.

Time spent renting and shooting is invaluable. However, even then it might take a couple of tries before she finds "the gun". Heck, I have 6 carry guns (but I carry every day every place it's legal, she doesn't).

My wife picked her HD gun (6" S&W 686 - she 'really' likes it) and never looked back. She's on her third, and probably final, carry gun. The first two were revolvers, the final one is a SIG P238. She's carried the P238 way more than the other two because it's so much easier to conceal, and she enjoys shooting it.

Fitch

 

[wolf_fire]

I was thinking that a smaller firearm such as a Ruger LCP would be great for my girlfriend, but I've heard from a friend that the smaller guns are best for more experienced shooters. What do you think?

That question, unfortunately, is like asking a roomful of people "what's the best tasting ice cream". You will get many answers and all of them are right from the perspective of the person giving the answer. Your best bet is to find the right gun for her... not for anyone else. There are a few ways to do this:

- sign her up for a "girls and guns" class. These are generally NRA sanctioned classes with NRA instructors and they will have a variety of guns that they will provide to shoot
- go to a gun store that has a range and work with a sales person to try some of the rental guns they have at the range... don't listen to any salesman that says "this is a girl's gun".
- if you know someone that has a variety of guns ask them to let her try them

In general the more weight to a gun the less recoil. However, this can be reduced through a number of mechanical features too. So this isn't always the case. Your best bet, get firearms in her hands and let her shoot them and find what SHE likes. Things to look for are: how does the grip feel, how easy/hard is it to pull the trigger, how easy is it to site, and how does it feel in her hands when fired.

If she has not taken a safety course on how to properly handle a firearm, I would urge her to do that first. The class I mentioned above will do just that.

Good luck to you both.

 

[wolf_fire]

I would recommend the Ruger LCR. It weighs 15.5 oz loaded with +P ammo, fires EVERY time you pull the trigger, obviates the need to learn and practice malfunction drills. I recommend the model with the laser grip. Point the red dot, pull the trigger and the bullet goes where the red dot was shining. Easy to carry in a purse - I usually carry mine in an ankle holster.

There is always a chance that a mechanical system (whether the gun or the ammo) can malfunction. To suggest the learning and practice of malfunction drills is no longer necessary because you have a certain firearm is negligent IMO. The time when you need to figure out how to handle a malfunction with that firearm or with that ammo might be when your life is on the line.

 

[rdp357]

Let her pick it out, light weight revolvers are nice to carry but the recoil is hard on the hands. Have her shoot a Ruger SP101 their not light weight and have less recoil.

 

[lilmule]

Smaller guns as long as smaller calibers are easy for any one to operate regardless of sex,22lr to 32 acp small easy concealed and little recoil,also fairly easy to qualify with if permitted.
Larger calibers in pocket or mini howlitzers are not user friendly always.And smaller frame people again regardless of sex cannot hide a large gun easily.Or shoot a reduced in size larger caliber well.
Once skills are semi mastered can always step up 1 in caliber easily,providing they can conceal it.
Im 132 pds so have the problem of hiding like some women do.Can shoot a full size 45 ,but cant hide one,certainly dont want a mini 45 like my hands all to well.

 

[JeanP]

Lots of good advice here. SGB is right. She should take the NRA Basic Pistol class, before she does anything. That will give her valuable safety information, plus, the instructor will have several different guns she can shoot. If she's uncomfortable with a coed class, there are women only classes. Another plus, sometimes it is easier to take instruction from a stranger. Loved ones always seem to be a little too involved. I had experience with rifles, but none whatsoever with handguns. My NRA instructor had several different guns, both semi-auto and revolvers that we got to try. These guns were in various sizes and calibers. Not only did I learn a lot, but the class was fun, informative and I made a new friend. Gun people are the best. Lastly, get her involved here at USA Carry. I have learned a lot from this site.

 

[UATKP]

My suggestion is that in checking out the proper size handgun for your girlfriend, that you make sure she gets to try a Bersa .380. If you can find one let her hold it, and if allowed, shoot it. Minimum recoil, really great for small hands, absolutely dependable, and I have yet to find a lady that doesn't just love the feel of it. Bersa is the most under rated concealed carry handgun. IMHO. )

 

[maine04619]

This site needs a sticky for this. There is no right answer. My daughter carries a Full size usp .45 and can use it very well. Now this is NOT the best choice for all females there is not BEST FOR ALL!!! Men or women. Teh BEST way to get a carry or other firearm for a person is to take them out to places and let them TRY as many as they can that means holding then and shooting as many as possible. A Ruger mkii with a 3 inch barrel may be perfect on the other hand a .44 S&W may suit them best. Women are in general great shooters. Let them try and pick what suits them not what you or others THINK might work.

 

[fauver8282]

What ever feels good to her in her hand . And make sure she can shoot it 1 handed 95% of self defence situations you will be shooting single handed but most important she must feel good about what she carrys if its too big,heavy or bulky she wont carry it