Posted on 08/30/2015 2:01:04 PM PDT by PinkChampagneonIce
There is no better place to come for expert advice on firearms than FR!
I am thinking of buying my first firearm. I want it for concealed carry, for self-defense, so I want it small. I have done some research and the Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight Model 642 looks good to me.
Am seeking any and all advice/comments. I have small hands, and not a lot of upper body strength.
Thanks!
Good choices.
I have the one in the middle and want the one on the bottom of your picture.
Find what works for you, is comfortable to you and suits your needs( i.e. open carry, concealed carry). Once you have made that decision, practice, practice, practice until you are proficient. A snubnose .38 has sent many a miscreant to his eternal judgement and I feel it’s a good choice. But as others have pointed out that thing has a decent recoil. The right grips will tame it a bit, but it’s still gonna kick. FWIW.
CC
The Glock is a tad bigger, but is my primary. I really like the 10+1 option.
Best advise yet.
Personally, I like the small Rugers like the LCP or LC9. As some have mentioned though, the slides can be slightly harder to pull due to their small size. That said, it’s like saying a carrot is harder to chew then an apple...it’s that big of a deal.
I would also HEAVILY recommend getting a rubberized grip. Hogue makes some of the best and you can get them for under $10 on Amazon. It’s makes a world of difference and I know people who turned from hating sub-compact pistols to loving them because of the grip. Even makes racking the slide that much easier.
Kimber Solo 9...just right for smaller hands and light enough for concealed.
I really like the 10+1 option.
For sure. Great point.
You should never buy a gun based solely on research. I knew a female that “researched” that an XD was her best bet. I convinced her to go to the range and rent one, and found out that her tiny hands caused limp-wristing, and every round jammed. I know a dude who “researched” that a S&W 686 is what he wanted. Too bad the hammer got stuck every time he drew due to how he wore his shirt.
So go to the range, and test several firearms out. See which one fits well in your hand, which one handles the recoil, which one draws best, etc.
Also, the firearm is only one part of the solution. You should spend as much time researching the ammo and holster as you do the firearm. A nice weapon in a crap holster is a crap weapon. A nice weapon firing crap ammo is a crap weapon.
Beretta Tomcat. .32 cal. Hollow point. Will easily fit into about any size pocket. Barrel pops up for first round. Magazine carries seven more bullets. Small. Very concealable. Good for small hands, don’t need upper body strength to rack slide. Has a safety. Semi-auto.
Or the Smith & Wesson Airweight, .38 cal (Plus P). Plus P signifies a more powerful load in the bullet. Bought this for my bride. Added Crimson Trace laser sight. No safety. With the laser turned on (small switch in grip), it becomes a point and click (shoot) pistol. Revolver, 5 shot. My small hands bride told me it hurts her hand when she shoots it.
So, she now has a Ruger LCRs, 9mm semi auto, in pink camo.
Try several pistols. Shoot them. Pick the one that works for you. Everyone has their personal preference. God speed.
Thanks for your replies....keep them coming, they are very helpful. It’s easy to see what FReepers like to discuss!
I’m an 80-lb. lady with very tiny hands. Everything heavier than a switchblade has too much recoil to suit me!
If you must carry, though, and are not very experienced — stick with the revolver.
And get experience.
Exterminate.
Rotate the lever on the frame next to the trigger guard forward and that pops the barrel up so you can load the first round directly into the barrel, so no need to rack the slide. Double action or single action first shot, then SA for rest, seven rounds (?) I think. My daughter has mine. Feed it Winchester Silvertip hollowpoints. Not much recoil, concealable, nice punch. I put a laser grip on mine so its a little `fat'. Don't get the silver one if you want a laser.
Ditto an excellent choice!
I’m having issues with my right shoulder (gettin’ old) and will have to buy one when I move. Any idea how going lefty will make a difference if I practice a lot?
Beginner?...
9 shot revolver, .22 cal
If needed, shoot 6 times while yelling ‘pistolla, pistola’.
If they don’t leave, use the last three shots to confirm your acclimation.
Get yourself a Lady Smith which is a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber which is a snub nose perfect for your purse or pocket. At point blank range its perfect.
1. You can not go wrong with a Smith & Wesson.
2. Ruger makes a very close competitor, called an LCP. Many people, myself included, think the Ruger trigger is better than the Smith & Wesson, especially since this is a double action only revolver. Al least try the Ruger before you buy.
3. Strongly consider a laser sight in the grip. The Rugers can be bought with a Crimson Trace laser sight as a factory option. Don’t know about the Smith & Wesson. Especially for a beginner, the laser sight is much easier to use. Outdoors during the day, the conventional sight is better. Indoors or at night, the laser sight is worth its weight in gold. It is not an either/or situation. The conventional sight is always built into the gun. The laser sight is in addition to the regular one. The switch is in the grip where it naturally comes on when you aim the gun — nothing extra to fool around with.
4. The Ruger LCP in .38 is matte black with an aluminum frame. In .357 it is is a matte black stainless steel frame. This is an advantage over a shiny stainless gun. It may not look as nice in the gun shop, but serious shooters know that the less visible your weapon is to your opponent, the better.
5. For a beginner a revolver is usually a far better choice than a semi-auto. I have taken several classes, and the majority of instructors carry revolvers, and these are very experienced people.
6. Despite the fact that a semi-auto is thinner than a revolver, a revolver is usually easier to conceal. It has rounded edges and a partial outline is far less noticeable than the angular edges of a semi-auto.
Bersa Thunder is my wife’s weapon.Nice choice.
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