Posted on 11/14/2015 12:32:38 AM PST by GunHoardingCapitalist
So I am in no mans land here, I am looking for a hand gun for my daughter for concealed carry. I have not bought one for someone else before however we have been to the range many times and she has handled many firearms over the years. I am a stickler when it comes to, "if it's not comfortable in your hand, you will never shoot it right" philosophy. However, I have big huge man hands so all of them are fit for me, and her hands are a lot smaller. For expert opinion, let me describe her.
5'6" On a scale of 1-10 (1=anorexia, 10=morbidly obese) she is a 3 or a 4. Small hands. Doesn't carry a purse, so the flashbang holster would be perfect, plus she is busty so that makes it easier to conceal. She is also Left handed like me. Plus she is halfway across the country so we can't do a "comfort with the grip" thing. Also this is a Christmas Present.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
First things first. Does she know anything about guns? What is her level of experience firing them (if any)? Recoil sensitivity?
S&W 442 or similar. Unless she is going to put in the range time to have the controls and trigger second nature.
Revolvers are pretty much foolproof and much safer than a semi- auto.
Is the safety on or off? Magazine in? Cocked? Trigger obstructed by lipstick, mascara pencil?
None of that with a revolver. Pull, point, stiff trigger, go.
My wife also chose the Bersa .380 because she could easily rack the slide.
Small frame will fit a small hand.
Concealable. Well made.
Good fit for her hand and compact while having enough mass to absorb the worst of the recoil.
Take your daughter to some shops and let her test fire a few that meet the concealment requirements she may have.
I carry a Ruger LCP .380 (also have a Kahr) for ease of concealment/carry, but it might not be enough for someone who isn't really proficient with a small weapon.
If a new shooter has enough finger/hand strength to successfully cycle through a whole cylinder, I tend to recommend a (good) DA/SA or DAO revolver of the most powerful chambering they can tolerate. For some, the latter is a .22LR, which is a poor choice but better than nothing. If a revolver DA trigger pull defeats them, then some sort of semi auto which has a lighter trigger pull might be the ticket, but then the strength issue becomes the ease of racking the slide (and maybe filling the magazine).
All things being equal, a larger gun is usually easier to shoot than a smaller one, but harder to conceal. Which has the higher priority? Everyone has different expectations. I know people who have dedicated "bedside" pistols that would be like boat anchors to tote around, but they don't intend to conceal carry. Conversely, there are people carrying guns that are eminently concealable all day long, but which are a pain in the "whatever" to actually shoot. The old kibitzer's remark about making such decisions has always been "have one of each," and that is actually pretty good advice insofar as it goes but not always possible.
I lave long been of the mindset that there is no one gun that does everything well, and there is no gun that is going to be absolutely perfect for every HD/SD situation. Some are much better than others, of course, but they are all an aggregation of trade-offs to at least some extent. I've been launching lead and going through firearms for almost half a century, and I have yet to find the Holy Grail of any of them- I have, however, found some very acceptable "compromises." Perfect they are not, acceptable, they are. (Which sounds like something Yoda would say, but I'll let it stand.)
Right now in revolvers, I recommend a Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum, but loaded with as stout a .38 Special hollow point as the shooter can stand. If they can't handle a hot .38 HP, then try lead wadcutter .38 Special target loads. After spending some time with Ruger LCRs, I've gone back to the SP101 unless small size and light weight are the main goals.
In semi autos, there are lots of good ones, but I recommend something chambered for 9x19 (aka: 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger) and in the middle of the road sizewise (usually termed a compact). For the squeamish, a Beretta Px4 Storm "SubCompact" (it is really not a subcompact in width) has a visible hammer and an ambidextrous safety/decocker. For the less inhibited, a S&W M&P9 compact, a Glock 19 or something along those lines is usually fairly easy to shoot and the newer 9mm defensive rounds are really quite effective compared to the marginal stuff from the "good old days."
Mr. niteowl77
I do like the double action feature of the Walther .380 PPK/S. This is a slender gun that is almost as concealable as the Sig.
I know it sounds a bit silly, but gifting a gun is much like gifting shoes. You really can’t pick for them, because it is a totally personal decision, and they will have to live with it.
However, they are very vulnerable to what you and others think of their choice. That is, some people are quick to criticize the choices of others, to find fault, something to diminish the gift, to take off the luster. This is a really bad habit, but some people do it. And the threat is often just an inadvertent or offhand comment.
And this really applies to guns, as you can tell from any gun thread where someone asks “what is the best gun?” A gazillion replies, and no two in agreement.
So truthfully, the best gun is the one you like and are comfortable with.
I am built a lo like your wife. Ruger .380
I am built a lo like your wife. Ruger .380
My husband loves his 1911 45, but I can’t get a good grouping with the thing.
I have a Ruger 9mm that I can handle quite well.
Have her try out the gun, and get the biggest caliber she can get a rapid fire, good group of 5 in the chest at 15-20 feet.
+1 for the Ruger LCP .380.
I am glad she is busty enough for a flashbang holster. I tried one at ShotShow, and it just pulled my whole bra down.
Go to a range that lets you rent guns and try out a number of styles.
Walther pps fan here, too. I would trust it with my life.
Handgun in a left-handed bra holster? That's a new one... I'm sure there's someone qualified to help you with that; FR is the best place to ax any question that doesn't include a youtube video.
Nothing beats a wheel gun. Always works. Never jams. No safety necessary. My wife, who is 5’ 4” and 105 pounds carries a Smith & Wesson Airweight .38 revolver. Concealed hammer so it doesn’t snag, and easily concealable just about anywhere.
my 5'2" daughter carries a 1911. Carries it cocked and locked. Likes the .45, makes big holes.
I agree 100%.
My wife uses a good old .38 snub nose loaded with hollow points. The idea is not to get into a gun battle. If you can’t comfortably handle the weapon, shoot it accurately (under duress) quickly and confidently - there’s no point.
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