Ok, my wife's 40th birthday is coming up and after some discussion we've decided to get her a gun that will be *SOLELY* hers. (I'll get to shoot my 586 again! Yay!)

So far the decisions she's made is that she wants a .380 (she is small framed, and wants a small gun that she feels really fits her) she also wants the gun to be a pretty one, so something that comes in color, but not necessarily pink (she's been digging the Ruger LCP in purple, but we'll have to figure out where/how to get one).

The question here is this. What suggestions does everyone have? Makes? Models? Suggestions on converting a normal black pistol to a color she likes?

Please stay away from suggestions for a different caliber. she want's .380, its her birthday, she gets .380 we're both well aware of the SD implications, strengths, weaknesses and price of the round. (Besides if she goes with a different caliber it will be a 9mm shield so that will be an easy pick... she held on at the LGS the other day and really liked it.)

This is a big step for her, she comes from a "Guns r bad, mmmkay?" household. She loves shooting, but has been VERY resistant to having anything in "her name." She's getting excited about owning her own so for now its really going to be her wish is my purchase.

Thanks!!

My uncle pocket carries an LCP at work. He's happy with it

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an actual conservative

Ruger LCP. It's perfect for what it was intended to be...an up close, personal defense firearm. You'll hear people complain about it being uncomfortable to shoot. MY HECK, PEOPLE!!! It wasn't intended to be a firearm that you take out to the range and burn through 50-100 rounds!!! It's NOT a target pistol!! It's a small-caliber pistol made to fire six or seven shots rapidly into the center of mass of some bad guy. Period. And for that, it's perfect.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

ALWAYS let a lady pick her own gun.
Lots of good .380s out there, she just needs to look and handle a few.
As far as colors, why does it have to be the whole pistol? Lots of different grips out there to add a touch of style to her liking. Tell her it would be a mistake to choose a firearm based soley on color.
BTW: I don't consider the .380 to be under powered. I carry one every now and then myself.

Has she seen something like a stainless Walther PPK? Maybe she'd be taken by the obvious quality you can feel in it. And it's shiny!

Beat me to it. Can't go wrong with James Bond's gun, can you?

As suggested, let her shoot some or you'll be sorry. The Ruger LCP is like having a V8 in a go cart. Lot's of women say "ohhhh, I want the tiny one!" Until they shoot it.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I'd say a PPK, but that is one of the most unpleasant guns I've ever shot.

I'm old school, so I'd say a Colt 1908.

Sig P238. I just picked up the P938 and love it. Would not mind a P238 to go with it. More expensive than an LCP but also a much better looking gun.

Beretta Nickel 85fs

Beretta 85FS heetah .380 Nickel 8 round, Wood Grips SHIPS FREE

CZ 83. I'd rather have the 82 in 9x18 Makarov, but you said stick to .380.

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Not in jail.

I am with you all on this for the most part.

It her gun, she's gonna be the one to pick it. I am trying to be hands off, except to encourage her to pick and choose something she wants on her own. She asks for more information on something and I am the research guy, so this thread will be invaluable! Thanks!

Our FLGS actually just opened an indoor range with rentals... it sounds more and more like I am going to want to get her in there to actually shoot some .380s she is hoping that they will be easier to handle because its a less powerful round (I've never fired .380.) Of course... she likes shooting .357 magnum in my 586... so who knows.

The color thing is she doesn't want what she perceives to be a "manly" gun. She thinks the people who scoff at pink/colored guns are morons, but I think she is worried that I think she is being silly for wanting one... I just want her to come to the range more with me... and to be able to shoot my own guns when we go... so I think I need to keep playing that up to her... (I'll admit I kinda think the purple LCP is cute.)

With the choice of ammo I am more concerned about the cost honestly, but am willing to go with whatever she chooses... Outside of that, my opinion is far more that the best gun for self defense is the one you practice with and know inside and out. (Besides if she *REALLY* needs firepower, she knows how to operate my "Shannon Watts does not approve" rifle. LOL)

Honestly, I think some of this is she will feel better hearing some of these things from people who aren't me too... Its why I want to get her enrolled in a NRA basic pistol course too...

I'll admit that its kinda fun seeing her get excited about it too, so I don't wanna be one of those guys who hands their wife/gf who is just starting to have fun a .44 magnum and ruin it forever.

A question I would ask is how is she going to carry it? Most women don't or wont use a belt holster, so I am figuring pocket or purse carry. That means a relatively small and light weight gun.

I have an LCP that is in my pants pocket every day I leave the house, whether I am packing something bigger on my hip or not. 100% reliable with HB and HP ammo, maybe 800 shots thru it. Like that long trigger pull for a pocket carry gun, as opposed to the shorter, lighter triggers like on a Glock. A consideration if she purse carries.

Problem with the LCP is they are small to the point they can be hard to hit with, and be uncomfortable to shoot. Not inspiring for a new shooter. Might want to look at the new Ruger model (don't remember the model name) that is 380, but uses the slightly larger compact 9mm frame. It should be easier for her to shoot well, and has better sights then the LCP, and is only very slightly larger.

A Google search will show a number of companies that offer various colored metal and plastic gun coatings that could really personalize her new present.

Larry

I'm still leary of the small Kel Techs and LCPs for a lot of women shooters. Too much recoil and difficult for follow up shots.

You may say "it's a sd gun, not a range shooter", but if it's uncomfortable to shoot, she's not going practice with it, and if she doesn't practice with it regularly, it's useless as a sd weapon.

Maybe take a look at the Colt Mustang or the small Sigs (I forget the model numbers). Maybe even the Bersa Thunder.
They are all fine shooters.

Just another opinion.

Suggest she at least look at and consider the LC 380 by Ruger.
Where as the LCP is a sub compact the LC is a compact. Not
that much bigger but has some safety features well worth having.
You could also look at the Smith & Wesson auto bodyguard which
is very similar to the LCP. It at least has a manuel safety where
the LCP doesn't. Agree the decision should be hers. Check some
local shooting ranges if possible and see if you can rent any she
likes the looks of for a real live try out. Just my two cents worth.
Also with some of the modern ammo available now, with practice
and good shot placement I think the 380 may be a acceptable
choice for some people.

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Goose
I'm still standing.

Sig 238, Colt Pocket light, Glock 42, Bersa CC.

I would not rule out a revolver vs. a semi auto it all depends on her comfort. You are wise to take her to a range to fire various makes/models. I would not buy on the first visit unless you get a smoking deal. Let a little time sink in and if she narrows the choices down to 2-3 guns go back and fire them again. She needs to be 100 % confident in herself and the weapon to be able to react in a panic situation ( hopefully never ). Once you get the gun practice , practice , practice. It really has to become a natural feeling in the hand you shouldn't have to " think " what do I do next ? Good luck in the search and have fun.

I'm going to second the Sig p238. Talk about selection, if you can't find a pretty one here you're in trouble:


P238

My range report is here:

Range Report Sig P238 Scorpion

Aloha,

I would suggest a Beretta 85, IF you can find one.

Of All the 380s we own, it is the Most Comfortable shooting.

It is slightly on the large side as far as 380s go.

This is an 86, same as the 85 except it has a Tip-Up barrel.



Having an Aluminum frame makes it carry comfortably.

Downside is that it is likely to be the Most expensive,

IF you can find one.

The Sig is a clone of the Colt Mustang and an all steel one

will be slightly less comfortable than the Beretta 85.

A Sig 238 is a very fine .380, not cheap though.

The Beretta 86 with the tip up barrel looks intersting,

THAT ELIMINATES "THE RACK THE SLIDE ISSUE" some have people have.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I looked at em all and chose the LCP for pocket carry. Small, slim, light, and read less griping about reliability issues. My criteria was specifically pocket carry.

Lots of guys like the Sig P238. I would not have one for pocket carry if you gave me one for free. A whopping pound, huge sights, over an inch wide and equipped with a safety... all what I'm not looking for in a pocket pistol. But for a huge purse like my wife carries, fanny pack or car glovebox, more comfortable for range practice, better trigger, I might choose the P238 over the LCP, or maybe a slightly larger 380 like the Ruger LC380.

Difficult to recommend unless you know the persons criteria. A pretty one that comes in different colors isn't much to go on. You didn't say if she even intended to carry it. Carry is the primary use for this gun she's wanting to buy, right? I mean... if it's primary role will be a nightstand and car glovebox gun then that's a lot different. If she's been reluctant to just have a gun in her name, I'm thinking that carry is a pretty big leap. What is the gun for?

EDIT-- I see in your second post that this gun is just for the wife to bring to the range to shoot. Forget the LCP. About the worst choice she could make. If she is stuck on a 380, get larger/heavier. Take a look at P238 for heft but still small, or the LC380 or Glock42 for larger size.

It sounds like neither of you have shoot a .380! Her thoughts that it will be easier to handle because it is a smaller round generally doesn't play out because most .380's are smaller guns.

When I got my CCW back in the 90's, I bought a 3913 which is a great gun to shoot. It seems a bit large for my everyday carry so I bought a Baby Sigma in .380. Great pocket gun with nothing to catch on your clothes. Absolutely no fun to shoot at all. Way too much recoil due to the light weight. I think to make it practical to shoot, it will have to weight more than a Shield.

Bottom line....make sure she gets the opportunity to shoot one before buying.

Big problem with most .380s are that they have blowback systems and require heavy recoil springs, making them hard to rack and recoil is snappy to unpleasant.

An exception, I believe, is the Colt Mustang, though it is a single action design but it does have a locked breach system which slows and retards felt recoil.

The Mustangs come in alloy and poly. Also on the used market if you can find one are the older Mustangs. They're beginning to bring premium prices, however.

The Mustang family is akin to a miniature 1911.

That was my thought, racking the slide. My wife can't/ won't do it. Says she can't but I think breaking a nail figures into it.
Have her handle the gun and work the slide. I know the ppk/s is harder to work than the lcp.
Like mentioned above the Beretta 86 alleviates that part.

I shoot two .380s. Both are very accurate and do a great job of taming recoil. Neither requires much hand strength to rack or load mags. I also have smaller hands.

The Glock 42 is very thin and light weight. It has a nice trigger and no external safety. The Sig P238 is carried like a 1911, cocked and locked.

I would NEVER own a LCP because no one likes practicing with one. I would take a look at the LC380 (same size as the LC9).

Let her shoot two or three and decide. Talk about the dangers of off body carry (in the purse). Pay your money.

Good luck

P.S. If you want ammo that expands and pentrates between 12 and 18 inches in gel and denim, stick to the XTP bullet in Hornady Custom 95 gr, Fiocchi Extrema or Precision One XTP. Most major popular SD rounds FAIL when the FBI testing is used.

After posting your wife's age in a public forum, you may want to start looking at diamond necklaces and the like?

I definitely wouldn't arm her at this time....

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I know a lot of people don't like Taurus but I like their revolvers. They make a mini 380 revolver if you like revolvers like me. I handled one at Gander Mountain. Not bad for what it is.

I'd prefer to be able do not only as you say, but also hit a target from 10-12 feet away. Why not get a gun that can do both? I also would never carry a gun I hadn't tested at the range with a minimum of 100 FMJ and 100 SD rounds. Very, very few people will go through the pain that would be involved. Unless you intend to always pocket carry, why buy this micro.

About 10 yards.

I agree about the reason to buy these small guns. Unless the primary role is pocket carry, there are a ton of better options.

The point has been made that most .380s are blowback operated. This can make recoil rather stout and sharp.
The Colt Mustang and Sig P238 have also been mentioned. My own .380 choice is the Mustang. These are locked breech designs which does a great job of reducing recoil and are quite pleasent to shoot. However, they are single action designs. Like their 1911 big brothers, they are carried cocked and locked. She may not be comfortable with that. Bigger point is that also like the 1911, she must be willing to put in the time and practice to make releasing the safety an automatic movement. Forgetting the safety can get you killed.

I understand that she has her heart set on a .380. On the surface it sounds like a good idea. But I strongly suggest that you take her out and rent a few so she can try them. After firing a few blowback designs and experiencing the recoil, she may change her mind.

I love my Sig P238. Comes in multiple colors too. By far it has the lightest recoil of any other .380 out there.
I actually bought it for my wife, but it rides in my pocket a lot.

Taurus .380 revolver.

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SOS USA

Unless absolute concealed pocket carry is THE paramount decision for her then, IMHO and with all due respect, to not consider a 9mm for a laundry list of reasons is a disservice to the end user. I say that knowing fully well that the OP stated not to deviate from .380.

With the possible exception of the smallest micro bug 380's, there is a 9mm that just flat out performs as well if not better for similar dollars. I'm not trashing the .380 round, I believe it is a suitable PD load. My wife and I both occasionally carry a Colt Mustang Plus II. FYI, she more often carries a 9mm Shield.

For every .380 gun a manufacture offers they offer several 9mm's. AND even more importantly, the availability of 9mm ammo compared to .380 ammo is stunning. LGS shelves here are now jammed with 9mm and if there is any .380 it is selling for ridiculous prices. Both ball and SD .380, when you can find it, is selling for more than 9mm. That may change now that the latest ammo crisis seems to be waining, but remember, before this all happened .380 was still scarce and expensive.

Sorry to go off on a tangent you asked us not to, but I am only trying to help state some options that you might otherwise overlook.

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paws for friendship

I thought of a suggestion that might meet your wife's interest, that I don't think I saw earlier? If I read correctly, she wants a .380acp, wants it in a color that's not necessarily pink, and is considering the Ruger LCP... I have a different pocket .380 and think it is a little snappy. Probably because it's small light and hard to get good purchase on, like an LCP would be. She is also considering a 9mm Shield. The possibility that occurred to me is the Ruger LC380. It is approximately the size of the Shield, shoots the 380, is available in different colors and probably (I've never shot one, just going by what I've read) is way easier to rack the slide and softer recoiling than the other's. I did a Google search and found a link I put below as an example. The two of you should go to a range and rent a couple pistols you are considering - it might help you choose what works best for her.

RUGER LC380 LADY LILAC - Dan Clarke America LLC

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M&PC FS BG Shield+ 642 686+

I've owned 380s and found my Mustang to be the most fun to shoot and pretty accurate too. Since she isn't planning on carrying it might be a good choice for a shooter.
My wife won't shoot anything but revolvers. I took her once to buy her own and she was bewildered by all the choices. In the end she decided she'd just shoot my guns instead of getting her own. It might be a good idea to narrow it down to a few choices for her rather than a whole gun shop full.

My wife liked the size and feel of the LCP - It's her gun - I carry it.
It's light - I forget that it's there...
I'd rather shoot a 686 357 Magnum though - WAY more comfortable!
She was surprised at the *kick* - In her mind a small gun would be easier to shoot than her 4" Model 10.......

Make sure that she shoots one BEFORE you buy or you'll be shopping again.
OTOH - I pretty much got a new carry gun out of the deal - So, not so bad

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In dog years I'm dead.

There's usually a Ruger LCP in my pocket. I can't comment on how well it works for self defense, but it has dispatched many opossums, and paper targets without fail.

My lady picked her own .380 pistol...a pink Kahr P380

Works great..she loves it

Great question...a lot of great information!

WHOA! I didn't say you couldn't hit a target from 10-12 feet away. On the contrary. When I lived in Northern California, we had to qualify with any gun we wanted to carry for our concealed weapons permit. That meant being able to put at least 20 out of 25 shots into a bowling-pin-sized target at 15 yards. I'm not that great of a shot, but was still able to put 23 out of 25 into that target.

I just said that the LCP wasn't designed as a target pistol. Didn't say it couldn't perform...that's just not its forte, that's all.

As to the pain...do I want to shoot 100 rounds consistently with it everyday? No, but shooting 25 rounds at a time isn't painful...unless you're a bigger wimp than I am (and believe me, I'm a pretty good-sized wimp). I've shot several hundred rounds through my LCP without painful mishap. Can't say that about my model 1911.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Kahr......

http://rs162.pbsrc.com/albums/t271/F...0f.png~320x480

Taurus 380 revolver

If she's set on a 380 the new LCP has a stainless slide that would be less likely to rust or pit and easier to clean up.

Attached Images

Stainless LCP.jpg (42.6 KB, 6 views)

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Dick

Way too funny!!! If you can't laugh at this, you may as well go to the house

Someone recommended a revolver. It would probably be a great choice. Maybe better than we think.

Have her shoot a Ruger LCR. The recoil is quite manageable for a light weight gun and the gun is easy to operate. No slide to rack and no safety to remember to turn off. And I would hesitate in giving her a cocked and locked single action gun.

Revolvers of this size are much easier to shoot well whether shooting fast or slow. And these days we must consider ammo availability. 380 is still difficult to find. The 38 special hits harder than any 380 and you probably won't go through as much ammo at the range. And 38 special is a little easier to find these days.

Mouse guns and smaller revolvers are meant for up close in your face confrontations. Confrontations that happen at bad breath distances. And they can happen quickly. So a person needs to be to produce said gun quickly and be able to empty that gun quickly and accurately which means you must have complete control of it.

IMO mouse guns are ill suited for this UNLESS you have strong hands, good technique, and have practiced shooting the gun in this manner. Not just one round at a time slowly.

My wife doesn't carry and rarely leaves the house these days. But at home she has a Smith 19 loaded with 38+P and a Glock 17. She can shoot either well. She should be able to settle any problem that arises without reloading or manipulating either gun other than the trigger. If she can't then she has a much bigger problem.

Simplicity under stress is something to think about.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

My wife selected her Browning BDA when she bought her first handgun 20ish years ago. She shot several of the various 380's that were available at the time. Narrowed it down to the PPK and BDA. After shooting both, she chose the BDA because the larger grips felt better and she was able to shoot it more accurately. The higher magazine capacity (13 rds) was also appealing for her.

Okay without knowing how your wife would be willing to carry this and without knowing if she is committed to having it with her at all times and you coughing up the money for the accessories for her to be able to do that here we go. And yes it cost more money for a woman to conceal carry because of our wardrobe changes and lighter clothing we have to be more creative and still be elegant and a lady! Be prepared to spend almost as much on the carry tools she will need as the gun itself!

My #1 pick for ease of use, recoil tamed to a .22, and racks easily is a glock 42. As far as pretty you can have it coated to any color she likes or you can simply get her an elegant Coronado leather carry purse as a bonus and leave the gun one. It carries well in the pocket if her wardrobe allows that day and in the waist band too.

My #2 pick would be the sig 232sl. It stays away from the 1911 platform but will add a safety if that makes her more comfortable. It is elegant in appearance with its European styling and also easier to rack. The weight of the gun tames the recoil but will also make pocket carry difficult in a woman's clothing. Will need to carry in the purse or waistband on this one.

#3 and #4 run neck in neck and that would be a Sigp238 or a Colt Government. My personal favorite is the colt but in truth they really are mirrors of each other but I just can't resist that Pony!! These will require her to get familiar with a 1911 platform and she will have to choose between a cocked and locked carry or giving up 2 valuable seconds and having to chamber when she draws. The weight and size will again be a little hard to pocket carry in woman's clothing but it will depend on what she wears. Again the metal of the gun and weight eats the recoil for breakfast and the single action trigger is out of this world easy and accurate.

I know the colors of the LCP can be attractive and for the record I like the purple too, but I sold the ruger because the grips were not comfortable, it was a pain to rack that little slide, and it was not fun to practice with. As far as ammo goes freedom munitions has been putting up plenty of .380 lately and it is good ammo that is not giving me any fits at all.

Tell your wife Happy Birthday for me and I expect pictures of the gun, accessories, and a detailed range report of her first outing with her new baby whatever she decides!

If she hasn't already, you may want to have her shoot a .38 snub revolver. Then explain the .380 recoil would be at least as bad if not worse. The revolver has an inherent safety and reliability record over a little auto that may eventually wind up in a purse or pocket.

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SOS USA

Assuming that I ever have a real job again, I plan to get a new blued Walther PPK in .380, to supplement my Model 36. They're hard to get, but they're out there.

I had a blued PPK/S in the '80s. There was no legal CCW here in Ohio then, so I eventually sold it to a friend. Despite the comments of some, I found it reliable (with Silvertips) and not especially unpleasant to shoot.

Although it doesn't come in colors, the most attractive 380 I have seen is the Kahr. A big plus for this model is that it has a locked breech system rather than the usual blow back system usually found on 380s, so it has a softer recoil than most 380s .