Good morning,

I'm curious to know what type of weapons your wives/girlfriends have. A buddy of mine and his wife want to get into shooting. My advice was go handle a bunch of different guns and then go rent them at a gun range before you buy.

I'm just wondering where he should start. Do most women carry revolvers? What is the most popular caliber....38 special?

Thanks for your input,

Daughter uses a 642 S&W in 38 spl. Most ladies I know use a J frame in 38.

SWMBO loves to shoot her 357 revolver, but enjoys shooting her 1911, s/w 22a and her 15/22 almost as much

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is it just me?

My wife and daughter basicaly shoot the same handguns I shoot. Wifes favorite is an old Ithaca 1911A1. However one BIG advantage of both K and J frames is that it is easy to swap grips and find something that works for all of us. It may not be the SAME grip for all of us but we often swap grips during shooting sessions. Wifes carry gun right now is a CZ82, but that will change soon I expect.

One thing I've learned--women like what they like--which may not be what you think they should like. So if it isn't dangerous, dysfunctional, or downright dangerous, cut 'em some slack.

My wife has an accumulation just short of mine (she really needs her own safe). Her favorites/most used are a much-carried J frame air weight, a well worn Ruger .22 auto pistol, an engraved 1911, and a charcoal blue Uberti SA with faux pearls. Others are safe queens.

My daughter and DIL have their own ideas on what works for them. So the buffet approach is best--better than imposing your well-meant ideas (and $) which may not fly far.

It's easier to ask what are women's favorite shoes.

AFS

We both prefer a j-frame 38 special as an every day carry piece.

The exwife always carried a 442, until two months ago. She switched to a Colt New Agent 1911 in 9mm.
She is very familiar with firearms by the way.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Itchy carried a Nickel Model 12 when she was a Deputy.
Now she carries a 442 and she's usually got a Seecamp squirreled away somewhere???

For me, as far as carry, either a revolver...a Model 60 .38, or a 9mm semi-auto. Also a Bodyguard .380 to slip into a coat pocket. Recommending a type and caliber is tough. It depends on how recoil sensitive she is, the size of her hands, any medical issues, such as arthritis, etc. You gave the best advice...go handle and shoot different guns and calibers, and get what feels the best in her hand and what she is most comfortable shooting.

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Misty

I think budsgunshop has a link called "guns for ladies" that lists the most popular models chosen by their female customers. It may be useful in narrowing down a selection of handguns to handle and tryout.

Depends on the woman and her interest in and committment to firearms.

I used to know Jo Anne Hall-Aune, the 1984 Womens International Action Pistol Champion. Wrote an article on her for the Colt promotional annual that Aqua-Field published then.

She used a Colt .45 auto in competition but carried a Colt .380 in the real world. She was/is a deadly, very fast shot.

BTW, I took my kids to visit her once, and she coached my young son in the use of the .45. Okay, I taught him some, too, but Jo Anne was cuter... (She was also a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader!) He told me a couple of years ago that those sessions stood him in good stead in combat in Iraq, where he used pistols very effectively on nine occasions.

Hand size and upper body strength are issues with most women, and many have been conditioned to fear firearms. You can view amusing and sometimes unfortunate, videos of them first shooting a gun on YouTube. And that redneck babe Heather Something shoots pretty well there. She's amusing and pretty cute. Shoots some powerful guns, too.

When my daughters got their CC permits, I got each of them a Model 60 to carry but for recreational shooting, they seem to enjoy either my Model 66 or my 4" Python.

My wife carries a 342...she has always liked a 9mm to plink and target shoot this past weekend she bought a new 9mm Sigma...I just ordered 2000 pieces of 9mm brass from a fellow form member...looks like I'll be busy for a while...she shoots 2-300 per session

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Bob Giese

No guns for my wife, she relies on the police here in New Jersey. She does carry a credit card

Even though they are all community property, the wife lays claim to following as "HER" guns: Browning BDA .380, Taurus 85S, 3913 Lady Smith, and her daily carry somewhere in her purse is a PPK/S .380.

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Mike in SouthCentral Kentucky

My wife carries a S&W 431PD J-Frame 32mag.with crimson trace grips. Alot less recoil then the 38 J-Frames and she is alot more accurate plus she actually enjoys shooting it.

I used to have a Ruger .357 Mag SP101...then the wife found out she liked it. She shoots .38+Ps out of it.

Chubbs

isn't that the most dangerous CCW?

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is it just me?

My wife has difficulty in racking the slide on a semi auto, and she tried them all. She was perfectly content carrying a J frame .38 until I brought home a M12-3. I get to visit the M12-3, but never get to shoot it.

My wife loves her .380 Mustang Plus II.

any time I take SWMBO to the range, I make sure she puts a mag or two of 45 down range so as to acclimate her to the recoil of a proper weapon. For now she has a Henry in 357 to keep things enjoyable while I get her a little more rounded with guns in general.

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it just needs more voltage

My 11 year old daughter has taken a liking to my Model 27 and my buddy's 1911.

Luscious carries an M&P 9C. Also, after a few range trips she "appropriated" my Colt 1911 for her nightstand.
She likes shooting big revolvers (my '54 HP) but despises the J-Frame.
Go figure...

My wife has a S&W Bodyguard on her side of the bed. She is deadly with the laser sight!

Model 36 Lady Smith

My wife carries a 1911 in .45ACP or a Taurus 445 in .44 Spl.


Jim

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Big bullets leave big holes

My wife loves her Ruger LCR .38

My wife packs her Lady Smith. I pitty the fool that tries anything funny.

After reading the posts, I misunderstood the OP question.
I am not trading any of my guns for women.
One is enough...

Chubbs103,

My wife confiscated my M49 years ago. I bought a Ruger SP101 last week. I showed it her. Big mistake. "I really like this" she says. Oh well at least I get my M49 back

My wife carries a Rruger LCP and is also fond of a M&P 9c. She learner first on a .22 kit gun, then moved to a Model 19 with 38 Specials. She's a very fine shot.

My thoughts exactly. I thought he was looking for a trade and posted it in the wrong section. I thought maybe he was starting a harim.

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Semper Fi
God Bless America

I got my girlfriend a Ruger LC9. Ammo is much easier to deal with being 9mm, plenty available for decent prices. The pistol is her carry gun, and she is used to it now; shoots it well.

Other choices for women- Taurus slim 9, S&W Bodyguard, Kahr's new 99CCW, and the Ruger 38spl. polymer frame revolver; ultra light pistol. (Good CCW, but NOT a great beginner pistol.)

My wife fell in love with my 696. I thought it was a goner! A while back, a mint 39-2 pinto came into the gunshop where I work part-time and I snapped it up. When i got it home, I was wiping it down casual like and she spotted the nickle accents against the beautiful blue job. " Let me see that!", she says. As soon as she got it in her hand a big grin appeared. "Wow, I love the way this feels!" I took her to the range and after a box of 9BP, she turns to me and says," You bought this for me right?" Well folks, the only appropriate response was, "Yes dear!" Sneaky? Yep! But, I got my 696 back! :-)

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Billy 2 Beers.

My wife started out with a Glock 26, moved up to the Glock 33 before switching over to a M642.
Now she's settled on a S&W M632-2 but does tote a Kel Tec P3AT now & again and still has her 642 & G33.

If it weren't for it's size I'm sure she would be carrying her 4-inch M64-1 since it's her favorite shootin' iron.

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Ogy

Thanks guys for all the great input. This forum never stops impressing me.

So I have a .22 revolver I'll let her start shooting. After that I'll advice my buddy to rent some guns for her.

I was shocked to find out that the gun most women have/carry....Glock 19 in 9mm. I thought that was interesting.

Thanks again,
Ryan Z.

Thanks guys for all the great input. This forum never stops impressing me.

So I have a .22 revolver I'll let her start shooting. After that I'll advice my buddy to rent some guns for her.

I was shocked to find out that the gun most women have/carry....Glock 19 in 9mm. I thought that was interesting.

Thanks again,
Ryan Z.

Read this first:

Cornered Cat

I found it like reading about myself with my girl... Ooopsie...

Many women, if they develop enough strength to work the slide, will have good results with a single stack 1911. Supposedly the average size male recruit circa its design was about the same size as the average American woman is today.

My wife has a Brolin 1911 .45, a Beretta 96G .40, and a Kel Tec P3AT. Her favorite gun in some ways though is - yes really - a little Lorcin .25 with pink grips. She has a pink Hello Kitty carry case for it (originally meant for a Nintendo DS). The gun actually works fine, so eh. But mostly she is fine with her 1911.

Many women also have good luck with M4 carbines and their clones - adjustable length of pull on the stock makes for an easy fit.

My wife started with a Ruger Single-Six 22, which she still has. A Bersa Firestorm 22 was her first carry gun which she used until she got confident enough in herself and her ability to shoot it well, to move to a Glock 19.

She no longer carried a gun. Since her ruptured brain aneurysm her memory is so bad, she/we are afraid she'll set her purse down somewhere and forget it.

She still loves to shoot however. She's got a couple of Ruger 22's, the Glock 19, a 65-5 Ladysmith, and any of "my" guns she decides are "hers now."

You mean the muggers in New Jersey take credit cards?

Now THAT is hi-tek.

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John 3:16 .

When my wife and I married she had the following in her armory:
A Walther PP .32ACP, Colt Mustang .380, Taurus .25 ACP. pre 17 6inch .22, Sigma .40, Springfield Champion .45, Winchester 94 30-30, Marlin 336 30-30, Marlin Camp gun 9mm, Winchester Big Bore 94, Ruger 10/22 Manlicher stocked .22, H&R Handi- rifle .223, Ithaca Mdl. 37 riotgun- 12 bore, and at least 3 "turn of the century" .22 pumps from Remington and Winchester....
Along with her collection of Texas Toothpick folding knives, a couple of Randalls and a few custom knives from various builders....
Since aquiring me, she has added a S&W .380 Bodyguard as a daily carrier and a Belgian A-5 Browning 20 she is learning to birdhunt with...she's right handed and left eye dominant so we are having some challenges here...
The old song says.."older women make beautiful....." Got really lucky on this one ya'll......