CC for the Mrs

[rednichols]

Without reading any of the responses you've received so far, I just want to say that I appreciate that you are obviously experienced and knowledgeable, because you've chosen a small revolver. Step one is always to choose a pistol that is suited to the physiology of the person. You obviously know to choose the most pistol that fits into that package (years ago when I carried I chose a 44 Bulldog). And you know holsters and quality when you mention Sparks.

My comment, then, is that women are more difficult to 'suit up' than men, because men can be counted on to wear a belt. And belt carry hides small revolvers very well. Women introduce fashion choices that a holster maker otherwise doesn't have to contend with. I've personally fitted some very curvaceous agents (to the point of distraction) and at the waist is best. Modern TV shows make it even easier -- they use a paddle holster and place it at 1:00 so the camera can see it; but not good for safety or concealment.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Brother has become disabled by Parkinson's. His wife asked me to help find her a cary handgun. I thought that I could loan her an air weight J-frame, but no. She wants a Glock 19 (15 rd version) because that is what her daughter and her granddaughter each carry. I thought that would be easy to find. I thought, "A police trade in and it should not be expensive as there are thousands out there." Also not so. Pickey women.......

Jack

I'd change all the springs out in a police trade in. I'd never ever steer someone away from a Glock 19. It's one of the easiest pistols I have ever shot well. If a woman were to pick that gun, I'd see which sights she likes next. After that we can smooth out the trigger. After that it's pretty much fool proof. It just plain works.

 

[shouldazagged]

I don't know what handguns your wife has shot a lot, and the 642 is a fine little carry gun. But some people find that .38 Special +P in an Airweight can sting and not be much fun to practice with. I hope she can try one with +P ammo before making a choice. If a few more ounces isn't an issue, an all steel gun might be a more comfortable EDC.

I made that decision years ago due to arthritis.

I apologize if I'm being unduly cautious. She may be at home shooting .454 Casull.

 

[Wise_A]

There is a forum, the cornered cat??? By and for women that may be of help.

The Cornered Cat is Kathy Jackson. Then there's Melody Lauer at MelodyLauer.com and her archived amateur blog at Limatunes' Range Diaries | The opinions, trainings and experiences of a wife, mother and woman with a gun..

Tamara Keel (View From The Porch) generally writes smart things, the smartest of which being not to ask her about what/how your wife should carry, because she walks around in tactical/CCW/rangeday shirts all the time.

Annette Evans wrote a decent thing over on Pew Pew Tactical: Best Way to Conceal Carry for Women: Holsters, Purses, & More - Pew Pew Tactical.

---

Other than that, seriously, don't pick stuff for her. She's going to have to carry it, so she has to like it and have confidence in it. And if she's going to carry, it's probably better if she starts getting in the habit of reading and studying and researching things herself. Maybe it makes her more interested in the subject. Maybe it reveals that this is just a passing fad that she's not going to expend a lot of time or energy on.

 

[dddddmorgan]

I think Wise A** sums it up best.

After reading the input and especially appreciated input from some women I'm inclined to throw my decisions out the window and just start from scratch.

As we've been talking about going this coming Friday to pick up a 9mm purchased on this forum she commented how much she likes shooting a 9mm (i.e. recoil, semi-auto capacity etc...) all things mentioned here.

So when the opportunity arises it's off to the indoor range where they rent a good variety of firearms, all it will cost me is a couple of boxes of ammo. Okay, maybe three, well four at the most....

 

[Bakebfr480]

My wife carries a 4" Ruger Security-Six!

 

[jimmyj]

My Wife and Daughter prefer the Bianmi (spi) Hip Grip

 

[Mister X]

After reading the input and especially appreciated input from some women I'm inclined to throw my decisions out the window and just start from scratch.

As we've been talking about going this coming Friday to pick up a 9mm purchased on this forum she commented how much she likes shooting a 9mm (i.e. recoil, semi-auto capacity etc...) all things mentioned here.

So when the opportunity arises it's off to the indoor range where they rent a good variety of firearms, all it will cost me is a couple of boxes of ammo. Okay, maybe three, well four at the most....

There's a very big difference between range range shooting and personal defense. My wife much prefers shooting my 9mm Glocks over our 642's. However, my wife won't carry a Glock 19, but she will an airweight. A gun left at home will do you little good when you need it.

And "shoot-ability" isn't the only factor to consider. I've seen many women do fine shooting a particular auto at the range from a static stance using a firm two hand grip, but have them shoot one handed from an odd position or while moving, and they often start to experience malfunctions. Reliabilty in the circumstances that you'll actually have to use it is the most important consideration. You simply can't count on a real world shooting to look anything like range practice. Chaos is the norm and a snub will function reliably pretty much no matter what.

And consider the distances and scenarios that she would likely be shooting in. Does she plan on having to engage an active-shooter or multiple gang members at long range or is reactively having to defend against a sudden close-quarter attack more likely. I think it prudent to focus on the latter. Considering you'll most likely have to respond quickly, be shooting at very close range and have to fire only a few shots, a realiable, quick into action snub makes pretty good sense.

And another point to consider in regards to the snub is its advantages in extreme close-quarter or contact distance defense scenarios. I think this are especially important for a woman. A semi-auto will jam if the rearward movement of the slide is obstructed or inadvertently makes contact with your body, which is a possibility during compressed or retention shooting. If you make contact or push on the muzzle of a semi-auto, it will be forced out of battery and will not fire. This is not an issue with a revolver.

From Massad Ayoob...

"Gun dealers tell me the single most popular carry gun they're selling to women is the lightweight .38 Special, 2-inch revolver with snag-free configuration, such as the S&W Centennial Airweight. Yes, it kicks enough to hurt your hand. Yes, it will be one of the toughest guns for you to "qualify" with on the 15 to 25 yard line of a police-style shooting course.


However, the women who buy them for daily carry have no illusions about being involved in across-the-street shootouts. They're worried about the mugger who is within arm's length or maybe even closer when they have to defend their lives.


Male criminals tend to be misogynists. The man who would surrender to her at gunpoint would die rather than go to prison with it known that he had surrendered to her. He is more likely by far to attack and attempt to disarm a woman. More than 20 years of teaching handgun disarming and retention has taught me the hardest gun to take away from its legitimate owner is a 2-inch barreled revolver. With a shrouded hammer, this is also the only gun a woman can fire through a coat pocket without a hammer or a slide fouling in fabric and stopping her stream of fire.


Ideal for shooting all day at a training school? No. Ideal for concealed carry in real world circumstances? Yes.


The snubnose .38 revolver with snag-free hammer might just be the best choice for the defensive problems an armed woman in this society is most likely to face."

 

[filipows]

Filipows, the enhanced CCW classes offered will provide a license recognized by Oregon.

If you plan on traveling to Oregon and want to carry you might want to research a bit more. OR. is shall issue for resident may issue for non residents. The rules and restrictions are tight there.

It is up to each sheriff as to whether or not you are permitted. Grant county is the one I know of that will with minimal effort issue one See links for more info

http://oregonfirearms.org/pdfs/grantcochlapp.pdf Note grey color for OR they do not recognize any other state resident permit.

http://oregonfirearms.org/pdfs/grantcochlapp.pdf This is the information from Grant County.

I expect your enhanced CCW call will qualify as one of the training requirements.

Know before you go.

 

[dddddmorgan]

All good input. I'm inclined to agree with Ayoob, and since the wife has a liking for the snubby revolvers we will certainly give those a shot ;-)

I agree with the advice that shooting at a range and shooting in a real incident are completely different, therefore the requirements differ, i.e. capacity, accuracy and so forth.

IMHO there is nothing simpler or easier to pack around than a 38 snubby. This is just my opinion, yours may vary and that's what makes the world go round, right?

Still a little cold for the Mrs to go banging right now, we are starting with my meager collection and working our way up from there.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

This is a great thread, and not just for dddddmorgan's wife.

How does anybody decide what to carry and how? Did anyone here wake up one morning and intuitively know, "Oh, I want a S&W Centennial snub-nose loaded with Speer SBHP .38 Special ammo and a Lobo Enhanced Pancake holster with 1¾" belt loops riding on a Milt Sparks lined belt." Uh, no!

Research, a friend, a family member, this forum, the gang at the lgs, books, magazines and maybe other sources helped each of us make a decision. That first decision may not have been the right one, either. That's why so many here talk about the drawer full of holsters and stocks (grips). Does anyone really "get it right" the first time?

Maybe, but I sure didn't so why do we suggest "the best" solution for a newbie with the belief "this" is the right gun and leather for "you"? I'm not hammering anyone for their suggestions; I've done the same thing in other threads. This thread, though, brought this to my mind. We can all offer the "this is what works for me (after how many different guns, holsters and grips?)," but none of us can say, "This will work for you!"

The great inputs in this thread have led the OP to the best solution: have his wife try a bunch of things and see which seems to be the right one for her. Nothing at all wrong with him "helping" her with ideas he's collected here and from his own research; we all had a hand along the way. In the end she'll make her decision based on what seems right for her.

 

[Whitwabit]

dddddmorgan wondering if your wife has made up her mind on the
pistol she will CC ?? Or is she still trying different pistols ??

 

[Smoke]

The Cornered Cat by Kathy Jackson


The Cornered Cat: A Woman's Guide to Concealed Carry by Kathy Jackson

 

[Whitwabit]

All good input. I'm inclined to agree with Ayoob, and since the wife has a liking for the snubby revolvers we will certainly give those a shot ;-)

I agree with the advice that shooting at a range and shooting in a real incident are completely different, therefore the requirements differ, i.e. capacity, accuracy and so forth.

IMHO there is nothing simpler or easier to pack around than a 38 snubby. This is just my opinion, yours may vary and that's what makes the world go round, right?

Still a little cold for the Mrs to go banging right now, we are starting with my meager collection and working our way up from there.

you might have her shoot 38's in a 357 L frame .. she could shoot 38's but would be able to step up to 357's at a later date if she wanted to .. and 38+P would be light recoil in an L frame ..

 

[shouldazagged]

I agree with the Ayoob material, but I suspect that if a woman, or many men, tried an Airweight snub and the same model in all steel the difference in comfort would favor the steel. They aren't that much heavier or harder to carry.

A side note: Ayoob's thoughts apply at least equally well for someone of either sex who is elderly and looks vulnerable.

 

[birdman1978]

The.wife currently uses a Deana Adams corset holster and a can can holster, depending on her dress. Only complaint is heat.In South Louisiana, heat is an issue

 

[DevilDog72]

I took my wife to the range with my complete arsenal of hand guns and she picked my 642 nl and one of my Bucheimer 835S holsters.... wow...would not have guessed that would be her choices..... ever.

 

[BB57]

I agree with the Ayoob material, but I suspect that if a woman, or many men, tried an Airweight snub and the same model in all steel the difference in comfort would favor the steel. They aren't that much heavier or harder to carry.

A side note: Ayoob's thoughts apply at least equally well for someone of either sex who is elderly and looks vulnerable.

I agree. A lot of alloy frame revolvers are sold under the assumption that women won't carry a heavier revolver. That's a very questionable assumption.

However the alloy frame 442 or 642 weighs 14.7 oz while the stainless steel 642 weighs 22.4 oz. That 7.7 oz difference isn't all that significant in comparison to many women's "every day carry". That extra weight however make the steel frame revolver much more pleasant to shoot with both standard pressure and.38 +P loads. And, a women who actually shoots her revolver on a regular basis is going to be far more likely to be comfortable with it, carry it, and be effective with it if she ever needs to use it in self defense.

 

[mrmike7189]

There is a page on you tube where a firearms instuctor teaches just women and many of them prefer the S&W Shield 9mm. I dont know the exact name of the site.