Handgun Recommendation

[Mountainwoman45]

I need a recommendation for the type of pistol or revolver I should buy (not too expensive) to carry on my person or place in a nightstand drawer. A S&W M&P Bodyguard was one online recommendation. I want something small and lightweight. Another factor may be that I am left-handed. I know nothing about guns, so I will buy locally and be trained at a firing range. It is time I learn to be able to defend myself and not depend on others, who may or may not be around. This is just the beginning for me; I also want a shotgun and a rifle. ANY advice would be received gratefully! Mountainwoman45

 

[Backlighting]

Check out the Charter Arms Bulldog in .44Spl.
Costs less than $400, packs a punch & is easily carried.

 

[Smith Wesson]

saw map nice see

 

[Whitwabit]

Check your local shooting range and find out if they rent guns .. and then go try a couple to see how they both shoot and feel in your hands ..

many have a ladies night where instruction is given to new lady shooters .. men not allowed !! and reduced range prices are usually given to the ladies ..

Good luck !

 

[Arik]

This is a hard question to answer. It's like asking what kind of automobile should I buy. It can be car, truck or van but not too expensive.

If you want only light weight look at S&W Shield,
Kahr CW9, PM9, P9
Glock 42 or 43 (whichever is the 9)

There is probably a few more I'm forgetting.

Don't forget that the smaller and lighter the gun the more recoil you will feel

Then there's the problem of how are you going to carry. Inside the waistband or outside. Inside means you may need pants one size wider. Revolvers are thicker and may require more space inside the waistband.

There is no perfect answer. Everyone has a different comfort zone when it comes to where to carry, how and what.

 

[Old cop]

The best guidance I can offer is to rent several models at a range and decide for yourself. Everybody is different and recoil tolerances vary. Many of the very small & "attractive" guns can be difficult to fire accurately and require routine range practice to be and remain competent. I carry a small .38 b/c that's where my comfort level is, but I was an LEO for 30 years and carried a revolver for most of my career. Also, don't get caught up in the caliber wars, there's no such thing as a one-shot stop. I know b/c I had to use deadly force more than once in my career and every situation is different. Watch out for the gun store commandos too, they'll tell you almost anything but have never heard a shot fired in anger.

 

[Will2]

In my opinion the big decision is revolver or pistol. For some, racking a slide is difficult (especially small pistols), for some the heavier trigger pull of a revolver is difficult. Only you can decide. You may need to spend some unrushed time at your local gun store handling. Then spend some time shooting some alternatives.

Most of the gun ownership costs involve practice ammo, so be willing to spend what is necessary for a reliable firearm.

One last suggestion, buy something that you will practice with... without skills someone other than the bad guy could get hurt.

 

[oldafsp]

Kudo's to you for not wanting to be a victim!

Things to remember:
Small guns (Bodyguards,ect) are harder to shoot than a full size gun. They are also harder to cycle the slide, or clear a malfunction.

I would suggest trying a full size M&P (4.25 inch) in 9mm. Very easy weapon to shoot, operate and it has a ambidextrous slide stop. I have trained four new women shooters on one, and they all fell in love with it.

17+1 rounds capacity will get the job done.

Shotgun: The best for a woman is the Mossberg or Remington pump in 20 Ga. Don't let anyone tell you differently. The 20 is now used by all US Armed Forces. No more 12 gauges.

It won't beat you to death, is easier to keep on target. Versatile for small, medium and med/large game with the right rounds.

A 0 buckshot 20 Gauge round has TWICE the muzzle velocity of a 44 magnum. It is a game ender when used for home defense.

Rifle: (now I have to put on my flameproof suit) In my opinion, the best all around rifle is the Ruger Mini-14 in stainless steel.

.223 caliber is readily available, stores well in ammo boxes. AR's are nice guns but more complex to operate. That large hook on the 14's bolt allows you to cycle the action without taking your sights off target. Low recoil and pleasant to shoot you can use the open sights out to 150 yards or beyond.

We're not talking 1 inch groups at 400 yards. Good dependable weapons that are easy to shoot, maintain and practice with.

And get trained by someone who understands and is willing to work with you with what you buy. After all it's your choice. Not theirs.

Hope you find some of this helpful and good luck.

 

[vytoland]

welcome to smith & Wesson. glad you are here.

before you decide or buy any thing...visit a local gun store that has a shooting range and they have handguns for rent in different calibers. explain that you are new to fire arms, need information and instruction.

if they are helpful....great...if not find another store that is willing to spend some time and walk you through the steps....

good luck...

 

[federali]

Proceed Cautiously

As a beginning shooter, what we find comfortable to shoot, you may feel that the recoil is excessive. Another danger is listening to too many people, especially gun store employees who will invariably try to steer you to what they carry.

The .40 S&W was all the rage. Now, even the FBI is moving away from it and back to 9mm as the caliber tends to beat up both gun and shooter. I think you'd be safe with a 9mm semi-auto or an all-steel revolver. I personally think the S&W M 65, 3" round butt is the best revolver made for concealed carry. While it can chamber the .357 Magnum, you may instead fire milder .38 Specials through it. Alloy framed revolvers tend to punish the shooter even with non +P loads.

If you lean toward a safety-equipped semi auto, you'll probably want one with an ambidextrous safety and one in which the magazine release may be moved to the right side for a left-handed shooter.

 

[PirateJim]

Nobody here can hand you the perfect answer for you, but there has been a good bit of solid advice already. One of the best was to find a local range/store that gives beginners lessons in gun safety and shooting technique. If they have various guns you can rent, all the better. Get your concealed carry permit. This may require another class, but it won't hurt much and even if you don't intend to carry all the time you have the option.

My specific suggestion for a first gun would be a small revolver such as the S&W 642 or one of the many "J-Frame" variants. The 38 Special isn't the most powerful out there, but it was very widely used by law enforcement through much of the 1900's. The guns are light, simple, and require less maintenance than semi-autos (pistols). And they also don't require a "break-in" period of 200-500 rounds that many, including myself, feel is needed to assure a semi-auto is running its best.

Whatever sort of gun you get, practice with it until you can keep all of your shots more or less in the middle of a silhouette target at 15-20 feet. It's not that hard to do, but it's not as easy as it looks on television. After that, try to shoot 50 rounds at least every month or two, just to keep your hand in. When you do, use up your 'good' ammunition that has been in the gun and replace with fresh after practice.

At this point you will have done some shooting and learned a good bit. This will be the time to decide if you want another bigger handgun for use as a 'house gun' or a rifle or shotgun. As a person who shoots long guns left handed, I can warn you that many rifles and shotguns eject on the right side with the spent shell flying in front of your face (hopefully) which is annoying at best, and potentially disastrous in a home defense scenario where you won't be slipping on eye protection. Mossberg makes some left handed shotguns designed for defense, but you may have to have it special ordered. Stag Arms makes AR-15 style rifles in left handed versions.

Hope this helps a little rather than adding to the confusion! Good luck!

 

[tim c]

All good advice.My wife insisted on an auto (Walther PPKS) till she had trouble pulling slide back and also she took to much time clearing a simulated jam she ended up with a Smith mod 36 older one and she loves it. Just my two cents

 

[swsig]

If you haven't already done so, check out out this website:
Cornered Cat | If you have to fight, fight like a cornered cat.
It's specifically designed for female gun owners, but men can learn from it as well.

My wife's biggest issue was finding a semi-auto that she could rack. (Of course a revolver eliminates that problem.) After trying out many guns, we ended up buying the easily racked SIG Sauer P250 subcompact in a .380 caliber. It is small, lightweight, accurate, low recoil, easy to hold on target for follow-up shots, and mechanically very reliable. It also holds 12 rounds, which is more than most lightweight pistols. For lefties, it has slide catches/releases on both sides and the magazine release can be switched from right-handed to left-handed. The .380 version is no longer listed on the SIG Sauer website, but it is still being sold by Gander Mountain, and it's likely your local gun store can get one as well.
If you want a heavier caliber, it is also available in 9mm, .40, and .45 calibers. Its only disadvantage is that it is a double action, which means a long trigger pull. However, if you put in enough range time with it, that should become a non-issue.
Good luck!

 

[crankyoldlady]

You have it backwards. Not a good idea to buy a gun then learn to shoot it.

Take a class (or two) learn to shoot, try several firearms in various sizes, calibers, and configurations.

Then, buy.

 

[Whitwabit]

Racking an auto does give many shooters problems. My wife isn't able to rack my PX4 even after 1300 rounds through it, but my daughter is able to do it as long as she doesn't have to do it consecutive times in a short amount of time .. What is called limp wristing is also a problem some people have very early in learning to shoot autos.

Youtube can be helpful in watching techniques of some instructors. and learning the method of holding a pistol properly, also safety is always first on the list. Always think a weapon is loaded until you personally check it to insure it is unloaded and safe. Never point a weapon at anything you aren't willing to shoot.