Her issue with weight vs. recoil is killing me…

Maximumbob54

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Mine is killing me with her issue of weight vs. recoil. She wants a gun to be as light as she can find but have a minimal recoil. That pretty much narrows this down to a .22 LR but she can’t figure out how to hold a revolver. She wants to have way too low of a grip and it bucks up in her hand and she doesn’t like it. I keep trying to show her a proper hold on it but then she complains she doesn’t like it. She bought a Taurus 94 a year ago because she thought she liked the grip. I own several Taurus handguns and they have all been problem free for me. So go figure this one is the first one with problems. One cylinder won’t fire, the double action trigger pull is off the charts heavy, and pulling the hammer back for single action is so hard it almost slips out from your thumb each time. So I let her shoot my Ruger MK3 and she starts tearing up the target. Like as in make me proud tear up that target. She still has the terrible grip but it’s working for her. She then informs me that she hates the grip, it’s too fat. Before I start wailing that I can’t win, I swallowed some pride and took her shopping some more at a gun show last weekend. She thinks she likes the grip on the Browning Buckmark but she doesn’t like the feel and weight of the S&W 22A. She says the 22A is too fat like my Ruger. While she likes the grip on the Buckmark, she says it is too heavy. So… One more time here… Before I start wailing that I can’t win…

HELP!!!
 
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Have her try a Beretta NEOS, I bet she likes the grip on it.
 
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I forgot to add the Neos to the "loves the grip but too heavy" status list.
 
Maybe she doesn't really want a gun...

Some people are just not comfortable with the idea of owning/carrying a gun. If they did have one, they might have to shoot someone with it and that is a very uncomfortable thought to some.
 
Photoman, think you have hit the nail on the head.

Not everyone is equipped to own/carry/use a firearm.

Be safe.

Maybe she doesn't really want a gun...

Some people are just not comfortable with the idea of owning/carrying a gun. If they did have one, they might have to shoot someone with it and that is a very uncomfortable thought to some.
 
She would be happy with the Taurus 94 if it wasn’t the first Taurus that is junk that has come into this house. The 605, 445, and PT-92 are all great guns and the revolvers are as smooth as they should be. I would say the double action is on par with any stock S&W or Colt. That 94, I could hang a full winter coat with liner on that trigger and feel safe. Lesson learned from it is to bring snap caps to the store if they will let you dry fire. You would think since they are in the business of selling guns that they would pander to you just a bit instead of the “buy it or get out” attitude that most of them give you. I asked at a dealer table if they had any more Buckmarks to try or if we could order one and was told, “That’s all we have” and he walked away. I know sales are good right now, but wow… That is pretty coarse treatment of a buying customer. So we left. So she has the desire, but she is being very picky. The all steel construction and the lighter weight of the small frame on the Taurus 94 with the three finger grip was just right for her. The twenty pound trigger and bad cylinder were not. If I can find a 317 that she can hold and maybe get her a three finger grip for it then she may like that. But they are rare as hen’s teeth where I am and I don’t want to pressure her. It’s like the seed of gun ownership in her has sprouted and I’m trying to encourage it to bloom. But she is at that point where if I get all dumb about this or if I don’t give proper encouragement then that sprout may die off. Right now she has had a nice fun range visit that I managed to save with the Ruger when her Taurus became a brick, We has a so so shopping experience, and I swear I’m trying my best not to be the bad guy about too much advice and overkill with critiquing. Any female forum members, please throw me some advice!!! I’m not asking how to make her like guns and I now women are just as different from each other as men are from each other but there have to be a few tips or pointers that could help me out with this!?!?
 
Does she have wrist pain issues or perhaps hyper sensitive skin on her hands?
If not, I agree with Photoman44. Unless she has the above issues what does "liking how the grip feels" really have to do with effectively shooting a gun?
Nothing, as long as you can reach the trigger and not impede the gun's function.
Smith has an all steel 3" J frame out now as well.
 
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did you look at the ruger 22/45 MarkIII 3 inch

Pete
 

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photoman might be onto something....but please dont take any offense here.....Teaching your wife the proper grip is like teaching a (you name it) to sing......it just aint gonna happen....take her to a reputable gun range...get a good instructor (female if you can find one) and let them teach her grip etc...she can try a variety of guns....my suggestion to you, is stay out of the fray...let her pick and choose with the help of an "expert." I dont care if we husbands have a collective million years of gun experience, teaching our wives is a sure way to spend a night on the couch........dont try it and dont do it....
 
ISSC M-22: Pros: light, small, familiar design. Cons: VERY ammo sensitive. Needs CCI MiniMags or similiar to run, SAO.

Bersa/Firestorm 22LR: Pros: Familiar Bersa Thunder/Walther design, good grip size for smaller hands, fits many Bersa-type accessories. Cons: Not much lighter than ones tried.

Sig Mosquito: Pros: Sig Sauer quality. Cons: Pricey for a 22LR, not much lighter.

Walther P22: Same class as the Sig with similar pros/cons.

Beretta 87: Very nice buy WAY pricey.
 
X2 on the J frame. I used an airweight however. I did have to get her some pearl grips cause it made it look less masculine.
 
did you look at the ruger 22/45 MarkIII 3 inch

Pete

So far I am thinking that or the Buck Mark Lite Green 5.5 since it is close the the one she looked at but much lighter. I talked to a while ago and she said she wants the Taurus 94 repaired and no more revolvers. Well, she gets what she wants with this one, so yes ma'am...
 
My wife didn't like handguns period until she shot my M37 airweight with standard pressure .38 LRN bullets. Now I am afraid it is her gun.
Peace,
gordon
 
Sig Mosquito: Pros: Sig Sauer quality. Cons: Pricey for a 22LR, not much lighter.

Walther P22: Same class as the Sig with similar pros/cons.

Got my "boss"/"jefe"/"warden" (sorry ladies, but that's how we [guys] jokingly refer to our better halves), a P22. She loves shootin' it and is darn good with it too (and we all know how important shot placement is). When I put my 40c in her hands, she gave it back to me after firing 3 rounds which barely hit the paper at 7 yds. Avoid the bulk 22 LR stuff when loaded for SD. For the range they're ok as long as you can put up with about 10% failures. No failures with CCI Stingers (1640 fps on box) which pack a noticeably greater punch than anything else I've put through it, as indicated by the louder report and larger muzzle flash. Another "con" to the P22 is that extra mags are difficult to come by. Also, it goes without saying that most .22 lr pistols need to be kept immaculately clean.
 
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About the same recoil as a .22 yet a lot more reliable with more stopping power.

I know there's been a plethora of opinions and discussion about the merits and stopping power of .22 cal (handgun/round), or lack thereof, but here's another recent example of where a .22 "completed the job". ;)

This particular article does not mention the caliber of the weapon that took this nutcase out, but it was indicated in another media outlet, that it was a .22, not to mention that it's one bizzare story.

2 Teens Hurt, Father Killed In Shootout - Detroit Local News Story - WDIV Detroit
 
I didn't see any mention if she wanted a gun for SD/HD or just shooting in general.

Because some of the recoil energy is used in the reload cycle, semi-auto pistols have less recoil than revolvers, but the perceived recoil is greater for some people because of all the mechanical movement taking place.

Perhaps a slight jump in caliber might work. There are lightweight pistols in .32acp that have about the same recoil as a .22lr and pistols in .25acp that have less. I have a CZ 70 that doesn't seem to kick any harder than my Ruger MkII. Of course those are more expensive rounds than .22lr.



I doubt if you'll ever get the Taurus M94 to have a DA trigger or SA hammer anywhere near as good as your Taurus center-fire revolvers, but miracles do happen. Aftermarket grips on a 317 or 63 might work if she changes her mind about revolvers.

Also, a revolver will shoot reduced loads while a pistol is limited to ammo powerful enough to cycle the action.

I believe the key here is the grips. If it don't feel right, it ain't gonna shoot right no matter what the weight or recoil is.

Best advice in whole thread is to find a woman shooter for her to talk with.
 
Under similar circumstances, I have found that finger groove grips on a J frame revolver works well. The finger groves almost force a proper grip and the weight is attractive and the be sure to use mild .38 Spl loads to start with...
Might work for you as well.

Randy
NRA Certified Instructor 1988 to present
 
Hire a buddy to hide in an underground parking lot and come running out at her screaming wearing a ski mask and wielding an ax while wearing pantyhose and an inflatable unicorn outfit.

The next day, she may not be so choosy.
 
a suggestion

Have you looked at the S&W M&P 9 full size or 9C with 3 different size grips? The full size is a great choice for a target gun.
 
I believe the key here is the grips. If it don't feel right, it ain't gonna shoot right no matter what the weight or recoil is.

Best part of the whole thread. It is NOT easy these days to find good grips for a J, which is probably what she ought to be carrying. Maybe SB Magnas with a Tyler, maybe some nice bulky Pachmayr Presentations, but possibly something else entirely. If you give her a RB J with Magnas, there are (at least) two ways she can hold it: naturally and securely, or with her finger correctly on the the trigger for good results with aimed fire. Not both; one or the other. It is NOT her fault if she picks the one you think she shouldn't.

IMO, it would be good to re-read JohnnieB's whole post, especially the last sentence.
 
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