wife's first gun

[catach22]

ok my wife would like to get her first pistol. Now she shoots often with the family. Mainly 22 rifles and pistols and 38 special, and her moms 9. she tried my 40 out for the first time and decided she was not comfortable with that. She thinks she would like to buy a 9m, I would rather see her with the 38, but that a battle i choose to stay out of.
She likes the the 9m shield compact, but i think she would be more comfortable with the recoil on the full size. Anyone own both that can give me there thoughts on it?

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Have her try shooting as many different handguns as she can/she wants to. What she may like in the store, she may hate when she shoots it.

Hope this helps.

 

[OKFC05]

I have all the above, and I teach beginners. So naturally I have an opinion or 3.
1. Women conceptually want the "cute little gun" until it smacks them too hard and they start flinching.
So make sure she shoots the exact gun and ammunition she has in mind, preferably enough she KNOWS what it feels like.
2. I always recommend a first pistol be a medium size something, so the beginner will actually learn good technique. I can't shoot the Shield as well as I can the M&P full size Pro, why should they?
3. In the end she has to pick and about all you can do is get her to SHOOT the prospective guns rather than "buy what looks and feels good in the store." Even better if she gets to clean it once.

 

[Badkarma 1]

Have her try the M&P compact, it's the best of both worlds.
Dale

 

[catach22]

I have all the above, and I teach beginners. So naturally I have an opinion or 3.
1. Women conceptually want the "cute little gun" until it smacks them too hard and they start flinching.
So make sure she shoots the exact gun and ammunition she has in mind, preferably enough she KNOWS what it feels like.
2. I always recommend a first pistol be a medium size something, so the beginner will actually learn good technique. I can't shoot the Shield as well as I can the M&P full size Pro, why should they?
3. In the end she has to pick and about all you can do is get her to SHOOT the prospective guns rather than "buy what looks and feels good in the store." Even better if she gets to clean it once.

I would rather her pic a full size pistol, as she seems recoil sensitive. I am worried the compacts will be to hard for her to hold on to. She shot my buddies sd9ve and handled it very well. It seemed to be a good match. But she is falling into the cute little gun trap.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

If she is "falling into the cute little gun trap" get her to shoot the cute little gun. When she does it will bring her back to reality, or she might like it still. You both will never know until she tries it out.

 

[MichiganScott]

My wife's favorite handgun is a M28 in .357. Her second most favorite is a M&P9C. She outshoots me with my own 1911. Left to their own choices, women will surprise you.

Just pay the money at a range that allows her to rent a gun and fire it. Do not buy a pistol that she has not shot or one that you think will be best for her. You will both be happier in the long run.

 

[MarTay6]

Left to their own choices, women will surprise you.

Very true! My wife got her first pistol just over a year ago. Had never shot anything but a BB gun. No, thinking about it- she had shot my Ruger Security Six with .38's... didn't really like it. Took her shopping for her first gun- I envisioned her with a compact .380.... wrong answer. She chose- on her own, a S&W M&P 9mm... she learned to shoot with it, and has shot several guns since- including my Shield, .22's, I don't recall what all else- but she loves her full size M&P 9. Would highly recommend the full size... it's never hiccup'd once, accurate and reliable.
Wes

 

[catach22]

well my wife came home today. When she walk through the door she had a familiar blue box in her hands. i asked "whats this" she told me she just couldn't resist a good sale. she came home with her first pistol. Much to my surprise' she did not buy the cute little gun but instead went for the full size. Which made me happy. She is now the proud owner of her own sd9ve.
She bought for $289. Now if i can just get her to the store when they put my shield on sale....lol.....all and all i think she did alright

 

[Bartman3562]

Wife's first gun was a 5 inch sig 45. Loves it, but hard to carry. For carry she has a sig 938 with extended mag and hogue finger grips. She shoots both very well.

 

[snubbyfan]

Before I met the woman that was to become my wife, she got herself a 66-3. She took lessons and can shoot it very well. In fact she even shows off sometimes.

It's not what a person would usually consider as a concealed carry gun but I made a matching belt and concealment holster for it anyway.

 

[Ozarker]

My wife doesn't CCW. So any firearm would be at home. Bought her a small pistol. She wasn't really into that one. So sold it and she is now the proud owner of a Model 60.

Ends up on her nightstand every night.

 

[italiansport]

My wife is a very active shooter and while she still enjoys her M14 she and the rest of the ladies in her group are all partial to Browning HPs. These fit a smaller females hand well and because of the all steel construction recoil is negligible.
Her concealed carry gun however is a S&W Bodyguard.
Ladies,and everyone else as far as I'm concerned, should try out as many pistols and revolvers before making a selection.
Jim