my girl finally decided she needs to ccw, gun recomendation

[troy_mclure]

after recent events my girlfriend has seen the light(or darkness rather) and decided she needs to be able to protect the kids if i am not there.

she wants a thin gun, doesnt want a revolver due to the cylinder thickness.

she also hates the lack of external safety, and loooooong trigger pull of my keltec p32.

so im looking for a slim auto, not too aggressive recoil, and a good trigger.(external safety is a bonus).

the ruger lcp has a good trigger, but i dont remember the recoil characteristics.

taurus 709 slim has a good trigger and decent recoil.

havent experienced walther pps, or the s&w shield enough to have an opinion.

the beretta nano seems interesting

had an xd40(1st gen) but havent even looked at the slim version.

what are your guys thoughts?

 

[Mojo873]

M&P Shield


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[jdavid1]

G43 or Shield.

 

[Gringo Loco]

Shield or Glock 43

 

[Gator 45/70]

Bring her to a place that rents guns, Try several, The shield is a good choice.

 

[leadslinger972]

Glock 42/43 with TTI extended base plates.

The new Sig P365 is also promising.

Here is some info you should look into regarding external safeties. If she does not train and practice regularly with an external safety, then it unwise to carry such firearms. Glocks and many other striker fired firearms to do not require safeties due to their design. I highly recommend Glock for the fact that it is one of the only striker fired firearms that is not ready to fire until the trigger is just at its breaking point.

 

[MetalVendor]

My girl carries a Sig P238 and loves it. She has also shot my PPS M2 and my Nano. She much preferred the PPS.

 

[krotsman]

Sig P938 or P238. Baby 1911s

 

[dantheman]

My wife just got a Walther CCP . Striker fired , external safety , awesome ergonomics . Single stack so it fits her small hand . Hell , I live in Central so I'll let her try it out .

 

[kingfhb]

Shield w/safety 9mm

Walther PPS Gen2 9mm

The CCP feels about the same as the P22, but it heats up A LOT on the range and isn't the easiest to take-down and clean. It utilizes a piston recoil system.

Sig Sauer P239 9mm

Compact 1911 style 9mm

Bersa Thunder (.380 though)

The LC9 is a nice one also... has external safety and a good trigger. 9mm


I would steer clear of the MICRO or mini pocket pistols unless shes okay with the recoil. The smaller you go, the more recoil. After working at the range and gun store, most of these recommendations are from experiences exactly like what you're asking. Guys bringing in their woman to get their pistol.

Has she ever shot regularly? Please don't tell me this will be her first gun and you're taking her to immediately get her CCWP.

If so, what caliber is she comfortable with? Size pistol? It's all going to be about what is comfortable for her. Why not take her to the range and rent some for her to try all different shapes and sizes?

If you want to see her in an actual CCW experience... take her to FRC in Baton Rouge and let her participate in their CCW experience drills where you're put in real life situations and firing your own weapon at live targets using simunitions.

 

[Vigilante Sniper]

I recommend you take her to a range that rents guns also to see what she shoots best. My wife carries a Bodyguard .380 but she shoots my G19 better than any other gun. I carry a Shield .45, and the new Sig 365. If were getting a new gun for my wife it would be a Shield 9mm. you can get one with a thumb safety and they shoot great. Nick's Shooting range in Garyville rents guns and I think FRC does too.

 

[Trailboss]

My wife likes the Makarov in 9x18 loaded with Corbon JHP or Hornady HPXTP. It's one of the few pistols she can rack the slide on, SA/DA with external decocker/hammer block safety and external hammer. It's also heavy enough that the recoil is manageable for her small hands.

 

[AustinBR]

Shield or Glock 43

Bring her to a place that rents guns, Try several, The shield is a good choice.

Glock 42/43 with TTI extended base plates.

The new Sig P365 is also promising.

Here is some info you should look into regarding external safeties. If she does not train and practice regularly with an external safety, then it unwise to carry such firearms. Glocks and many other striker fired firearms to do not require safeties due to their design. I highly recommend Glock for the fact that it is one of the only striker fired firearms that is not ready to fire until the trigger is just at its breaking point.

I agree with the above posts. I am partial to the Shield (2.0) over the G43, as is my girlfriend, but it is just a personal preference thing. Both guns are great and will perform well. I would advise her against getting an external safety and instead get a nice holster that keeps the trigger from getting pulled if carried on person or in a purse.

Next, I would HIGHLY recommend getting her some training. Basic pistol at minimum, but more advanced or even force on force would be better and is eye-opening and a ton of fun (y'all could make it into a date type thing).

Definitely let her shoot whatever she might get before she does. If you are near FRC, they have rentals of a bunch of common items. I'm not sure if they have a Shield, but I would be open to letting her shoot mine.

Lastly, 9mm with more bullets is better than .380. A lot of guys like to give their women .380 because it is "lighter," but that really doesn't make sense for most women.

 

[TheMole68]

Bring her to a place that rents guns, Try several, The shield is a good choice.

This!!! And everyone else that said it too. Stop talking about what gun she needs and take her to a range. Put a couple in her hands! Let her shoot a bunch before you buy anything. I've got multiple friends who's guns were bought for them that won't shoot them because they aren't comfortable. Some counter jockey and their boyfriend made a unilateral decision on what they needed.

Would you buy a car without driving it? Why would you buy a gun without shooting it?

 

[troy_mclure]

This!!! And everyone else that said it too. Stop talking about what gun she needs and take her to a range. Put a couple in her hands! Let her shoot a bunch before you buy anything. I've got multiple friends who's guns were bought for them that won't shoot them because they aren't comfortable. Some counter jockey and their boyfriend made a unilateral decision on what they needed.

Would you buy a car without driving it? Why would you buy a gun without shooting it?

this would make sense, except that the places that rent guns(precision, frc, baker) have very little selection of ccw type guns available. mostly glocks or other full size service pistols.

she hated my makarov, didnt like the 1911 in .45, really hated my kt p32, liked all the .22 pistols she has shot, and liked the s&w mod 19 in .38spc(minus the square grip).
she enjoys shooting rimfire rifles more than handguns, so doesnt have much experience. we are going to start shooting more and she will be taking a pistol class of some sort. she just wants to get the ccw process rolling.

 

[troy_mclure]

My wife just got a Walther CCP . Striker fired , external safety , awesome ergonomics . Single stack so it fits her small hand . Hell , I live in Central so I'll let her try it out .

i may take you up on that sometime.

 

[AustinBR]

this would make sense, except that the places that rent guns(precision, frc, baker) have very little selection of ccw type guns available. mostly glocks or other full size service pistols.

she hated my makarov, didnt like the 1911 in .45, really hated my kt p32, liked all the .22 pistols she has shot, and liked the s&w mod 19 in .38spc(minus the square grip).
she enjoys shooting rimfire rifles more than handguns, so doesnt have much experience. we are going to start shooting more and she will be taking a pistol class of some sort. she just wants to get the ccw process rolling.

I think FRC has G42/G43 and a G19.

I have a Shield, 9c, and 2.0 Compact that she is welcome to shoot. I also have a MP Bodyguard, but I wouldn't recommend it.

If we go, I get free rentals there, so y'all can shoot whatever so long as you buy the bullets from them.

 

[RedStickChick]

I like my G43.

 

[nolaradio]

Bring her to a place that rents guns, Try several, The shield is a good choice.

+1

 

[dantheman]

i may take you up on that sometime.

Just give me a shout .