Hoosier Daddy
Sharpshooter
- Dec 20, 2012
- 377
- 16
Best bet is to let her coonfinger them till she finds one she likes.
I'll second that. Let her see what she thinks of different calibers and different manufacturers. Also, find a good gun shop where you both feel comfortable and the person behind the counter takes the time to find out what feels right in her hand.
I took my wife into a gun shop but let her discuss with the sales person what she wanted. He asked a few questions, led her to the guns most suited to her wants/needs, and then let her handle several ones. She narrowed it down to a Glock and a Springfield. She then asked my opinion and I told her it was her gun, pick which one felt better. She got the Springfield, XD 9mm. Her hands are small, but the gun just fit her perfectly.
A revolver with a bit of weight shoots much better. My wife has an SP101 and every woman she lets hold it likes it better than most semi autos.Can't go wrong with a light weight revolver.
With that said, why not a small revolver? I have a S&W airweight 642 that my mom and girlfriend both love. It has a heavy trigger(as do most of the DAO guns recommended) but it's smooth and predictable with a nice break.
What's your woman's shooting experience? If it's minimal and she doesn't practice much, it's probably best to stay away from the semi auto's. I say that because a revolver is so simple. You don't need to know how to clear jams/misfires, and if you have a round that doesn't go bang, simply squeeze the trigger to cycle the next round. Revolvers take less thought/training for the novice.
A revolver with a bit of weight shoots much better. My wife has an SP101 and every woman she lets hold it likes it better than most semi autos.
One nice thing about a nice .357 snub nose is that you get to pick your power level between .38, .38+p, and .357.