CCW for my wife

[MNBurl]

You must let her pick the gun!!!

Based on her limitations, I would suggest she try a Bersa Thunder 380. Thin, light, great trigger, full grip, slide is easy to pull and won't beat her hands up. My wife carries one and she is deadly accurate with it.

The other suggestion is a used Model 10 or 64 2" because they have great triggers and no slide to pull. My wife loves shooting Smith K-frames and with the heavier weight is easier for her to shoot.

Appendix carry works well for many women. I'm at a gun show this weekend and 3 women customers choose a Minimal Clip to carry on their body in appendix location.

Hope this helps.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Saddlenow]

My wife has painful arthritis in her hands, but has found that my 357 S&W 66 works easily. She can cock and fire accurately, and the recoil is absorbed in the heavy frame. Her little Charter Arms has an easy trigger and is also SA. However, no slide works for her Not the Glock, Sig P228, Sig P 238, Colt Pocket (Circa 1921) etc. Arthritis is such an awful disability, especially in the fingers.

[Haywood]

I suggest the Ruger LCR 357. She would not shoot 357 Ammo but, a low recoil self defence 38 would feel like shooting a 22. The 357 LCR is 4oz heavier than the LCR 38 and has a bigger and better padded grip. The trigger pull is lighter and smoother than any factory revolver trigger on the market. If you can barrow or rent One do it. If you lived near Cleveland, Ohio I'd let her shoot mine.

[BugDude]

You must let her pick the gun!!!

Based on her limitations, I would suggest she try a Bersa Thunder 380. Thin, light, great trigger, full grip, slide is easy to pull and won't beat her hands up. My wife carries one and she is deadly accurate with it.

The other suggestion is a used Model 10 or 64 2" because they have great triggers and no slide to pull. My wife loves shooting Smith K-frames and with the heavier weight is easier for her to shoot.

Appendix carry works well for many women. I'm at a gun show this weekend and 3 women customers choose a Minimal Clip to carry on their body in appendix location.

Hope this helps.

The Bersa Thunder .380 is the smoothest shooting gun I've seen my female friends try. I've shot it and I was amazed at the accuracy. It's neither the smallest or lightest .380, but that makes it so nice to shoot.

SP101 is a heavy gun. Arthritis, I'd not recommend .357 Mag but it shoots .38s like a dream. The DA trigger pull isn't too bad with a wolff spring replacement but it's not "easy" either. S&W airweight...forget it with arthritis. The heavy trigger pull and recoil will be punishing. The LCR has a light and smooth trigger pull, but I'd recommend standard pressure .38s not +Ps because of the lightness of the gun and recoil. If you're gonne do that, you might as well go for the smooth easy shooting of the Bersa Thunder .380.

[RockStrongo]

I would also like to recommend the Beretta Cheetah if you can find one.. the 86 model with the tip up barrel. I know you weren't really looking for .380, but it may be the most controllable. The tip up barrel would negate racking the slide.

In 1986 Beretta introduced the model 86 which differs significantly from other models in the series, because it has a redesigned front end with a tip-up barrel that hinges in front of the trigger guard. This allows the shooter to load a cartridge directly into the chamber if they do not wish to operate the slide.

[msdaniel]

My wife could not work the slide well either. So 38 Special is her CCW.

[Kilowatt3]

Here is a good alternative to the .357 mag revolvers. http://charterfirearms.com/products/...uty_53811.html

53811 Off Duty
Model: 53811
Finish: Aluminum
Frame: 7075 Aluminum
Grip: Combat
Barrel length: 2"
Capacity: 5-shot
Caliber: .38 Special +P
Hammer: DAO
Weight: 12 oz.
Sugg Retail: $458.00
Charter arms off-duty.

They are going for around $340 in SE Michigan. Lifetime warranty

Howdy Oneshot,

I bought one of those for my 85-year-old Mom last year. She wanted something that was simple, reliable, effective, and a little lighter & smaller than the Colt Detective Special she had on loan from me. The DS was a little heavy for "Apron Carry". She's VERY happy with the little Charter Arms .38, and finds it a lot easier to keep handy. Personally, I think it's a great little weapon. One thing that influenced the decision was my experience with an older Charter Arms .38 - I've had a stainless Undercover for about 20 years, and have been very happy with it. I don't CC it much, 'cause I'm more of a semi-auto guy, but I do pack it a lot on our rural property - It's killed 50 or so copperheads.

You probably wouldn't want to be running through hundreds of practice rounds per month in the little CA's, but for a lightweight, simple, effective, and economical HD or SD gun, it's pretty hard to beat!

Just my $.02.

Regards,
Jim

[Toorop]

Take a look around www.corneredcat.com for some good information about women and guns. I would suggest letting her go to the store and decide what she likes.

[LanceORYGUN]

Just announced by Kahr Arms, specifically for women:




Well, I guess that a guy could carry this gun as well.

.

[cardinalfan]

Well, my wife is getting her CCW this weekend (class on Sunday, sheriff on Monday) and after looking at several guns, the one thing she was pretty sure about "NO PINK GUNS". Thought it was kinda of funny myself, but she has taken a real liking to my Glock 23.

[rstickle]

I would love for her to have a glock,

Some folks will tell you there is your first mistake.

What you want, and she can comfortably use are two different things. Let her get what she can use (the revolver sounds like a good bet), or you're tossing away money.

[cardinalfan]

I had my wife try a S&W revolver, couldn't hit anything with it. Now she is kind of partial to my Glock 23. She didn't have any trouble racking the slide at all, even does it well (and shoots well) with my Colt Defender 45.

[Harobi]

I would definitely look into the Walther PK380. It is one of the most ergonomic small framed pistols I have ever held. The slide is SUPER easy to manipulate as well.

[mcmurry]

Either take her to a shop with an indoor range and rent several guns for her to try or go to a gun show. You may not be able to shoot, but she can still try the guns(unloaded of course), to see if she can operate the gun. Her choice may not be anything you'd ever consider. The gun is for her. It might be a .380 or a .32 or even a .22. Lets face it, a gun is more for peace of mind(hers!) and no one really wants to be shot any way or with anything. And if the experts are right, just having and showing a gun will scare 99% of attackers away. But take her where she can try several guns at a time.

[taseal]

I'm going through something similar... The Bersa was VERY heavy with the slide. as was most semis. the easiest for her was the Sig P238. She pretty much fell in love with that thing. I'm gonna show her a PF9 and DB 380. if she doesn't like those, P238 it is. I didn't want to get her a P238 because it has a safety and SA with hammer, and it's just bit more complicated for someone new to guns, but she loved the feel and the full sights so...