I just thought I'd share from another post about how my GF decided to pick as what she says "the best gun for me".
girlfriend=(GF)
Background on the GF:
5'3" 115 pounds (shhhh don't tell her I told you!)
She grew up on the fence about firearms. Never held one, or shot one until she met me 5 Years ago. She took to shooting as a "mans" sport, and took some time to get used to. Although she tried to come off as not enjoying shooting, she slipped after a trip to the range and told me she actually likes to go with me and shooting. I already had a handgun and we tossed around the idea of her getting one. (Baby steps into getting her to carry)
What Gun:
Now to actually go out and find what she wanted. I know from experience that just holding the gun doesn't compare to shooting it. So over the course of a few months, she got to shoot the following:
S&W model 19-2 Snubbie .357mag
Taurus 85 .38 Snubbie
XD9 Sub-compact 9mm
S&W Model 36 .38 snubbie
S&W Airweight .38 snubbie
Khar CW9 9mm
M&P40 .40S&W
M&P9c Compact 9mm
Glock 26 9mm
Thinking:
After a few years of shooting my handgun and my dad's/uncles/friends collections she sat down with me and went through a check list of what her gun had to be capable of doing. She not only just went to the range with me, but we went to tactical shoots as well. The major question she had to answer was Revolver or Semi? She really had her eye set on the "Lady Smith" .357mag/.38spl from S&W.
At this point she warmed up to the idea that she will be carrying this gun sooner or later. She also still wanted to come with me on tactical shoots (moving, finding cover, running, reloading etc.) and said that a revolver is not something she enjoyed using for tactical shoots because she felt like she spent more time reloading it than shooting it,even with a speed reloader. She liked when she used my semi how fast she could put a mag in and keep going.
She also didn't like the felt recoil of the light revolvers, especial the Airweight J-Frame. She said she would carry it but not shoot it alot. Which she knew was a problem, because she likes to practice and feel comfortable with what see carries.
revolver:
Pros-Light weight, easy to conceal
Cons-recoil, low round count, slow reload time.
Revolver or Semi?
answer was
Semi
Her Check list:
1)reliable
2)fits hands, feels good (very important due to small hands)
3)Smallish (will carry it concealed someday)
4)more than 5-6 rounds (wants to shoot in competitions)
5)easy to use (no safety, didn't want to have to click it off under stressful situations.)
6)not bigger than a .40S$W round. Doesn't want alot of recoil.
Closing In:
We then took the top two choices in handguns from her view. The M&P9c and the Glock 26. She shot both side by side. Like both as far as accuracy goes, liked the "dot in box" sights on the Glock better. When it came down to it. She picked the M&P9c as the winner.
Felt less "blocky" in hand. Natural point of aim. Good round count. 9mm not alot of recoil. Small enough to conceal. Easy to use. And since it is a S&W she knows it is reliable.
Flash forward:
She takes it to tactical shoots and IDPA matchs. Just puts a full size M&P9 mag into it with the
http://x-grips.com/products/sw.html
She qualified with it for her CPL class. Now she Open Carries with it in her Blackhawk Serpa, or Conceals with it in her Crossbread Super Tuck. Fits her well.