Female CC Help - Page 2

dr_cmg · February 25th, 2007, 11:23 PM

Helping your wife choose a firearm is a worthy goal, but please remember a couple of things. If she finds a gun she likes try to find a way to let her shoot one like it before the final choice is made. Many suggestions of small revolvers and they are often what feel good in a woman's hand, but revolvers are hard to pull the trigger on and many women cannot do it more than once or twice. This then limits your revolver choices to those that can be fired single action. A concealed hammer or even a shrouded hammer are out if she can't pull the trigger consistently. Shrouded offers the ability to cock the revolver, but if she can't pull the trigger in double action it is quite likely she will not be able to consistently pull back the shrouded hammer either.

As for manipulating the slide on a pistol. This does not really require a lot of strength. Taught the proper technique most women no matter their size can rack the slide. Using good technique the racking of the slide should be no more difficult than opening the door on an automobile. So don't decide that a semi-auto is not the right gun just because of the slide.

No matter what gun she chooses, try to let her fire one before the purchase. What feels good in the store may not feel good when it comes to pulling the trigger, racking the slide, or dealing with the recoil. If you are wondering this is the voice of experience talking. Unfortunately, living where we do my wife does not get to try before buying. She bought and sold or traded three last year. All were very nice guns that have been enjoyed by their current owners, but none of the three really worked for her. The last one had a minor oddity that most people would not have been bothered by, but it bothered her and then when she discovered that my SIG P239 was as light as her pistol she started carrying one of my SIGs. She is now looking at Springfield XDs and (as much as it shames me to say this) Glocks

. (I have nothing against Glocks, they just don't fit me.) We will see what happens when spring finally arrives.

limatunes · February 26th, 2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowflyer

What has been said about picking a gun for somebody is absolutely true, but it seems to presume that recommending and picking are one in the same. For my part, I recommend a weapon based on my knowledge of weapons combined with what I know about the person. I would never select a gun for my wife. I will advise her on what I think will work best for her though.

This is very true.

I'm no expert.. I knew some of what I wanted on a carry gun, but not everything. So (as they say) two minds are better than one. My husband and I started comparing notes. I told him what I wanted (things like a thumb safety, rubber grips, a semi-automatic, a light trigger pull, a steel or aluminum frame, a reliable weight and night sights.

My husband worked with my criteria and advised appropriately. In fact, he was the one who first pointed out my Kimber. He brought up things that I hadn't thought of such as the fact that the Ultra Carry has a shorter barrel and smaller size for easier concealment and the bulled barrel for accuracy. He also wanted something in .40 so that we could share magazines. Now that I have it I wouldn't give it up for anything, but it was a direct result of listening to his advice and knowing that his advice was founded on my needs and wants, not what he thought I should carry.

For us it was a GREAT give and take. I told him what I wanted, he found it... I guess I got the better part of that deal.

Take her to the range with a lot of different guns, let her shoot them and then ask her pointed questions before and after. Such as..
"Hey, when you shoot this concentrate on the trigger pull, is it something you like or not?"
"What did that recoil feel like? Are you okay with it or was it a little too much?"
"How does that feel in your hands? Can you get a real solid grip on it or is it too big?"
"Do you like that magazine release? Is it easy to find? Do you think you could change mags in a stressful situation?"
"Do you like the sights? Are they easy to see?"
"How's the weight? Do you think you could be comfortable carrying that with you?"

Then listen to her responses.

For instance, we looked at a Sig 232. I liked the gun but I hated where the mag release was. It was extremely awkward for me I knew I was not comfortable with it. I told my husband so. He was very receptive saying that was fine we would keep looking till we found what I liked.

Make sure she knows that she doesn't have to swallow whatever you feed her just because she is a novice. Even an unexperienced person can tell when something is going to be difficult for them and why make her suffer with it when there are SO many different guns out there.

JD · February 26th, 2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limatunes

For us it was a GREAT give and take. I told him what I wanted, he found it... I guess I got the better part of that deal.

Yeah you did, now if I could only get my Mustang back from you...

Big Smitty, make sure that you are well aware of what your getting into, sooner or later you WILL come home with a new toy for you that will become hers.

As Limatunes has explained, I did push a revolver at first but was responsive to her criteria and was lucky enough to find the Kimber that she now carries.

I'm a lucky man, I had no arm twisting to do to get her to start carrying, I simply had to do a lot of the leg work in finding her the right gun, I can't recall how many gunshows we hit without finding anyhting that "felt right".

Having gone through a lot of the same things that you have I would definately push a small frame 1911 in 9mm or the Kahr line of 9mm. Lima's first gun, the Bersa was meant to be a home gun and not carried much if ever. And I/we would suggest staying over .380 IF POSSIBLE, but if she likes the .380 go with it.

maclean3 · February 26th, 2007, 07:02 AM

Great post Lima ... jd, sorry about the Mustang!

I agree with what's been said, let your wife choose her own guns.
Jack

katmandoo122 · February 27th, 2007, 12:40 PM

Just because she's a female is no reason to accept a snubbie. Ask Julie Goloski.

http://www.juliegoloski.com/

http://www.juliegoloski.com/pic_page..._l10nats06.htm

sjp2452 · February 27th, 2007, 04:06 PM

Agree that she needs to pick it. I do hear that lots of women like the XD. It does have great ergonomics and fits small hands well. Subcompact comes in 9mm and .40 and is quite small, and you can get the finger extension for the front of the mags if the grip is too short. There are some holster makers (like fist-inc) that will tailor holsters for women. As Lima said, there are differences in physiology and a typical holster that'd be fine on a dude may not be so good on a dudette (the wider female hip bone pushes the bottom of the holster out, it pivots on the belt line and pushes the grip into the ribs...ouch). Kahr and the baby Glocks are worth looking at. My wife has a Sig 232 (.380) and looooves that gun. I've tried to talk her into a larger caliber, but she just loves that thing. I just wish I could talk her into getting the permit and carrying it. She's not opposed, but the places she usually goes to are work and the YMCA, both of which ban guns on the premesis. I hate those stupid signs...so stupid.

briansmech · February 27th, 2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

I simply had to do a lot of the leg work in finding her the right gun, I can't recall how many gunshows we hit without finding anyhting that "felt right".

poor guy..... :sarcasm:

the only kinda shopping i wouldnt haveta be dragged to do...

JD · February 27th, 2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briansmech

poor guy..... :sarcasm:

the only kinda shopping i wouldnt haveta be dragged to do...

:) I actually found my Springfield loaded model while shopping for her.

limatunes · February 27th, 2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdlv4_0

:) I actually found my Springfield loaded model while shopping for her.

And I was just kind enough to let you buy it even though we were SUPPOSED to be shopping for me!

briansmech · February 27th, 2007, 04:41 PM

now THATS a nice gift for all your efforts.... :p

FIREARMZ · February 27th, 2007, 05:01 PM

Ahhh's 40 oz of JMB's finest work. Great looking gun.

js · February 28th, 2007, 02:49 AM

My wife carries a Glock 26.

1). Desantis Gun Caddie http://www.desantisholster.com/n58.html
2). Desantis Nemesis pocket holster in cargo pants
3). Purse holster when absolutely nothing else will work.

TN_Mike · February 28th, 2007, 10:28 PM

Well, after having 5 kids my wife isn't slightly built anymore. She's the first to admit she is bigger than she wants to be but I think she looks fine. And she is the assistant director of a large day care center in our area so she deals with about 100 screaming little kids during the day and then comes home and expertly handles our 5. I don't honestly know how she does it, I'd lose my mind.

But, back on topic, she carries a Springfield XD .40 sub compact in a right side Fobus Paddle holster. Well, at least she did. We just bought her a Galco kydex belt holster that she loves much better than the paddle, but I do not as of yet have any pics of her with it on.

Her is a shot of her getting ready one weekend to go shopping at the mall. I shot it with my camera phone so it isn't the best photo in the world but you get the idea.

She and I both carry to protect our children. She can't understand why any woman wouldn't carry a gun to keep her kids safe and I am inclined to agree.

cockedlocked01 · March 1st, 2007, 12:08 AM

As has been said, the best thing that can be done is for the wife to try some guns out. I did this with my wife & she uses my 1st handgun for her defense gun (She doesn't CC). She shoots my Dan Wesson 14-2 .357 revolver. It has interchangeable barrels, but she likes the weight & feel of the 2 1/2" barrel, Pachmeyer combat grips, & a laser sight. & yes, it's loaded with .357 rounds.

sgtD · March 1st, 2007, 12:14 AM

I just want to let you men know that your not alone (loosing your guns to your wives). My wife took ownership of my shotgun that I have had since I was 13 and my security six.

When it comes to having a wife who likes to shoot, I share both your joy and your pain..

swedgin · March 1st, 2007, 07:49 AM

I'm not sure the strength of your wife's hands but my mom couldn't rack a heavier slide so I continually tried to talk her into a now discontinued Beretta .380 (I think it was a Cheetah variant) that featured a tipup barrel so she never had to pull the slide back. It was a bit large of a frame for a .380 but still carriable. She disregarded (on grounds of the Beretta being ugly and a Mark II being extra cute) and went with an easy to rack .22. I sternly recommend against this however as it is not a caliber for self defense.

Tom G · March 1st, 2007, 08:09 AM

My wife has the same problem pulling the slide back on both of my 9mm autos . She is 5'11" but she still can't do it. she loves my Ruger Mark 11 22/45. I could never could under stand why women can't pull that slide back. Guess it's time to introduce her to weight lifting.

Flippinstk · March 1st, 2007, 08:33 AM

I bought my wife a snubby for XMAS and she loves it. She shoots 38's at the range and then loads up with 357's for CC. I've offered to buy her whatever she wants in a Semi-Auto, but she doesnt want to carry one. I knew she liked wheel guns thats why I got her one, otherwise I agree with all that recommened to let her try everything that she can. And pick whatever she is comfortable with.

limatunes · March 1st, 2007, 10:03 AM

My husband was mean to me when I was having trouble working the slide on my Kimber

. He had me do drills for what seemed like FOREVER.

He loaded it up with snap caps, picked a dot on the wall and told me to keep firing at it. Cocking, firing, cocking, firing, cocking firing, (my arms started to get very tired)...
Then he'd yell, "MISFIRE!" and I'd have to clear it, and then we'd start all over again, and again, and again, and again, and again.

Every night for quite awhile. It did wonders to building up my arm strength. In fact, we should start doing that again.

Nothing prepares you for working a slide like working a slide.

QKShooter · March 1st, 2007, 10:10 AM

Slightly Off Topic............

This is my personal favorite for building hand/grip strength & GREATLY increasing/improved trigger control.
The Gripmaster & they are absolutely fantastic.
Figure on about $20.00

Whoops! Strike that above price...much better ~ Search Ebay for Gripmaster...Much better prices!

February 25th, 2007, 11:23 PM	#21
dr_cmg Lead Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 10,031	Helping your wife choose a firearm is a worthy goal, but please remember a couple of things. If she finds a gun she likes try to find a way to let her shoot one like it before the final choice is made. Many suggestions of small revolvers and they are often what feel good in a woman's hand, but revolvers are hard to pull the trigger on and many women cannot do it more than once or twice. This then limits your revolver choices to those that can be fired single action. A concealed hammer or even a shrouded hammer are out if she can't pull the trigger consistently. Shrouded offers the ability to cock the revolver, but if she can't pull the trigger in double action it is quite likely she will not be able to consistently pull back the shrouded hammer either. As for manipulating the slide on a pistol. This does not really require a lot of strength. Taught the proper technique most women no matter their size can rack the slide. Using good technique the racking of the slide should be no more difficult than opening the door on an automobile. So don't decide that a semi-auto is not the right gun just because of the slide. No matter what gun she chooses, try to let her fire one before the purchase. What feels good in the store may not feel good when it comes to pulling the trigger, racking the slide, or dealing with the recoil. If you are wondering this is the voice of experience talking. Unfortunately, living where we do my wife does not get to try before buying. She bought and sold or traded three last year. All were very nice guns that have been enjoyed by their current owners, but none of the three really worked for her. The last one had a minor oddity that most people would not have been bothered by, but it bothered her and then when she discovered that my SIG P239 was as light as her pistol she started carrying one of my SIGs. She is now looking at Springfield XDs and (as much as it shames me to say this) Glocks . (I have nothing against Glocks, they just don't fit me.) We will see what happens when spring finally arrives. __________________ George Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein

February 26th, 2007, 07:02 AM	#24
maclean3 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 3,062	Great post Lima ... jd, sorry about the Mustang! I agree with what's been said, let your wife choose her own guns. Jack __________________ "The sheep are everywhere. We are raising up a nation of cannon fodder types and we are screwed." HotGuns

February 27th, 2007, 12:40 PM	#25
katmandoo122 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 284	Just because she's a female is no reason to accept a snubbie. Ask Julie Goloski. http://www.juliegoloski.com/ http://www.juliegoloski.com/pic_page..._l10nats06.htm __________________ Human Beings understand Reason, Compassion, and Dignity **Predators understand Strength**

February 27th, 2007, 05:01 PM	#31
FIREARMZ Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 250	Ahhh's 40 oz of JMB's finest work. Great looking gun. __________________ Ken Forbus Owner of FIREARMZ FIREARMZ FORUM

February 28th, 2007, 02:49 AM	#32
js Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: kansas Posts: 298	My wife carries a Glock 26. 1). Desantis Gun Caddie http://www.desantisholster.com/n58.html 2). Desantis Nemesis pocket holster in cargo pants 3). Purse holster when absolutely nothing else will work. __________________ Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything Wyatt Earp

February 27th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#26
sjp2452 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 209	Agree that she needs to pick it. I do hear that lots of women like the XD. It does have great ergonomics and fits small hands well. Subcompact comes in 9mm and .40 and is quite small, and you can get the finger extension for the front of the mags if the grip is too short. There are some holster makers (like fist-inc) that will tailor holsters for women. As Lima said, there are differences in physiology and a typical holster that'd be fine on a dude may not be so good on a dudette (the wider female hip bone pushes the bottom of the holster out, it pivots on the belt line and pushes the grip into the ribs...ouch). Kahr and the baby Glocks are worth looking at. My wife has a Sig 232 (.380) and looooves that gun. I've tried to talk her into a larger caliber, but she just loves that thing. I just wish I could talk her into getting the permit and carrying it. She's not opposed, but the places she usually goes to are work and the YMCA, both of which ban guns on the premesis. I hate those stupid signs...so stupid.

February 27th, 2007, 04:41 PM	#30
briansmech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 690	now THATS a nice gift for all your efforts.... :p

February 28th, 2007, 10:28 PM	#33
TN_Mike VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southwest TN Posts: 8,086	Well, after having 5 kids my wife isn't slightly built anymore. She's the first to admit she is bigger than she wants to be but I think she looks fine. And she is the assistant director of a large day care center in our area so she deals with about 100 screaming little kids during the day and then comes home and expertly handles our 5. I don't honestly know how she does it, I'd lose my mind. But, back on topic, she carries a Springfield XD .40 sub compact in a right side Fobus Paddle holster. Well, at least she did. We just bought her a Galco kydex belt holster that she loves much better than the paddle, but I do not as of yet have any pics of her with it on. Her is a shot of her getting ready one weekend to go shopping at the mall. I shot it with my camera phone so it isn't the best photo in the world but you get the idea. She and I both carry to protect our children. She can't understand why any woman wouldn't carry a gun to keep her kids safe and I am inclined to agree. __________________ A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -Barry Goldwater 1968 "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" -Thomas Jefferson

March 1st, 2007, 12:08 AM	#34
cockedlocked01 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S. California Posts: 967	As has been said, the best thing that can be done is for the wife to try some guns out. I did this with my wife & she uses my 1st handgun for her defense gun (She doesn't CC). She shoots my Dan Wesson 14-2 .357 revolver. It has interchangeable barrels, but she likes the weight & feel of the 2 1/2" barrel, Pachmeyer combat grips, & a laser sight. & yes, it's loaded with .357 rounds. __________________ "Use human means as though divine ones didn't exist, and divine means as though there were no human ones." Baltasar Gracian Integrated Close Combat NRA Member Glock 19, Kahr P45, Kel-Tec P-32, S&W 442, & Dan Wesson 14-2

March 1st, 2007, 12:14 AM	#35
sgtD VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,218	I just want to let you men know that your not alone (loosing your guns to your wives). My wife took ownership of my shotgun that I have had since I was 13 and my security six. When it comes to having a wife who likes to shoot, I share both your joy and your pain.. __________________ When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts & minds will follow. Semper Fi.

March 1st, 2007, 07:49 AM	#36
swedgin Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: roy utah Posts: 76	I'm not sure the strength of your wife's hands but my mom couldn't rack a heavier slide so I continually tried to talk her into a now discontinued Beretta .380 (I think it was a Cheetah variant) that featured a tipup barrel so she never had to pull the slide back. It was a bit large of a frame for a .380 but still carriable. She disregarded (on grounds of the Beretta being ugly and a Mark II being extra cute) and went with an easy to rack .22. I sternly recommend against this however as it is not a caliber for self defense. __________________ If he was gonna decorate his bar with my friend, he shoulda armed himself.

March 1st, 2007, 08:09 AM	#37
Tom G VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,184	women and slides My wife has the same problem pulling the slide back on both of my 9mm autos . She is 5'11" but she still can't do it. she loves my Ruger Mark 11 22/45. I could never could under stand why women can't pull that slide back. Guess it's time to introduce her to weight lifting.

March 1st, 2007, 08:33 AM	#38
Flippinstk Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Va Posts: 211	I bought my wife a snubby for XMAS and she loves it. She shoots 38's at the range and then loads up with 357's for CC. I've offered to buy her whatever she wants in a Semi-Auto, but she doesnt want to carry one. I knew she liked wheel guns thats why I got her one, otherwise I agree with all that recommened to let her try everything that she can. And pick whatever she is comfortable with. __________________ Alex G. S/A Micro-Compact .45 Virginia Beach, Va. Senior Chief Petty Officer, RETIRED, USN Certified NRA Pistol Instructor NRA Range Officer

March 1st, 2007, 10:10 AM	#40
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off Of The X Posts: 24,081	limatunes Slightly Off Topic............ This is my personal favorite for building hand/grip strength & GREATLY increasing/improved trigger control. The Gripmaster & they are absolutely fantastic. Figure on about $20.00 Whoops! Strike that above price...much better ~ Search Ebay for Gripmaster...Much better prices! Last edited by QKShooter; March 1st, 2007 at 10:17 AM..

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