Handgun for the wife?

[Cureforcancer]

After years of trying to convince my wife to exercise her 2A Right she has finally ceded and will be taking the course for her ltc with in the next few weeks.
We went to Academy sports a few days ago so she can pick out a gun. She liked the Taurus PT738 .380.
I personally do not like Taurus. I have owned 2 a 709 and a PT111 both had mayor problems with failure to extract and were sent back for repair. I got rid of both. Can any of you recommend a similar pistol to the PT738 in size/feel from a different manufacturer?

 

[mosquito]

I teach new shooters, all the time, and many are women. Have her put a Walther PPQ (.9mm) in her hand. The gun has incredible ergonomics and has "the best trigger" out of the box, on any handgun you can find! Smooth non-gritty pull, very short reset. All of these things will help her with her basic shooting mechanics and will excellerate her enjoyment of the sport. Also, .9mm is less expensive to shoot and, in many Handguns........actually has less felt recoil, than .380. A small(er) gun, IMO, is wrong for a new shooter because they will never be able to master perfecting the correct grip and they are usually more snappy, while shooting. Just my opinion, others probably may have a different opinion!

 

[Deplorable Me]

Take her to the range with friends and have her try a few and handle them unloaded. Find one for summer use and one for winter use. I honestly think women have more and better carry options than men. Do not limit to a single handgun.

My wife looks at me funny when I put a .45 under my kilt.

 

[Phazer]

My wife liked the Glock 42. Until....she got her Sig P238..

 

[Marine Cpl]

Glock 42 is my vote if you are going .380. it shoots smoothly with almost no recoil. The other smaller .380's feel like. 40 S&W in the recoil department.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

get her what SHE wants.

start there. add as needed

 

[Cureforcancer]

get her what SHE wants.

start there. add as needed

That is part of my evil plan (more more more guns with a good excuse lol) but her safety is priority 1 i need to get her the appropriate handgun.

 

[Mike.s]

My wife's been shooting my ppk and is damn good with it. She tried my buddies ruger lcp. Now she wants one.

 

[cedmer]

After years of trying to convince my wife to exercise her 2A Right she has finally ceded and will be taking the course for her ltc with in the next few weeks.
We went to Academy sports a few days ago so she can pick out a gun. She liked the Taurus PT738 .380.
I personally do not like Taurus. I have owned 2 a 709 and a PT111 both had mayor problems with failure to extract and were sent back for repair. I got rid of both. Can any of you recommend a similar pistol to the PT738 in size/feel from a different manufacturer?

That's great!! I was convincing my wife to do the same but not successful yet, hopefully soon she'll be in it

I would go with 9mm, take her to a Gun rentals and let her hands to a Glock 26, M&P shield, or Ruger LC9s and enjoy you can't go wrong with any of those

 

[Steal2B]

Your wife needs to make the choice but she needs to both handle and shoot any selection. When we go Texas, my son takes his mom to some ranges, even if the ranges do not have rentals there are ALWAYS experienced owners that openly approach us so that my wife can try weapons they feel would be a good match. The TCP is small inexpensive light and very snappy so your wife may not enjoy shooting it. The LCP is a similar sized .380 but it is also a bit snappy and you gotta watch out for slide bite. If you feel you have to stick with 380, my wife likes my son's sig P238. It is more money but easy to shoot, rack and carry. This SIG does have a safety she would have go learn to habitually sweep. There are a number of good 9mm guns for her to try but they will be a bit larger and heavier but likely a better choice. If you are in the market for a range gun to learn fundamentals and enjoy, my wife loved shooting Buck Marks as well as SW22 Victories. Best of luck. Have fun and God bless Texas (the home to most of my kids and all my grandsons)

 

[Criticalt]

My girlfriend started with a S&W Bodygaurd 380, then she fired my Shield 9mm and liked it alot better. Less felt recoil and felt better in her hand.
Then she fired my SP101 357.......and she bought one.

My point is, girls like power too. At first she was afraid of 9mm, now shes firing 357, 45 and 44 mag very easily, and shes a girly girl.

 

[Podmonkey]

get her what SHE wants.

start there. add as needed

Excellent advice, if you start playing the "Oh you don't want that, you want this." game she is liable to lose interest. What do we tell new shooters all the time about gun selection? We say that ultimately whatever is chosen has to be something that fits you. If your wife likes the Taurus then thats what she should have, she will be more likely to want to shoot the gun she has chosen herself. If it turns out to be a POS then she'll decide for herself that she'd rather have something else. Just make sure she shoots it enough to make that determination sooner than later.

 

[Magnus]

I need to get a pistol for my wife. She keeps saying crazy things like "sharing" and "your guns".

 

[SJ42]

I need to get a pistol for my wife. She keeps saying crazy things like "sharing" and "your guns".

I think its time to trade her in for a newer version

 

[Magnus]

I never liked trading in, I'm a hoarder. Lol

 

[MoMan]

I think its time to trade her in for a newer version

I never liked trading in, I'm a hoarder. Lol

That can get a bit expensive, ESPECIALLY when she finds out ya' have "others"!!

Just sayin'!!

 

[rpf427]

I also recommend the P238. Also, give some thought to a revolver like one of the S&W airweights. Less levers, no slides, no safeties.

 

[tirwin1]

I purchased a walther P22 for my wife. She doesn't like the recoil on my glock 19. She's actually a pretty good shot for a beginner. She needs to take a class or two to become proficient. Maybe after that she might consider a 9mm. It is much better to start her out with something she is comfortable with.

 

[GOPerfect]

You already know most of the answers.

When I was selling guns, I found that many of my female customers really liked the feel of the Ruger LC9 and the LC380.

I know my wife absolutely loves the 9mm.

 

[Saltwater60]

You really need to go with her and tell her the good and bad of each gun. She needs to find one that's comfortable and she likes the trigger on. It is a good idea to try a few out before she buys if she can. The final needs to be up to her and what's she's comfortable with.

 

[Calculon]

I agree she should pick her own handgun. If you can get her to a rental range that has a good inventory she can try a bunch to find one she likes best.

I went through this process with my wife and buying 2 revolvers and one pistol before she found one she really liked. Ended up with Glock 42 (finally went to a range that rented many she wanted to try) which she loves.

 

[Phauxtoe]

A lot of women i know like the simplicty of a revolver.
just a thought!

 

[Calculon]

A lot of women i know like the simplicty of a revolver.
just a thought!

Agreed. Wifey liked the revolvers but not how they fit/conceal with her wardrobe.

 

[Snappo]

Agreed. Wifey liked the revolvers but not how they fit/conceal with her wardrobe.

Lady Smith is smaller than most semi's, no? That was my wife's first - a Lady Smith with +P loads. That thing would knock Jesus off a cross.

 

[Phauxtoe]

revolvers only have one bulgy part the rest is usually very thin.
LCRs are very light and have great triggers

 

[Calculon]

The width of the cylinder was the issue. Both revolvers are j-frames.

 

[Koz]

IMHO, you are only allowed to make suggestions to your wife. Ultimately a gun selection needs to be her choice. In my wife's case, she used my 9mm Shield and chose to take it. She liked my S&W 442 with CT grip and chose to take it. She liked my Colt Mustang Plus I I and chose to take it. She like my Henry 22 Carbine and chose to take that too. In her defense, she gave it back when I bought her a Maple Browning Grade I I BL22.

 

[Jem45472]

If staying with 380, definitely check out the sig p238. I would also have a look at the bersa thunder. It's a bit bigger and heavier, which should make it a nice shooter. Easy on the wallet also.

 

[eagleridge357]

For a woman who is new, cannot beat a Colt Mustang XSP 380. Small, lightweight, well made, great trigger, comfortable grip, well balanced, and she can learn triggering without being intimidated by strong kickback. IMHO the BEST 380 acp out there. I just happen to have a brand spankin' new one for sale. If you don't like it after 30 days send it back for 95% refund of your money. No bull. I can make an offer like that, because I know you will keep it. It's that good. check out a great review here Gun Review: Colt Mustang XSP - A Lightweight Defender

 

[NYGuns]

I'm in the same boat now. My wife recently submitted her application and she is going to start on a 22. I'm weary about giving her one of my 380's because they are so snappy and uncomfortable to shoot.