PremiumBeef Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 My wife said that she would like a pistol for when I am away on business. I am looking at either a 9mm or a 40 S&W. I have not shot a 40 S&W and am wondering if the recoil would be bad on her. She is a small woman and I want her to be comfortable with shooting a fair number of practice rounds. Any advice would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoythunter37 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Have you thought of a .380? They have no recoil at all and pretty reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Boy Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Have you thought of a .380? They have no recoil at all and pretty reliable. they have no recoil and no power. I know a lot carry them, but i have always thought of it as a gang banger round. I think a .22 pistol would be better than a .380, but that's just my opinion as far as original quesiton, I'd go with the 9mm. Cheap to shoot, plenty of power. I personally have a Glock Model 22 .40 cal, but wouldn't want my girlfriend shooting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 A 9mm is probably a good bet, but equally important to caliber is the frame and fit for her. Get one that fits her well and she will shoot it better. Women's hands and muscle tone are much different than a man's. Fit is important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I've seen some tiny women like my 5'1" sister-in-law shoot a 12 gauge and enjoy it. It's more her attitude than her size. If she's never shot before she needs to learn to shoot first, a 22 being best. Then learn to mange recoil. One couple that shoots at the Tuesday night shoot couldn't find 9mm's last week so the wife shot her husbands Springfield in 40 and did just fine. But if recoil is an issue, remember a good hit with a 22 is better than a miss with the 40. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Amen to the fit/feel/comfort factor. My wife likes a Beretta 92. IT fits her hand well, and she does not mind the recoil at all. I have been to several autopsies hosted by the 9mm, (and even a couple put on the the .380) and none of those guys ever had a bad thing to say about the stopping power of those calibers. I would go with a well-fitted 9mm and never look back. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I have been to several autopsies hosted by the 9mm, (and even a couple put on the the .380) and none of those guys ever had a bad thing to say about the stopping power of those calibers. HB Awesome testimonial:D:D:D:D Did they have a brand preference by chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 The most impressive "terminal performance" was by a 9mm Black Talon (remember those??) which was a lower abdominal shot that expanded magnificently and shredded the liver in a star pattern (fatal in minutes), then severed the descending aorta (fatal in about a minute), then entered the spine, severed the spinal cord (incapacitating NOW) and embedded in the back of the vertebrae. That poor fellow went down so hard he had gravel in his mouth. {I would add that he particpated in the high-risk activity of street-pharmacy in the wee hours of the morning in a post-zenith urban area.} HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 The most impressive "terminal performance" was by a 9mm Black Talon (remember those??) which was a lower abdominal shot that expanded magnificently and shredded the liver in a star pattern (fatal in minutes), then severed the descending aorta (fatal in about a minute), then entered the spine, severed the spinal cord (incapacitating NOW) and embedded in the back of the vertebrae. That poor fellow went down so hard he had gravel in his mouth. {I would add that he particpated in the high-risk activity of street-pharmacy in the wee hours of the morning in a post-zenith urban area.} HB That is odd.................I thought those loads only killed cops? Huh, guess not. All that from a 9mm. Pretty impressive, that is if you are not the one hit with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Doesn't directly answer your question, but the best thing I've ever read on buying a pistol for your wife is this article from a woman shooter: http://www.corneredcat.com/Men/buywifegun.aspx Recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PremiumBeef Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thanks for the replies. I ordered her a 9mm and it should be here next week. We are looking forward to going and shooting together. If we can find a concealed carry class in our area that is not full then we would like to do that this spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCO Team Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I just typed up a post and it went "poof"! The short of it. Finding a gun she is comfortable is the first part. I would suggest that she shoots a few different ones to get the feel. The biggest fear is having the gun taken away, especially when it comes to a woman, and one that is not use to handling a gun. I am a small woman too. You want to keep it fairly close to your body for control, it's in the grip and elbows. Too many women stick their arms straight out in a locked position, that can be easily kicked out of ones hands. I have a .357 Taurus, loaded with snake shot, .38's and finished off with .357's. Then I was granted my Dad's .38 Special Police Detective, I've been shooting that since I was six. The affect of surprise can throw practice aside and false security can be deadly, to the gun holder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 The most impressive "terminal performance" was by a 9mm Black Talon (remember those??) which was a lower abdominal shot that expanded magnificently and shredded the liver in a star pattern (fatal in minutes), then severed the descending aorta (fatal in about a minute), then entered the spine, severed the spinal cord (incapacitating NOW) and embedded in the back of the vertebrae. That poor fellow went down so hard he had gravel in his mouth. {I would add that he particpated in the high-risk activity of street-pharmacy in the wee hours of the morning in a post-zenith urban area.} HB They were banned due to media pressure back in the 90's. They were replaced with the same thing, just renamed the Ranger SXT. It lacked the black coating, which I believe was Lubalox. I have seen first hand what a .40 caliber Ranger SXT does. It boils down to shot placement rather than caliber or ammo brand. About the only gauranteed one shot stops from a handgun are shots directly to the central nervous system or left ventricle. Have you considered a revolver? A .38 Special loaded with 158 grain lead semi wadcutters is a decent round. Not much recoil and the soft lead expands. Or better yet, a shotgun is a great home defense gun. Don't know if that's an option for you. A 9mm is adequate. Practice a lot. I would consider a lighter, faster round such as a 115 grain +P+, maybe Cor Bon ammo. Just my thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I'd say the 9mm for sure; ammo is really inexpensive and it is a good round for the money and power. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 They were banned due to media pressure back in the 90's. They were replaced with the same thing, just renamed the Ranger SXT. It lacked the black coating, which I believe was Lubalox. I have seen first hand what a .40 caliber Ranger SXT does. It boils down to shot placement rather than caliber or ammo brand. About the only gauranteed one shot stops from a handgun are shots directly to the central nervous system or left ventricle. Have you considered a revolver? A .38 Special loaded with 158 grain lead semi wadcutters is a decent round. Not much recoil and the soft lead expands. Or better yet, a shotgun is a great home defense gun. Don't know if that's an option for you. A 9mm is adequate. Practice a lot. I would consider a lighter, faster round such as a 115 grain +P+, maybe Cor Bon ammo. Just my thoughts. I pretty much agree with you. I read a book once sitting in a homicide investigation office about handgun ballistics. It was a very technical manual that incorporated an awful lot of anecdotal evidence. The short story was that the author came to believe through his investigation that a CNS hit by any major caliber from 9mm up was immediately incapacitating, and a non-CNS hit by any of those calibers was not measurably different than any of the other calibers. In other words, if you use a major caliber, and hit CNS, bad guy is down, NOW. IF you use a major caliber and do not hit CNS, bad guy will be up and dangerous for some period of time, regardless of whether it was a 9mm or .45 ACP he was hit with, and that period of time was not significantly different for any of the rounds. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I pretty much agree with you. I read a book once sitting in a homicide investigation office about handgun ballistics. It was a very technical manual that incorporated an awful lot of anecdotal evidence. The short story was that the author came to believe through his investigation that a CNS hit by any major caliber from 9mm up was immediately incapacitating, and a non-CNS hit by any of those calibers was not measurably different than any of the other calibers. In other words, if you use a major caliber, and hit CNS, bad guy is down, NOW. IF you use a major caliber and do not hit CNS, bad guy will be up and dangerous for some period of time, regardless of whether it was a 9mm or .45 ACP he was hit with, and that period of time was not significantly different for any of the rounds. HB I couldn't agree more. I have said it before, "A pistol is not a rifle". I got that quote off of the video "Handgun Stopping Power". This is what I tell people. Shot placement is everything. I don't care why someone is stopped, as long as they stop doing what they were doing that caused me to have to shoot. There are so many documented cases of people fataly wounded who still hurt and kill others. Are you law enforcement or a prosecutor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I'm a deputy prosecutor. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 With a name like Hoosierbuck I am assuming you like my horseshoe?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csualumni21000 Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 9mm my wife can shoot 9 all day but dislikes shooting 40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKA Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Take her to a range, where they rent guns and let her shoot some different ones to find what she is comfortable with. I teach CCHP and so many times the husband buys the wife a gun that she is not comfortable with, and she will never like it. I had rather my wife have a 22 and be able to shoot it accurate, than to have a 44 Mag, and not be able to shoot it or when she does, not be able to hit her intended target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 With a name like Hoosierbuck I am assuming you like my horseshoe?? Unless the "horseshoe" is playing the Monsters of the Midway, I like it just fine! HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) Don't get anything unless you take your wife with you. I've bought 3 guns for my wife and she didn't like any of them. We went to a gun shop together and she handled everything from a Taurus pt22 up to a full size smith. I thought she was leaning toward a Walther P-22, but after discussing it found that she actually preferred the Glock 26. Who am I to argue with her? Edited April 7, 2009 by johnf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 I'm a deputy prosecutor. HB What is CNS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 What is CNS? Central Nervous System;) Head and Spine basically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Yup, what he said. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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