My wife has the Ruger lc380
She likes it. Not too heavy or bulky and easy for her arthritic hands to pull the slide. Not bad recoil either. It can handle Underwood’s 380 +P hardcast just fine.
It also has the Crimson Trace grips.
Need a Gun Recommendation
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She likes it. Not too heavy or bulky and easy for her arthritic hands to pull the slide. Not bad recoil either. It can handle Underwood’s 380 +P hardcast just fine.
It also has the Crimson Trace grips.
My advice is to forget about figuring out which gun is right for her for now. She needs to get some training and familiarization first from someone who is not her husband. You may be a very competent shooter and instructor, but wives learning to shoot from husbands is a recipe for frustration and a bad outcome.
I would try to see if you can interest her into taking some classes. A women's only class would be ideal, especially one that starts them off with .22s and graduates to larger pieces. Turn her loose at a range that rents a variety of different handguns. Then, let her pick something that SHE chooses. That way she will get something that she likes and will be more invested in it and will be more willing to practice with it. If she winds up choosing a .22mag single action revolver, then whip out your credit card. That's way better than nothing at all.
I would try to see if you can interest her into taking some classes. A women's only class would be ideal, especially one that starts them off with .22s and graduates to larger pieces. Turn her loose at a range that rents a variety of different handguns. Then, let her pick something that SHE chooses. That way she will get something that she likes and will be more invested in it and will be more willing to practice with it. If she winds up choosing a .22mag single action revolver, then whip out your credit card. That's way better than nothing at all.
CZ P10S.
The LC380 does weigh less than the 365. However, the 365-380 weighs less than the LC380.
This. ^^^^^^^^
Go to a range that rents handguns. (Try to go at a time when it's not real busy). Let her shoot several with defensive carry ammunition. The money you will spend is going to be offset by not purchasing the, "wrong gun".
9 MM semi auto handguns are as common as dirt on a farm today. And most can be rented very reasonably. Especially if you tell the guy behind the counter what you're trying to achieve for your wife.
MolaKule
Staff member
That Springfield Hellcat is a good choice but I would also recommend your wife try this one:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/shield-ez-180023
My daughter loves as it is easy to rack and operate.
Ah, the LC380 weighs considerably more than the LCP, so the recoils is less.
Most new shooters should start with a .22 and then work up at their own pace.
Ruger SR22 to start.
Ruger SR22 to start.
Full size 22 to gain proficiency (why only own one gun?) and work down in size.
I haven’t tried the LCP in 22 but is tempting to me. I’m no fan of recoil, my LCR357 with 38‘s is my limit. An LCR in 327mag, stoked 32 H&R mag, might make for light recoil-but she may not like a revolver trigger.
I’d say, make some date nights at a local range, rent a different gun each time. Get a small notebook and write down impressions each time. Thing is, if she takes to shooting, her preference may change with time.
I haven’t tried the LCP in 22 but is tempting to me. I’m no fan of recoil, my LCR357 with 38‘s is my limit. An LCR in 327mag, stoked 32 H&R mag, might make for light recoil-but she may not like a revolver trigger.
I’d say, make some date nights at a local range, rent a different gun each time. Get a small notebook and write down impressions each time. Thing is, if she takes to shooting, her preference may change with time.
My wife is a proficient shooter. Expert ribbons in both pistol and rifle from her Navy service. Owns a Beretta 92 as her home defense choice since she carried one (yes, carried) when she was deployed. She has relatively small hands. She can handle the Beretta well. Shoots better than most people at the range when she goes.
When she wanted a concealed carry pistol, we went to the range, and she tried the S&W Shield, the Glock 43, and the Walther CCP. All 9mm single stack. All quite concealable. My preference was the G43, based on my perception of reliability and commonality with other Glocks I own.
She found the recoil on both the S&W and the Glock to be objectionable. Despite being an experienced and capable shooter.
One round through that Walther, and she looked at me and said, “This one!”
It’s difficult to quantify recoil, because some of the perception has to do with how strong the shooter is, and how the gun fits their hand, but in shooting her CCP, I would put the recoil reduction over the Glock and S&W in the 30-40% category. It’s that good.
In comparing a Glock 42 (a .380 of comparable size) and the CCP in 9mm, the Walther has significantly lower recoil.
The gas piston recoil management really is a remarkably effective system.
So, once again, I’ll strongly encourage you to try the CCP.
When she wanted a concealed carry pistol, we went to the range, and she tried the S&W Shield, the Glock 43, and the Walther CCP. All 9mm single stack. All quite concealable. My preference was the G43, based on my perception of reliability and commonality with other Glocks I own.
She found the recoil on both the S&W and the Glock to be objectionable. Despite being an experienced and capable shooter.
One round through that Walther, and she looked at me and said, “This one!”
It’s difficult to quantify recoil, because some of the perception has to do with how strong the shooter is, and how the gun fits their hand, but in shooting her CCP, I would put the recoil reduction over the Glock and S&W in the 30-40% category. It’s that good.
In comparing a Glock 42 (a .380 of comparable size) and the CCP in 9mm, the Walther has significantly lower recoil.
The gas piston recoil management really is a remarkably effective system.
So, once again, I’ll strongly encourage you to try the CCP.
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By the way, my choice of concealed carry these days is the Sig P365XL.
Really impressive gun in terms of trigger, capacity and size.
Really impressive gun in terms of trigger, capacity and size.
What is the intended purpose. She (and every one else needs training) If she can't shoot a P365 consider the 15 round extended mags.
Possibly start with a glock 44 (.22) and then a Glock 19 (same size in 9mm)
Possibly start with a glock 44 (.22) and then a Glock 19 (same size in 9mm)
For a carry gun for his wife?
It is a nice gun, no doubt, however that is a pretty big gun for some ladies to conceal.
I’ve got a USP Compact, about the same thing, and it’s hard for me to conceal.
4WD
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We have 3 of those - two S&W’s and one Taurus - the girl’s shoot them fine …
Without a doubt the Ruger LCP (not the Max). If you want to change out the trigger on the Max than go for the max
Possibly the P 365 .380. Need to stick to .380
Rieg's gun store in Orlando has an indoor range and they also rent guns. I don't know if they still have the same policy that they did when I hung around there but back then when you rented a gun they used to allow to shoot any of their used guns. If you can find a GS that does that, it would be a good way for her to try out a variety of makes and models.
Well then let me make a more realistic recommendation please. I would probably go with the PPS from Walther or the p10s from CZ. I like the Taurus slim I think it's the 2s or g3s. And I would definitely give a look to the Ruger SR22 and the Browning 1911 in 9 Kurtz
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Instructions unclear. My wife is asking me to put her down.
