Good budget entry level handgun for my wife
- Thread starter shane77m
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When you bet your life on that little tool, it's best to have something that is reliable, accurate, and powerful enough. Revolvers are getting crazy expensive now, but in revolver flavor, I recommend a .357 Magnum or .44 Special.
It's best to get something like a Glock .45... not too hard to handle, manageable recoil, accurate enough at combat distances, and is a man stopper. The problem is that you're going to be hard pressed to find a good quality pistol for $300... you might want to check gun shows, but the usual reliable pistol averages around the $400-600 range.
It's best to get something like a Glock .45... not too hard to handle, manageable recoil, accurate enough at combat distances, and is a man stopper. The problem is that you're going to be hard pressed to find a good quality pistol for $300... you might want to check gun shows, but the usual reliable pistol averages around the $400-600 range.
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sailingaway
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I got a .357 magnum revolver for my first gun and regretted it. I was thinking I might not shoot it much and might need it to be ready to fire after a long period of disuse, but it gets enough work out. It just isn't that accurate for me, and I do a lot better with 1911s. I would suggest you have her try some out at a gun range that rents guns for use, to see what works for her and go from there.
PursuePeace
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Do you have a range nearby where you can rent guns? If so, she should go and try a few out and see what she is comfortable with and can shoot well. By the way, here is a website that she might find helpful. It's common sense stuff, but it does contain a lot of pretty good info, in my opinion: http://www.corneredcat.com/contents/
tod evans
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That's the best advice. Just make sure she can shoot one of the 'combat calibers' (9mm, .40, 45...) and choose a platform that will reliably go bang (good brand/model). The gunshop guys will be able to help you out quite a bit.
But yeah, pick one out and have her shoot it.
ClydeCoulter
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You might have her try a double action revolver also, you don't need to cock it to fire it, so accidental discharge is not an issue. Depends on whether a slide action cock would suit her in a nervous emergency (1911 style).
I agree with Sailingaway, gun range a good option to try different cals and styles.
I agree with Sailingaway, gun range a good option to try different cals and styles.
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Original_Intent
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aloneinthewilderness
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If you look hard enough you might be able to find a used Springfield XD for around that price. It may be a little more, though. $300 isn't much to work with. I would rather buy a used higher end gun that is trustworthy than a new gun that is not as good as it could be. 9mm is a good caliber for a female if she is an inexperienced shooter. If you do go with 9mm, make sure you get high quality defensive ammunition, like Speer Gold Dots or Federal HST. There are a few others as well, but those are what I trust. You want something that is going to be as close to 100 percent reliable as you can get, with good expansion and penetration. I love a good revolver, but as was the case in this incident, six rounds is really limiting. Like others suggested, going to the range and renting guns will really give you an idea of what is comfortable for her.
.380 is not a bad round (though not great), but a lot of the guns that fire that round are very light and it can have a snappy recoil, compared to a slightly heavier 9mm that is much more manageable.
.380 is not a bad round (though not great), but a lot of the guns that fire that round are very light and it can have a snappy recoil, compared to a slightly heavier 9mm that is much more manageable.
Qdog
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I got my girlfriend a model 60 smith and wesson 5 shot revolver in .357 magnum with a 2 inch barrel. She shoots it better than most of the cops I worked with shot their full size Sig p226 9mm handguns. She is 5'11 and weighs 145 (skinny as a twig).
The advantages are concealability, excellent stopping power, extreme reliability, and ease of use and training, also you can shoot cheap .38 ammo out of a .357 for practice.
The disadvantages are small capacity (5 shots), and it takes longer to reload than a semi-auto.
If you go this route, make sure you DONT get one of those airweights, or titanium, or scandium. Get Steel. You need the extra weight to lessen the felt recoil in such a small gun. A extra few ounces makes little difference when you are carrying it, but makes a big difference when you are shooting it.
I got her a smith and wesson, but knowing what I know now, I would have gotten a similar model Ruger. Rossi's are cheaper. You can probable get a little 5 shot Rossi for 300-$350. I paid $500 for her S&W.
The advantages are concealability, excellent stopping power, extreme reliability, and ease of use and training, also you can shoot cheap .38 ammo out of a .357 for practice.
The disadvantages are small capacity (5 shots), and it takes longer to reload than a semi-auto.
If you go this route, make sure you DONT get one of those airweights, or titanium, or scandium. Get Steel. You need the extra weight to lessen the felt recoil in such a small gun. A extra few ounces makes little difference when you are carrying it, but makes a big difference when you are shooting it.
I got her a smith and wesson, but knowing what I know now, I would have gotten a similar model Ruger. Rossi's are cheaper. You can probable get a little 5 shot Rossi for 300-$350. I paid $500 for her S&W.
Keith and stuff
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I 2nd Ruger.
Springfield Armory used to be budget handguns but they became so popular because of the low price and high feature list, that the price jumped. Ruger makes decent quality, decent priced handguns. Plus, they are made in America. The company is based in CT, NH and AZ. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturm,_Ruger_&_Co.
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Qdog
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By the way, dont get a keltec. They are awful. The trigger pull is like 75 lbs.
I prefer revolvers for self defense. If you are in hand to hand combat with someone, the slide on a semi auto can get caught in clothing, if you bash them over the head with it, it can cause the slide to come slightly out of alignment, if you limp wrist it the gun can have feeding problems and jam, if you press the barrel of most semi autus flush against your target they often wont fire because the slide wont be in alignment, a bad round cause you to have to rack the slide to get another round (takes two hands).
On a revolver you can hold the gun in your mouth and pull the trigger with your tongue, and it will go bang every time, without fail. If you do get bad round, instead of having to tap/rack, you simply pull the trigger again. The only way for a revolver to malfunction is for its mechanical components to FAIL. there are no magazine springs to wear out, maintenance is easier... you can bash someone over the head with it...
Now all this being said. In a straight up shootout, I would take my semi auto p226 in .357 sig over a revolver any day. You get more firepower, have a higher capacity, can reload faster. But it requires much more training to use a weapon like this effectively, and there is a lot more that can go wrong.
I prefer revolvers for self defense. If you are in hand to hand combat with someone, the slide on a semi auto can get caught in clothing, if you bash them over the head with it, it can cause the slide to come slightly out of alignment, if you limp wrist it the gun can have feeding problems and jam, if you press the barrel of most semi autus flush against your target they often wont fire because the slide wont be in alignment, a bad round cause you to have to rack the slide to get another round (takes two hands).
On a revolver you can hold the gun in your mouth and pull the trigger with your tongue, and it will go bang every time, without fail. If you do get bad round, instead of having to tap/rack, you simply pull the trigger again. The only way for a revolver to malfunction is for its mechanical components to FAIL. there are no magazine springs to wear out, maintenance is easier... you can bash someone over the head with it...
Now all this being said. In a straight up shootout, I would take my semi auto p226 in .357 sig over a revolver any day. You get more firepower, have a higher capacity, can reload faster. But it requires much more training to use a weapon like this effectively, and there is a lot more that can go wrong.
PursuePeace
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There is one that has hardly any recoil at all, Sig p238.
The Kahr P380 is another good one for her to try.
phill4paul
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I will add my 2 cents in defense of the .357. The ability to practice cheaply and with less 'thunder' is a good gun for a beginner. And I have always, and still do, prefer wheel guns w/ speed loaders.
ETA: As per OP I think it fits the "budget entry" catagory.
ETA: As per OP I think it fits the "budget entry" catagory.
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pcosmar
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Otherwise known as a Lady Smith.
I would love to get one for my wife.
Two things,, Shop around. Prices vary,, and used guns can be great bargains.
and She should try them.. How it feels to her will matter. Let her pick her gun.
phill4paul
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Truly the defining characteristic.
Qdog
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I dont recommend 380 auto. I saw a guy who got shot 8 times by a 380 in a drug deal/robbery gone wrong. He lived (it wasn't pretty though). The best advice I can give is go to the range, shoot a bunch of guns, and pick the one that you shoot the best and has the most powerful round you can accurately shoot. There is no reason to get a 380, because a child could handle the recoil on a 9mm, and it can fit in pretty much just as compact a gun as a 380.
One of the best semi-auto handgun rounds when it comes to performance, cost, and ease to shoot is 40 S&W. I shoot .357 sig which has a flatter trajectory, a bottle neck design, higher velocity, but is quite a bit more expensive (not really preactical for a causual shooter). Its also the round the secret service uses.
One of the best semi-auto handgun rounds when it comes to performance, cost, and ease to shoot is 40 S&W. I shoot .357 sig which has a flatter trajectory, a bottle neck design, higher velocity, but is quite a bit more expensive (not really preactical for a causual shooter). Its also the round the secret service uses.
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