Guns for us girls- Where to start?

[autobot]

I have wanted to buy a gun for the longest but I don't know what to get or where to get it. Is there a good place women can go to purchase weapons? I always get nervous around all the men at the gun counters and chicken out. I know its lame, but what can I say? :o

I am small 5'2", but fit and honestly, will need some practice shooting I have only shot one gun, one time.

 

[RPFP]

I have a small friend who happens to be a woman. She is about 5 foot or so. She carries a glock .40. (G27)

http://www.glock.com/english/index_pistols.htm

then click on models
then click on any of the sub compact models

for your first gun start with a 9 mm. I have always thought those little darrangers are hot in stockings though . Me i'm a HnK man myself.

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/products.html


both are good manufacturers.

 

[Ira Aten]

Double Action Whell Gun (Revolver)

The best thing you can look for, is a revolver from either Smith and Wesson, or Taurus Arms Wheel Gun (Revolver). A revolver will NOT jam, and they are safer to handle when you are EXCITED.

Rest assured, when you are needing to use a gun, you will be excited. The old saying, Keep It Simple is true when it comes to self defense.

I would suggest a .357 magnum, in a revolver like a "Lady Smith" since you can shoot both .38 specials, and .357 out of them. (They are the same diameter bullet, but a magnum is just a longer cartridge, which allows to pack more powder charge.

That way you can shoot .38's for target practice, and fun, while learning, and carry .357 mag. in the gun at all times for defense.

Taurus makes a .357 now, and their quality is just as good as Smith and Wesson.
(As an old timer, believe me, it is hard for me to say ANYTHING is as good as a Smith, but Taurus now makes a hell of a good handgun.)

Automatics can jam, if you wind up with a bad load. With a revolver, if a cartridge doesn't fire, then you can just pull the trigger again. An automatic Glock doesn't allow for that. If you are excited, and it jams, you are screwed.

If you keep pulling the trigger on a revolver, you are guaranteed to get a round off without jamming.

 

[RPFP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrZ0kxhDA3Y&feature=related

http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Item


I'd like to see a revolver fire after this abuse. In most firing tests, out of 5000 or so continuous shots, springfield armory, glock, smith n wesson, and HnK all come up on top.

Go to a shotting range, they all have guns you can just shoot for a few bucks. I am sure they will be more than happy to show you how different size guns feel. Most gun shops owners are very friendly people and will answer any question you have. Its hard to convince people which gun manufacture is "better". Best thing is to just go out and look at each type of gun and what ever feels best for you.

 

[1000-points-of-fright]

Check your local shooting ranges. Chances are one of them has a "ladies night" that will allow you to try a bunch of different guns and train with other women. If not, look for a gun store with a female employee.

But honestly, don't let the guys intimidate you. If you show even the slightest interest in firearms they will be falling all over themselves to help you find the right gun for you.

 

[Original_Intent]

I am a big fan of the Ruger 9mm, especially if you are on a budget.

If money is nto an object then sure Glock is a great gun.

Ruger is a good solid and inexpensive gun though.

 

[jenninlouisiana]

I love my Glock.

 

[AzGundude]

The best opportunity to learn what would be a good handgun for you is to find an indoor range that rents a variety of handguns at their range counter. After handling a few and deciding which you may like to try, you will then be able to take them out on the range and fire some rounds through them to experience which fit and point well, and which do not. Such a facility might require a range safety officer accompany you, which normal and fine.

What you are looking for is a weapon which has good "pointability". Try this exercize: Pick an object in the room and look away from it. Then, while looking away, point your finger at it. When you then look down along your arm to see where your finger is pointing, you will see that it is pointing rather directly at it. Try the same exercize with various pistols. (Unloaded of course.) The design which ends up coming closest to having its sights align on the target when you pointed it without looking is the one for you, regardless of caliber.

I am not advocating that you not use your sights when shooting. However, in the terrifying stress of fighting to save one's life, much of the training and fine motor skills will go out the window. IF you end up cranking off some rounds hurriedly and without properly aiming, at least a gun which has good "pointability" will be less likely to miss.

 

[Nicketas]

????

 

[ChickenHawk]

If you can only own one handgun it has to be the Glock 19. If you shoot left handed I would consider H&K.

 

[Matt Collins]

Ladies -

I got a fully loaded weapon for ya right here! It can fire multiple rounds at a time and doesn't go off accidentally.

 

[Matt]

Glocks have huge grips which makes them hard to shoot for some women. They're also unsafe to keep in a purse because of the trigger safety if you plan to carry that way. I would recommend a 9mm with a double action trigger and a thumb safety. HK USP Compacts are sweet but very expensive. Maybe check out Bersa or Taurus if you're on a budget.

 

[Physics]

Start with a .22 long rifle. All these guys are all talking gun at you, I don't blame you for being intimidated. A .22 long rifle is the bullet, not the gun, and you can find many, many guns that will fire a .22. It is a very small bullet, with little gun powder, so it doesn't kick at all. They are also very accurate, and ammo is extremely cheap. The .22 is by far the best gun to learn to shoot with.

Let me put it to you this way, I can spend $250 on 1000 .45 rounds. I can get the same number of rounds for like $10 in .22

 

[kushaze]

I agree with this:

Glocks have huge grips which makes them hard to shoot for some women. They're also unsafe to keep in a purse because of the trigger safety if you plan to carry that way. I would recommend a 9mm with a double action trigger and a thumb safety. HK USP Compacts are sweet but very expensive. Maybe check out Bersa or Taurus if you're on a budget.

but I also agree with this if you are a beginner:

Start with a .22 long rifle. All these guys are all talking gun at you, I don't blame you for being intimidated. A .22 long rifle is the bullet, not the gun, and you can find many, many guns that will fire a .22. It is a very small bullet, with little gun powder, so it doesn't kick at all. They are also very accurate, and ammo is extremely cheap. The .22 is by far the best gun to learn to shoot with.

Let me put it to you this way, I can spend $250 on 1000 .45 rounds. I can get the same number of rounds for like $10 in .22

 

[McDermit]

my ex asks me this all the time, but I'm not a gun guy, so I'm of no help. She's built bigger... 5'7 or so, and she's only ever shot bbguns and her dad's 22 handgun with snakeshot in it a couple times.

Good thread.

 

[WV Freedom Fighter]

I agree with Ira, a Smith and Wesson-Lady Smith.

 

[qednick]

I have wanted to buy a gun for the longest but I don't know what to get or where to get it. Is there a good place women can go to purchase weapons? I always get nervous around all the men at the gun counters and chicken out. I know its lame, but what can I say? :o

I am small 5'2", but fit and honestly, will need some practice shooting I have only shot one gun, one time.

Now you know how I feel when my wife makes me go in the nail salon with her! :o

Anyways, some really good advice so far but I can't stress this enough: you need to go to your local range and try out several of their rental weapons first. Explain to them it's your first time - they will bend over backwards to help you and they'll probably have a range officer take you on range and really help you get started. However, the reason you need to try several weapons is because you need to find the right size, weight, caliber and recoil for your hand. Then you can discover what you're most comfortable with and buy that model.

A .22LR would be good for an absolute beginner as they have hardly any recoil. However, you may find that you want to upgrade to something bigger pretty soon afterwards. 22LR don't have much stopping power so they're not as good if you're wanting something for defensive purposes.

.32 or .380ACP may be more ideal for you. If you want something concealable consider a Walther PPK or similar (Bersa Thunder, etc.).

Glocks are great for reliability: you can bury one in your back yard for 10 years, dig it up and it will probably fire straight away.

But the bottom line remains: try some out first. Go to your range. Believe me, they will be delighted to show a pretty young lady the ropes so don't be intimidated.

 

[Richard in Austin]

Consider a basic pistol course. You should be able to find one by calling gun shops near you. A good instructor will start you off shooting a .22. Do not let anybody talk you into shooting a magnum or a .40 early on - you don't want to get in the habit of flinching.

Comfort is a high priority, especially if you have small hands. See if you can go to a gun show near you to look at as many guns as possible. I agree with everyone who recommended a revolver as a first gun. They're much simpler to operate for a beginner, and usually reliable as bricks.

Rule #2 of Gunfighting: Get the biggest, most powerful gun that you can safely, comfortably, and accurately handle. (Rule #1 of Gunfighting is: Have a gun!)

Good luck!

 

[samtechlan]

Whatever gun you get look up crimson trace laser grips. They are fantastic especially in the dark; the bullet basically goes where you place the laser dot.
http://www.crimsontrace.com/

 

[Dequeant]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_96819.html

My wife is 4ft 10 and just happens to be the most beautiful woman on earth. She carries a SA XD 9MM Sub Compact 3'. Holds 11 rounds of 9mm (i suggest hollowpoints). She is very small and petite, and can easily conceal it on her person, or in her purse.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?version=59

If you want to step up to a round with more "get away from me punk", i'd suggest the .45 ACP version of the XD compact. The .45ACP really doesn't have much recoil, but I do a lot of shooting......my wife can shoot it very accurately, but i'm not confident she would do well with it in an emergency. The 45 packs alot more punch, but is slightly harder to conceal without "printing" (basically your clothes slightly conforming to the shape of the gun). I'm 5'8 and it doesn't print on me, your mileage may vary.

To be quite honest, women don't need large guns....... The last thing would-be rapists expect from a woman is any gun at all, and you would probably be just as effective at scaring them away with a cap gun. Of course, if that DOESN'T scare them, it's always nice to have 11 rounds of STFU.