Author Topic: Carry gun for my wife (Read 1754 times)

tcoggins · « **on:** February 26, 2012, 09:51:08 AM »

Gents - My wife and I took the CPL class yesterday, and will do the shooting part of the class next Saturday. My intent was, she would use my Ruger SR9c for the shooting part, and I will use my GP100. I bought some snap caps for the 9, so she could practice loading and cycling the pistol before we went to the range. Well, she has a difficult time pulling the slide back, and quite often, gets a round jammed at the feed ramp.

At this point, we have decided that she will use my Ruger MKIII semi-auto 22 for the shooting part of the CPL class (I already cleared this with my instructor), but my concern for the future is, if she can't chamber a round in the 9 without struggling, I really don't want her carrying this gun. What are your opinions of a good carry gun? I am thinking about a DA revolver for her, perhaps the Ruger SP101. It would stil be heavy enough to absorb some recoil, but would be simpler for her to operate.

If she carries a semi-auto, I would like to keep it a 9 mm, as that is what I have, and practice ammo is cheap. The advantage of a revolver is, I already handload for 38 special and 357 mag, so I can load practice ammo cheap.

Any and all advice, opinions, or criticism are welcome.

Thank you.

Tim

Brett · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2012, 10:23:54 AM »

I think you are on the right track with the SP101 or similar DA revolver. The slides are small and springs are stiff in those small CC sized centerfire pistols. Some women, especially those with smaller hands or arthritis just do not have the grip strength to operate them. My wife can't work the slide of my 9mm P11 for instance but has no problems loading and shooting her Charter Arms Undercover.

Why not let her shoot the GP100 and you shoot the SR for qualifying?

bilmac · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2012, 11:55:24 AM »

Always fun to give advice for the guns other people need. J frame S&W probably 38special, but if that is too much a 32 long.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2012, 01:11:43 PM »

I am with bilmac, my gal carries my model 60 in 357 for exactly the reasons you describe...she has a 40 s & w, but had the same difficulties you mentioned..so the model 60 is hers...so far I have loaded it with plus p 38's.....that will probably be the load we settle on..but we need to do some serious shooting when it warms up...cold in Wy. right now...one thing about the 38/357 a guy can load light wt. stuff for pratice then heavy stuff for defense...

teamnelson · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2012, 01:21:20 PM »

My wife has the SP-101 in .32 H&R Magnum with Crimson Trace grips. Hydra-shok ammo for duty, but .32 longs for practice.
She had difficulties operating the slide on every compact or subcompact semi I had. With the SP101, she is confident with the controls - point, click. And I am confident that in a high stress situation she won't be confused or frustrated, it will be as simple as I can make it for her.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2012, 02:01:01 PM »

Most on here know I'm a big fan of Kel Tecs for conceal carry but I think your wife would be better off with a light framed revolver than a semi auto.

scootrd · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2012, 04:07:02 PM »

My wife has no issue with recoil. Right now she shoots a security-six .357 ,
However she has decided on a .380 for carry. It was suppose to be her
CHRISTmas present yet she has been a bit slow in choosing, (she says methodical

The Little LCP felt too small and tight for her.
She liked the Pk380
She has been looking for a dealer who carries a Bersa thunder in our area so she can try fit and feel.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2012, 11:08:28 AM »

If she has her mind set on a 380 then the Bersa is a good one , I know a couple women that carry them and have no issues at all , just my .02 here , but if she has limited skill with a autoloader , maybe a wheel gun in 357 would be a better choice for now .

stimpy

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2012, 12:15:29 PM »

Tim: A couple of issues here. If the SR9 is a striker fired semi then to retract the slide fully she has to overcome the entire recoil system of which the hammer spring is a part. Other types of semi-autos with external hammers are easier to deal with as you can cock the hammer and retract /lock the slide more easily. And, of course, there is the revolver as if you already load for the 38 Spl then get her a j-frame in Plus P rating so she can practice with it more. There is also, I believe, a Beretta M85 in 380 with a tip-up barrel and da/sa that does not even require working the slide and there is nothing at all wrong with the 380. Hits are better than misses regardless of caliber.

tcoggins · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2012, 06:51:22 AM »

Thanks for all the responses. I like the idea of a revolver, but I need to remember, it's not for me, it's for my wife. We need to go shopping.

Thanks.

Tim

zoner · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2012, 01:32:34 PM »

I just got my wife her first gun, her personal weapon. She's 66,right handed, and has a severe case of RA(arthritus) in you guessed it,her right hand. Anything with a slide is out, she doesn't have the strength or dexterity to cycle a semi-auto. She has small hands. I got her a Smith and Wesson Model 60 38 special. I'm gonna get the DA trigger pull lightened up a little bit for her. It's perfect. An option for your wife and you might be that she shoots the GP100 with 38 special loads and you shoot the SR9......course if you do that you won't need to go shopping

dougk · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2012, 01:43:22 AM »

Hey Tim,

Let your wife pick out the gun. She needs to be comfortable with what ever she is carrying.

Doug

handi243 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:03:20 AM »

I'm with Doug on this one let her make her own mind she is the one carrying it and God forbid have to use it. If she has problems with working the slide then looks like a revolver now it caliber, weight, barrel length, adjustable sights or fixed stainless or blue and grips. Not alot to figure out mine would be one these a 22 mag 32 h&r mag or 38 plus p.

tcoggins · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2012, 02:32:53 AM »

She definitely will be part of the decision process. I was just looking for some suggestions on what to look for.

Keep in mind, this is a woman that not too long ago would ask me things like "How many guns do you need?" and "Why would you ever want a CPL?". Now she is getting her CPL, and I want to make sure she has a gun that is comfortable for her to not only carry, but to take to the range and practice with.

I appreciate all the comments.

Thanks.

Tim

Big Sam · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2012, 12:45:11 PM »

When my wife got her Glock 19 she could not rack the slide and could just barely drop it off slide lock and into battery. She has had carpal tunnel surgery in both hands. But I showed her how to rack a slide with one hand pushing forward on the grip and the other hand PUSHing back on the slide at the rear grooves. It took a while but now she can rack a slide in her sleep. Sheer strength is not needed and the G19 is very kind to her hands when shooting.

tcoggins · « **Reply #15 on:** March 29, 2012, 01:31:49 PM »

Well - We went to the gun store last weekend to browse a bit, and we looked at a Bersa Thunder .380, Ruger LC9, Ruger LCR, and Ruger SP101. We then went to the range with some of my guns, an old (1926 vintage) Browning model 1922 in .380, Ruger SR9c, and Ruger GP100.

My thought was, the recoil from the Browning would be comparable to the Bersa, the recoil of the SR9c would be comparable to the Ruger LC9, and the GP100 would give her an idea of what shooting the revolver would be like (although, the recoil of the LCR would be a bit snappier than the GP100).

She didn't like the Browning, and the GP100 was too heavy for her to shoot much, so she started shooting the SR9c. After about 150 rounds, she is feeling comfortable racking the slide (I showed her the trick of pushing forward on the grip and pulling back the slide in one motion), and loading the magazines.

Bottom line, she has decided on a carry gun, and it is her SR9c (previously MY SR9c). I am pleased that she is comfortable with the SR9c, but now I need to go gun shopping for myself.

Thanks again for al the help.

Tim

trotterlg · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2012, 06:11:02 PM »

You need to first think about what she will really carry and if it can be very easily operated by her. What you would use may be of no use to her. Even one of the two shot guns in 380 or 22 Mag may be a better solution for her because they are dead simple and small. Larry

tcoggins · « **Reply #17 on:** April 12, 2012, 11:14:23 AM »

Before she actually carries a gun on a daily basis, she will need to be very comfortable with one. At this point, we do not have our carry permits yet (we should have them on the 24th of this month). I want her to be comfortable picking up a gun, loading mags, shooting, making sure the weapon is clear, etc.

We are going to be doing more shooting here shortly, and she will become more and more comfortable with the SR9c. I want the operation of that (or whatever gun she carries), to be second nature.

Thanks for all teh help.

Tim

tcoggins · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2012, 02:29:03 PM »

Well - Just a quick update. My wife bought a Bersa Firestorm 380 a couple days ago. Took it to the range and ran about 110 rounds through it without a hitch. It is comfortable for her to shoot, and she is actually excited about the gun (something I never thought I would encounter in my lifetime). She shot about a 3" group at the 7 yard pistol range at our gun club.

As a side note, I was in a gun shop today just browsing around, and there was a couple in there trading in a S&W Bodyguard, and they wanted to include an unopened 250 round box of Remington UMC 380 ammo. The gun shop, due to liability issues, would not take that in as part of the trade. The owner said he would just try to sell them to someone. When I asked how much he wanted, he said $40. Couldn't get my wallet out fast enough.

That 250 rounds should last about 2 trips to the range for my wife.

Tim

cudatruck · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2012, 02:49:25 PM »

my wife carries a s&w 44 airweight in 38+p. Dead simple, goes bang every time, will shoot from inside a pocket--twice! try that with any auto loader! no safety to forget no slide to worry about. She puts all five in a 8 inch circle at 30 feet. (If I shoot it looks like a shot gun pattern) She has a ruger 9mm but the little j-frame gets all the ccw duty. it was the first gun she ever bought, and damn sure the right choice for her. The only thing to do is keep it clean. good luck in you endevours.

ratdog · « **Reply #20 on:** June 01, 2012, 07:03:58 PM »

my wife has the same problem your wife's have pulling or pushing the slide .she wanted a 22 so she is real happy i got her loaded up with cci velositors she would have no problem making a head shot she is a good shot.she has already shot around 300 rounds.this month she is going for her c.w.p.