Women and Firearms
In the last decade the number of women buying guns and applying for concealed carry permits has surged. It has become clear to millions of women that the best way to keep yourself safe is to protect yourself. In this section we will discuss two important topics relating to women and self defense guns. First we will discuss what is a good choice in a firearm for a woman. Second we will talk about how to carry that gun.
If a woman goes to an average gun store and tells the clerk she's looking for a handgun for self defense the typical response is to show her something like a .380 auto pistol or a .25 ACP mini pistol. The prevailing logic is that women are meek and can't handle a real gun. At the same time if you read the gun magazines and press you are told that no self respecting man is safe with anything less than a 9mm handgun, and that is marginal at best. The question arises, if a full grown man needs a 9mm pistol to repel that attack of a mugger or thief than how is a women with a tiny underpowered gun going to defend herself in the same situation?
The tragic myth here is that women are somehow incapable of shooting a powerful handgun. This myth continues to be told over and over again. It has become fact in many women's minds and in the minds of the clerks at the local gun shop. To counter this myth we report our observations in watching women shoot some very big guns repeatedly without flinching. We're talking about very petite 100-110 pound women shooting .357 magnum pocket pistols, full powered 10mm Glock 20's and 4 inch .44 magnums. Not only can they shoot these guns but they can shoot them well. We have seen these same women shooting loaded to the max 458 Lott rifles. The 458 Lott is a rifle designed for the largest animals on earth, a true elephant gun generating nearly 6000 foot pounds of energy. Women hunt all over the country using high power rifles and are very effective.
So what caliber and type of gun is best for a woman? Clearly the answer is the same one that is best for a man. Any woman can easily learn to shoot any handgun effectively. Of course, practice is the key for both men and women. Our handgun section discusses both guns and ammunition that are suitable for self defense. These recommendations apply to both men and women. Perhaps the only concession a woman has to make in choosing a handgun is in the size of the pistol. While a large man might be able to easily carry and conceal a 15 round .40 caliber gun the average woman should probably chose a smaller sized version of that same .40 caliber handgun. The reality is that 7-10 rounds of any good ammunition is likely more than enough to stop the typical mugger attack. But there is no doubt that a small 5 shot Lady Smith .357 revolver carried on her is a better choice than a full sized service pistol in the safe at home.
Carrying the pistol of choice does become more complex in some ways for women. First and foremost, sticking the gun in a purse along with everything else is the poorest way to carry a handgun. Not only is the draw going to take forever, it is unsafe to have a loaded handgun flopping around in a purse. In addition, with purse snatchings a major problem for women it would not be the best place to keep your defensive equipment. If you feel that a purse is your only option then purchase a purse designed to carry a handgun. These purses are available from suppliers like US Galco. They properly contain the handgun in an isolated pocket and are built strong to both handle the weight of the gun and to help prevent the straps from coming off during a snatch attempt.
Most concealment holsters are designed for men. As such they are not sized and angled to take advantage of a woman's shape. Things are changing here though and several companies are beginning to offer women's holsters. The Nancy Special by Mitch Rosen is a excellent holster designed for a woman's body shape. Kramer Leather has several options in women's holsters and are very high quality. Cunningham Custom Holstersspecializes in building holsters for women. They have an excellent selection and are well worth looking into.
Some women may find that even the best concealment holster designed for a woman will not work for them. In situations like this the handbag holster might be a viable option. Another option is the fanny pack method of carry. Several manufacturers offer waist packs that are designed to carry a handgun. Galco, linked above makes a beautiful leather pack. If it fits ones attire this method of carry is probably better than the purse option as it is more resistant to snatching. Some people will argue that wearing a fanny pack is tantamount to saying you are carrying a gun. However, people wear fanny packs all the time and are not carrying a gun. Of course, carrying a fanny pack and a purse could make someone wonder what the point of the fanny pack is.
The bottom line in concealment is in the attitude of the person. Dressing in a manner that promotes concealment, being confident that the gun is concealed and that people are not looking at you is most important. The biggest giveaway by someone who starts wearing a firearm for protection is usually the body language of the person. The gun may be perfectly concealed but if one worries that it is not and is constantly looking, checking, patting down the area to double check than they begin to look odd and are noticed. Regardless of the method of carry, assuming it is functional, the attitude of the wearer is paramount to good concealment.
If you are new to guns and shooting we recommend taking some classes at a good firearms training school. Our listing of firearms training schools around the country is a good place to start your search for a school that will work for you.
Finally, before ever carrying or concealing a gun on your person please check and abide by all laws that apply to you where you live.
In the last decade the number of women buying guns and applying for concealed carry permits has surged. It has become clear to millions of women that the best way to keep yourself safe is to protect yourself. In this section we will discuss two important topics relating to women and self defense guns. First we will discuss what is a good choice in a firearm for a woman. Second we will talk about how to carry that gun.
If a woman goes to an average gun store and tells the clerk she's looking for a handgun for self defense the typical response is to show her something like a .380 auto pistol or a .25 ACP mini pistol. The prevailing logic is that women are meek and can't handle a real gun. At the same time if you read the gun magazines and press you are told that no self respecting man is safe with anything less than a 9mm handgun, and that is marginal at best. The question arises, if a full grown man needs a 9mm pistol to repel that attack of a mugger or thief than how is a women with a tiny underpowered gun going to defend herself in the same situation?
The tragic myth here is that women are somehow incapable of shooting a powerful handgun. This myth continues to be told over and over again. It has become fact in many women's minds and in the minds of the clerks at the local gun shop. To counter this myth we report our observations in watching women shoot some very big guns repeatedly without flinching. We're talking about very petite 100-110 pound women shooting .357 magnum pocket pistols, full powered 10mm Glock 20's and 4 inch .44 magnums. Not only can they shoot these guns but they can shoot them well. We have seen these same women shooting loaded to the max 458 Lott rifles. The 458 Lott is a rifle designed for the largest animals on earth, a true elephant gun generating nearly 6000 foot pounds of energy. Women hunt all over the country using high power rifles and are very effective.
So what caliber and type of gun is best for a woman? Clearly the answer is the same one that is best for a man. Any woman can easily learn to shoot any handgun effectively. Of course, practice is the key for both men and women. Our handgun section discusses both guns and ammunition that are suitable for self defense. These recommendations apply to both men and women. Perhaps the only concession a woman has to make in choosing a handgun is in the size of the pistol. While a large man might be able to easily carry and conceal a 15 round .40 caliber gun the average woman should probably chose a smaller sized version of that same .40 caliber handgun. The reality is that 7-10 rounds of any good ammunition is likely more than enough to stop the typical mugger attack. But there is no doubt that a small 5 shot Lady Smith .357 revolver carried on her is a better choice than a full sized service pistol in the safe at home.
Carrying the pistol of choice does become more complex in some ways for women. First and foremost, sticking the gun in a purse along with everything else is the poorest way to carry a handgun. Not only is the draw going to take forever, it is unsafe to have a loaded handgun flopping around in a purse. In addition, with purse snatchings a major problem for women it would not be the best place to keep your defensive equipment. If you feel that a purse is your only option then purchase a purse designed to carry a handgun. These purses are available from suppliers like US Galco. They properly contain the handgun in an isolated pocket and are built strong to both handle the weight of the gun and to help prevent the straps from coming off during a snatch attempt.
Most concealment holsters are designed for men. As such they are not sized and angled to take advantage of a woman's shape. Things are changing here though and several companies are beginning to offer women's holsters. The Nancy Special by Mitch Rosen is a excellent holster designed for a woman's body shape. Kramer Leather has several options in women's holsters and are very high quality. Cunningham Custom Holstersspecializes in building holsters for women. They have an excellent selection and are well worth looking into.
Some women may find that even the best concealment holster designed for a woman will not work for them. In situations like this the handbag holster might be a viable option. Another option is the fanny pack method of carry. Several manufacturers offer waist packs that are designed to carry a handgun. Galco, linked above makes a beautiful leather pack. If it fits ones attire this method of carry is probably better than the purse option as it is more resistant to snatching. Some people will argue that wearing a fanny pack is tantamount to saying you are carrying a gun. However, people wear fanny packs all the time and are not carrying a gun. Of course, carrying a fanny pack and a purse could make someone wonder what the point of the fanny pack is.
The bottom line in concealment is in the attitude of the person. Dressing in a manner that promotes concealment, being confident that the gun is concealed and that people are not looking at you is most important. The biggest giveaway by someone who starts wearing a firearm for protection is usually the body language of the person. The gun may be perfectly concealed but if one worries that it is not and is constantly looking, checking, patting down the area to double check than they begin to look odd and are noticed. Regardless of the method of carry, assuming it is functional, the attitude of the wearer is paramount to good concealment.
If you are new to guns and shooting we recommend taking some classes at a good firearms training school. Our listing of firearms training schools around the country is a good place to start your search for a school that will work for you.
Finally, before ever carrying or concealing a gun on your person please check and abide by all laws that apply to you where you live.
