Women, what do you carry?

[level0]

Ladies, looking for a rundown of what you are carrying. My girl is in the market for a new handgun, and we are going to do some test shooting and plenty of looking around. Consider this part of the looking around

She has average girl-size hands, so [for example] a double-stack 9mm is out for her. She tried one yesterday and it's just not comfortable for her.

So looking for single stack here, light pull, easy on the recoil. She has a .22 (Ruger Mark III) and is not adverse to another one. Please, this is not intended to be a thread about the merits or lack thereof of a .22. This is a thread looking for information to help find her a gun(s) that she enjoys shooting...caliber is a non-factor, this is all about her comfort and enjoyment.

Interested to hear what some other women are carrying, please ring in!

 

[Snapdragon]

I prefer revolvers, so I carry a Ruger LCR .357 with .38+P hollowpoints.

 

[level0]

I prefer revolvers, so I carry a Ruger LCR .357 with .38+P hollowpoints.

Nice. That's a definite possibility. We very briefly touched on revolvers as an option. Thanks for your input, will definitely make a note of it.

 

[Snapdragon]

The disadvantage of a revolver is that it's bulkier. A pistol definitely has a slimmer profile. I think someone has a Bodyguard .380 for sale in the classifieds.

 

[Gadgetmonster]

Yes there is a .380 there. I would snap that up if I needed another one. With all the ammo and mags included I think it is a bargain.

 

[88GT]

I carry a Glock 26. I have short fingers but can grip it just fine. What model double stack 9mm did she try? Ergonomics are different between models and double stack is often not as big a factor in fit and comfort as it might seem. Not every firearm houses the magazine in the same package.

Couple of things to keep in mind...

1. Smaller, compact firearms are going to be harder to shoot/handle for a recoil-sensitive shooter or one with grip issues. So smaller isn't necessarily better.

2. Revolvers are a great choice for simplicity of use. They also offer a good variety of grips and ergonomics. But unless the shooter is immune to recoil issues or willing to handle the beating for the sake of small and light, I absolutely do not recommend the lightweight snub revolvers. Especially not for women.

 

[Snapdragon]

My LCR was my first gun, and I have no problem shooting it. My first time at the range, I hit chest and torso on the silhouette 33 out of 35 shots. YMMV

 

[mom45]

My first two guns are both .45 acp...a Springfield Ultra Compact and a Taurus. I like both but they can be bulky to conceal. I also have a Taurus pt22 and love the pop up barrel and no need to rack the slide. The 22 is very easy to conceal and lightweight but accurate. Picky about ammo but seems to like Federal or CCI.

 

[88GT]

My LCR was my first gun, and I have no problem shooting it. My first time at the range, I hit chest and torso on the silhouette 33 out of 35 shots. YMMV

My first was a GP100 with .357s loaded. That doesn't mean it's a good choice for certain shooters, particularly new shooters and/or women who typically have more trouble with recoil, grip, and loud sounds. It was pretty clear to the discerning reader that the comments were based on a specific set of conditions. It should go without saying that if those conditions are not present, the recommendations may not apply. Pointing out that your singular experience differs from the average isn't saying much. It simply means you aren't affected by the conditional parameters.

 

[Snapdragon]

Hence the YMMV.

 

[JustJohnKB]

My wife really liked the feel of the Ruger lc380 the best.

 

[Snapdragon]

I think there's an LCP in the classifieds also.

 

[JustJohnKB]

LC380
Ruger® LC380® Centerfire Pistol Model 3219

LCP 380
Ruger® LCP® Centerfire Pistol Model 3701

For my wife the lcp was just to small, but the LC was large enough for her hands.

 

[t_star]

I carry a S&W M&P40c and a Colt Series 80 Officer's Model. I do have larger hands then most females I've met, although I don't find the grips on those two to be too big. The 40c does have a double stack mag, where as the Colt does not. The nice thing about the M&P is the change-able back straps.

 

[pleiades]

What I carry depends on what I'm doing/wearing. My normal carry is a G26 (I really don't get that double stack comment). My other favorite carry is a Kimber .45 compact. I also have revolvers that are easy to carry. Pretty much - if she likes it, she'll carry it.
My sister has a LCP and I would not recommend it because it is super nasty to shoot so she never practices with it. If .380 is her thing, check out the Sig P238. My 100 pound 5' niece carries either a P238 or a Glock 23 (40 cal) that she "stole" from the boyfriend.

 

[rockhopper46038]

Might try to find a SIG P6/P225 single-stack 9mm. I do like the Bodyguard 380, but the trigger pull is long and somewhat stiff. Good for a BUG, maybe not so great for a new shooter. Also worth trying for yourself, though. Also, as someone mentioned, some of the doublestack nines would probably be viable for her, she'll just have to get her hands on them to try them. The Canik55 Stingray-C is a very affordable CZ clone that has good doublestack ergonomics.

 

[armedhoosier451]

My wife also got an LCP as her first gun but didn't like the recoil to size ratio. Now she is liking the M&P9

 

[t_star]

I should also note that I don't worry about concealing much. If I must, I wear a hoodie or a jacket.

 

[45fan]

My wife started out with a Walther PK380 for carry. She quickly changed up to a PF-9, more bang smaller package. Later on she traded her PK380 off for a S&W BG380. Then she decided to go to a revolver ( she actually already had a .44 Mag, but wanted something a but easier to carry) and went with the Ruger LCR in 38 +P. Recently she picked up a 3" Speed Six for those days when she wants to carry something with a bit more punch.

She also has been known to carry a Taurus PT-92, though its a rare occasion that she will due to its size. Lots of good options out there, just have to get out and put some steel (or polymer) in her hands to see what she likes.

 

[JetGirl]

double-stack 9mm is out for her.

So looking for single stack here,

light pull,

easy on the recoil.

1911 with slim grips?