Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting 9mm or 40 for the wife

[jtisdale]

I am considering getting the wife a pistol (shes been wanting one for years). She has shot before (rifle and small cal. handguns). I am leaning toward the 9, but a friend at work is slowly convincing me toward the 40 (he claims same recoil but better knock-down with the 40). Its been quite a few years since I have shot either. I dont want this to turn into a 9 vs 40 ******* match. I just want some insight on what you might buy for your wife.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Jim

 

[Cigar John]

I have a 4013 S&W,the wife has a 3913 Lady Smith S&W.

Hands down she prefers hers. Smaller grip,less kick.

 

[icman95]

Just went through a similar process with my wife, but the choices were a semi-auto . 380 Kel-Tec or Smith . 38 airweight revolver. Went with the revolver because, while my wife knows how to shoot, she's not the most mechanically inclined person in the world and has some difficulty racking semi autos. The only gun anyone is going to carry is the one that is most convienent to use for them. Therefore, the wheelgun fit the bill the best. The model 642 we got her is a 5 shot, 2 inch barrel and only weighs 15 ounces unloaded. Its smaller grip works well for women or men with smaller hands (such as myself). She likes it alot and I must admit, I love it too. Well built. It can handle . 38 +P ammo if the regular . 38 isn't to your liking. They have similar pieces in . 357 too. I have guns from a few different makers, most of whom are very well known for quality and workmanship, but it's hard to beat the reliability of a revolver, especially a S&W. The reliability of a revolver, no matter what brand, is going to be better than a semi in the sense that it will always go bang. While, rare, a semi auto can jam. This is what lead my wife to the 5-shot. Her lack of mechanical ability would make it a test of patience to clear a jam in a crisis situation, so the revolver really appealed to her. We got the one with the internal hammer, but it also comes with an external one if you'd like.



To tell the truth, when she's not using it, I carry it in place of the Kel-Tec . 32 I have. I REALLY like it. The . 38 will be similar to the 9mm in power, but the +p will help out some more. Get the . 357 if you want a small hand cannon, but I'm told that you won't like the kick.



Let us know how it turns out.



Product: Model 642 Revolver

 

[LBARTLETT]

I bought my wife and I Rossi 2" SS revolvers for personal protection, she shoots 38's in her's when practicing (she doesn't like the kick with the 357) but can always shoot 357's if need be, I always keep 357's in mine (and practice with them) under the seat of my truck (her's is in her nightstand drawer). We have other pistols I do not care to list but for personal protection we think the revolver is simpler to handle, these low use pistols are not overly expensive, can handle some practice but will have the power if needed. This way there is a pistol in two different locations she is very familiar with. Some of our other pistols intimidate her. By the way she is a very good shot so I behave very well. Good luck in your decision.

 

[p-Bar]

I like the "Judge" by Taurus fires either . 45 colt or . 410 shot shell very compact too. Article in Jan. American Rifleman

 

[JLEONARD]

Mine also prefers a revolver for those above reasons. She keeps her Ruger stainless speed six loaded with 38 +Ps. Big, bulky but durable and can always be used as a missle once it's been emptied:-laf

 

[jray]

Hi jtisdale, no disrespect to your friend but he's wrong about the recoil of the 40 vs. the 9mm. The 40 has a rather sharp snappy recoil vs. the 9mm. The 45 has even more recoil yet, but it's not snappy, it's more of a roll. Personally I feel the 45acp recoil is more manageable, but I'm not trying to sell you on a 45.



I shoot alot of guns and thousands of hangun rounds each year. I teach shooting full time and I would hesitate recommending a 40 cal over a 9mm unless that person shoots alot. Buy her the 9mm. Cheaper to shoot and less recoil.

 

[scootergmc]

. 38 revolver vote here.

 

[AABEN]

I thank that a revolver is the best. If you can find a md 12 S&W it is a 38 SP 2in 6 shot and is liter than a chef that is 5 shot. I have carried one for years it is a lite one to carry. They are hard to find.

 

[Shaughn5.9]

40 kicks alot more than the 9. my girlfreind complans that the recoil is to much after a few rounds. she preferes a 9 over 40. get her a 9mm, with a jhp +p rounds they have more then enough stoping power.

 

[Flinty]

. 40 vote here. You'll have to spend some money, though. I recommend a sig or H&K compact. My wife was a reserve deputy and used the H&K as her sidearm. The superior ergonomics will mitigate any concerns w/regard to recoil or small hands. THOUSANDS of rounds of junk and high quality ammo without one single stovepipe. Glock makes a sweet looking little . 40 as well but I have no experience with that brand. The . 40 ballistics speak for themselves. If my memory serves me well, most altercations that involve a handgun occur with a range of 5'-7'. I would want an easily concealed weapon that makes the biggest hole possible. The good thing about all this is you're buying another gun! Let us know... ...

P. S. If we were to add another gun to the family it would be a springfield XD subcompact. The most bang for the buck I've seen in a long time. (pun intended)

Jon

 

[cksh8me]

Find a range rent a few different firearms and see what she likes. If you don't have a range near you ask at the gun store who might have the pistols you are looking for. They should know somebody that has them and willing to help a lady make a choice.



If those options don't work for you then. It's hard to make a recommendation without knowing how strong, your wife is.



Firearms I see the women like at the ranges I shoot at are. CZ 75, Glock 19,17, Smith & Wesson M&P in 9 and 40, Springfield Armory XD's.



I think the M&P is the best deal right now. Smith is giving away 2 free mags with purchase of their pistol by the 31st. I see the M&P going for $461. 00



Depending on your budget she might like a Kimber or Springfield Armory 1911 in 9mm.



Unless you reload 9mm is going to be about 10 bucks per hundred less than 40. If it is cheaper to shoot maybe you'll shoot more.



The least expensive part of shooting is training. Get all you can.



Good luck

 

[CB HUNTER]

9mm is the way to go, less recoil and she will feel more comfortable shooting and ammunition is a lot cheaper to shoot. Remember, Its not the power it the shot placement that counts. Teach her to shoot good and the 9mm will do the Job.

You can always advance her later once she is very comfortable and shooting good.

My 2 cents. .

 

[AH64ID]

9mm is a worthless round, IMHO. . Get her a . 40. . My wife lover her . 40, and I am more comfortable with her packing a . 40... . She doesn't complain about the kick at all... Thou she was used to shooting my 10mm.

 

[AMink]

Let her (or MAKE her) shoot several guns in several calibers. Is she going to use this for concealed? I have a S&W Airweight in . 38. Very nice, but only 5 rounds. Easy to conceal. We have a Beretta 86 in . 380. Also easy to conceal, but with a lesser caliber. Still wouldn't want to stand in front of it!:-laf If you have an opportunity, try a Ruger SP101 in . 327 Magnum. It's a new round, but supposedly has performance very similar to a . 357 w/out all the recoil and muzzle flash. If you are not going for concealed, I'd look for something with a longer barrel and a grip as large as she can comfortably hold. More control. As far as reliability, all the big names are good guns. You'll hear horror stories about Taurus, Ruger semis, Kel-Tecs, and others. If you're getting it for protection, get the best you can afford. I would not feel unsafe with any gun as long as I am familiar with it, have shot it a lot, and know what ammo it likes and dislikes. For example, my XD40 Tactical will not cycle the last round of PMC 165's. Don't know why. It eats up my hand loads (once I got the crimp right) and loves the 180 grain hollowpoint green box Remingtons. No failures through hundreds of rounds.

If you still aren't sure, get two!:-laf

 

[MGroft]

If she cant handle recoil of a 9mm, then think a 380 sig might be what you are looking for. I suggest go to the range & you can rent a couple different modules and let her just sling led. She will TELL YOU witch one she wants.

 

[BigPapa]

I'll agree with most of the others, the snappy recoil of the . 40 is probably going to be too much for her. Let her shoot as many different pistols that she can get her hands on and let her decide. My wife carries a Colt Cobra. 6 shot, . 38, alloy frame revolver. She loves it. I had the hammer bobbed and the action tweaked for double action only. It's almost as sweet an action as a hand tuned Python.



p-Bar, I surely hope you were being sarcastic in your recommendation...



Scott

 

[AKaiser]

9mm is a worthless round, IMHO. . Get her a . 40. . My wife lover her . 40, and I am more comfortable with her packing a . 40... . She doesn't complain about the kick at all... Thou she was used to shooting my 10mm.

While you are entitled to your opinion, you are most certainly uninformed. With modern hollow-point ammunition, a 9mm Parabellum is a quite formidable cartridge. My personal carry weapons of choice are . 45APC, but I would in no way feel undergunned with a 9mmP with good hollow points. British SAS, etc. carry Browning HPs in 9mm. Defensive caliber pistols (9mmP, 38SPL, 357, 40SW, . 45ACP) are weapons you carry when you can't carry a long arm. None of them is exceptionally great at instant incapacitation. Being first to put rounds center of mass wins the fight.



For the record, I go with the . 38 SPL revolver. When the adrenaline is pumping, the last thing the wife needs is to have to rely on fine motor coordination to switch off the safety, or remember how to clear the weapons when it jams. I'm going to pre-emptively dismiss any argument about needing more than 6 rounds as superfluous, since most gunfights are at close range and involve 3-5 rounds fired.

 

[AKaiser]

If she cant handle recoil of a 9mm, then think a 380 sig might be what you are looking for. I suggest go to the range & you can rent a couple different modules and let her just sling led. She will TELL YOU witch one she wants.

For the record, I owned both a . 38 S&W Airweight Model 38, and a SIG 232 in . 380 ACP. I felt more perceived recoil from the . 380 SIG. That may seem counter-intuitive, but it was my experience.

 

[icman95]

As far as the stopping power of a particular caliber goes, yes a bigger round might make a bigger hole and have more knockdown power, but having the biggest bullet isn't always the last word in guns. I was having this exact discussion with one of the guys at my gun store. I said I wasn't sure how good my . 32 would do if I ever needed it to defend myself at which point he took his . 32 out of his pocket to show me that he carries the same one. His point was that although it's not a great knockdown round, "nobody likes to bleed"-his exact words. I couldn't agree more. Sometimes, just the sight of a gun in a potential victim's hands is enough to dissuade an attacker from carrying out his plans. I know that someone will argue that if he's high on drugs that he might not feel the shot and stop in which case the knockdown power is important. I agree with this, but there has to be a fair compromise. Too big a gun and the user won't even carry it, let alone be comfortable using it. Even small calibers put holes in bad guys. Statistically, most gunfights happen at 21 feet or less, so while it's great to have a really accurate weapon that can shoot 2" groups at 30 yards, for this purpose and discussion, it's not necessary. I know that if someone were pointing any gun at me I'd go the other way.