Handgun for Honey

[bigbones]

What would be a nice starter handgun for a wife with no experience?  I am wondering if the new Ruger in 327 Magnum would fill the bill--you could start with lighter loads and work up to the magnum when she has more confidence.   Any ideas?

Bones

[Hazcat]

Start her on a .22.  Let her try several but I say start with a single action revolver.  Let her get comfortable with it then introduce her to a double action, then a semi.  ALL in .22.  This will take weeks if not months depending on how often you shoot.

Then let her try some other guns, 9mm, .38 etc and let HER decide what she wants.

[Dougdubya]

I agree with Hazcat.

That said, my girlfriend went from .22 caliber rifles to a full-sized Springfield Armory 1911 .45 Auto, and she loved it.  Ironically, the P226 we used seemed to recoil MORE to her.  I'm thinking the low bore axis compared to the SIG's axis was a contributing factor.

Last time we went shooting, she hammered through seven rounds of .50 Magnum through a Desert Ego... Eagle.  She did it because the guy behind the counter said he didn't think she could handle a full magazine.  Best $14 I ever spent. 

(Me, I had to switch hands after two shots.)

Not to say the DE didn't choke twice, but once she tightened up, she loved it.

[Walter45Auto]

I say start her on a .22 revolver to get her comfortable.

Doug, I love that Desert Eagle Story!!

[Dougdubya]

I say start her on a .22 revolver to get her comfortable.

Doug, I love that Desert Eagle Story!!

Just one more reason I love my girl!

[Sponsor]

[Squibby]

Highly recommend starting with a .22 semi-auto (Buckmark, Ruger or the like).  If there's anyway to get your hands on a Tactical Solutions handgun - it's so worth it! www.tacticalsol.com - their colors are amazing, the product is lightweight and very comfortable to shoot for newbies (and some of us vets).  It also helps to avoid flinching from recoil or more weighted firearms.  

Based on my limited experience, more women tend to shift their stance and sit back on their hips to offset the weight...a natural response, however not conducive to developing body memory & precision pistol shooting techniques.

Just my 2 cents.    Let us know what you both decide!

~Squibby  

[warhawke]

My wife loved my P-220 in .45, it fit well and recoiled less than her S&W 645.

I suggest you find a range that rents pistols and take her shooting and let HER decide which she likes best. I tried to push various weapons on the wife early on and discovered that women are different. . .Even more different, than I thought. Did you know that the S&W SW380 was nearly unusable for women with long nails due to the mag release? I didn't, but the wife pointed it out.

We men tend to project our own likes and dislikes onto our women instead of simply providing advice and depending on them to make a good decision.

[jaybet]

My wife's first pistol shooting experience was with a P220- she didn't like the casings bouncing around (indoor range). Second was a Ruger GP101, (.357) 6" barrel. She shot 38's and loved it. She's got a couple of 357's now and I just got her her first love for Christmas- the GP101. Now she'll shoot my 9m and 45 outdoors too.

In 38 you could also start her with those little silly wadcutter light loads- virtually no noise or recoil.

[Rastus]

My wife loved my P-220 in .45, it fit well and recoiled less than her S&W 645.

I suggest you find a range that rents pistols and take her shooting and let HER decide which she likes best. I tried to push various weapons on the wife early on and discovered that women are different. . .Even more different, than I thought. Did you know that the S&W SW380 was nearly unusable for women with long nails due to the mag release? I didn't, but the wife pointed it out.

We men tend to project our own likes and dislikes onto our women instead of simply providing advice and depending on them to make a good decision.

I concur with the Warhawke.  Men...women...we are wired differently and have a different perspective and different needs.  The fingernail example is one of the finest examples of a difference in "why" that can be made...and that is a valid concern...I wouldn't make fun of my wife (again) for the same thing! ! !    (Of course, Warhawke, if you wanted to live dangerously you could be dumb like me and tell her to cut those nails....see where that get's you...HA!). 

The only thing I would really push, is for initial gun use experiences to be low recoil, low muzzle blast events...and that would be something like a .22 or .38 cowboy loads...so I believe you are right to initially gravitate to low power loads.  Wired differently or not, she'll want to "prove herself" after she gains confidence and move up to the higher powered rounds on her own, if shooting is something she fancies.

Squibby is on the mark too.  A few more coins, but the Tacsol barrels are "the bomb".  She'll undoubtably love the colors first, the light weight second...my wife doesn't like plain blued barrels, stainless steel, plain wood grips and especially not synthetic stocks/grips....which is why I spent a bunch of money on a Taurus Titanium anodized blue, with a faux pearl handle and gold hammer/trigger combination.  Lady Smith has some neat looking products too....  There's an upside for buying her something from Tacsol...have you ever seen the really cool camo 10/22's???...I'm just saying you know, just saying that if you get her something from Tacsol how can she say no to you getting something from Tacsol?

ATTENTION CRIMSON TRACE:  From above, "...my wife doesn't like plain blued barrels, stainless steel, plain wood grips and especially not synthetic stocks/grips....".  My wife won't give up her faux pearl grips.  She desperately wants a laser....but the laser is second to fashion!  Can ya'll help us out here?

[jnevis]

While not recomended, my wife started out with my Glock 23 in 40SW and 1911 in 45ACP.  She hated the 1911 until I put better (read smaller) grips on it but was still lukewarm to it.  She really liked the Glock and eventually got a 17 in 9mm.  Just because she is a female doens't mean she HAS to start with 22s, but a full power 357 isn't a good idea either.  Like has been mentioned before let HER choose the gun.  I have seen plenty of pistols purchased "for her" that she never touches becuase A) she didn't like the feel and B0 it was what HE wanted.  Remember that an auto will require a bit more upper body strength (slide manipulation) and training (reloads) before hitting the range. 

WARNING:  As much as you might get along, teaching shooting to your significant other yourself can be frustrating and might be a good idea to get her started with someone else.  My wife hates shooting with me as she takes suggestions poorly (and I suggest a lot)    Try and find an NRA Basic Pistol course/Instructor in your area, at least for the first few range sessions.