What guns are women buying?

[Pathfinder]

Can only speak for what I have observed in the shop I work at, but we sell a lot of LCPs to women.  And snubbie revolvers.  Sad thing is, two of the hardest guns to try to master shooting with.  But they see them, they are light, and they think because they are little and light that they are "cute:, till they shoot the damn things.  I always try to get first time shooters to get proper instruction, instead of having thier bubba husbands and boyfriends pick out their guns for them.  But, usually, it don't work, they buy the little cute gun, go out and shoot it, hurts them like hell or they can't hit anything or both, and never shoot it again. 

Agreed - snubbies are horrible "first gun" choices - for anyone. I took a female friend shooting last November, had her shoot all of my pistols. She was looking for something to carry.

She did not like the LCP - as I have noted it is a handful even with the pinkie stop. She loved the Sig P220 (and no, I did not coach her on what to like!  ) both in its .22 conversion configuration and in the native .45ACP. I wanted to get her at least to handle some of the others available, like the M&P and Rugers which would be better for her to carry. But she got work busy and I don't know what if anything she may have bought.

[bodean87]

This may sound sexiest. This thread highlights the differnce between men and woman. Men are concerned about performance and woman about how it looks. We cannot rationalize it because we cannopt think the same way they do.

[tombogan03884]

I have to split my opinion here.
I'll agree with BillT and Gunman that are not good choices for learning to shoot, HOWEVER, for the purpose of concealed carry women have different priorities than men, they are built different, and are faced with fashion inspired limitations that men do not have to deal with in what, and how, they can carry.
Another consideration is the types of threats faced by women which are more likely to be at contact range where accuracy is not an issue.

[Timothy]

Another consideration is the types of threats faced by women which are more likely to be at contact range where accuracy is not an issue.

Which is why I've been suggesting to my daughter she buy a J-frame snub.  She can already shoot well, now she needs to have it with her and a 32 ounce Sig just weighs down her Coach handbag!  She won't have it when she needs it!

My problem is that her boyfriend/husband/man meat thinks that revolvers are for "old guys"!  He's one of those shiny penny sort of kids!  Tacticool and all that...

[Ichiban]

Another consideration is the types of threats faced by women which are more likely to be at contact range where accuracy is not an issue.

If a woman is going to be at contact range when she deploys her firearm then a snubby should have even more appeal.  If you are pushing the muzzle of a revolver into some attackers midsection it is more likely to go BANG when you pull the trigger.  Do that with most autos and you will find that you have forced it out of battery and pulling the trigger is a very frustrating and unrewarding activity if that happens.

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

Several thoughts.
--  Watched the local range coach working with a lady who had bought an LCR.  He was really frank with her about how for "target" work, learning the basics and "fun" it was a poor choice, and strongly suggested she try some of the rental guns to work on "basics".    And that is how they sell to most everyone at my range.   Try some of the rentals before you buy.

-- Personally, I think the small guns (LCR, LCP, etc.) are better shot 1 handed anyway.

-- Yes, if the semi-auto is just slightly out of battery it won't fire, but then a revolver has to "revolver" before it can fire.  Any number of things can interfere with it.   I think semi-autos have an edge in first shot capability, but revolvers have an edge in follow up shots.   These are only slight advantages and I'm thinking of close up, out of the pocket/purse scenarios.

[Timothy]

Or, shooting from inside a pocket or purse!  A revolver will go bang every time whereas an autoloader will probably fail to cycle properly!

Teach the person/woman/child/novice to shoot with the basic fundamentals and then transition to a more suitable carry weapon when they've mastered the basics.  My kid shot a thousand rounds (at least) from a Walther P22 (when it functioned properly) before we considered what she might buy.

[shooter32]

Or, shooting from inside a pocket or purse!  A revolver will go bang every time whereas an autoloader will probably fail to cycle properly!

Teach the person/woman/child/novice to shoot with the basic fundamentals and then transition to a more suitable carry weapon when they've mastered the basics.  My kid shot a thousand rounds (at least) from a Walther P22 (when it functioned properly) before we considered what she might buy.

+1

[alfsauve]

Or, shooting from inside a pocket or purse!  A revolver will go bang every time whereas an autoloader will probably fail to cycle properly!

I didn't actually mean shooting from inside the pocket or purse, just that a traditional holster wasn't involved and the gun was being drawn from a pocket or purse.

And I don't buy that revolvers will go bang every time especially in a pocket or purse.  The cylinder can get bound with cloth or loose items.  And if there's an exposed hammer something can get caught under it as well.   I think a semi-auto has a better chance for the first shot in a confined/messy environment. 

[Pecos Bill]

Have any of you actually shoved a semi-auto into your stomach hard enough to keep it from firing? I just did it with a 1911 and a Beretta 92. They both failed to fire but the pressure needed made either gun a weapon in my belly without the need to fire. I wouldn't want either shoved into my belly 'cause it really hurt and I, for one, would back off. I recommend double action revolver to new shooters, both sexes, because they are simple to use, easy to load and unload and easily seen to be loaded. A miss-fire is easily followed by a second pull of the trigger for the next loaded chamber. Are the light snubbies easy to control? No but not beyond the capability of the average woman. Are the light snubbies target gins? NO, they weren't meant to be and never will be. We are talking about close range (under 25 feet)shots here and you are shooting at a somewhat larger target than a bulls eye at 25 yards. Any good snubbie will keep all its shots inside a B27 target at that range.

I do agree that proper training is a must. Those of you who work at a shop that rents guns, do you offer basic training to your female customers? That could and would help in your sales, I'm sure. I usually recommend a local range which has such training. Said range also has classes for women only, no men. Start them out with some light loads, something which doesn't beat the hell out of their hands and don't let the husband/boyfriend/lover, within the same range area. You all might be surprised what the women are capable of doing.

Just my thoughts, Pecos

Quit edit: any gun can be jammed by the crap found in the average pocket but a revolver is less likely to be affected than a semi-auto which has a stove pipe because the empty case had no place to go.