Good automatic for a small woman?

[Daniel]

I've been looking for a small, cheap handgun for my wife to keep around since I work such late nights. I have a FEG PA-63 here that I thought was what we needed. I have just recently shot it some and like it overall. But tonight she handled it and she can't even pull the slide back(got her skin caught in the chamber, it was ugly, lol). Even if I leave one in the chamber she wasn't able to pull the stubby hammer back either. SO, now I'm looking for something she can handle better. It may end up having to be a small revolver but I like the idea of a safety on an auto. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[stangman]

Berreta M21 in .32 or .380 cal. is a good pocket pistol. My wife loves her M21 in .22.

[lefty o]

ruger GP100 or similiar.

[BamaBowTie]

Hi-point .380 or compact 9mm. you can get them for just over $100.

[Thrawn]

Try a 1911, they fit alot of hands. You can get a Charles Daly farly cheap with extended controls and big serrations on the front and rear of the slide. Don't let size fool you, it's a pleasant shooter in a time proven caliber and design. Small frame auto's can be harder to use due to increased recoil spring tension (makes the slide harder to manipulate) and even them ones in mouse gun calibers can buck around alot making follow up shots hard. Speaking of mouse calibers if you're looking for self defense 9mm should be the smallest you go with and the small hands leave out the high caps, so why not go with 45acp? If you're afraid that it's too complicated for her to use (which it's not) that just gives you reason to spend more time at the range. No matter which gun you get you should alawys practice with it until you now it better than the designer.

[DANA]

Try a S&W Lady Smith Mod 3914LS 9mm

DANA

[Big Dog]

For small autos, I've been impressed with the Bersa Thunder .380. Small, light and reliable, and decent accuracy. I didn't pay much attention to how stiff the slide may have been, but it didn't seem bad at all. Nice thing was, the slide didn't bite my hand like the Walther PPK can. Prices are quite good to - well under $200.

[PAPA G]

hmmmm, sounds to me like its not the gun but the wife!!!

perhaps she needs to work on her upper body strength, and strengthen her gripping. betcha that would fix things.

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

For small autos, I've been impressed with the Bersa Thunder .380. Small, light and reliable, and decent accuracy. I didn't pay much attention to how stiff the slide may have been, but it didn't seem bad at all. Nice thing was, the slide didn't bite my hand like the Walther PPK can. Prices are quite good to - well under $200.

I agree with Big Dog. My Bersa .380 has been very reliable. My wife, who had never fired a gun before a few months ago uses mine almost exclusively on our weekly trip to the gun range (which we will be doing in a bit, after she finishes a few chores). It is compact, easy to use, and not too intimidating for my wife, a first time shooter.

I don't know where Big Dog is finding Bersas that cheap, but in our area, almost all shops are selling them for between $219 and $239.

I also like the Taurus PT-111 9mm, but they are about $350. The Taurus PT22 is a sweet little .22 and can be found for $139 and up.

We also have the Hi Point .380, which was mentioned in a previous reply. Not bad for the money, but I do like the Bersa better. The Hi Point slide is easy enough for my wife to operate. She personally picked out the Hi Point when we were shopping, citing the ease of operation. It took a little effort on my part to get used to the difference in balance and weight of the Hi Point, so I played with it for a few days before actually taking it to the range.

My wife started with a small .22 auto just to get used to the idea of even firing a pistol. We tried her on a revolver, but she didn't like it, surprisingly enough, and wanted to stick with an auto. Now, she only uses the .380 pistols at the range.

[incucrash]

Hi Point, eww,
Go with a Lady S&W :-)

[jerry]

Depending on experience level and the amount of dedication she will put forth there are several options.

The revolver has been brought up, but you asked about an auto. For an occasional shooter, I'd stick with a mid size DAO/Striker.
Stay away from levers, bells & whistles.
I wouldn't go ultra small on the frame work unless CCW is an issue.
No smaller than 9mm

Personal choices listed for reference only.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProd...=3097&return=Y

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProd...=3093&return=Y

http://www.glock.com/g26.htm

http://firearms.smith-wesson.com/sto...sw_activeTab=1

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/handguns/uspcompact.html

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/handguns/p2000sub.html

http://www.sigarms.com/products/newproducts.asp#214

http://www.taurususa.com/products/pr...ategory=Pistol

I like the FEG's Bersa's, MAC's, CZ's and all, but think they are more experienced to seasoned shooters. The rugers & tauri may be your best money value, but don't skimp on cost. This could be your loved ones life. Do a side job or two to get the xtr $100.

Originally Posted by Big Dog

For small autos, I've been impressed with the Bersa Thunder .380. Small, light and reliable, and decent accuracy. I didn't pay much attention to how stiff the slide may have been, but it didn't seem bad at all. Nice thing was, the slide didn't bite my hand like the Walther PPK can. Prices are quite good to - well under $200.

around here $269 brand new but I have heard nothing bad about them

[Oxford]

Have you looked at the Springfield XD Sub Compact in 9mm? That might be worth considering.

[toolman]

If it was my wife, I would stick with a double-action Taurus or Charter Arms .38 special revolver due to the ease of operation under stress. Most women don't care to shoot enough to learn all of the controls on a semi-auto. Just my opinion, tho.

I got my wife a brand new Glock 26 9mm with Trijicon nightsights..loaded with Federal Hydra Shoks..she keeps it in a Uncle Mike's Kydex paddle holster

[Daniel]

We figured out today that it's just my gun that she can't work. My friend has a Ruger 9mm w/ hammer and she can work the slide on it just fine. Mine just has a lot more tension on it plus it's smaller so it's hard ot get a grip.

[Apollyon67]

My gal is fond of her Bersa .380. She has shot my Firestar in .40, but says its a bit much. I would think the 9mm would be a bit easier to handle. It sure would be nice to have a place that someone (male or female) could "test drive" a number of guns to get a better feel for them.

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by Apollyon67

My gal is fond of her Bersa .380.

Same here.

[Habakkuk21]

If you like little, what about the Kel-tec .380? It's really small, and it doesn't have a safety, but you really got to want to pull the trigger. It won't go off by accident. 6 round clip plus one in the chamber. Load it with Hydro Shok, and it ought to be enough to make somebody leave you alone.

[Daniel]

How easy is the slide to pull back though? That was the problem w/ the 9x18mm we had. If was easy for me but she couldn't pull it back. She can pull the slide back on this Ruger I got just fine. How much is the Bersa? Thanks.