Guns Not so Great for Women

SuckLead · 11-18-2007, 08:50 PM

Have any of you run into some guns that were not so great for women? Example, I tried one out today. I realized the old Luger isn't so good for women. I'm fairly strong but I couldn't get a round to chamber to save my soul. Any of you run into any guns that just generally don't seem to agree with women?

SPOCAHP ANAR · 11-18-2007, 10:39 PM

Guns are not gender specific. Some people have more difficulty shooting certain guns than others. It has to do with comfortability and preference. Your question would be more accurately posed this way:

"Has any women had trouble shooting certain models of firearms?"

SuckLead · 11-18-2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOCAHP ANAR

Guns are not gender specific. Some people have more difficulty shooting certain guns than others. It has to do with comfortability and preference. Your question would be more accurately posed this way:
"Has any women had trouble shooting certain models of firearms?"

Not necessarily. I've seen some guns that most if not all the women who have handled it couldn't get a comfortable grip on or just downright couldn't operate it. And I've put a lot of guns into the hands of a lot of women.

Midas · 11-18-2007, 10:52 PM

I've noticed that a lot of women have problems with the larger framed revolvers, like the .460 and .500 S&W, because the grips are so large and bulky.

Kale · 11-18-2007, 11:22 PM

I've heard that double-stack magazine pistols tend to have the 'big grip' problem making holding the gun tricky for small-handed shooters.

Big Dog · 11-19-2007, 04:51 AM

We guys sometimes have the reverse problem - some guns have grips too small for my big mitts to get a decent hold on!
My buddy's wife has small hands, but she loves to shoot his .44 Magnum Taurus revolver!
It all depends on what YOU find comfortable. And some guns are indeed so 'stiff' that some folks have trouble operating them.
My Egyptian Maadi Cadet (9mm Beretta M951 clone) has the stiffest trigger I have ever encountered! You won't shoot that one by 'accident'!

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 05:49 AM

No I havn't but I have fairly large hands.

redhed · 11-19-2007, 07:25 AM

The Ruger Semi Autos grips are almost too big for my hand. I can't seem to get a tight enough grip on them even with two hands and a friend's 357 has a little too much kick for my weak right wrist. I've never met a gun I couldn't shoot, just weapons that I'd only want to shoot once or twice and then call it quits with them.

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 07:26 AM

You should look into Houge rubber grips for your handguns redhed.

khahn79 · 11-19-2007, 09:44 AM

When I started looking for my first handgun I did a search for "best handguns for women". I came across this page:
Millennium Ark: Handguns for Women
I then hit the local gun shops and just tried out several guns. From all my "experimenting" I found that the only brand I had a really hard time racking the slide on was Bersa. I ended up with a RugerP95D. Just got it this week and I've had it out on the range twice... and I'm in love!

I have small hands and this gun has a pretty large grip but I've found that to be a plus. It just feels more secure in my hands (especially in Weaver stance). I fractured my right (strong) hand earlier this year so I'm still trying to build up strength in that hand. Even with the weakness in my hand, the slide is very easy to rack and the trigger is easy to squeeze.

rckymtnboy · 11-19-2007, 10:28 AM

Ironically, my GF has a Lady Smith (yes, guns are gender specific!) that she HATES. They're supposed to be more "ergonomic for a woman's hand", but they really are not comfortable to shoot. Also, the sights are horrible and she can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. She has a Taurus 38 special, a S&W 380, and a Ruger 9mm that she is dead-on accurate with.

BattleRifleG3 · 11-19-2007, 04:22 PM

My experience is that women favor handguns over long guns for confidence, comfort, and accuracy. My wife loves her Bersa but doesn't mind my 1911 either.

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 04:22 PM

True.

SueMe · 11-19-2007, 08:56 PM

It is hard to say as we all have different stuctures including hands and arms. The best way to know which guns fit you best then try them out prior to purchase. If you like it and it fits you then it is right.

redhed · 11-19-2007, 09:18 PM

uhhhh...not this lady, sorry. I had wrist surgery a couple of years ago. And the first thing I noticed when I started shooting was that I was much more comfortable and confident with long guns than with hand guns. My baby is my Marlin 30/30 lever action and I can shoot 2 inch groups at 50 yards, with my Savage scoped 22, hand held, not using a bench. I shoot my Mosins, both long and short barrels with pretty good accuracy and I recently took my red dot scope off of my HiPoint 9 carbine because it was more accurate with it's iron sights.

Yes, nothing can beat my hand guns for ease of carry and self protection, but for accuracy and more bang for the buck, I'll take my rifles any day.

Gunny....Yeah, Houge grips are sweet. Handled a Bisley with Houges. They give a weapon an all together different feel. What I noticed though was that it made the grip longer, which was more comfortable for me also. Would a Houge grip make a difference with a double stacked magazine such as a Ruger P89 or P90?

gunney_m · 11-19-2007, 09:21 PM

YES, I bought the grips for my p89 and felt a HE!! of a difference.

redhed · 11-19-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunney_m

YES, I bought the grips for my p89 and felt a HE!! of a difference.

Cool! Put 'look at Houge grips' on my list of things to do when we the Springfield gun show this weekend.

BattleRifleG3 · 11-20-2007, 04:31 PM

A hogue grip will be a necessity if I get a P89. My wife is friendlier to long guns than most women I've met. I have noticed that women who favor long guns tend to be on the thin side, or at least on the fit side of average.

gunney_m · 11-20-2007, 04:39 PM

Well I have a grandmother that has been carrying a 38spl for 28 year and now is carrying a Glock 22 at 66 years old.

Bookman · 11-20-2007, 08:03 PM

I have found that many women shooters like the J-frame S&W revolvers when equipped with rubber grips. If you can find a 3" S&W Model 36 or 60, I would recommend either of these guns. They are not target capable guns but are a good compromise of size, weight and accuracy.

11-18-2007, 08:50 PM	#1
SuckLead Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA Posts: 536	Guns Not so Great for Women Have any of you run into some guns that were not so great for women? Example, I tried one out today. I realized the old Luger isn't so good for women. I'm fairly strong but I couldn't get a round to chamber to save my soul. Any of you run into any guns that just generally don't seem to agree with women? __________________ "Ruin a liberal's day; recite historical fact." - found on a bumper sticker

11-18-2007, 10:39 PM	#2
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,015	Guns are not gender specific. Some people have more difficulty shooting certain guns than others. It has to do with comfortability and preference. Your question would be more accurately posed this way: "Has any women had trouble shooting certain models of firearms?" __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

11-18-2007, 10:52 PM	#4
Midas Shoot 'Em Up Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,519	I've noticed that a lot of women have problems with the larger framed revolvers, like the .460 and .500 S&W, because the grips are so large and bulky. __________________ "Recoil lasts for a second, gravity lasts forever"

11-19-2007, 04:51 AM	#6
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 9,843	We guys sometimes have the reverse problem - some guns have grips too small for my big mitts to get a decent hold on! My buddy's wife has small hands, but she loves to shoot his .44 Magnum Taurus revolver! It all depends on what YOU find comfortable. And some guns are indeed so 'stiff' that some folks have trouble operating them. My Egyptian Maadi Cadet (9mm Beretta M951 clone) has the stiffest trigger I have ever encountered! You won't shoot that one by 'accident'! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

11-19-2007, 10:28 AM	#11
rckymtnboy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: I am a dual resident. Posts: 340	Ironically, my GF has a Lady Smith (yes, guns are gender specific!) that she HATES. They're supposed to be more "ergonomic for a woman's hand", but they really are not comfortable to shoot. Also, the sights are horrible and she can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. She has a Taurus 38 special, a S&W 380, and a Ruger 9mm that she is dead-on accurate with. __________________ When they come for my guns, I'll give 'em the bullets first!

11-18-2007, 11:22 PM	#5
Kale Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cowtown, Canada Posts: 62	I've heard that double-stack magazine pistols tend to have the 'big grip' problem making holding the gun tricky for small-handed shooters.

11-19-2007, 05:49 AM	#7
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	No I havn't but I have fairly large hands.

11-19-2007, 07:25 AM	#8
redhed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armpit, Illinois, USA Posts: 324	The Ruger Semi Autos grips are almost too big for my hand. I can't seem to get a tight enough grip on them even with two hands and a friend's 357 has a little too much kick for my weak right wrist. I've never met a gun I couldn't shoot, just weapons that I'd only want to shoot once or twice and then call it quits with them.

11-19-2007, 07:26 AM	#9
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	You should look into Houge rubber grips for your handguns redhed.

11-19-2007, 09:44 AM	#10
khahn79 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 179	When I started looking for my first handgun I did a search for "best handguns for women". I came across this page: Millennium Ark: Handguns for Women I then hit the local gun shops and just tried out several guns. From all my "experimenting" I found that the only brand I had a really hard time racking the slide on was Bersa. I ended up with a RugerP95D. Just got it this week and I've had it out on the range twice... and I'm in love! I have small hands and this gun has a pretty large grip but I've found that to be a plus. It just feels more secure in my hands (especially in Weaver stance). I fractured my right (strong) hand earlier this year so I'm still trying to build up strength in that hand. Even with the weakness in my hand, the slide is very easy to rack and the trigger is easy to squeeze.

11-19-2007, 04:22 PM	#12
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401	My experience is that women favor handguns over long guns for confidence, comfort, and accuracy. My wife loves her Bersa but doesn't mind my 1911 either. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

11-19-2007, 08:56 PM	#14
SueMe Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pine River ,Minnesota Posts: 34	It is hard to say as we all have different stuctures including hands and arms. The best way to know which guns fit you best then try them out prior to purchase. If you like it and it fits you then it is right.

11-19-2007, 09:18 PM	#15
redhed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armpit, Illinois, USA Posts: 324	uhhhh...not this lady, sorry. I had wrist surgery a couple of years ago. And the first thing I noticed when I started shooting was that I was much more comfortable and confident with long guns than with hand guns. My baby is my Marlin 30/30 lever action and I can shoot 2 inch groups at 50 yards, with my Savage scoped 22, hand held, not using a bench. I shoot my Mosins, both long and short barrels with pretty good accuracy and I recently took my red dot scope off of my HiPoint 9 carbine because it was more accurate with it's iron sights. Yes, nothing can beat my hand guns for ease of carry and self protection, but for accuracy and more bang for the buck, I'll take my rifles any day. Gunny....Yeah, Houge grips are sweet. Handled a Bisley with Houges. They give a weapon an all together different feel. What I noticed though was that it made the grip longer, which was more comfortable for me also. Would a Houge grip make a difference with a double stacked magazine such as a Ruger P89 or P90? Last edited by redhed; 11-19-2007 at 09:55 PM.

11-19-2007, 09:21 PM	#16
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	YES, I bought the grips for my p89 and felt a HE!! of a difference.

11-20-2007, 04:31 PM	#18
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401	A hogue grip will be a necessity if I get a P89. My wife is friendlier to long guns than most women I've met. I have noticed that women who favor long guns tend to be on the thin side, or at least on the fit side of average. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

11-20-2007, 04:39 PM	#19
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	Well I have a grandmother that has been carrying a 38spl for 28 year and now is carrying a Glock 22 at 66 years old.

11-20-2007, 08:03 PM	#20
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 738	I have found that many women shooters like the J-frame S&W revolvers when equipped with rubber grips. If you can find a 3" S&W Model 36 or 60, I would recommend either of these guns. They are not target capable guns but are a good compromise of size, weight and accuracy.

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