I got my 22 yr old daughter a Ruger LCP and it is difficult for her to hit the target with the long trigger pull and small grips. We all know it is more fun to shoot when you can hit the target once in awhile and it builds confidence. My preferance for my ladies is something shiny and with a laser, mostly for the deterant factor. When I get her a replacement I would go with a nichol or chrome 5 shot revolver. Lots of good inexpensive ones out there. I'll keep the LCP as a cc for myself. Really glad I didn't get her something pink!
CC Hand gun for a lady
- Thread starter Scalloper
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Boeydafunk
New member
I know I am in the minority here, but pocket .380s and small .38 snubnoses are not beginers guns. Not under stress and in a gunfight. Nothing against revolvers, but a four inch barrel is much easier to shoot and handle than a smaller lighter gun. Glocks can be easily manipulated with some training and a 19 is about the right size. Replace glock with m&p or xd of similar size and that would be fine too. Just need some training
Predator Strikeforce
New member
My wife carries a nickel plated Diamond Back .380 in her purse. It's a great little pocket gun and she is lethal with. Much more forgiving and user friendly than Ruger LCP. It's a mini Glock essentailly for a lot less $.
Today I bought a Charter Arms Pink Lady in 38 sp. I am going to let my aunt try it out but I am giving it to my wife. It seems to be a great little revolver for a lady. Currently my wife shoots and carries a Ruger Sucurity Six .357 which is much larger and kinda heavy for her purse. Here is a Charter Arms Pink Lady, what do you think?
http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Undercover_53830.html
http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Undercover_53830.html
TripleDeuce660
Active member
whats wrong with a lady smith? I'm moving to FL and thought the wife should get a CCW and was thinking about the lady smith.
I have found that my mother and wife both could not rack the slide or load a mag without the speed loader on a SA. Plus SA tends to have a lighter trigger that could be dangerous. Just look on the net of all the people shooting themselves in the leg with a glock, mostly instructors!
The revolver is easy to see if its loaded, easy to load and unload, and has a safer trigger pull.
I have found that my mother and wife both could not rack the slide or load a mag without the speed loader on a SA. Plus SA tends to have a lighter trigger that could be dangerous. Just look on the net of all the people shooting themselves in the leg with a glock, mostly instructors!
The revolver is easy to see if its loaded, easy to load and unload, and has a safer trigger pull.
Boeydafunk
New member
Almost all grown women can rack a slide with the proper training. If shooting a 9mm you can respring guns to make the slide easier to manipulate. As far as the lady smith goes, have your wife or mother shoot a few drills double acrion at seven yards. Odds are if you cant teach them how to manipulate an auto, you wont be able to teach them how to make fight ending shots under real stress either. The real bottom line is that if your not gonna train regularly and with seriousness, you are better off with pepperspray
DaFUnk
DaFUnk
OldTurtle
Moderator - Deceased
Be very cautious about making changes to the recoil/action spring in any semi-auto...A lighter spring equates to a heavier recoil with the same ammo...
A revolver is a much better choice for any person that is either barely familiar with shooting a handgun or has limited hand strength to function one...The probabilities for a miss fire are much less and in the case of the Lady Smith, much lighter to carry, even though the recoil may be heavier than with the heavier Ruger...
A revolver is a much better choice for any person that is either barely familiar with shooting a handgun or has limited hand strength to function one...The probabilities for a miss fire are much less and in the case of the Lady Smith, much lighter to carry, even though the recoil may be heavier than with the heavier Ruger...
Originally Posted By: TripleDeuce660whats wrong with a lady smith? I'm moving to FL and thought the wife should get a CCW and was thinking about the lady smith.
I have found that my mother and wife both could not rack the slide or load a mag without the speed loader on a SA. Plus SA tends to have a lighter trigger that could be dangerous. Just look on the net of all the people shooting themselves in the leg with a glock, mostly instructors!
The revolver is easy to see if its loaded, easy to load and unload, and has a safer trigger pull.
A Lady Smith would be a great option,but this Pink Lady came along and the price $350 was right.
I have found that my mother and wife both could not rack the slide or load a mag without the speed loader on a SA. Plus SA tends to have a lighter trigger that could be dangerous. Just look on the net of all the people shooting themselves in the leg with a glock, mostly instructors!
The revolver is easy to see if its loaded, easy to load and unload, and has a safer trigger pull.
A Lady Smith would be a great option,but this Pink Lady came along and the price $350 was right.
Kingzero
New member
I recently bought my wife a Taurus 738 TCP. It's a small 380 auto for 300 bucks.
Someone also mentioned the Walther PK380. I have one of these too and it is a really nice pistol. Easy slide and very comfortable, but larger than most 380's. I really like it but will be selling it for a Glock as soon as Walther gets me a new rear sight. One of the white pins in it fell out.
Someone also mentioned the Walther PK380. I have one of these too and it is a really nice pistol. Easy slide and very comfortable, but larger than most 380's. I really like it but will be selling it for a Glock as soon as Walther gets me a new rear sight. One of the white pins in it fell out.
Varminterror
New member
It depends on what she's really looking for. If she wants something for home defense, that's a very different weapon than something for CC.
Specifically, since you asked about CC...
I teach handgun courses, especially for women shooters. My wife, Sis, sis in law, mother, Mom-in-law, bro-in-law's mom, gma, a few aunts, and some of thier friends all have CCW permits, and we have played with a lot of different options for women. I have to say, concealed weapons for women are a little different than for men (or maybe men should just give up on the macho act and use THE RIGHT weapon).
In my experience, a 62yr old woman 1) won't be able to take much for recoil, 2) won't be spend much time practicing, 3) won't be very quick to the gun, so needs a very accessible carry method, and 4) will wear VERY different clothing from day to day, so having an ULTRA concealable weapon is important.
That presents it's own set of challenges, ultra concealable pocket pistols aren't easy to shoot, requiring practice, which they're not going to do.
Personally, I'd recommend either a Ruger LCP or a Sig P238, for size and concealability. I'd give the edge for a 62yr old woman to the Sig for the single action trigger and the far superior sites. The advantage for the LCP or LC9 over the P238 would be she doesn't have to do anything but pull the trigger (manual safety on the P238).
Here's model by model our experience with a few different ccw weapons:
Walther PK-380: My sis has one. Bulky, clunky, but actually pretty comfortable to shoot. Has been reliable when kept clean, but pretty finicky after a few hours at the range. Accurate enough, but again, difficult to conceal. Very light weight, so if you get it hidden, it's very comfortable. Fun and inexpensive for a plinker, but wouldn't recommend it for CCW.
Walther PPK/S .380: My personal favorite, just for styling. Fantastic weapon. A little big and rather heavy (real metal baby!), but plenty to hang onto, and beautifully styled. Again, a little difficult to conceal, but pretty slim, so it's easier than some others. Highly recommend for CC.
Bersa Thunder .380: My bro-in-law's mom has one. Not as refined as the PPK/S, but for all intents and purposes, it's a dead ringer for accuracy and function. Highly recommend for CC.
Kahr PM-9, CM-9 9mm: Great weapon. CM-9 is "Cheap Model", PM9 is "polished model", and the price reflects it. Accuracy and reliability are equal for either. Grip isn't comfortable for me (I have a PM-9), and it's a little clunky/big for concealment. My mom loves her CM9. Not my favorite, but I'd give it a thumbs up for CC.
"Baby Glock" 26 and Glock Compact 19 9mm: The 26 is the smallest Glock, but still isn't easy to conceal. The 19 is almost impossible to conceal without a jacket of some sort. Obviously fantastic weapon, but not a great choice for concealment by geometry. I wouldn't personally recommend it for CC.
Ruger SR-9c and 40c: My wife has a 40c, sister has a 9c, great weapons, but same deal as the Glocks, just a bit too big to conceal. Very affordable, and surprisingly smooth to shoot. Thumbs up for pistol shooting, but probably not recommend it for a 62yr old woman's CC.
Sig P-238 .380: Amazing little weapon. Far and away the finest pocket pistol I have ever seen. Only disadvantage is the manual safety, but the single action trigger is fantastic. Can't say there is anything smaller out there, but it IS one of the heaviest pocket pistols since it's all metal (still very light). The single action trigger and bright night sites on the P-238 make it a GREAT option for older women with arthritic hands, or aging eyes. Far and away highly recommend this one.
Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P-3AT .380: My daily carry. I had a P-3AT then upgraded to an LCP for the refined styling and fit. Absolute ultimate for concealment. Long, heavy trigger pull, recoil assisted DAO. Difficult to shoot, and poor sites, but "minute of bad guy" is very doable. My mom-in-law cannot pull the trigger on it reliably because of her arthritis. Highly recommend it if she can manage the trigger and sights.
Ruger LC9: Much better trigger than the LCP, but still long and heavy. FAR better sites. Manual safety is nice, and optional for safe carry. It's a little bigger, but still in the "pocket pistol" category for me, since it's so flat. Highly recommend it, probably over the LCP.
Ruger SP-101 .357mag: Amazing weapon, incredible accuracy, but heavy, and hard to conceal. My wife and I both have one, but hiding them is difficult. You'll also want a wolf spring kit for it, since the factory 14lb mainspring is a bear. Of course, .357mag can be rough for women shooters, but .38spcl is a breeze. I also have one in .32H&R and .327federal, which are also very handy, but not as easy to find ammo. Wouldn't recommend a weapon this big or heavy for her CC.
Taurus 85 .38spcl (all steel): I have one, and my mom-in-law has one. They get a bad wrap, but in my experience, the all steel Taurus revolvers are actually very accurate and very reliable (do not have the problematic brittle cylinder pin bushings and firing pin bushings). No, they aren't highly polished, but I dump cloverleaf groups at 15yrds with mine regularly. Like the SP-101, it's bulky and heavy, but these revolvers are very easy to shoot for their size.
S&W 60 Ladysmith .357mag: Same problem with any revolver, big and heavy, and it's quite expensive. Very fine revolver, and a little smaller grip neck than the SP-101 for smaller hands. Finer trigger than the SP-101 from factory, but the $10 Wolf spring kit for the Ruger is cheaper than the price difference between the S&W and the Ruger.
Taurus TCP .380: Took a shot, got burned. Sis-in-law tried one out, ended up returning it, got a new one back from Taurus, same problems with reliability. I bought it from her and after a new spring kit and about 20hrs of fitting and honing, it's running much better. Would I bet my life on it? Not quite THAT confident in it yet. Would NOT recommend you spend money on one at all.
What a mouthful! I may have forgotten one or two in there, but again, the P238, the LCP/LC9, or the PPK/S or Thunder would be my recommendations... Gotta try them on and see how she likes them.
Specifically, since you asked about CC...
I teach handgun courses, especially for women shooters. My wife, Sis, sis in law, mother, Mom-in-law, bro-in-law's mom, gma, a few aunts, and some of thier friends all have CCW permits, and we have played with a lot of different options for women. I have to say, concealed weapons for women are a little different than for men (or maybe men should just give up on the macho act and use THE RIGHT weapon).
In my experience, a 62yr old woman 1) won't be able to take much for recoil, 2) won't be spend much time practicing, 3) won't be very quick to the gun, so needs a very accessible carry method, and 4) will wear VERY different clothing from day to day, so having an ULTRA concealable weapon is important.
That presents it's own set of challenges, ultra concealable pocket pistols aren't easy to shoot, requiring practice, which they're not going to do.
Personally, I'd recommend either a Ruger LCP or a Sig P238, for size and concealability. I'd give the edge for a 62yr old woman to the Sig for the single action trigger and the far superior sites. The advantage for the LCP or LC9 over the P238 would be she doesn't have to do anything but pull the trigger (manual safety on the P238).
Here's model by model our experience with a few different ccw weapons:
Walther PK-380: My sis has one. Bulky, clunky, but actually pretty comfortable to shoot. Has been reliable when kept clean, but pretty finicky after a few hours at the range. Accurate enough, but again, difficult to conceal. Very light weight, so if you get it hidden, it's very comfortable. Fun and inexpensive for a plinker, but wouldn't recommend it for CCW.
Walther PPK/S .380: My personal favorite, just for styling. Fantastic weapon. A little big and rather heavy (real metal baby!), but plenty to hang onto, and beautifully styled. Again, a little difficult to conceal, but pretty slim, so it's easier than some others. Highly recommend for CC.
Bersa Thunder .380: My bro-in-law's mom has one. Not as refined as the PPK/S, but for all intents and purposes, it's a dead ringer for accuracy and function. Highly recommend for CC.
Kahr PM-9, CM-9 9mm: Great weapon. CM-9 is "Cheap Model", PM9 is "polished model", and the price reflects it. Accuracy and reliability are equal for either. Grip isn't comfortable for me (I have a PM-9), and it's a little clunky/big for concealment. My mom loves her CM9. Not my favorite, but I'd give it a thumbs up for CC.
"Baby Glock" 26 and Glock Compact 19 9mm: The 26 is the smallest Glock, but still isn't easy to conceal. The 19 is almost impossible to conceal without a jacket of some sort. Obviously fantastic weapon, but not a great choice for concealment by geometry. I wouldn't personally recommend it for CC.
Ruger SR-9c and 40c: My wife has a 40c, sister has a 9c, great weapons, but same deal as the Glocks, just a bit too big to conceal. Very affordable, and surprisingly smooth to shoot. Thumbs up for pistol shooting, but probably not recommend it for a 62yr old woman's CC.
Sig P-238 .380: Amazing little weapon. Far and away the finest pocket pistol I have ever seen. Only disadvantage is the manual safety, but the single action trigger is fantastic. Can't say there is anything smaller out there, but it IS one of the heaviest pocket pistols since it's all metal (still very light). The single action trigger and bright night sites on the P-238 make it a GREAT option for older women with arthritic hands, or aging eyes. Far and away highly recommend this one.
Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P-3AT .380: My daily carry. I had a P-3AT then upgraded to an LCP for the refined styling and fit. Absolute ultimate for concealment. Long, heavy trigger pull, recoil assisted DAO. Difficult to shoot, and poor sites, but "minute of bad guy" is very doable. My mom-in-law cannot pull the trigger on it reliably because of her arthritis. Highly recommend it if she can manage the trigger and sights.
Ruger LC9: Much better trigger than the LCP, but still long and heavy. FAR better sites. Manual safety is nice, and optional for safe carry. It's a little bigger, but still in the "pocket pistol" category for me, since it's so flat. Highly recommend it, probably over the LCP.
Ruger SP-101 .357mag: Amazing weapon, incredible accuracy, but heavy, and hard to conceal. My wife and I both have one, but hiding them is difficult. You'll also want a wolf spring kit for it, since the factory 14lb mainspring is a bear. Of course, .357mag can be rough for women shooters, but .38spcl is a breeze. I also have one in .32H&R and .327federal, which are also very handy, but not as easy to find ammo. Wouldn't recommend a weapon this big or heavy for her CC.
Taurus 85 .38spcl (all steel): I have one, and my mom-in-law has one. They get a bad wrap, but in my experience, the all steel Taurus revolvers are actually very accurate and very reliable (do not have the problematic brittle cylinder pin bushings and firing pin bushings). No, they aren't highly polished, but I dump cloverleaf groups at 15yrds with mine regularly. Like the SP-101, it's bulky and heavy, but these revolvers are very easy to shoot for their size.
S&W 60 Ladysmith .357mag: Same problem with any revolver, big and heavy, and it's quite expensive. Very fine revolver, and a little smaller grip neck than the SP-101 for smaller hands. Finer trigger than the SP-101 from factory, but the $10 Wolf spring kit for the Ruger is cheaper than the price difference between the S&W and the Ruger.
Taurus TCP .380: Took a shot, got burned. Sis-in-law tried one out, ended up returning it, got a new one back from Taurus, same problems with reliability. I bought it from her and after a new spring kit and about 20hrs of fitting and honing, it's running much better. Would I bet my life on it? Not quite THAT confident in it yet. Would NOT recommend you spend money on one at all.
What a mouthful! I may have forgotten one or two in there, but again, the P238, the LCP/LC9, or the PPK/S or Thunder would be my recommendations... Gotta try them on and see how she likes them.
Varminterror
New member
Oh yeah, I forgot!
Springfield EMP 9mm and 1911 MicroCompact .45acp: Same boat as the P238 as far as manual safety and single action trigger, and same boat as Walther PPK/S, baby glock, etc for size. It's a little big, and a little heavy. The .45acp recoil will be a LOT for an elderly woman. The EMP will be a little big and heavy, but definitely a fine weapon.
Kimber Ultra II 9mm: More refined than the Springfields, lighter trigger. Same manual safety problem, and same weight/size problem. Both great weapons, but not great for concealment in certain clothing.
Springfield EMP 9mm and 1911 MicroCompact .45acp: Same boat as the P238 as far as manual safety and single action trigger, and same boat as Walther PPK/S, baby glock, etc for size. It's a little big, and a little heavy. The .45acp recoil will be a LOT for an elderly woman. The EMP will be a little big and heavy, but definitely a fine weapon.
Kimber Ultra II 9mm: More refined than the Springfields, lighter trigger. Same manual safety problem, and same weight/size problem. Both great weapons, but not great for concealment in certain clothing.
john007
New member
Originally Posted By: BoeydafunkAlmost all grown women can rack a slide with the proper training. If shooting a 9mm you can respring guns to make the slide easier to manipulate. As far as the lady smith goes, have your wife or mother shoot a few drills double acrion at seven yards. Odds are if you cant teach them how to manipulate an auto, you wont be able to teach them how to make fight ending shots under real stress either. The real bottom line is that if your not gonna train regularly and with seriousness, you are better off with pepperspray
DaFUnk
Seriously?
DaFUnk
Seriously?