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Originally Posted by stilllearning09  My sister has decided that she wants a weapon that she can carry. What weapon do you carry and what is your method for carrying? A holster? A purse holster?
She has started to read  but hasn't become a member yet. I am hoping that your input will encourage her to become a member, too. Your thoughts, please. |
First things first - get her to a class so she can try a few things for herself. No amount of advise will take the place of getting several guns in her hand and then trying a few that "fit".
I would stongly discourage a purse holster. Women tend to set them down leaving a loded gun accessible to unauthorized people and children. Also it's the first thing that a mugger will try to steal... and then he has your gun.
There are several fanny pack holsters, and that would be much better than a purse.
My wife thinks a belly band is very comfortable, and if the gun is small enough is only a minor detriment to the wardrobe.
A vest is another option to a regular in-waistband (IWB) or hip (OWB) holster, but an IWB or OWB can be brought to bear more easily and that is the reason for their popularity.
I have two guns that I carry on a regular basis: A 4" Springfield XD-40 Service Model and a 2.25" Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum (can also shoot .38 Special and .38 Special +P). I'm a big guy, 6'3" 225#, and have no problem concealing either under a shirt, but the SP101 is much more comfortable, and the weight of the SP101 over a typical aluminum frame snubby .38 makes it much more comfortable to shoot too.
A third gun that I carry only occasionally is a Bersa Thunder .380 - it is very comfortable as well.
My buddy took my recommendation for the XD and got a 3" XD-9 sub-compact which he absolutely loves.
Other good models are the Smith and Wesson M&P compact, Glock 19 and Glock 26 (or 23 and 27 if you want a .40 cal).
For revolvers... Ruger SP101 and Ruger Speed Six snub nosed or a Smith and Wesson snub nose revolver (too many to list).