What weapon do you carry?

[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.

[redneckmedic]

642 can be a little overwhelming for a woman, (heck they kick my butt on the range) but size is great. So if she can shoot a snubby more power to her.

Otherwise looking for easy to use, on a budget, but don't want to dip to low into all BS conversations about cal. size.... I might say Bursa Thunder

[NIFT]

Two cents (well, maybe a nickle or dime!):

Suggest your sister get some range time with various guns, and, of course, I strongly recommend competent training. I have seen WAY too many people buy guns for "protection" and never--or rarely--fire them. Get good training and regular "trigger time."

That said, the primary and absolute requirement for any defensive firearm is 100% reliability under all conditions. One gun-caused malfuntion is too many! Some ladies have a hard time racking slides on semi-autos, and a revolver is a better choice for them. I recommend either Ruger or Smith & Wesson revolvers in .38 or .357 mag., and I supply those guns to my students, with ammunition, to use in my basic NRA classes.

For semi-autos, again, absolute reliability is the primary consideration.
Glocks, Springfields, Sigs, Berettas, are good choices, but I recommend guns with fewer "gizmos," such as external safeties, decockers, and so on. In a deadly force encounter, fine motor skills go away, and, for that reason, I don't recommend 1911 types for beginners; plus, many 1911 models are prone to malfunction.

For caliber selection, I suggest a minimum of .38 or 9mm. My wife, 5' 7" and 125 pounds, has a Glock 30 in .45 ACP and just loves it. No need to fear the .40 S&W or .45 ACP.

Hope this is some help.

Bob Aldridge
260-459-2382

[stilllearning09]

Thanks Bob. That's exactly the kind of advice she needs. I took an NRA class this spring as a "refresher course." I found out there were a lot of things I didn't know or had forgotten. That was the best $$ I spent! I'll make sure she reads your post. Thanks

[wtfd661]

I have a Glock 26 that is a nice little carry gun, here is a link to a thread that a member has started for opinions for his girlfriend, they went with the Baretta Storm subcompact and seem to really like it.

http://ingunowners.com/forums/handgu...ub-compct.html

[Jay]

I encourage the folks I teach to pick a handgun just like they do shoes...... ya go and try 'em on...... I can suggest lots of fine shoes, but you're gonna try 'em on first, right?

Same same with handguns. Go to gun shops, gun shows, my house, whever you can legally get your hands on a handgun, and after you're sure the gun is clear, pick it up and handle it. Close your eyes..... it doesn't have to be purty, your brain and hands will tell you if it feels good in your hands. You'll end up finding several that feel good to you. Pursue those. Many manufacturers make different calibers in the same frame, so manufacturer, or caliber should NOT be of prime consideration. Many fine shooters recommend a particular semi-auto....... but they don't "feel right" in my hands. I grew up with 1911-style frames, and that's been my choice for over 40 years. My choice. You're welcome to try mine, but if they don't "fit" look at something else.

Training.... with proper stance, grip, sight alignment, and trigger squeeze...... virtually anyone can shoot virtually any caliber proficiently. HOWEVER, if the handgun doesn't "feel right" to you, you won't shoot it enough to become proficient with it. If you're not proficient with it, carry a ball bat. Proficiency is what counts. A hit with a .22LR beats the hell out of a miss with a 44 magnum.

Just my two cents........

I have two openings left in the Basic Pistol/Personal Protection class on July 11th and 12th in Grant County (near Marion). There are two ladies in the class, and a female will be co-teaching with me on Sunday. Holler if you're interested.

[Pami]

+1 on getting as many types of firearms in her hands as she can before she makes her final (or first?) purchase.

+1 on getting formal training -- makes a HUGE difference.

+1 on trying to avoid off-body (purse) carry as there are just tooooo many things that can go wrong with that.

Read these threads:
http://ingunowners.com/forums/women_...your_life.html

http://ingunowners.com/forums/women_...un_owners.html

Especially Cornered Cat: Cornered Cat -- EXCELLENT resource for women that covers what to carry, how to carry, why to carry, and a variety of other topics related to carrying that are important to women. Written for women, by women (well, A woman, with a plethora of input from other women). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Originally Posted by NIFT

That said, the primary and absolute requirement for any defensive firearm is 100% reliability under all conditions. One gun-caused malfuntion is too many! Some ladies have a hard time racking slides on semi-autos, and a revolver is a better choice for them. I recommend either Ruger or Smith & Wesson revolvers in .38 or .357 mag., and I supply those guns to my students, with ammunition, to use in my basic NRA classes.

For semi-autos, again, absolute reliability is the primary consideration.
Glocks, Springfields, Sigs, Berettas, are good choices, but I recommend guns with fewer "gizmos," such as external safeties, decockers, and so on. In a deadly force encounter, fine motor skills go away, and, for that reason, I don't recommend 1911 types for beginners; plus, many 1911 models are prone to malfunction.

Be very, VERY careful how you choose to state these truths. From personal experience, some women will take offense to the "you can't handle this because you're a woman" approach and immediately choose the most complicated semi-auto available (such as a DA/SA SIG Mosquito or P226). Be sure to clearly state that beginners (women AND men) have issues with certain types of pistols, and explain it similarly to the second highlighted statement above rather than the first. If you MUST point out that slides are difficult to rack due to weaker hand/arm strength, be sure to point that out, not necessarily because she's female. Have her try to rack several as she's looking at the guns in the case -- I certainly turned down several models just because I couldn't rack the slide. Even as a newbie, I recognized that I wouldn't be able to do that in an emergency situation.

Choose simpler pistols because she's a beginner, not because she's a woman. Be very, VERY clear about that.

[redneckmedic]

Sorry 2nd question.... I would tell her to go to pops, as they have the largest assortment of holsters and carry options and play with everything once she buys a gun. Now I didn't say buy anything from pops, I just said go there and look at what they have purses fanny packs book bags holsters....ext and get a feel. This is a very person purchase and she needs to find what she is competent with and and carry with to her likings. And don't forget to advise on LTCH!!!

[Brown]

My Wife carries a Ruger SP101 hammerless revolver in 38/357 in her purse side pocket. She gets a fair amount of range and trigger time in so feels pretty comfortable with it.I carry a Glock 22 in a safari land paddle holster. Both of us have the lifetime LTCH

[NIFT]

Originally Posted by Brown

My Wife carries a Ruger SP101 hammerless revolver in 38/357 in her purse side pocket. She gets a fair amount of range and trigger time in so feels pretty comfortable with it.I carry a Glock 22 in a safari land paddle holster. Both of us have the lifetime LTCH

Both excellent choices!