What handgun should I buy? (first-time female gun owner)?

Question

Hey,
I recently moved into a new apartment in a not so good area. I really feel uneasy at night especially. There have been some break-ins around the complex lately too.

Here is what I am looking for... something that isn't to heavy, cuz I'm a petite girl (5ft tall) and I don't have any prior experience with guns. I am willing to go down to the range and learn to use a gun, however I just want to know some good options so I know what to ask for at a gun store.

I'd like osmething that doesn't have a big kick back, something that I can sqeeze the trigger somewhat easy (i have small fingers) and something that wont jam up on me and leave me in a bind.

I don't know anything about the caliber of bulets or anything so be as descriptive as you can in your ideas for my first handgun.

Thank you in advance :)

Answer 1

Because my husband is a retired cop, he always took me to shoot his service weapon so I would know what to do in a possible emergency.

I have shot revolvers and automatics. Revolvers are commonly called "wheel guns" and have what looks like a wheel in the center of the gun where the bullets are at. The gun is ready to fire right away. A automatic is a flatter gun and has no wheel. The bullets are in a clip or holder that goes into the bottom of the handle or grip of the gun. You have to pull the slide or top of the gun back to load the first bullet and then the gun automatically feeds the bullets into the chamber or barrel of the gun for the next shot. Automatics can be prone to jamming if you don't get a fairly decent, pricey weapon and if you don't keep it clean and oiled. I prefer the revolvers, they have less kick and are easier to use. The automatics have a kick to them that I found to be intimidating. Autos also require some finess to load and rack and I was not good at it.

Do you have a gun store that has a shooting range attached to it? If so, go and tell the sales person that you have never shot a gun before and that you want something that will be easy for you to handle, load and shoot. A .38 revolver will probably be your weapon of choice. A .22 is a bit small and does not have take down power unless you hit a vital spot. A .357 will have a bit more kick and a .45 will probably shoot itself right out of your hand. If the store wants to sell you a gun, they will let you shoot several until you find one that you like.

We also have a "street sweeper" in our home. That is a 12 gauge shotgun that has slugs in it. Just the sound of racking the shotgun is likely to stop any would be burglar. If it doesn't, all you have to do is point the darn thing in the general direction of the creep and pull the trigger. It will hit anything in its general area, thus the "street sweeper" handle. LOL The 12 gauge does have a big kick though, a small gauge would probably be better for someone small like you.

You are a smart person to take lessons. The more you shoot the weapon, the better you will be with it and the less likely you will be to injure yourself or someone else.

Answer 2

What you could do is run a search on Springfield Armory, Glock, Smith and Wesson to do some research. Then go to a gun store and actually handle some pistols and revovlers.

Any caliber is going to have some recoil including a .22. A caliber that is only sutible for small game and target shooting.

What I tell people is nothing under a 9 MM or a .38 special because anything less is going to leave a person vulnerable. There have been many stories about women empting a .25 Caliber pistol (or .25 of an inch diameter) into a bad guy and not stopping the bad guy.

You are on the right track on the things you are thinking of before hand. Ask about firing system A Glock and a Springfield Armory XD9 both have striker systems. I'm not sure about the Smith and Wesson M&P. Ask about the safeties. Both the Glock and the Springfield have a trigger safety and an internal safety. But Springfield alsohas a safety on the backstrap of the pistol grip.

The XD is a little heavier than the Glock but the weight will help lesson any recoil.

double action (pulling the trigger engages the hammer and fires the gun) revolvers are going to have a heavier trigger pull and for someone that isn't used to guns I wouldn't suggest a single action (you have to engage the hammer before it fires) for any reason, at least if there wasn't any interesting in cowboy action shooting.

One other thing your going to have to think of before you go any farther is can you use it if you have to and I don't mean just pull it to frighten. If you can't -don't get a firearm.

Answer 3

I recommend a single stack 1911 .45 ACP, manufactured by either Sig, S&W, Kimber or Taurus.

First, a good 1911 will have a decent trigger. Being a single action, the trigger pull will be short and, hopefully, crisp. A revolver will have a long double action pull that can make accurate shooting difficult. Same for double action automatics.

Second, a single stack 1911 will have a thinner grip that a double stack high capacity pistol. This is important for people with small hands because you need to be able to grip the gun and have the barrel be aligned with your forearm so that they form a straight line.

Third, the .45 ACP is manageable. The bullet is big, but the the velocity is relatively low. This means the recoil will not be excessive, like in a .44 mag where you have a large bullet and high velocity. If you feel the 230 Gr. loads have too much recoil, then try using 185 Gr. loads.

Fourth, get a reputable manufacturer and jams should be minimized. Even revolvers can experience mechanical failures due to the intricate timing requirements of the cylinder.

Remember though, that there is really no way to determine what's best for you until you actually shoot the different guns. Some gun stores have ranges where they allow you to sample the guns, and there are shooting ranges that will rent out guns.

Answer 4

First decide if you want a revolver or a semi-auto. A revolver is BY FAR the most reliable., but an auto will hold more rounds.

Second, chose a gun store, if you can, that has an indoor shooting range where you can rent different guns to try.

Don't let them sell you up on caliber. It doesn't matter how balistically better a round is if it is un-controllable for the shooter.

If you chose a revolver, go with a .38 special/.357. There are a great variety of .38 rounds; weak and STRONG. You can start practicing with the weaker rounds, get comfortable, then move up to a heaver load once you are comfortable. However, if a .22 is all you can comfortably handle, then go with that.

If you chose an auto, look at a 380. It's basically a small 9mm. Very manageable. Also, a 9mm is a good choice. But again, don't be afraid of a 22. I bought my wife a Ruger auto in 22. She keeps is loaded around the clock "just in case."

One last thing, don't go too cheap. You get what you pay for. Taurus is a great gun at an affordable price.

Good luck!!

Answer 5

Tif, sounds like what you need is definitely a revolver. At least consider a gun safety course before you purchase your first handgun. The dealer should be able to inform you on where you can sign up for one.

Look for a Smith & Wesson, Ruger or Taurus .38 Special or .357 Magnum (the .357 also shoots .38s). Colt is good too, if you can find one at a reasonable price. A Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 Special will do fine.

Since you live in an apartment ask your dealer for pre-fragments bullets (Glazier type). They are more expensive but you only need six. These are to load your gun with for home/personal defense use, NOT for practice. Practice with cheaper practice ammo. Pre-fragmented bullets will not penetrate apartment walls endangering your neighbors or someone sleeping in the next bedroom.. Practice ammo can be cheap because it is just to give you a feel for your revolver and put you on target. Remember, treat every gun as if it were loaded; keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot and don't point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.

Good luck.

H

Answer 6

A two inch barrel 38 spec revolver or a 9mm compact semi-auto would be nice for a handgun. For home defense you might pick up a plain old 12 gauge double barrel ( 18" ) for under two hundred dollars. It is quite intimidating to look down the twin barrels and you can use 5 or 6 shot; no innocent neighbor will lose a TV set from a slug going through a wall. I have six daughters and several of them are petite; they prefer the EAA Witness compact 9mm in stainless with three dot night sights. Another one likes the 45 auto with three dot night sight. The really mean one carries a matched pair of Taurus 44 magnum 4" magnaported pistols. She is going through a phase of shooting with both hands, and is getting quite good at it. Since they all borrow ammuntion from poor old dad I am getting quite adept at reloading. Life is good.

Answer 7

You have gotten some good advise, a Snub Nosed 38 would most likely be a good choice as it doesn't kick too much and you can buy them for a reasonable price, but most important of all is practice. 38 ammo is not too expensive and I suggest that you go to a range and practice at 10 to 20 feet because if the assailant is further away than that you probably won't have to shoot him. By practice I mean you need to shoot a couple hundred rounds and then go to the range once a month or so to keep sharp.

Answer 8

I like Josie's answer. Cming from a woman with personal experience.
I too recommend the .357/.38 revolver if you prefer a revolver. If you find a small .357 you can practice and shoot .38 Special ammo until you feel comfortable/ or the need to step it up a notch. Then yu can just start with some light .357 ammo. As far as your size and ability to handle recoil. In time, with practice, you will figure it out, and know what to expect from what you are shooting.

My wife is about your size, small hands, 130 lbs. etc and does not like recoil either. But she prefers a Glock 23 (semi-automatic .40 caliber) as her weapon of choice. She bought one pistol, went shooting with it about three times, then rented/shot a Glock, and decided that she liked the Glock better, so she bought one.
So like I said, it is up to you. Of course we practice often, so she is has gotten pretty good. I am a firm believer in practice. With enough practice, anyone could shoot any type or caliber of gun effectively, regardless of recoil or body size.

For comfort, confidence, and safety, start out small and work your way up. You may pick a .22 revolver or auto, and feel comfy with handling and shooting it, then that's what you need to have. You may start out with a 9mm or .357 and want something smaller for whatever reason, or possibly find that you are willing to try a little more power.
I can't give you a definite answer, it is up to you to do the "touchy feely" thing, handle and shoot a few different guns and calibers and go from there as your starting point.

Any gun is better than no gun at all, even if it were small like a .22. If you practiced with it enough, and were comfortable shooting it, you could be just as effective with it, as I am with my .45.

Answer 9

I recently bought my wife a Walther P22 to use, it's a .22 caliber pistol. High quality and reliable and affordable, you can get one for about $300. If you can get the version with the laser, it cost a bit more makes for easy night time sighting when a break in is likely to occur. She really likes this pistol, it's small, easy for her to pull trigger and holds 10 rounds. Use good quality ammo, .22 ammo is cheap no matter what you buy, but go for the some Remington .22 YellowJackets. Get lots of practice and once you are used to firing and operating the pistol I recommend graduating to a 9mm or .38 pistol. A .38 revolver is nice as is very simple to use and that's is what my wife is getting next.

Answer 10

First, you want a revolver. Please don't let anybody talk you into starting with a self-loader. I'm personally in favor of forty-something caliber revolvers, and bought a 44 Special for my second wife, who was your size and inexperienced as you are. But you may want to start with a 38 Special, or you could get a 357 Magnum, which will shoot 38 Special cartridges. It would actually be better if you could learn with a 22 rimfire, but that won't do for self-defense, and you sound like you want a defensive gun now. Also, if you're not planning to carry it with you but just want something for home, forget handguns altogether, and get a short-barrelled shotgun.