whats the best hand gun for protection??

Question

my friend wants a hand gun for protection she sorta new to guns and needs help finding the best kind for her any ideas would help????

Answer 1

If you can pull the slide back and have it lock on an empty magazine, you can cycle the gun and load it. Most females have a problem doing this and then, yes, look harder at a revolver.

Although you may never fire more than a round or two in a defensive situation, it's nice to know you have more than six rounds available at a time.

But, the choice is totally yours.

Please go to a local indoor range where you can rent several types and calibers and get used to each one. Which one felt more natural, and did it give you better groups on paper? It will tell you if you can handle the recoil of each type.

Which ever you choose, you want to be comfortable with it, not scared of it. Once you have been to the range a few times, you should be ready to visit an instructor and/or a conceal carry course. Most CCW programs require you to shoot at a target with proficiency.

Don't forget you also need to keep shooting. Familiarity is the key. Practice, Practice, Practice.

Answer 2

I've been asked this question many times. I've taken lady friends to gun dealers, to ranges to test fire various hand guns. In the end, the choice doesn't matter as much as the training. If she can't pull the trigger in a life threatening situation, then pepper spray is a better choice. The answers above me are all very good answers for selecting a good hand gun. But first be sure a fire arm is the right weapon of choice for her. There are a number of non lethal alternatives to consider.

Having said all that, in the past, I've recommended either a Model 60 S&W or the Walther PPK .380, and some pepper spray.

Answer 3

First she needs to take a gun safety and gun use course. This is a MUST. Guns in the hands of the untrained are dangerous to the user. Plus a gun in the mix for an assault offers a weapon for the assailant if the situation is not handled properly. The course will also inform her of local gun laws. After the training course she can then make an informed decision about type, caliber, etc.

Answer 4

For those who are totally unfamiliar with handguns and is just starting out, I would recommend a 4" barrel .38 special revolver. Many people love the 2" snubbies, but having shot all kinds of handguns in over 30 years, , believe me when I say that the 2" revolver is the hardest to train a novice with.

Answer 5

As an instructor, I talk to new gun owners all the time. For a novice, I always recomend a double action small framed revolver in either .38 spcl or something like a Ruger sp101 in .357 magnum so that it can be loaded witrh .38 spcl for carry, and with .357 magnum if hiking.
A revolver is simple to operate, almost never has a failure or problem, is easy to load, can be reloaded quickly with a speed loader and is very easy to master.
Take your friend to a range and let her try a few different revolvers to find the one she likes best. Steer her away from a semi automatic pistol. Pistols require much more skill and knowledge to keep clean, operate, and know how to react to and fix jams or failures. I carry a pistol, as does my wife. But, we both have many many years fo experience with them. If your friends wants to, she can work up to using a pistol over a revolver.

Answer 6

I like the Springfield Armory XD Series. They are easy to shoot with little felt recoil, natural pointers, meaning what you point at is what you shoot (to some degree, you will still need to aim). The trigger safety is identical to the Glocks safety, but the XD added a grip safety for added protection against accidental discharge. You also have a load indicator on the top of the slide that shows if you have a live round in the chamber. There is also a striker indicator that will show if the firearm is ready to be fired.
The XD comes in 9mm, .40cal, .45ACP and GAP, .375sig, as well as in sub-compact, compact, service, and tactical sizes.
The sub-compact comes with one regular mag and one mag with a grip extension to make it a full size grip. The compact is similar to the sub, but it has a 4” barrel. It can be used for conceal carry or as a duty weapon with the grip extension

Answer 7

Firstly take a self defense handgun course to be sure of "how to". I would suggest you have her look at a Kel Tec P-11; very nice little 9mm ten shot double action only semi-auto. I have dozens of firearms, to put it mildly, but for everyday carry I like the little KT P-11 because it is light and comfortable with a big bite if you have to use it. It is not a target weapon, nor does it look big and macho; it just does the job if you need it without a lot of fall-dee-rol. Several of my daughters have collections that rival mine but have also discovered the comfort and convenience of the KT P-11; one of them in the legal field has a purse that looks like a combat pack what with all the stuff she carries; she likes the KT as it weighs almost nothing and is handy. Have her check this out; bought mine for 242.00.

Answer 8

As already stated, the .357 magnum is a good choice because it is a revolver and you can also fire 38 Specials (a better round to start with and for shooting inside a house/apartment for self-defense). However, if your friend prefers semi-autos then take a look at 9mms or .380 Autos, especially ones that are easy to maintain and reliable like Glocks, XDs, or Sig Sauers.

Note: If your friend doesn't plan to go to the range that much or clean her handgun regularly then she should go with a revolver. See article:

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=3195

Answer 9

Make sure you get one chambered in a round she can handle comfortably under stress. The first answer suggests a revolver, but those are terribly difficult to reload in a combat situation, why do you think our military AND police uses semi automatic weapons? However, I see his point, a revolver 99% of the time cant jam, and there are much fewer moving parts

Answer 10

A .357 Revolver in stainless steel. It is the perfect handgun for someone not familiar with firearms. Very little to learn in terms of operation and maintence.

May I also suggest she take a basic firearms handgun course with a certified trainer?

Brands should be Taurus, S&W, Ruger and Colt.

Please read the well written article below, share it with her and find a good gun dealer in your area that caters to women who are first time gun owners.