In need of a feminine touch

MOntario

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Hello ladies,

I am trying to help my wife pick out her first pistol(It's her birthday present). She has shot a 22lr pistol, loved it, and wants her own more powerful one. I know that she will be the only one who can make the final call but I was curiouse as to what are your favorites/suggestions are and why.

She knows that she wants a semi-automatic, able to fit her smaller hands and "it can't be ugly".

What caliber do you recommend? Polymer or steel? Extra points for one that comes with accessories that show that it is HER's.

Thanks,
M
 
Wolverine's got a 9mm M&P with pink backstraps if she's into that. They're interchangeable for different hand sizes, I let the wife shoot mine in 40 cal (not pink). The 9mm will give her a little more zing than the 22 without any hefty recoil and the M&P's not overly heavy. Also cheap on ammo. I think I saw a CZ in pink as well.
 
Small hands? Any pistol with removable back straps.

S&W M&P, Gen 4 Glock, Beretta PX4, etc. Change the grip for a better fit.

I have small hands and I find I can use the Browning Hi Power, Sigs w single stack mags, Beretta 90 Two with vertec grip. SF model Glocks, most CZ's, Tokarevs.

S&W makes a pistol with pink grips if you want something extra girly.

As for ugly beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Take her to a gun store and let her hold them and get a feel for them. My wife was nervous of guns so I got her the downsized aluminum Browning 1911 .22. After she put a couple of bulk packs of ammo through it she was ready for something in her words "with more authority". She tried an M&P, Sig and a Glock and chose the Glock 17. I asked her why the Glock and her response was it felt right and everyone knows what a Glock is. Its not pink frilly or feminine but she likes it and is a better shot than I am with it.
 
My wife has a CZ-75 SP01 in 9mm. She picked it after shooting lots of different pistols. Absolutely loves it. I'd let your missus pick out what she likes and pay for it no matter what it costs. After all "happy wife = happy life"

G.
 
Thanks everyone, I've noticed that pretty much all the suggestions so far have been polymer and in 9mm.

She saw the M&P 9 and thinks that's the one but I'm trying to keep her mind open as she has not held it yet.

I'd let your missus pick out what she likes and pay for it no matter what it costs. After all "happy wife = happy life"

G.

After seeing the price difference between the M&P and a Glock I am worried that she may pick what is easyer on the wallet rather than the one she wants.

M
 
I've heard that the CZ-75 has a heavy trigger pull, has she had any issues with that?

Try one out. We did't find that was the case at all. I can't speak for my wife, however she shot lots of different 9's before picking the CZ. Glock 17, S&W MP9, STI GP6, Baretta Storm, Baby Eagle and Springfield XD. I find it has a very definite and feel and is no heavier trigger than some of the others. My wife is also somewhat petite and she really likes that it has much less muzzle flip than a couple of the others. It was her birthday present and I had a heck of a time finding one. I'm not trying to push CZ sales or anything of the sort. Picking one's gun is a real personal thing. My wife's friend shoots a S&W MP9 and she really likes it. We shoot at the same range and she went through the same "try before you buy" experience that my wife did. The MP9 was the one she preferred over the CZ and others. So it is not the same thing for everyone.
This sport a big investment so I think it is important to get something you really like.

Good Luck
Gerry
 
My wife shopped around for 9 months before finally making a decision. She ended up with a CZ SP-01 Shadow in dual-tone finish and absolutely loves it. I never really felt threatened in our relationship until that pistol came into the house - I swear she sleeps with it when I'm not around...

What's more - she got it new and somehow negotiated a better price on it. First firearm she ever bought in her life - I just don't know how you do that. One thing I'll say is that my late grandfather - the cheapest person I've ever known - could have his title at risk, but would be proud.

Anyway, I would agree with previous posts regarding getting the Mrs. to pick up and shoot whatever she can get her hands on and pick her own. My wife has long, slender fingers and just found the CZ fit her best. 3 months later she was out doing her first IPSC shoot and grinning from ear to ear...and get this - until 18 months before that, had never pulled a trigger in her life!
 
My wife likes shooting the GSG 1911, light and little recoil. She is fairly accurate with it (she only shoots once every other month or so). If I put a bigger calibre in her hands and she can't hit the broad side of a barn because she is afraid of the bang and the recoil.
 
CZ 75 SP01 is a great choice for anyone. My wife is also shopping for her first gun - I have a Steyr M9, M meaning medium frame and it fits her hands well. And IMO it ain't ugly. XDM9 would be another medium frame. But if the Shadow fits, it's the better gun indeed.
 
I also went with a 9mm 1911 for my wife. She tried m&p9 and glock 17 but liked the 1911 weight and trigger. Also she really likes the hogue finger grove grips for whatever reason. She shoots the 45 1911's very well but wanted something in 9mm.
 
From the title I thought this was a Craigslist ad for a lonely guy...lol
Try to get your wife to try a couple of shots out of each platform if you can, many think they'll like the m&p or Glock because of the light weight but then don't like the added recoil. The CZ Shadow is softer shooting but considerably heavier to hold. A 1911 in 9mm might strike a good balance. Of course my wife seemed to like the STI Eagle 6" in 9mm, but she has expensive tastes...lol
 
Thanks everyone for your help, after going to a gun shop and trying various pistols my wife decided that she liked the M&P 9 the most.

I think it may have to do with the purple backstraps she found online.

M
 
I'm a lady and like shooting IPSC. I find M&P, 1911 are good but I'm very happy with my CZ Shadow. I did change my main spring to make my double action easier as most people do. I have strong hands for a lady from always working and playing hard but could do the stock trigger pull on the shadow. I've seen other ladies have trouble with it. Many ladies have really weak hands and would really benefit from using hand exercisers if they wish to get into shooting handguns.
 
My wife shot one of my .45ACP 1911's last night for the 2nd time, with an IPSC 'major' load. Her new holster/mag pouch rig from Ted blocker arrived and she is gearing up for the 'Wild Bunch' SASS event.
She shot and handled this gun like a Trooper! She groups better with it than any other gun out to 20m. If she was to shoot it in IPSC, we'd have to fit it with ambi controls as she is a lefty. In fact, she now wishes she had started with a 1911 instead of the Ruger SR9. She bought the Ruger for the ambi controls. Her 2nd SR9 (NIB/NO round count) may soon be on the block.
I have the smallest hands of anyone I know, and I've never had trouble managing a 1911. On Black Badge courses, we used to demo the technique of holding a 1911 with the thumb and trigger finger only and firing a mag to lock back.

We make far too much of the issue of 'the right gun'.
 
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