Female friendly beginner pistol?

[SandRoad]

Take her to a rental range and have her handle and shoot as wide a variety of firearms as possible. Then let her decide.

This is Ontario, there are NO ranges that rent handguns. CFO won't allow it, too dangerous you know.....

Best thing is to contact local ranges and see when they have nights when lots of members are there and if they could arrange for you to try out a few of the members' guns.

 

[Rudy H]

Take her to a rental range and have her handle and shoot as wide a variety of firearms as possible. Then let her decide.

I just figured out that Dammer (Lisa) is the her. Many of us assumed you were looking for a gun for a friend. Our mistake.

Still the above advice is the best. Try a bunch before you buy one. The Ruger is a very good choice (was my first handgun) but others may suite you better.

While a lighter gun is easier to hold up it is also harder to hold steady. Added weight keeps it from moving around as much when you are aiming and the weight will also reduce the felt recoil.

Out of the fifty or so handguns I have owned I have only bought one new. All the "target" guns (some I bought for collection) I bought were in very good condition. This has saved me a lot of money compared to buying new.

If you were near by I would have a number of guns for you to try out.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

Like I said, I have a number of 22's your welcome to try if your in the Kitchener Waterloo -London area, and I have friends with many more (one poor nutjob loves 22's almost exclusivley....where are you, ONTGUNNER?)

 

[Maple Leaf Pilgrim]

I just figured out that Dammer (Lisa) is the her. Many of us assumed you were looking for a gun for a friend. Our mistake.

Well crap. Yep, Rudy you're right. Dammer, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize. I should have read your post more carefully. However, I still stand by heading out and trying as many guns as you can and picking the one you like the best.

I apologize.

 

[Maleficent]

A Ruger MKII would be a good choice.You can find them fairly cheap at around 275 to 350.

Being a tiny 5'2" female, my first purchase was a Browning HP 9mm. I like the Browning because my small hands could easily reach the mag release and I could lock it open easily as opposed to the Walther or SIG.

My second purchase was a Rugger MKII - highly recommended as well. Very cheap to buy both firearm and the ammo. No recoil, very well balanced and an overall great target pistol for practicing.

My only concern about my Rugger vs. Browning - the Rugger is a ##### to clean. The Browning is 5 seconds to dismantle but the Rugger required online instructions to dismantle and reassemble!

Best advice - go the range with buds and and try different ones before purchasing anything. What feels good in the store is very different on the line.

 

[richardoldfield]

Dammer, if you lived in the Windsor, ON area you could cross the border and try some of my toys. I am hesitant to recommend handguns as many beginning shooters do not want to shoot 22s. Do you need an example? One lady, Lynn, went straight to 45acp and 45 Colt revolvers. Yes, she shoots both of these well and recently added a Taurus 44 Special to the mix. The best thing would be to see if your fellow club members will let her try their handguns. Regards, Richard

 

[Rudy H]

The best thing would be to see if your fellow club members will let her try their handguns.

And many will gladly let you shoot there guns. When I started with handguns about 10 years ago a number of club members let me shoot there guns until I got my own. On older target shooter was particular about the ammo shot in his gun. As long as I shot regular velocity target ammo he let me shoot it as much as I liked. Since that time I bring in guns specifically for new shooters to try.

 

[Rudy H]

My only concern about my Rugger vs. Browning - the Rugger is a ##### to clean. The Browning is 5 seconds to dismantle but the Rugger required online instructions to dismantle and reassemble!

The Ruger is not that bad once you know the trick. You have to hold it at about the right angle during re-assembly so that stupid shaft thingy falls into the right place. Not a big deal if someone who shoots one (as apposed to those that used to shoot them and think they remember) shows you how to put it back together.

Often new shooters clean there guns a lot more than is needed.

 

[Pietro Beretta]

Glock 17

 

[maurice]

how about a Smith & Wesson M&P. Adjustable grips, reversible mag release, ok trigger.

 

[NAA]

In my estimation, my wife doesn't particularly enjoy shooting handgun, although she has been for nearly 30 years. She can hold her own with a Glock 22 .40 cal pretty well for someone with relatively small hands. Just introduced her to a Ruger MkII .22 about a year or so ago & now she actually asks if we can go out to the range now so she can shoot it.... I think I'm creating a monster...

 

[wannabe]

I like the ruger 22/45.......

 

[imsharkbait]

I just got my sister a m&p as her fisrt handgun.

 

[Unregistered]

22/45 is the best gun for new female shooters in my experience but don't ask her to field strip it or you may turn her off shooting forever...

 

[daddySEAL]

Mam,
If you want a great quality slimmer (in the hand) pistol, I'd recommend the Sig P239. They are in the upper $600 range(US$), but WELL worth it!

I have one and it is compact, slim and extremely well made and accurate and Love it, Love it, Love it. I'd also recommend the 9mm version for self defense protection hollow point ammo.

Best wishes,
dS

 

[Max Power]

If I had to recommend something for a new female shooter... I'd recommend the following if you can afford it:
Glock 17 with Advantage Arms .22lr conversion kit.

This is the way to go, light, easy maintenance, not complicated at all, when you feel comfortable you can move up to 9mm and always go back to the .22lr when you want to shoot cheap.

I agree with G37 on this one. I've got the AA kit for my G21 and like it....

 

[daddySEAL]

That would be a good "transition caliber" choice too.
I have Glocks with Advantage Arms 22LR conversion kits for Glock calibers to make them temporarily into a .22.
One of them is subcompact Glock 26. Which is light and small for a 9mm.

But the grip is still not as slim as the Sig P239 in my hand.

 

[Colin]

A .22cal pistol is a great starter. for larger the SW M&P is a nice looking, light pistol with interchangable grips, my wife thought it was a great looking pistol!

 

[Dammer]

Wow!

Thanks for all the advice folks. Btw, no need to appologise for any assumtions of gender. It takes a WHOLE lot to offend me!

I do have to complete 6 observation nights (of each discipline) at my club before I can shoot on my own anyhow, so perhaps trying out others may be my best option. That I can make a more informed decision.

Thanks again!

 

[Rudy H]

I do have to complete 6 observation nights (of each discipline) at my club

Talk to people at the club. Ask questions. Most of us are glad for the opportunity to talk about our guns. (and some just wont shut up ). After a little talk the odds are you will be shootin' some of those guns.