My daughter turns 21, likes to go shooting with me and I want to buy her her own firearm for her birthday. I want it to be comfortable and enjoyable to shoot as well as serve her well in time of need. I was thinking either 9mm or .380. What suggestions on manufacture / caliber do you all have?

Thanks

9mm
Take her to a gun show where you hold a lot.

I will say glock 19 , 19c or xd, xdm

Definitely a 9mm if she is comfortable with the slightly higher recoil. I would take her to a gun show like BIL said, or one of the big box stores like Cabelas, Academy, Cheaper Than Dirt and let her try as many as she can get her hands on.

My wife and I both like the Glock 19, though I have a CZ83 that keeps in her nightstand. I would also check out the XD series, Beretta 92, FN FNX9, CZ75 Compact, Kahr K9 or CW9, S&W M&P 9, and the Ruger SR9. Pretty much any mid frame 9mm from a reputable manufacturer would serve her well, it all depends on what feels right in her hand.

I would buy her a 22 easy to shoot and will get the most bang out of it. I would highly not recommend a 380 very difficult for most women to cycle the action to bring a round into battery and the 380 round is just IMO not comfortable to shoot. 9mm(s) are much easier to shoot do to their size and therefore have longer springs. As far as 9mm(s) go, there are way to many good ones to list, I personally like the Ruger SR9(s). But KC has listed about every good one out there...

Only thing I would avoid a Sig, Beretta, or 1911 and go with a Glock like safe action, just less moving parts...

I read an article by Massad Ayood one time where he pretty much recommended a snub-nosed double-action revolver for any new shooter, particularly women.

I remember his reasoning was that a little dust, dirt, makeup, etc. wouldn't make it need a cleaning very often. And the small frame makes it less likely to get it turned on you.

If you think about it, if someone was in a struggle and had a firm grip on any gun, and a bad guy had his hand on the gun, whether or not if it were actually pointed at him, if you fire it, I bet he would let go---especially on a revolver where there is fire out the sides.

Here is his site. All I remember about this guy was that he was some high powered LEO trainer. http://www.ayoob.com/

S&W shield in 9mm.

my wife hate the 380 and 40 but loves the 9mm's and will take my beretta PX4 storm out of any of them we own. It fits her hand very well and comfortable she says.

Look at the ruger lcr 38 great little gun not much recoil.

9mm
Sig Sauer SP2022, G19/17

Some good advice has been given. Like the one of take her to a gun show or the big places where she can handle a lot of the guns. Taking it one step further some of the indoor ranges have a good selection of guns to try. Bullet Trap in Plano is one. Find one she is comfortable with and likes, she will shoot better with a pistol that feels good to her.

The S&W airweight revolvers. If it ever misfires just pull the trigger again till it goes bang.

If it is just going to be used at the range, get her a Ruger MkIII. It will be economical to shoot and no recoil. If she is needing a duel purpose gun, I would suggest a Glock 19.

Ruger SP101. Can practice with 38's and load it with 357 for defense. My wife laid claim to mine.

Take a look at a Bersa .380 Plus. Holds 15+1 and is just the right size and weight to handle the .380 recoil with quick recovery. A .22 will just piss-off a perp. IMHO

Take her to shooting range where she can try out various guns. It's pointless to buy something she doesn't like and even worse to buy something she can hit the target with. I'd rather score a direct bit with a .22 than miss with a .45. Somewhere in the middle of that will be her ideal gun. It does't matter what anyone else can do with any other gun.

Let her hold as many as she can. One will "talk to her".

Glock 19 is hard to beat but some women have small hands & find it cumbersome.

The Kahr PM9 is a nice pistol and is easy to conceal. It doesn't have the magazine capacity of a Glock. 6+1 should be adequate.

And for "cute" but effective, she may like the Ruger or Kel-Tec 380's. They may be too small for a beginner but are so easy to carry, she's more likely to have it with her if needed.

Some indoor ranges sell pistols and will let you try their rentals on for size.

Good luck with your search. And congratulations for passing down the responsible interest in firearms.

Kahrs have to long a trigger pull for most females new to shooting

Keltecs and rugers even in 380 are snappy and uncomfortable for a lady.

I have had all of them for the wife including a 22. So far she prefers the Glock.

Thanks for all the advise this far. This gun will not be for carry, just for range time. We are going to the range tomorrow and I'm taking my 38 to see how she shoots it, she has shot my 357, 6" barrel but only a few times. Plan to shoot a few different 9 mm as well.

Ruger LCR or s&w air weight in .38 with Hornady reduced recoil loads. The Ruger LCR trigger is very smooth and the gun is idiot proof. You have 5 sure shots with these revolvers and no issues with Failure to feed, failure to eject, failure to return to battery. Your wife or daughters can even shoot the gun without pulling it out of their purse if needed.

Joe

S&W 38 revolver with larger pachmyer grips installed.

Starting Ladies out with a Walther P22 is a good choice, because getting them comfortable with holding and firing there pistol without being scared off it then move up to a 380 or 9.
My wife carries the P22 and can fire without hesitation along with hitting a 4" spot at 35yd.
AND IT'S CHEAP TO PLINK WITH

It really depends on what she likes. I got my wife an SP101 for her 1st gun, and she hated it. She couldn't hit the side of a barn, and she didn't like the trigger either. She started using my XD-45, and she was a good shot with it, and it was comfortable for her. However, she had trouble racking the slide.

So, I ended up getting her an XD-9 from Kentucky Gun Co, and she loves it. She can operate it just fine, and she's a crack shot with it. I think KGO still has the XD-9 Service models for 389.99 w/ free shipping.

id let her look at a Walther very nice guns and small frame will fit a womens hands

A point and shoot type gun. Revolver or a Striker Fired Pistol.
9mm has some very impressive modern ammo suitable for personal protection.
Gun Show as suggested or a gun range that rents handguns to try out.
380acp with Gold Dot ammo is next to minimum acceptable, last is the 32acp with Silvertip or Gold Dot ammo.

S&W, glock, Walther, Sig, all make good guns.

Little guns are hard to shoot, tend to hav crummy sights, recoil more, tend to have crummy triggers, have low ammo count, and are some of the more difficult pistols to shoot well. The good parts is they are lighter and concealable.

My wife pretty much only enjoys shooting my browning buckmark .22lr. Not a defensive weapon, but either my glock 19, RIA 9mm, or my (sold) Beretta 92 were not comfortable for her to shoot. I really think it is the bang! more than the buck of the rounds.

Frankly, she is getting much better. She is becomming a pretty good shot with the .22. I'm working her up slowly with the service pistols. Hopefully I'll get her to a real defensive caliber in the future.

I'm glad I never handed her a lightweight snub-nose revolver, she would never have come back to the range with me.

If you are in midland are, I have a couple handguns that she could try. My aresenal is pretty small, but I do have a few pistols.