She really wants to start shooting. She is really small and I want to get her something that she can enjoy shooting. We have been looking at .380's and will want to buy from an owner here on this forum. Any suggestions?

For a new shooter, I always like to keep it simple. D/A revolver chambered in .22LR

Go over the basic's and safety in handling a firearm, and let her enjoy the simplicity, as well as no recoil. Once she's comfortable with the .22 work your way up.

Good luck! Safe and happy shooting.

I agree with janie. A revolver in 22 is probably the best possible gun for a beginner handgun shooter. No recoil, no jams, low cost to buy and shoot.

380s are generally very small framed and tough to handle because (more often than not) the only reason they're built is to be concealable. If you don't want to start with a 22 and/or don't want to start with a revolver, I'd look at either a 4" 38 special revolver or a full-size polymer 9mm like a Springfield XD, S&W M&P, Taurus 24/7, Beretta PX4, etc. Still relatively low recoil, relatively cheap to shoot and easy to handle.

If you're looking for concealable and easy to shoot for a beginner, that's two things that don't go particularly well together.

Ok, she's a pretty tough kid. Not afraid or tentative. Would you suggest taking her to a range that will let me rent a gun and let her shoot to try it out? I feel like I know the answer to that. But in case you have other suggestions I am gonna ask

I recommend a S&W M&P 22 Compact in .22LR

Google WOW on the web. This is a great organization of women helping women learn about the outdoors and shooting is one of their strong points. They have the variety of firearms and calibers to allow your daughter to discover what she can handle and what she likes. They also handle rifle & shotgun training plus other areas, fishing & camping, etc. Their program runs from helping beginners with absolutely no knowledge to those who have "too much" knowledge.

Do you have a gun she could try out? A 38 special or 9mm?

I think I can manager her as far as learning. The whole purpose is for us to do this together. I am just asking questions. Not saying I know everything, but I am very familiar with shooting. Just not girls shooting and what guns to put in her hands that will not overwhelm her. As I said, she is a pretty tough kid and fear really isn't a factor. I just want to stay away from the shock factor. But thanks.

I think we are going to go to a range that will let us try a couple of different guns. We'll see what she likes them look to get her one.

Go the route of taking her somewhere you can rent different pistols. Try a few and roll from that new knowledge. Or borrow some from friends if that is an option.

I agree with the 22LR double action revolver or even single action. A good 22LR can be a fun and useful gun for a lifetime of shooting, not just to learn on.

If going 380 check out the Bersa, based off the Walther but less expensive.

Agreed. If you do want to go with a 380, the Bersa is what I was going to recommend.

I think that is what we are gonna do. She may just buy her a 22 and when she wants to move up, just trade it or sell and add cash. Once I get to enough posts, I will be doing some buying in the classifieds.

The .22 is great for learning. You can go over the fundamentals and she can aim without recoil flinch. Then go to a gun rental range and see what she likes.

I agree with the others on starting her on a .22 and then go from there

Frisco Gun Club has a ton of rental guns, not sure where you're at.

I think it's more a deal of letting your daughter actually hit something starting out. The double action, .22 revolver is best. Then move to a .22 semi auto. She needs to understand sight picture and trigger control and a .22 is the only way to do this. When she see's little yellow splotches on a shoot n see target, this will giver her confidence. When she is ready, move her to a full size .38 or 9mm.
The pocket .380 has its place but not in a beginner's hands no matter HOW tough she is. They just are not accurate enough and with the very sharp, whippy recoil, they are NO FUN to shoot. There is a time for fun shooting and a time for defensive shooting

Find some instruction and take small steps.

BTW, my favorite .380 would be a single action 1911 style auto. The LCR's, Berreta Pico's, etc, have a TERRIBLY long a hard put, a perfect recipe for missing. The Sig and Colt packet .380's are the ticket.


These are all MY OPINIONS, take them for what they are..

If you ever come to Frisco, give me a holler, I will give you a range pass for your daughter.

Ok, if I bring her to Frisco, and rent a gun we have to use your ammo, what is the limit on rounds she could shoot. We looked earlier and if I read it right it was 20? We live in Mckinney and work off of Preston and 121 so the area works for us. I see you are closed on Mondays so we were looking at running over to Garland because she is fired up about it.

If you want her to learn to shoot get a 22 and then add center fire later. She'll need to practice, it's a lot easier to afford 100 rds of 22 and then a half box of center fire, then all center fire. For learning, a full size 22 that will match a center fire step up, like a model 18 S&W 22 and a model 19 357. You could then work up from 22 to 38 wadcutter, then full power 38, finally getting to full power 357 in limited amounts. With an automatic it's pretty much two steps.

I'm just a member at Frisco GC, not sure about the rental rules, sorry. Garland has a few rentals, Cant remember. Try The Bullet Trap in Plano, Gonna be cold and rainy this weekend. they have lots of rentals

Come down to the Garland shooting range and I'll let you shoot my
Sig p938 (9mm) and a Sig P238 (380). Just pick up at lease a box of
each ammo. I don't have a whole lotta time but I could probably give
you guys a lunch hour or something. I'm sure just a 20 count box
of each will give her a good idea.

I will second the G-Train's, input. I HIGHLY recommend a Sig P238 (.380) for all newbies, and/or small hand people. The weight/design makes it very easy to shoot.

Ok, so we went to Targetmaster in Garland. She shot a 22 and it was like a bb gun to her. So we moved up to a 9mm. We shot the Ruger SR9 and she did really well. We started at about 10 ft and she was actually close to the Bullseye but would swing left or right up or down some. But, she was really good. We moved to about 25 ft and she was still inside the circles and in some cases in the blue. We went thru 50 rounds with the 22 and 100 rounds with the 9mm. I am really proud of her and think we will buy a 9mm and let her get used to it. It had been close to 10 yrs since I shot and after just a few rounds I was ripping out the X at 25 ft.

Sounds like you two had fun. With a little instruction and practice she will be out shooting you if you are not careful.

You may be right!! She loves it and can't stop talking about buying her own

Awesome! Tons of good choices in 9mm. Sig P239 might be the perfect size and those things are buttery smooth and stupid accurate. Best combination of shoot-ability and conceal-ability I've ever seen. The others I listed above are also great options for a little less money. I got a "like new" Springfield XD-9 used for $325 last year off gunbroker, and it was local so I didn't pay shipping or FFL. There are deals to be had if you're willing to wait and shop around.

Yeah, I am in no hurry. But withing the next few weeks. I'd much prefer to buy something from a current owner. Will watch the classifieds for what I want. She wants a little .380 to carry, but knows the torque on the smaller guns are gonna be more than what she shot today. So she wants to get really accurate with a 9mm before she makes a move like that. So we are probably gonna buy me one and shoot it together till she gets really good with it. Then look to get her something she feels comfortable having in her purse.

I recommend the HK VP9 for a range / house gun and the Ruger Lc9 striker fired for carry. Be sure it's the striker fired one and not hammer, the trigger is terrible on the hammer one. Also a Springfield 1911 9mm is a great gun that is easy to shoot. You can get her a viridian laser to put on the Lc9 and she won't have to fumble with any buttons to turn it on just pull it out of the holster and boom laser is ready to go.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/97558/ruger_3248_lc9s_pro_7+1_9mm_312

http://www.viridiangreenlaser.com/reactor-r5-lc9