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Pistol advice 4 wife. #9143986 11/25/24 02:00 PM
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My wife has always mildly enjoyed my shooting passion and has participated with me a little. She generally sticks to the 22lr and occasionally shoots an old S&W model 10 38special. I am wanting to introduce her to a fun Simi auto handgun and want it to be a good experience and something she can manage recoil. First and foremost I want it to be a range gun/home defense tool but something that could be carried if she gets into it. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Right now I'm thinking of 380auto or possibly 9mm.

This is what I have looked at so far.
Ruger security 380
Ruger security 9
Glock 43x
Sig 365xl
Sig 365 Xmacro
S&W shield plus in 380 or 9.
S&W EZ380

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9143993 11/25/24 02:11 PM
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For a hd/range gun, a 9mm 1911, double stack 1911, or hi power/sa-35 is hard to beat. Not the best for carry though, unless you just want to haul 3lb of steel with you roflmao

My main carry gun is a g43x with the palmetto or shield arms 15 round mags. I don’t think there’s a better combo out there for someone with the physical ability to operate it.


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Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9143997 11/25/24 02:17 PM
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I definitely like the 43x idea and saw those shield arms 15 round mags. Once you change out the mag catch, can you still use Glock mags or are you only able to use the shield arms mags? How do you think the recoil management would be for a small woman? I know a lot would depend on the loads she is shooting so I can play around with that.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144001 11/25/24 02:19 PM
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You may want to look at the S&W Equalizer 9mm. It’s very similar to the EZ as far as how easy the slide operates. Unlike the EZ it is double stacked for up to 15 rounds depending on which magazine you use. It is also single action like the EZ giving it a better trigger than many in its class. I’m not 100% sold on it, and actually like the Sig 365 a little better, but the 365 is smaller and can be snappy to a shooter not used to handling such a gun. The Equalizer has been reliable and accurate.



The price on this gun is another plus for it, they can be had right at $400.

https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/285308

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144011 11/25/24 02:31 PM
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Walther PDP-F might be another one to consider.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144013 11/25/24 02:34 PM
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Some really good choices already. I will add two more that fit your parameters and are pretty sweet.
Beretta Cheetah 380
Browning 1911 380


Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144021 11/25/24 02:48 PM
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The 380 EZ was perfect for the wife, except for her not agreeing. Very easy to load the mag and work the slide. All good but the grip safety, which was often a problem for the ladies that shot it, so I sold it. The wife settled on a S&W Bodyguard 38 that has the red laser. The good thing about it is that it’s SIMPLE. No levers, safeties, or slides. She isn’t going to practice much, so simple really is the way to go, for her.

She might also like my newest, the Sig P365 X Macro 9mm. The recoil isn’t snappy, and the trigger is decent. The sights are also good. She might have problems with the slide and with putting rounds in the mag, which has a stiff spring.

If my wife decided she wanted another semi auto, and if she was gonna load and shoot it herself (without my help), I’d look for a 9mm with a not so stiff slide and a mag she could load. Definitely would have a manual safety.

Last edited by 603Country; 11/25/24 02:49 PM.

Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144038 11/25/24 03:12 PM
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There are many great pistols on the market these days, but difficulty in racking the slide sure does make it tricky to find one that a woman likes 100%. Especially the smaller, lighter, and most concealable pistols.


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Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144041 11/25/24 03:14 PM
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Sig P238 in .380...my wife loves hers. Very easy to manipulate.


Originally Posted by Superduty
I am still looking for the perfect apron, one with reinforced knee areas would be perfect.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144047 11/25/24 03:24 PM
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I had given my wife a P938 about ten years ago as a Christmas gift (which justified my own acquisition of same---I know how to work these things! LOL) and she loved it. Same thing as the P238 except in 9mm and only very, very slightly larger. I drilled her repeatedly on operating the safety, but one day a couple of years ago I dug it out of her purse just to inspect it. The safety was no longer engaged. I immediately confiscated it and sold it. Some women just won't take concealed carry seriously enough to make anything except a pistol that operates like a Glock or a DA revolver a sensible choice. That's why she's now carrying a CZ P10C and I have to tolerate her bitching about the weight of it. That's okay, though...the more she bitches the worse my hearing gets.


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Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144051 11/25/24 03:30 PM
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One other piece of advice I learned the hard way is take your wife with you when you go to pick one out. I ended up with a nice little Glock 380 pocket pistol. When I went back to the LGS she picked out a little snub nose SA/DA S&W .38.


Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144057 11/25/24 03:35 PM
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Tactical Cowboy is right. For a range gun, your best bet is a full size 9mm. But, that would not be practical for carry...especially for a female. My wife carries a p365. It's a pretty nice shooting pistol.


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Originally Posted by Nolanco
current federal policy is clearly irrational, scientifically insupportable and ridiculous.
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144064 11/25/24 03:39 PM
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Has she tried those choices yet? That's the best way to do it because one can never pick one for another shooter. Lots of options out there and I like those, but there are some inexpensive options in the market now as well. And lots of us in here are moving some of these choices in here (though some of us can't do the images). Caliber isn't so important, but you mentioned recoil, so don't go small and lightweight.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144065 11/25/24 03:40 PM
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I think it will come down to feel , how it feels in her hand. You list several great choices. Personally I love the P365x macro - it feels right and has large capacity mag

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144075 11/25/24 04:02 PM
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The NEW S&W Bodyguard 2.0 is an awesome pistol as well as the FN Reflex (best trigger of all of them).


SPACE FOR RENT


Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144077 11/25/24 04:07 PM
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Take her to a range that has a variety of pistols to rent and let her choose which one she likes.


Paul T.
Fort Worth, TX
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144098 11/25/24 04:53 PM
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I'm with Paul... find a range that has firearms that you can rent or see if any of your friends have something that you are considering and arrange to meet up and try it.

Based on your description that includes home defense and also carried, you are most likely looking at some variant of a Sig P365 or S&W Shield. There is marginal difference in the size of pistol made to handle 380 or 9mm. I would go with 9mm for the selection / availability of ammo as well as the lower cost (more popular so less expensive).

Last edited by Smoked Pork; 11/25/24 04:54 PM.
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: Smokey Bear] #9144104 11/25/24 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Smokey Bear
Some really good choices already. I will add two more that fit your parameters and are pretty sweet.
Beretta Cheetah 380
Browning 1911 380

I have shot the Beretta Cheetah and that was a fun gun. I am wanting to make this a fun range experience first and foremost as she will not touch anything she is not comfortable with. If she enjoys something at the range she is much more likely to grab it at the house if she needs it and is already familiar with it. The Beretta may be a great option

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: wp75169] #9144105 11/25/24 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by wp75169
You may want to look at the S&W Equalizer 9mm. It’s very similar to the EZ as far as how easy the slide operates.


This looks like a great option, keeps us with 1 caliber to share and looks like a fun shooter. I will take a look.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: Plinkin'] #9144106 11/25/24 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Plinkin'
Has she tried those choices yet? That's the best way to do it because one can never pick one for another shooter. Lots of options out there and I like those, but there are some inexpensive options in the market now as well. And lots of us in here are moving some of these choices in here (though some of us can't do the images). Caliber isn't so important, but you mentioned recoil, so don't go small and lightweight.


I have not been able to have her try to much, i have a few friends that have a lot of different guns we will go shooting with hopefully soon.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: Smoked Pork] #9144108 11/25/24 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoked Pork
I'm with Paul... find a range that has firearms that you can rent or see if any of your friends have something that you are considering and arrange to meet up and try it.

Based on your description that includes home defense and also carried, you are most likely looking at some variant of a Sig P365 or S&W Shield. There is marginal difference in the size of pistol made to handle 380 or 9mm. I would go with 9mm for the selection / availability of ammo as well as the lower cost (more popular so less expensive).


I think getting her to shoot some of them will be the best option. Range and home defense are my main focus so a larger frame pistol will probably be the direction we head to help with recoil management and shooting enjoyment. It will take a long time to convince her to carry anything and that is fine.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: Buzzsaw] #9144116 11/25/24 05:24 PM
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Buzz, I really wanted an FN Reflex, because of the trigger, but they didn’t offer a manual safety, so that’s what pushed me to the Sig P365X Macro. If and when the FN Reflex is offered with a manual safety, I’ll have a look, but might just stay with the Sig. the trigger is Ok, and I shoot the Sig quite well. And, the larger size of the Sig X Macro fits my hand. After this, the FN Reflex might feel too small.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: 603Country] #9144129 11/25/24 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 603Country
Buzz, I really wanted an FN Reflex, because of the trigger, but they didn’t offer a manual safety, so that’s what pushed me to the Sig P365X Macro. If and when the FN Reflex is offered with a manual safety, I’ll have a look, but might just stay with the Sig. the trigger is Ok, and I shoot the Sig quite well. And, the larger size of the Sig X Macro fits my hand. After this, the FN Reflex might feel too small.

Manual safety is probably a good idea for my main intention of this. I like FN but have never shot one.

Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144133 11/25/24 05:49 PM
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I have a bunch of firearms. But when I leave town or go on a 4 wheeler ride on my property. the Judge goes along. Interspersed .45 and .410

I’ve spent considerable time with sidearms and don’t like the idea of wondering, in a dangerous situation, whether a semi automatic is in battery or on safety. No problem with a revolver.


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Re: Pistol advice 4 wife. [Re: KLR'er650] #9144143 11/25/24 06:10 PM
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43x or PDP F
The F will have a much better trigger that is easier for chicks

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