Well she has made a decision to carry and also wants to write about it so maybe other ladies can see that you don’t have to dress like us guys to carry a self-defense firearm.
http://allthingstactical.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/concealed-carry-the-journey-through-a-womens-eyes/
We started with a Glock 42 which she really doesn’t like. So the search will continue.
Mike
Shield?
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What doesn’t she like about the G42?
If we knew that, maybe we could suggest something.
What doesn’t she like about the g42? for what its worth I would ditch .380 and step up to something in 9mm. Have you looked at the XDS 9?
Your/her more difficult option than finding the right gun for her, may be to find the right holster/carry position for her.
I am also very interested in carry options she tries, the hard part for my wife was/is nothing that works for me carry wise, works for her. Mostly because women are built different than men, and her hip bones present a unique challenge comfort wise, and her boobs prevent a clear view in the 4-5 o’clock position, that and the fact she is not as open to slightly change her attire, and I am not talking about a major wardrobe change, at least not my opinion.
AIWB seemed to be the best option for her, but some issues were kydex/good leather seemed to be too rigid, and the softer holsters did not hold up. I personally am leery of AIWB even though it is considered safe and endorsed by many, simply due to the fact it violates a major rule of gun safety in my mind, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and my femoral artery/Junk aint in a safe direction.
If you carry a gun you’re pointing it at some part of your body at some point, period.
Training, and due diligence prevents negligence. It is not an absolute, but with any risk, comes a reward. IF AIWB is the only place your wife can carry, would you rather she NOT?
I’d look at the G19, G26, Shield, Kahrs, and assorted J-frames.
Okie John
No question Sig P938 (9mm).
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IMHO, the J frames are horrible little pistols for women. My wife likes the form factor of mine well enough but it’s a painful gun to shoot. She would never practice with it. OTOH, she does really like the PPS she’s had for about 3 years. Primary reason is the single stack grip. She hated the fat stubby grip of the G26 with no 4th and 5th finger support, hated the concept of a manual safety, so the Shield was out. Kahr was an option, but reliability and feeding didn’t get high marks. PPS has fulfilled her expectations. She has the same styling compromises you mention…she refuses to make them. She carries in a purse, sometimes OWB in a Speed Scabbard, and sometimes in a holster shirt. I have a holster shirt too for my own PPS (I recently gave in and got one) and I have to say its a very comfortable and very discreet method of carry, especially for a flat single stack like the PPS. Only thing I’ve ever used that allows convenient carry in hospital scrubs.
I finally fired a Shield 40 a couple of weeks ago. I expected it to be harsh as I dont really care for a 40 in anything. It was surprisingly shootable, controllable, and very accurate. I can’t vouch for reliability, but it didn’t jam with any of the 25 rounds I fired.
As far as 5-shots go, they’re terrible guns for anyone who doesn’t want to take the time to train with them. If one becomes proficient, they’re a very versatile carry gun.
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What would your wife’s preferred method of carry be? Does she have any difficulty cycling the slide due to slide spring tension?
These would be factors when making a recommendation.
There is a lot of really good advice in this post. An Airweight J-frame can be a much more difficult pistol to shoot well.
Two very skilled self-defense instructors I know, have bought a PPS for their wives and/or daughters, and they tell the ladies like AND CARRY them a lot.
I always recommend an M&P shield9 because I think its the best gun of its size out right now. Practice with the safety- dont use it(turn to fire after holster). You can remove it if you really feel the need. I know the gun, and think its the best for $ right now.
For people that cant shoot 9mm well, id suggest a glock42. Walther pps seems good, but it seems like a $750 shield.
What it comes down to IMO is:
Caliber (puts the 42 low on the list-I really suggest sticking with 9)
Reliability (tied with # 1 in reality)
Size(were down to those 3 when talking deep concealment, and the shield is at the big end of the stick)
shootability - depends on shooter.
price
Hope this helps.
I’m in a similar situation. I bought a S&W model 10 to CC at work, my Mom loved the gun so I gave it to her. She carried it for years and now it’s a bit difficult for her to manipulate.
So what should her next pistol be? Easy to manipulate, soft trigger, low recoil?
My wife purse carries a PM9 off duty. She seems to like it.
I’ve shot it and didn’t care much for it at all.
I’m trying to get her to switch to a Shield 9. I offer and offer to let her shoot and carry my Shield 9 but she refuses.
As for the G42. She won’t go below 9mm.
AIWB is the best option for me. I was not comfortable when I started years ago but now I’m very comfortable with it.
Then again, I started off AIWB’n a SA V10. I know. Not the best choices at all but I was a young and dumb rookie piglet and thought I was going to save the world. I was an idiot. Hahah
I first tried a G19,3913 and 442. My wife is not a shooter, she finally settled on a 43c. I guess it’s better than nothing.
I know you may feel .380 is underpowered, but my wife has a S&W Bodyguard. Small, lightweight, DOUBLE ACTION (not likely to AD with a LONG trigger pull), and not going to kick hard enough to scare her. While a larger caliber might be preferrable, it’s a way to get women, who might otherwise be relectuant/scared to carry, to get used to the idea and might actually carry it regularly. Once you get them over the ‘fear factor’ then you can introduce larger calibers. It’s all about changing their mindset and getting them to carry DAILY.
I would suggest you consider your self lucky. The fact that your wife wants to carry off-duty, and the fact that she is aware enough not to want to go below a 9mm. I own both a PM9 and a pair of 9mm Shields. I prefer my Shield to the PM9, for about all uses I may now have. But with that said, I’d take my PM9 9mm over just about any 380.
Bersa Thunder 380. Easy for a female to rack the slide and smooth trigger. Wife loves her Bersa and shoots it very well.
The regular one, not the CC. Better sights.
I consider myself very lucky!!! My friend just got his Shield 9 back stippled and trigger guard under cut.
It feels better than my stock Shield 9. He has agreed to do mine.
Howdy,
Purse carry is a very, very bad idea.
Why?
Simple. When a BG attacks a woman the first thing they do is take away their purse.
Oh, your wife carries her purse cross body. Even though this protects the purse from a purse snatcher, if gives the BG a great weapon to use against your wife. The BG can grab the body of the purse and swing her around very easily.
The average man is much bigger, heavier and stronger than the average woman and can easily manhandle them.
So, when the BG snatches your wife’s purse away from her or uses it to bounce her off the nearest wall, dumpster, SUV, etc. her handgun is in her purse and out of reach.
BGs that attach women are usually pretty we’ll train on what to do and how to do it.
Keep the gun on your body at all times. Even if the BG is on top of you and pounding your head into the sidewalk if your gun is on your body, especially in the hip area, you can still draw and shoot the BG.
This is one of the many lessons that we have or should have learned over the Zimmerman/Martin incident.
HTH
Paul