Conceal Carry 9mm for my Fiancé'?

[The Great 308]

I am not sure if I am breaking a forum rule here or not since I am not really looking for a military pistol. I will be on the road a lot once I get married and I am looking for a small 9mm for the wife to be. It must be something that can fit easily in a purse, reliable and somewhat affordable. I would like to spend no more that about $500 and would prefer something cheaper if possible. I am looking for a 9mm because of the price and availability of ammo and it is a fairly effective round. I am not sure if I would trust anything smaller to stop a determined criminal. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[Woodman in MO]

I think it would depend on her level of expertise. If she is not familiar with firearms, I'd go with a 38 Revolver. If she is pretty good, I recommend the Taurus Millenium Pro in 9mm.

[XO3319]

I like the 9x18 Makarov for my CCW, especially in summer, and a SIG P229 in .40 in winter.

My wife carries a hammerless S&W 642 with Crimson Trace in .38 Special

Women need to corry concealed more than men do, and she needs something small, that she can reliably hit a goblin with at 10 feet or less, and is easy to use and will never jam. .38 Special is easy to find and has enough punch to do the job. I like that option better than a small 9mm. A Kel-Tech or a Glock might be your line if you want that-- the glocks come in 3 sizes in each caliber now.

The Makarov and the S&W do that to a T

and this forum is for all handguns, not just military so post away:America:

[The Great 308]

Good suggestions guys. I am not very familiar with hand guns the only one I own is a SA 1911 with a 4 inch barrel. I really like the hammerless S&W 642 with Crimson Trace in .38 Special. I think something along those lines would be very good for her.

[Longhorn789]

You can't beat this little package with .38 +P hollowpoint.

She can shoot it straight thru her purse with confidance...

[Woodman in MO]

I'll stand by revolvers being superior for C/C applications. They are a lot easier to handle then a pistol in those situations.

Not to say a semi-auto can't do the job, but I just think revolvers are better. And a 38 +P is a pretty good manstopper....

[robocop10mm]

+1 on the wheel gun. Unless she has a fair amount of shooting experience, I would go with the .38 snubby. The 642 is pretty foolproof. No hammer or adjustable sights to snag. Enclosed frame so nasty things cannot work their way into the works. Stay away from the "Bodyguard" series of Smiths. They can get jammed up by small items such as dimes and bobby pins. The Centennials (642, 640) are great little guns. Shoot 'em with light specials and carry +p Hollow points. The .38 still gets the job done.

[jonboy20]

Revolver for ease of use, but if you want an SA....I love my Kahr CW9.

[kevin]

i think a cz82 would be a good carry piece, 12 rds +1 and its double action, can carry it loaded with one in the pipe with the safety off, then pull it out and pull the double action trigger

[weasel_master]

I would go with a hammerless .38, small, easy to use, and reliable. I'm not so sure about the Mak. That's what I carry but it seems a bit snappy to me. Not sure how well experienced your wife is with shooting but make sure it's something she isn't afraid of/intimidated by. Get her out shooting with a variety if you can and see what she likes.

[jlpskydive]

Mine can make a smiley face at 25 feet with her P94 .40 (I can't hit the braodside of a barn from the inside with the dam thing) and loves the GP100 with the 2 1/4 inch barrel I picked up and she is even more acurate with it when it is loaded with .38. With the magnum round she gets pretty grippy with it, but so do I after a few. :icon_biggrin: Good thing for me she doesn't like my Sig 229 .40

[rep30cal]

There are too many good choices but I like the 469/669 Smiths.
They are an older model that seem to pop up all over the place
for sale, they are a 12 shot compact that still has smallish grips
for being double stack, the hammer is bobbed and it has smooth
lines. The Lady Smith line is a great choice also as they are real
simular to the 469/669 line in semi-auto and there is a revolver
in the Lady Smith line also. I am not a Smith fan but I know first
hand that these are excellent weapons.

[Darkwatch]

This is what I would get for a woman with little pistol experiance

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=905I-SS1&category=Revolver

A buddy has one he cut and filed down the hammer so it's a "hammerless" when it's in his pocket. As for a woman carrying a pistol for self defense with little or no training...very bad Idea (IMHO) take her to the range(preferably one that rents pistols) and have her fire a bunch then get her some training of any kind. Then let her pick.

[LorDiego]

Get her a Bersa Thunder in .380

If she is even midly recoil sensitive, there's no better gun/caliber out there

[Patria Povo]

My dad just got the tiniest little Kel-Tec in .380. Light as a feather and very small. Hard-chromed slide for easier maintanace. For a summerwear auto CCW, it's got to be hard to beat.

I would definitely be looking for something low maintanace, too. Which is certainly a big plus for the stainless wheelguns.

Happy shooting!

[okie shooter]

What ever you get her, make sure you get plenty of range time, as many have stated above, thats as important as anything else too. Any firearm that some one isnt ready to operate, just becomes a expensive rock, or brass knuckle.

[jlpskydive]

or even worse something else taken in the robbery, assault etc.....

[XO3319]

+1 to training and range time

I bought my wife shooting gloves to handle the hot reloads I use so she doesn't develop flinchitis if she had to use it on a goblin in realtime:America:

[Teyvareb]

+1 to the Bersa, that's a fine shooter.

Also, the PPK in 380 sounds like it'd fit the bill...

And 380 _is_ a 9mm round...

[drine]

Having said that most experts agree.. .38 snub-nose with +p loads. No fumbling with an auto in an already panicky situation. More than 2 shots and the majority of people aren't prepared unless they've had serious training or experience! The object is to defend and get away. So extra ammo/capacity is a mute point, for the type of situation a CC is required.
Just my .02. I think the big point, already made, is pratice, practice, practice. Both on the range and carrying it unloaded a while in the manner in which it will be carried when she goes live.

[jonboy20]

When it comes down to it.....it is all about shot placement!!

[The Great 308]

Thank you everyone for all of the helpful advice. I have been researching your suggestions and they are all really good. So far I still like the hammerless S&W 642 with Crimson Trace in .38 Special the best for my fiancé. I went to my local gun store yesterday and looked at one. They are very nice, light weight and simple. I really like the crimson trace laser grips and plan to get some for my 1911 as well. I will take my fiancé to check out the S&W soon and see what she thinks. I am seriously thinking about some of your other suggestions as a conceal carry for myself.

As far as the suggestions about proper training and practice that is a must. I am not very familiar with hand guns myself and currently I can't hit the broad side of a barn with my 1911. If we decide to do this we will both go take a conceal carry class together and get lots of range time on top of that.

[okie shooter]

On cw permiting, here in oklahoma if you qualify with a automatic pistol you can carry either a pistol or a revolver, but if you qualify with a revolver, thats all you can carry. That said, you can qualify here with anything, thus a ruger mkII would be a good choice among autoloadeing pistols.

[The Great 308]

On cw permiting, here in oklahoma if you qualify with a automatic pistol you can carry either a pistol or a revolver, but if you qualify with a revolver, thats all you can carry. That said, you can qualify here with anything, thus a ruger mkII would be a good choice among autoloadeing pistols.

Thanks okie shooter, I am not sure what the laws are here in Ohio. I had never even thought of that so I will keep that in mind and if it is the same then we will both get qualified with an autoloader but she will probably carry a revolver.

[Warwagon]

Many gals I know like wheelguns for occasional CC. It's pretty familiar for even those who've never handled a sidearm. A good Colt Detective Special in .38 special and +P rated with factory tritium sights is a VERY respectable arm. Other gals I know want a little more grunt behind their lead-thrower. One I know regularly carries a 4" Colt Trooper Mk-V .357Mag. It too, is small and equipped with custom grips for her small hands. This gal takes her weaponcraft seriously, and regularly puts the guys to shame at the range and like I said, she packs this rod regularly. :rockon:

I also know ladies who are VERY proficient with autopistols (I thank GOD I'm married to one!) A nice, small single action 9mm is a Star Firestar. With it's thin single stack magazine, and bulk, it fits many women's hands quite well yet tames the 9mm recoil quite respectably. If the gal has large mitts, and isn't afraid of the bark, a 1911-A1 with thin grip panels and extended safety, slide and mag release controls might be in order - all depends on how big of a purse she carries or how she is built and what type of gunleather she uses as to how well she can hide it!:fing02:

A lot of what works for a person has a bearing on: 1- how much time and $ they can afford to practice, 2-what they feel comfortable with and 3- what fits them physically. A lot of gals can't wrap their mitt around a large framed sidearm, or one that has a bulky grip. Sometimes, custom or even hand-made grips are in order. Even the best fitting weapon will be less than optimal if the lady isn't comfortable with the caliber's report or recoil or if she isn't getting sufficient range time. Shot placement under stress is what we all aim (no pun intended) for. So practice, comfort and fit are VERY important.;)

My advice is to talk this thing through with her (including a discussion on basic arms safety if she's a novice), then get your gal to go out to the range with you and your buddies. You and you friends should bring what you own that might be suitable for her, and let her have at it with a magazine full out of each. She'll soon develop a liking for either wheelguns or autopistols. (She'll also understand that you and your buds are doing this for her in order to help her be sure that she IS getting the best tool for her - She WILL end up appreciating you and your friends more for this kindness) Some gals like to do this "shopping" for what works a little at a time, others want to go to the "MALL" and check out as many options as possible in one whack. You'll have to be the judge for your gal.:533:

After she decides what type of tool she likes best, then she can narrow it down by caliber and features. Just let her know that the .22, .25, .32 caliber pop guns don't have energy or momentum in their loadings to get a lethal job done - if it ever comes to that. (At least this seems to be the prevailing opinion of most gunwriters and those with firsthand experience in lethal encounters as I've noticed)

Just be sure to let her know that this personal protection thing is something that we take seriously, and that you are PROUD of the fact that she is an upright person who is willing to prepare herself for dealing with life "In the Gravest Extreme" as Massad Ayoob puts it. Also let her know that you want her to have the BEST piece of equipment that she can own, for her safety. That, and the fact that chicks that can shoot as well as the guys are always super sexy!:thumbup:

[Warwagon]

Thought that you'd like this piece about personal protection.
HERE (http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob97.html)
Lots of things to think about on selection, reliability, caliber, gender differences, tactics, ... This fella knows his kaa kaa and writes well enough that it is easily digested - more than most gunwriters IMHO.:rolleyes:

[Devastator MBT]

A. Take GF to gun store, let her see which gun present will fit her hand like a glove. Buy said gun.

B. .38 special is somewhat light for self defense, a .44 special would have more wallop but still have reduced kick. I believe Taurus makes a good .44 special.

C. Have you considered either an XD9 subcompact or a baby Glock?