Whats the best handgun for a small framed woman to buy for self defense?

Question

Whats the best handgun for a small framed woman to buy for self defense?

Answer 1

I'd say you need a revolver.

I've taught several women to shoot, and I've found that they all did better with a medium or small framed revolver than with anything else.

If you are going to carry concealed, I'd suggest that you purchase a small five-shot double-action revolver in .S&W SPL.  Do not under any circumstances let the sales clerk convince you to purchase on of the titanium or scandium mosquito-weight revolvers.  As a beginner, the recoil will be intimidating and make it more difficult to learn to shoot well.  I highly recommend the Smith & Wesson Model 49 or Model 638 revolvers.  These revolvers have a shrouded hammer so they won't snag on pockets or purses when drawn.  They also have the capability of being manually c-o-c-ked as well as double-action.

If you are not going to carry concealed, but only want a handgun for home defense, I'd suggest a somewhat larger revolver with a longer barrel.  I've found that new shooters shoot better with a 3" or 4" barrel than they do with the shorter barrels.  A 2", 3" or 4" Smith & Wesson Model 10 Military & Police revolver in .38 SPL would fill the quite well as would a 3" barreled Model 60, or Model 15 with a 4" barrel.  Though chambered in .357 Magnum, you can still use .38 SPL ammo in Model 19 or Model 66 revolvers with either 2.5" or 4" barrels.  All the revolvers mentioned are made by Smith & Wesson, and all are readily available on the used gun market.

If you are new to handgunning, it would be very wise to make your first purchase a .22 LR handgun, a Taurus Model 94 or Smith & Wesson Model 617 would be a good choice.  You can learn to handle guns safely as well with a .22 as any other, and it is much less expensive to purchase the ammo you will need to learn marksmanship with a .22.

Above all, you should get some training in the use of firearms, otherwise, it is not much protection.  Professional training will be the best, but if you can't afford the time or expense, at the very least, fing a knowledgeable friend to help you learn safe gun handling skills.

Congratulations on choosing not to be a victim, and welcome to the wonderful world of gun cranks.

Doc

Answer 2

Just depends on the woman. I give my wife a small .38 special nub nose to carry around because its easy to pull out and shoot without fumbling for a safety or having to rack the slide. Sometimes simpler is better and more reliable.

If the woman in question is familiar with guns and feels comfortable with a semi-auto then that might be a good option too because of less recoil.

My wife can shoot either but I prefer her to have something simple to operate. In a life or death situation all her knowledge of semi's might vanish with the wind.

Answer 3

I agree with Kurdis, the Glock G19 would be a great choice, it has a smaller grip area, and still is hi capacity.  I would also suggest looking at a .38 special or .357 mag, S&W, Taurus, and Ruger all make good revolvers.

Answer 4

If you are the small framed woman then you need to get to a gun store and start handling firearms. If she is your friend/whatever then get her to the gun shop so she can try things out. She needs to be comfortable with how it feels in her hands no matter what caliber it is.

Also... is she going to shoot a lot? Because when that gun jams you might be cool enough under pressure to clear the jam but will she be able to do it?

Revolvers afford 6 shots with no jamming, no slides to rack, no levers or releases, etc. Simple and easy. One of the greatest ladies I know is quite the proficient shot, 5' 5" 130 lbs and loves the Berretta 92F because the 9mm doesn't recoil much and the size of it fits her hand well and it's weight helps keep down the recoil too.

I prefer a revolver in .357 magnum, 4" barrel with full underlug, loaded with 158 grain .38special+P ammo. My feeling has always been that if you can't do it in 6 shots with a spare speed loader you have huge problems. And you know what my mother always said, "Use your handgun to fight your way to your rifle."

Answer 5

I would highly suggest a 5 shot, 2 to 4 inch barrel brand name revolver.  A revolver is the easiest, point and shoot firearm you can use.  The repairs and/or maintenance needs will be cheaper than a semi auto.

Answer 6

This might be a question best answered in person . . . some indoor gun ranges offer rental services . . . it might be best to find one, and go handle as many different pistols as you need to, until you find one that has a comfortable grip, feel, and a weight that is good for you . . . after words you'll be able to fire it and decide if the recoil [kick] produced is something you find bearable. I recommend you don't buy anything less than a 9mm, 38 special, or a .357 capable of firing +P and +P+ rounds. + P and +P+ rounds are high powered rounds . . . they are a good way of making a low powered pistol equal to that of a high powered pistol.  

As far as revolvers go . . . . a Ruger GP-100 fits the bill for a convertible, its a double action revolver that can use all three of the different calibers of ammo I mentioned above and it can fire + p and +P+ rounds, you do need to acquire a separate cylinder for 9mm to use 9mm in the GP-100. Buying a GP-100 will allow you to access and utilize a broader variety of ammunition. Do not buy a single action revolver they can be dangerous and are difficult and slower to load; they are quicker to get the first shot off, but they don't have a safety device, and instead of the cylinder folding out to reload the cartridges, you have to load them one by one or completely remove the cylinder. The safety issue can be resolved by keeping the hammer over an empty cylinder chamber . . . but this reduces the guns capacity by one bullet . . . and in effect retards the one benefit of a single action, its rapid response. Most revolvers offer the capacity to carry only six cartridges, there are some that have a capacity for 8 cartridges. Another benefit of a revolver is that they utilize the full power of the gunpowder that propels the bullet out of the casing; this gives the bullet more velocity and impact energy/stopping power. On the other hand, an automatic pistol utilizes gas pressure to force the bolt back, eject the spent casing, and reload the next cartridge. This gas pressure is supplied by the gun powder when it is ignited by the cartridges primer; since it is not being unnecessarily used in a revolver, the same cartridge fired in a revolver has more stopping power than when it is fired from a semi automatic pistol.

If you feel six shots are not enough to stop your aggressor then you need to consider a semi-automatic pistol. Like the revolver, a semi-automatic pistol fires a bullet every time you pull the trigger. They are sometimes referred to as automatics; contrary to popular belief, and no matter what they are called they do not spray a nonstop stream of bullets. A double action semi-auto is faster to fire the first shot than a double action revolver, but slower than a single action revolver. Some cities and states limit the capacity of cartridges a person can carry in a pistol. This does not mean you cannot carry extra ammo in additional magazines and clips. Capacity is one of the benefits of semi automatic pistols; likewise they are easier to reload. You should read up on your local laws, and more about semis and revolvers before you make a definite choice.

Answer 7

Well a lot of this is going to be dependent on if the gun is for carry or is going to stay in a night stand at home.

I would say a Glock 19 is a good all around choice if it fits her hand.

I would stay away from anything less than 9mm in regards to caliber.

If it's a night stand gun barrel length shouldn't be an issue as opposed to a carry gun where it would have to be short and skinny enough to conceal.

The biggest factor is making sure that the gun fits her hand. Find a model that fits and then worry about caliber, action and barrel length.

I hope that helps

Good luck

Kurdis

Answer 8

This is really impossible for anyone but you to answer.  The best thing you can do is shoot as many different handguns as you can, and decide what you like.  Private ranges very often rent guns for you to try out.  You also need to consider how it will be used.  A handgun for concealed carry may be much different from one you plan to use as a "house gun".  My 90 pound daughter loves a full-frame .357 magnum, but she doesn't carry it.  My friends 100 pound wife (5'0") so loves the 1911 (.45 auto) that she has figured out how to carry it.  My 5'9" neighbor doesn't tolerate anything bigger than a .32 ACP.  It's completely an individual choice.  In  general I suggest self protection calibers in this order:  .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, .38 Special +P+, .40 S&W and 9mm +P+.  There are other good choices, but these are readily available rounds.  And part of the fun is figuring out which handgun you really like.

Answer 9

It would be optimal for you to go to an indoor range that has gun rentals.  A .380 that you can handle and shoot straight is worth more than a 9mm that you cannot shoot straight.  Chances are you can handle a 9mm, but one never knows.  If you can hit paper at 25yds with a pistol than it's a safe bet that at self-defense range (7-15') you should be ok.  .38spl medium frame revolvers (Taurus/S&W) and .380 pistols (Bersa/Beretta/Sig) are a good place to start.

Answer 10

Consider a 357 snub nosed revolver, S&W makes some good ones - some good gun stores even have indoor ranges where you could try it out.

Two things, what ever gun you do decide to get for heaven sake take the time to learn how to use it properly, load - shoot & clean.

Second never ever draw or pull a gun on any one not even for fun or a joke which it never is - pull a gun plan on using it - you be the only one in court.