CC Weapon

Kevin Stenberg

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
I have been asked by my oldest if i could recommend a pistol for her one and only carry handgun. My first thought was a semi auto. Then i got to thinking about reliability and settled on telling her to look at the Ruger pocket pistols.
And as to what caliber to suggest. For her i think rather than a man stopping caliber. I would rather suggest a smaller "get off of me round" like a 22 LR / 22 mag / or on the bigger side a non +P 9mm / 38spcl.
She does like shooting my M&P in 9mm. An isn't afraid of it.
Any input will be considered. Thanks Kevin
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I have been very happy--surprisingly so--with my S&W Model 642-1 in 38 Special. Aftermarket grips (Pachmayr ComPacs) made a world of difference for my big paws. Its price was right in line with the Ruger LCR, triggers on both are an acceptable DAO stroke.

I don't know what inventories are like in your part of the country, but just about everything is unobtainium locally.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
My old shop added autopistols to the carry lineup in 1987. 33 years on, the J-frame S&W 38/357 and now the Ruger LCR remain extremely popular as back-up arms and off-duty hardware. Point gun/pull trigger. Not complex.
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I sold a J-frame, .38 Special, S&W Model 49 Bodyguard to a Highway Patrolman, to use as a backup. He kept it for some years, then sold it to a fellow CHP who had admired it since he first saw it.
I think the gun is still available as the stainless 649. Despite its double-action only appearance, there is a "nub", for lack of the correct terminology, that allows for single-action usage.

My sister was looking to buy a small concealable semi-auto. However, she has a bad wrist and couldn't rack a sub-compact Glock and S&W, but could the .380 Auto Sig P238 micro-compact, and she bought it. It's a right spiffy gun, and I wouldn't mind having one for pocket carry.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
RicinYakima said:
Unless she is an "active" shooter, the revolver is the way to go. Going thru this with shooting buddy's DiL with small hands. Most autos she can not rack the slide.
Click to expand...

the one rule breaker I have seen on the slide issue is the Smith 380 EZ. Not seen anyone yet that couldn't rack the slide.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
yeah sumthin along those lines, I caught a quick half of a half minute blurb about it on some gun type show on the outdoor channel.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
None of S&W's 380 ACP variants can enter Kalifornistan, as usual. Most of S&W's product line is allowed, but not the 380s. There is no requirement that regulations make sense in the real world.

ETA--None of the M&P-series 22 LRs can come in, either. GMBTA.
 
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S

springfield17074

New Member
Kevin, when you are in a "get off me" situation the offender would very likely not even feel 22lr rounds unless they hit the heart, brain and so on. Adrenalin is surging in those dire circumstances. Your 9mm she is use is fine but, safety wise, I'm with others on here J frame revolver in 38. Train her, she will get use to it. I'm a big caliber guy, I'm still one of those dinosaurs that believe that a 45acp is the way to go. But I know it works. I had much training and I'm not your daughter so again j frame 38.
 
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Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
My vote is for a LCR in 38 Special. Better sights, better trigger than S&W J-frames, of which I own three. I have a pair of 642's.......if you carry daily, the finish will not hold up. Been there, done that.
 
Rick H

Rick H

Well-Known Member
I think it is important that the lady make the decision. Try to expose her to as many as you can. S&W also has the Easy model available in 9mm now. It isn't as compact as some of the tiny 9's on the market by is designed for those who have trouble manipulating standard semi automatics.

I would urge the carrying of at least 38sp/9mm cartridge.....with an absolute minimum of the 380 acp.
I like D/A revolvers just fine, but think mastering the typical double action trigger (including the Ruger LCR that I own) is much more difficult than your typical semi auto.

There are difficulties in mastering both types of weapons that take training and practice. The hand strength issue with manipulating the slide on a semi may be a determining factor but let her try them both and see for herself. There are a lot of ladies that have no trouble whatsoever with either.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
My 2 cents- Yeah, a 22 or 22 Mag "Get off me gun" will work fine in 99.9% of the cases, which most likely will never even come close to occurring. Having been full of adrenaline and finding myself looking down the muzzle of a 22 in real life, I can personally attest that adrenaline doesn't always overshadow common sense. Something bigger is better though. In revolers, my vote for sheer simplicity, anything north of a 32 S+W will suffice. A Smith Bodyguard 38 Special would be about perfect IMO. Love mine!

ETA- I agree with whomever noted that finding ANYTHING for sale right now is a tough call. Availability may narrow your choices radically.
 
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Gary

Gary

SE Kansas
I have a LCR and a LC9s Pro; love them both and a 9mm barrel pointed at you looks like a cannon. For CC, the LC9s is solid.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
The Smith with the very easy/soft slide rack is the EZ 380. They also now make an EZ 9. I have fired the 380, not the 9, and currently have the 380. It is the easiest slide you will ever rack short of a 22 target gun that I have seen. And every woman who I know that has shot it loves the slide and can hit with it. I have put a cpl brand new shooters on it and they shot it as well or better than a small 22 auto.
 
JonB

JonB

Halcyon member
when I get asked this question, I always suggest a small 38spl revolver. I have a long story about the first handgun shooting competition I organized at my sportsman (conservation) Club, here is the short version...
At that time (shortly after MN passed the right to Carry law), we had a influx of new members with carry permits that wanted to use our Range. Very few of these new members were handgun savvy...actually same goes for most of the old time members (most of which are farmers and not shooters, except maybe for some shotgun trap or 22 Rifle). This competition was at our pig roast benefit. I brought some handguns for anyone that wanted to shoot, but didn't have a handgun. My competition course was a simplified "timed" IPSC stage, shooting around both sides of a barrier It was complicated enough to make the shooter think more about the course and less about the gun. Everyone that shot my competition course with a semi-auto had problems like: safety on, nothing in the chamber, mag not fully engaged, or a FTF...you name it. Everyone who used a revolver, had no problems. The simplicity of the revolver is just the thing for carry, because if you don't train regularly like LE officer's do, that one time when you need it and the adrenalin running, you want simple and you don't want a complex gun you have to be thinking about.

Anyway, my carry gun of choice is a S&W mod 36 (Chief's Special)
 
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