Little Lady's CC pistol?

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Hi Guys,
My Wife just loves her 2" bbl. 38 S&W Terrier and she shoots it deadly accurate! However as a CC gun she tends to leave it home more often then not because of the weight! The problem I have been having with her is the fact she can not rack an auto "Anything"! I see that there are some specials on light weight plastic component pistols recently ( LRC's Etc) Can any one here guide me to a light racking good light weight pistol she can conceal in a purse? She recently mastered racking a Ruger 22 Mark !! ! ( yes that is how bad! and there was some Blood shed! ) She is a strong woman & a devote tennis player.... but I can't for the life of me get her to rack a centerfire auto of any caliber!
Thanks
Jim
 

Ian

Notorious member
Ruger LCR or Smith Airweight, .38 Special. The compact autos are even harder to rack than full-size IME, stronger recoil springs and less to cup in the palm/4-fingers. I hear "weak hands can't rack slides" a lot and for the most part it's merely a training issue unless it's a compact 9mm or similar with truck springs inside and only 3" of slide to grab.

She might also want to check into the concealment purses that have the zipper pocket in the end and just find new ways to carry what she has and is comfortable shooting.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
There is a new model S&W, I believe, their 9mm Shield in .380 with lighter springs for this exact
market.

Unfortunately, not that light, or small.

The lightest I know of is my Kel-Tech P3AT, at 6 oz empty. thin, flat, not too hard to
rack (I think, maybe I am wrong) BUT it has fairly sharp recoil. NOT a gun for practicing
unfortunately. Sights are very small. My wife did not like the P3AT at all, trigger, sights
and recoil. She carries a Sig P238....but it may have the slide racking issues. It is like a
1911, locked and cocked carry - some are VERY uncomfortable with that, unfortunately.

The old Berettas with the tilting barrels to load and double action were, I think, designed
for this market. NO slide racking to load, pop up the bbl (hinged at front) put a cartridge in
the chamber and click it down into position. Double action trigger to fire. They had .22RF,
.25 ACP and .32 ACP that I know of, but I am not aware of a .380 in that design, but it may
exist. All are out of production, so used is the only source.

I have 342 S&W, Titanium cylinder, ultra light, 11 oz empty, compared to the steel cylinder
and bbl version at 14.5 oz empty, is an improvement, maybe not enough.....sitting in my shorts
pocket right this minute. With hot .38 Spl loads, pretty snappy recoil, but with .38 WC target, not bad.
Maybe this (also discontinued) model would be minimal change, but half a pound lighter.

Good luck.

Bill
 
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freebullet

Guest
My mom(70+) can rack the p238, only auto I have she could do.

We got her into an lcr 38spcl to eliminate forgetting one in the chamber or fumbling with a safety. She does good with the lcr. It shoots really nice for double action only. The bore is low & aids in felt recoil reduction & straight pointing instinctive presentation.

The Lee 140 swc & any gallery load does well & is enjoyable to shoot. I would consider one with a hammer in 357 for myself, should I stumble into a deal on one.
 
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freebullet

Guest
The naa black widow in 22mag is what my wife uses when lightweight & ultra concealed is paramount.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
The KelTec 32 and 380 are locked breach auto with relatively light springs.

The small Berretta tip up work as directed, but the larger sized one are heavy.

Having airweight S&W and Colt revolvers, they are my choice.

The best solution is to find her a better purse ($100) rather than a new weapon.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
OK, the Terrier is 17 oz, so if you can get an LCR you save 1/4 lb (4 oz) . With the S&W 342 Airweight Ti cylinder,
you will save 6 oz, starting to get to be pretty significant, I would think.

If she is OK with locked-and-cocked and a safety, and can rack the P238 Sig, it is a good gun, but at 15 oz, not much
lighter than what she has in the Terrier.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
If she carries it in a purse. Might not be how she chooses.

Technique is important. Hold the slide in left hand, close to chest, like 6", muzzle left, bore left-right,
and push the grip with right hand, just hold the slide with the left hand, and in close to the chest
where strength is much higher. Hand clear of muzzle, of course. When slide reaches the stop
at rear, just open the left hand, let it fall unimpeded.
 
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nueces5

New Member
A few months ago I was shooting a Bersa BP9cc. It's really very flat, I think you should take a look at it.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
if she is gonna fumble with anything or locks up under stress.
well.
revolver time.
the air lights are simple and easy to deal with, they are also point and pull.
have a failure? pull the trigger again.
the only negative to a revolver is shot count.
 

Tom

Well-Known Member
I'll throw my overpriced .02 in here.
I bought an lcrx3" as a kit gun, rather than a concealed carry. It's very light, and the double action trigger pull is much nicer than any j frame. It's a little bit bulkier than a j frame, but that's the price you pay for aluminum vs steel.
Only 5 shots, so that's a bit of a downside. Mine doesn't seem to like the speed loaders I got with it(second hand), but I prefer speed strips as they aren't as bulky. Maybe a different speed loader would work better?
If you have a rental range nearby, I'd strongly suggest she try an lcr out.
Edit to add:
The rear sight pivot pin tries to walk out to the left when either live or dry firing. I peened it a bit, but it still walks. I sent an email to ruger yesterday about a fix to it and am waiting for a reply.
 
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CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
The Ruger LCR compact revolver line has always impressed me. The triggers have been excellent (considering the pricing) and the revolvers place bullet where the sights look. I clocked some W-W 158 grain +P LSWC/HPs through a couple of them, and both guns ran the bullets in the 775-790 FPS ballpark. These have become VERY popular as back-up and off-duty arms for my old shop's deputies. They hold up well to extended shooting, too.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I'm partial to the Ruger LCR, even though I have three J frames. The LCR has a better out of the box trigger as well as vastly better sights. Semi autos are better choice for seasoned shooters. My minimum caliber is 9 mm for CC, thus requiring significant hand strength to rack the slide of a micro pistol.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
BTW, purses are not the most ideal place for women to carry. Too easy to get separated from your purse.............think purse snatchers. Cindy had a half dozen ladies over last evening, purses laying/hanging everywhere. Cindy prefers appendix carry. She ordered a holster for her 642 from "Well Armed Women " website.

 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I always ask my female students to consider the chances that they will not have their purse when they need it, or that
some unauthorized person WILL have access to their gun at some time......child, relative, thief.

I am not much of a fan of off-body carry, but each person has to decide what works for them.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
As long as the sidearm is within reach--I can put up with off-body carry. That does NOT mean that I like doing it. 40+ years of habituation to "On my person" doesn't melt away in 15 minutes.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
However, being realistic, how often would you have to shoot for your life at a friends house, or where she would be without her purse? Other than a home invasion, not at your home, or a domestic fight, you will need it in a public place.

Since July first it is illegal to have a firearm in your own home without it being in a safe or "secured". At least with a CPP you can keep it on your person.