I need some help in getting She Say a gun for Christmas. Not sure what facts you lot would need to help me, but:
I was also thinking I’d get her this gift certificate for the intro. pack here: http://www.gilbertindoorrange.com/Beginner.html
So…any suggestions?
I always hear people say .38 special for a lady, since it’s small and easy to handle and reliable.
On the flip side though, I’ve heard that a snub nosed .38 can be a hard gun for a beginner to learn on and be accurate with.
I probably didn’t help at all.
100% yes on the gift certificate.
Buying a gun for someone, especially a woman who has never shot one would be like buying her a dress, you might like it but it probably won’t fit. There is a lot of misconception about women and guns, most guys think they would like the pink .380 but it might not be the right gun for her. IMO get the cert and a note or something saying you plan to buy her the gun of her choice.
Guns IMO are a personal choice and unless she’s said specifically that she wants XX gun then let her pick it. Hell, she might end up deciding she wants the 4in S&W .357 magnum. Go shoot several guns before buying one, most ranges will rent you a gun for a few bucks if you buy the ammo.
Regardless the outcome, you need to commit to taking her to the range and learning how to use the thing. Without proper practice and training any person with a gun in a panic situation is more dangerous to themselves and others than the threat.
What me and my wife are looking at…
I bought my wife a trip to Cuba, WTF is wrong with you?
I’m just bullshitting you dude. My wife loves to shoot friends guns and is a a deadly shot. In fact she shoots better than most guys I know.
That’s sounds like a kick-ass present. Just make sure you are not over insured in the life-insurance department, you don’t want to incentivise any “accidents”.
[quote]imhungry wrote:
What me and my wife are looking at…
http://www.berettausa.com/products/nano/[/quote]
I actually own that gun. It’s a great little piece. The down side is it’s picky on ammo. It really likes +P ammo and or 124gr bullets. It hates cheap ammo so don’t bother with Walmart ammo. If you find something it likes use it. The trigger pull is loooooooong but the reset is short and very distinct so after the first shot it’s a little easier if you don’t let the trigger go all the forward. Almost a single action to double action but it’s not, you’ll have to shoot one to understand. I carry the Nano 99% of the time because it’s easy to conceal and since it’s so light I often forget I have it. Good luck, I think you’ll like it.
Thanks men.
My concern with just getting the gift certificate is she’ll never end up getting the gun…as in…after we go to the range she’ll be like, “that was fun, but not really for me”…then again…if I buy her the gun and she decides she doesn’t like it I’m stuck with a gun she doesn’t like…maybe get one I like when I’m feeling slightly feminine?
Get her an apron so she stays clean while making sammiches.
But seriously, I agree with DDay. I bought my wife’s first gun for her(Ruger LCP .380) and she couldnt stand shooting it. She now loves her Springfield XD compact .40. Maybe Im biased because of my wife but this idea that women need compact design pistols in a .380, .38 special, or at most a 9mm, is false.
[quote]farmerson12 wrote:
Get her an apron so she stays clean while making sammiches.
But seriously, I agree with DDay. I bought my wife’s first gun for her(Ruger LCP .380) and she couldnt stand shooting it. She now loves her Springfield XD compact .40. Maybe Im biased because of my wife but this idea that women need compact design pistols in a .380, .38 special, or at most a 9mm, is false. [/quote]
Now that I’m seeing that I’ll be spending at least 500 bucks on a gun I’m thinking I’ll go with the beginner package and buy one for me and her and if she likes it great…if not…it would at least be a fun date.
[quote]dday wrote:
[quote]imhungry wrote:
What me and my wife are looking at…
http://www.berettausa.com/products/nano/[/quote]
I actually own that gun. It’s a great little piece. The down side is it’s picky on ammo. It really likes +P ammo and or 124gr bullets. It hates cheap ammo so don’t bother with Walmart ammo. If you find something it likes use it. The trigger pull is loooooooong but the reset is short and very distinct so after the first shot it’s a little easier if you don’t let the trigger go all the forward. Almost a single action to double action but it’s not, you’ll have to shoot one to understand. I carry the Nano 99% of the time because it’s easy to conceal and since it’s so light I often forget I have it. Good luck, I think you’ll like it.[/quote]
Were you the one who posted it on G+? Because, that was the post that swayed my decision on getting one.
It seems perfect for the wife and myself. Besides the pickyness, I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Plus, it looks great. Other pistols that are in that size bracket, look like toys.
Another good thing is that it breaks down to only four pieces and is easy to clean.
We’re going to shoot one first, of course. Then, we’ll know for sure if it’s what we want.
[quote]imhungry wrote:
[quote]dday wrote:
[quote]imhungry wrote:
What me and my wife are looking at…
http://www.berettausa.com/products/nano/[/quote]
I actually own that gun. It’s a great little piece. The down side is it’s picky on ammo. It really likes +P ammo and or 124gr bullets. It hates cheap ammo so don’t bother with Walmart ammo. If you find something it likes use it. The trigger pull is loooooooong but the reset is short and very distinct so after the first shot it’s a little easier if you don’t let the trigger go all the forward. Almost a single action to double action but it’s not, you’ll have to shoot one to understand. I carry the Nano 99% of the time because it’s easy to conceal and since it’s so light I often forget I have it. Good luck, I think you’ll like it.[/quote]
Were you the one who posted it on G+? Because, that was the post that swayed my decision on getting one.
It seems perfect for the wife and myself. Besides the pickyness, I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Plus, it looks great. Other pistols that are in that size bracket, look like toys.
Another good thing is that it breaks down to only four pieces and is easy to clean.
We’re going to shoot one first, of course. Then, we’ll know for sure if it’s what we want.[/quote]
Yep that was me. It’s very solid feeling gun and like you said it breaks down nicely. I also like the fact there is nothing sticking out of the sides, no safety, no mag release and no slide lock(that’s good and bad). The only way the slide will lock back is on an empty mag.
One other mild down side is it’s not the type of gun you want to dump 100+ rounds through at a time because of the size. It wore a considerable blister in my palm when I got it, next time I go I’m considering wearing a glove. I have slightly above average size hands so it may not be a problem for smaller handed people.
When I go shooting with my boyfriend I love to use his 22. Its a Ruger target shooting pistol (no I don’t know the model because I am just a girl).
Its very comfortable to shoot with minimal recoil and the long barrel makes it easy to aim. Plus the ammo is inexpensive (though his sticks with the the “cheap stuff”), so I can plink away for a while. Its a great way to get comfortable with shooting and feel like you are doing well. We won’t discuss what happened when I tried his Glock 
[quote]bond james bond wrote:
My wife loves to shoot friends and is a deadly shot. In fact she shoots most guys I know. [/quote]
You’d buy your wife a gun?
here’s hoping you don’t divorce. 
What will happen if you go into the shop and go “aww look! This gun suits you perfectly!” pointing out the small itsy bitsy pistol and then she goes for the Magnum or .45?
[quote]on edge wrote:
[quote]bond james bond wrote:
My wife loves to shoot friends and is a deadly shot. In fact she shoots most guys I know. [/quote]
[/quote]
I’m just glad you didn’t change “shoot” to “fuck” lol.
[quote]harrypotter wrote:
You’d buy your wife a gun?
here’s hoping you don’t divorce.
What will happen if you go into the shop and go “aww look! This gun suits you perfectly!” pointing out the small itsy bitsy pistol and then she goes for the Magnum or .45?[/quote]
If that happens he better have a healthy bank account.
[quote]harrypotter wrote:
You’d buy your wife a gun?
here’s hoping you don’t divorce.
What will happen if you go into the shop and go “aww look! This gun suits you perfectly!” pointing out the small itsy bitsy pistol and then she goes for the Magnum or .45?[/quote]
.357 Magnum allows not only that and .38 Special, but also 38 Short Colt or 38 Long Colt.
38 Long Colt makes a nice training round for a novice shooter as it is quite soft, at least if the revolver is not very light.
In other words, with a nice 357 Magnum you can’t go wrong with regard to what power level she may prefer.
[quote]Bill Roberts wrote:
.357 Magnum allows not only that and .38 Special, but also 38 Short Colt or 38 Long Colt.
38 Long Colt makes a nice training round for a novice shooter as it is quite soft, at least if the revolver is not very light.
In other words, with a nice 357 Magnum you can’t go wrong with regard to what power level she may prefer.[/quote]
That’s what I’d want lol. Either a Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum or an S&W 686. 6" barrels.
Maybe it makes sense to just get a girl the same kind of gun you’d want to have.
[quote]SmilingPolitely wrote:
When I go shooting with my boyfriend I love to use his 22. Its a Ruger target shooting pistol (no I don’t know the model because I am just a girl).
Its very comfortable to shoot with minimal recoil and the long barrel makes it easy to aim. Plus the ammo is inexpensive (though his sticks with the the “cheap stuff”), so I can plink away for a while. Its a great way to get comfortable with shooting and feel like you are doing well. We won’t discuss what happened when I tried his Glock :/[/quote]
Most likely a Mark I, II, or III or a 22/45. I own the 22/45 with a 6 7/8" bull barrel and a Jim Clark trigger job. I love shooting that gun so much. Like you said, you can put 500 rounds through it and not break the bank, the recoil is minimal, and it’s just fun to shoot.
OP: there are companies that make .22 rimfire conversion kits for their other calibers. You might want to consider picking up a Sig P229 in 9MM and the conversion kit as well. Might make going to the range a little less punishing for your wife if she’s a new shooter.