Which 9mm for the Wife?

[movie zombie]

Why buy her a new gun? Why not just make sure she knows how to properly and safely handle ALL of the ones already in the home?........

good questions, kali.......and point well made.

[LexLuther]

My experience, women who only shoot that much overwhelmingly prefer a wheel gun, like a smith 686 with a 4 inch barrel

[movie zombie]

a revolver is simple to understand how to use and easy to clean.
however, i have small hands and anything larger than a smith k frame is too big for my hand. the 686 is a great revolver for those with larger hands.
the ruger sp101 is smaller than a k frame and larger than a j frame smith...it is a good revolver and perhaps a good fit for the smaller hand. me? i went with a smith model 60 j-frame as my first purchase....all metal, of course. then i got addicted!

[PorkLover]

Thanks to all of you for your replies, I asked my wife to read all of your responses. To answer your questions, she does know how to handle all of my firearms in a safe manor and if need be, how they should be discharged. She asked me to research for her what type of 9mm is preferred by women. After reading some of your responses, she understand that she needs to pick out the one that is comfortable for her. Hence, we are going back to the range this weekend. Once she finds a firearm that she is comfortable with she will take a firearms course designed for women. I told her teaching a wife to shoot is like teaching her how to golf....you don't. When she wanted to learn how to golf, I got her lessons from a golf pro.....

Thanks again for your responses.....

[BonnieB]

Well done! You'll should be happy with the process and the results.

[movie zombie]

congrats, Pork! you kept an open mind and more importantly so did she!
and you have a range date already!
would you please keep us posted re progress, especially what she ends up with?
its good for such feedback to be posted here for the next guy looking for a gun for his gal......actually, i think your post should be mandatory for all men that do post here with the question!

[Sunday]

Take you wife out to brunch then take her to the gun shop[s] and let her pick out the one she likes. Do you ask what shoes shall I buy my wife?

[tlcwrites]

Having said this, she wants me to do the research and get her one that she will be able to "handle."

Wanted to chime in to add to this: it has been my experience that women need to pay attention to, and get a solid grounding in, the fundamentals of shooting to a higher degree than men might need to. Men, on average, have more upper body strength than women, and so can overcome poor stance or grip with sheer muscle power. A guy might be able to shoot a .44 magnum and use his upper body muscle to compensate for a slightly off-balance stance; if a woman tries the same thing, the gun is apt to knock her on her butt. This is why I think training is so critical.

Tammy