Best Handgun for Wife

bignic83 · April 4, 2013, 03:26 PM

I have a Glock 23C and love it, but my wife (who loves to shoot) has trouble with pulling back the slide. (To much spring tension). Can you guys recommend a .380 or 9mm that might be a little easier to pull back? We are relatively new to the semi automatic handgun world, so we are looking for a little expert input. Thanks in advance.

ShootingNut · April 4, 2013, 03:46 PM

A couple that I own that I feel fall into that category, is the Smith & Wesson M&P compact and the Beretta PX4 compact. If your wife has smaller hands, a compact version might fit and feel better than a full sized gun.
Again, slides always seem light and easy to pullback to me on these two.
Finding guns or anything related these days (at decent prices) is a chore.

lamarw · April 4, 2013, 03:59 PM

The best I can think of is the Beretta Model 86 if you can find one. This is with regards to a 380. With it, she will not have a slide problem since it has a tip open barrel.

You need to let her be the judge.

**Spats McGee** · April 4, 2013, 04:03 PM

Welcome to TFL, bignic83!

Head off to The Cornered Cat, where Kathy Jackson even has an article on how to Rack the Slide. It sounds like there might be some useful information there for ya.

awaveritt · April 4, 2013, 04:27 PM

My wife recently got a Beretta 84 and had trouble with the blowback design with respect to racking the slide. She could do it, but not with the authority needed to be confident when it counted.

So. . . .looks like I have a new Beretta 84 in MY stable of handguns

She wound up getting a new Sig Sauer P238 HDW (Stainless Frame and slide). Just got it in so she hasn't shot it yet, but it's a sweet looking little pistol. . . I mean REALLY little.

I'll post after we've tried it out.

TexasJim · April 4, 2013, 04:46 PM

My wife had the same issue. The Sig P238 works well for her.

m&p45acp10+1 · April 4, 2013, 04:48 PM

Let her pick whatever it is. She is more likely to want to shoot it more that way. Let her pick "Her Gun" both of you will happier that way.

ClydeFrog · April 4, 2013, 04:55 PM

This topic comes up often.
I'd get her a new or NIB Ruger LCR or a J frame S&W .38spl +P revolver.

Stress, chaos, injury, etc may be in a dynamic critical incident.
She needs to draw & fire quickly then operate the weapon(s) smoothly.

A decent robust LCR or J frame(638, 649, 442, etc) with a laser/night sight would be much better than a semi auto she can't operate w/o problems.

ClydeFrog

awaveritt · April 4, 2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

I'd get her a new or NIB Ruger LCR or a J frame S&W .38spl +P revolver.

I agree about the j-frame. One of my favorites. But my wife cried foul after one cylinder full of Speer 135gr. GDHP. Way too snappy for her blood. Should've started her off with some cowboy loads

vytoland · April 4, 2013, 05:39 PM

best gun for the wife IS the one she chooses. go to the range together, rent a few different revolvers and can will know which one is for her. start off with some S&W "K" frames..........model 64,65,66,67, in .38 special

TheSmilingSwordsman · April 5, 2013, 02:53 PM

My wife chose the Bersa Thunder 380 she can work the slide and doesn't ever limp wrist with it.

jib · April 5, 2013, 04:26 PM

My wife has the same issue. The P238 racks super easy and 380 is the smallest caliber I'd like my wife to carry. It's what she owns.

jfost · April 5, 2013, 04:44 PM

I have a S&W 640 357 magnum because you can always shoot 38 specials out of it. That can cure a problem. Maybe go to a gun shop and try racking the slide on a bunch of 9mm and 380 pistols o see what she can fondle.

g.willikers · April 5, 2013, 04:48 PM

Here's the way to rack the slide with weak hands:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbayNc6D9HY

GLI45 · April 6, 2013, 12:01 PM

+1 on the Sig P238. My wife has one for carry and loves it and frankly I also enjoy shooting it. It's set up like a small 1911, has a good trigger, and excellent Sig night sights (unusual because many sub compact/pocket guns have terrible sights). It's also quite accurate. More importantly for my wife is it is very easy to rack. The size is small enough to be a great gun for her carry purse, but not so small that it's difficult to shoot and the recoil is surprisingly mild, for a small .380. Some of them can be quite sharp.

My wife also has an STI Escort in 9mm which is another excellent option if you want something slightly larger. 3" barrel on an aluminum alloy frame so it's light. Great 1911 trigger and very accurate.

WiscBuckmaster · April 6, 2013, 01:45 PM

Going to a range that has rentals would be more ideal than just going to a gun shop and racking slides on new guns. All new guns will be pretty stiff but after a few hundred rounds she might be more capable when the gun is broken in which rental guns usually are. My sr9c was pretty stiff out of the box but now its silky smooth.

Pilot · April 8, 2013, 09:19 AM

Yes, let her pick. My wife prefers my HK P7 out of all my centerfire pistols. I think it is because how the pistol translates felt recoil straight back, and the safety the squeeze cocker provides.

led0321 · April 8, 2013, 09:40 AM

Most women fail to rack the slide because they are not comfortable in ripping it back. It should be a violent motion, she won't break the gun.

I had to teach my wife how to do it. My wife manipulates a Glock with no issues and has a Glock 26

eldermike · April 8, 2013, 10:42 AM

60-4, J frame S/W, DAO. Out of all the guns I have purchased for my wife this one wins my vote.

redhologram · April 8, 2013, 12:15 PM

Best slides I have encountered as far as ease (my female POV) my Sig p238 .380, and my Sig p938, 9mm. I was handling a M&P Shield Saturday at my LGS and the slide, while not as easy as my Sigs, was still easy to pull back.

My Glocks (19 & 26) as well as my xdm 9 take a bit more force when I rack them. I also had a DB .380 (horrible slide) 9mm (better than the .380 but still not any fun) that I got rid of.

I definitely recommend checking out all the information over on the www.corneredcat.com

TailGator · April 8, 2013, 03:48 PM

My wife recently picked out a P238 for herself. The slide was not much of an issue for her, but it is easy, and it is a fine little pistol, easy to conceal and accurate, with a very nice moderately light trigger. As someone else mentioned, it manages recoil better than a lot of the small .380s, probably at least in part because it weighs about half again as much as an LCP (for example). My wife is quite pleased with hers. It is worth looking at for anyone interested in a small .380, and it might fit the bill for OP's wife.

April 4, 2013, 03:26 PM	#1
bignic83 Junior Member Join Date: March 29, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 11	Best Handgun for Wife I have a Glock 23C and love it, but my wife (who loves to shoot) has trouble with pulling back the slide. (To much spring tension). Can you guys recommend a .380 or 9mm that might be a little easier to pull back? We are relatively new to the semi automatic handgun world, so we are looking for a little expert input. Thanks in advance.

April 4, 2013, 04:03 PM	#4
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	Welcome to TFL, bignic83! Head off to The Cornered Cat, where Kathy Jackson even has an article on how to Rack the Slide. It sounds like there might be some useful information there for ya. __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

April 4, 2013, 04:46 PM	#6
TexasJim Member Join Date: December 22, 2011 Posts: 72	My wife had the same issue. The Sig P238 works well for her. __________________ "If you’d like, after the game I’ll take you outside and teach you how to shoot close enough to a raccoon that it craps itself." ( Dr. Sheldon Cooper - The Big Bang Theory)

April 4, 2013, 04:48 PM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Let her pick whatever it is. She is more likely to want to shoot it more that way. Let her pick "Her Gun" both of you will happier that way. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

April 4, 2013, 04:55 PM	#8
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	I suggest a DA only revolver... This topic comes up often. I'd get her a new or NIB Ruger LCR or a J frame S&W .38spl +P revolver. Stress, chaos, injury, etc may be in a dynamic critical incident. She needs to draw & fire quickly then operate the weapon(s) smoothly. A decent robust LCR or J frame(638, 649, 442, etc) with a laser/night sight would be much better than a semi auto she can't operate w/o problems. ClydeFrog

April 4, 2013, 03:46 PM	#2
ShootingNut Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,475	A couple that I own that I feel fall into that category, is the Smith & Wesson M&P compact and the Beretta PX4 compact. If your wife has smaller hands, a compact version might fit and feel better than a full sized gun. Again, slides always seem light and easy to pullback to me on these two. Finding guns or anything related these days (at decent prices) is a chore.

April 4, 2013, 03:59 PM	#3
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	The best I can think of is the Beretta Model 86 if you can find one. This is with regards to a 380. With it, she will not have a slide problem since it has a tip open barrel. You need to let her be the judge.

April 4, 2013, 04:27 PM	#5
awaveritt Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 259	My wife recently got a Beretta 84 and had trouble with the blowback design with respect to racking the slide. She could do it, but not with the authority needed to be confident when it counted. So. . . .looks like I have a new Beretta 84 in MY stable of handguns She wound up getting a new Sig Sauer P238 HDW (Stainless Frame and slide). Just got it in so she hasn't shot it yet, but it's a sweet looking little pistol. . . I mean REALLY little. I'll post after we've tried it out.

April 4, 2013, 05:39 PM	#10
vytoland Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 614	best gun for the wife IS the one she chooses. go to the range together, rent a few different revolvers and can will know which one is for her. start off with some S&W "K" frames..........model 64,65,66,67, in .38 special

April 5, 2013, 02:53 PM	#11
TheSmilingSwordsman Member Join Date: February 28, 2012 Posts: 37	My wife chose the Bersa Thunder 380 she can work the slide and doesn't ever limp wrist with it.

April 5, 2013, 04:26 PM	#12
jib Member Join Date: May 31, 2012 Location: Seattle-ish Posts: 59	My wife has the same issue. The P238 racks super easy and 380 is the smallest caliber I'd like my wife to carry. It's what she owns.

April 5, 2013, 04:44 PM	#13
jfost Member Join Date: January 14, 2009 Location: Norfolk, Va Posts: 42	Revolver I have a S&W 640 357 magnum because you can always shoot 38 specials out of it. That can cure a problem. Maybe go to a gun shop and try racking the slide on a bunch of 9mm and 380 pistols o see what she can fondle.

April 5, 2013, 04:48 PM	#14
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Here's the way to rack the slide with weak hands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbayNc6D9HY __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 6, 2013, 12:01 PM	#15
GLI45 Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 143	+1 on the Sig P238. My wife has one for carry and loves it and frankly I also enjoy shooting it. It's set up like a small 1911, has a good trigger, and excellent Sig night sights (unusual because many sub compact/pocket guns have terrible sights). It's also quite accurate. More importantly for my wife is it is very easy to rack. The size is small enough to be a great gun for her carry purse, but not so small that it's difficult to shoot and the recoil is surprisingly mild, for a small .380. Some of them can be quite sharp. My wife also has an STI Escort in 9mm which is another excellent option if you want something slightly larger. 3" barrel on an aluminum alloy frame so it's light. Great 1911 trigger and very accurate. __________________ STI-Eagle(2)/Trojan(2)/Edge/Guardian/VIP/Rogue/Ranger III/Sentinel/Tactical 4.0/Escort; Remington Rand-1911A1; Ruger Redhawk/Blackhawk; Sig P238

April 6, 2013, 01:45 PM	#16
WiscBuckmaster Member Join Date: February 16, 2013 Posts: 69	Going to a range that has rentals would be more ideal than just going to a gun shop and racking slides on new guns. All new guns will be pretty stiff but after a few hundred rounds she might be more capable when the gun is broken in which rental guns usually are. My sr9c was pretty stiff out of the box but now its silky smooth.

April 8, 2013, 09:19 AM	#17
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 4,193	Yes, let her pick. My wife prefers my HK P7 out of all my centerfire pistols. I think it is because how the pistol translates felt recoil straight back, and the safety the squeeze cocker provides. __________________ Pilot

April 8, 2013, 09:40 AM	#18
led0321 Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2013 Posts: 135	Re: Best Handgun for Wife Most women fail to rack the slide because they are not comfortable in ripping it back. It should be a violent motion, she won't break the gun. I had to teach my wife how to do it. My wife manipulates a Glock with no issues and has a Glock 26

April 8, 2013, 10:42 AM	#19
eldermike Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 545	60-4, J frame S/W, DAO. Out of all the guns I have purchased for my wife this one wins my vote.

April 8, 2013, 12:15 PM	#20
redhologram Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2013 Posts: 352	Best slides I have encountered as far as ease (my female POV) my Sig p238 .380, and my Sig p938, 9mm. I was handling a M&P Shield Saturday at my LGS and the slide, while not as easy as my Sigs, was still easy to pull back. My Glocks (19 & 26) as well as my xdm 9 take a bit more force when I rack them. I also had a DB .380 (horrible slide) 9mm (better than the .380 but still not any fun) that I got rid of. I definitely recommend checking out all the information over on the www.corneredcat.com

April 8, 2013, 03:48 PM	#21
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,787	My wife recently picked out a P238 for herself. The slide was not much of an issue for her, but it is easy, and it is a fine little pistol, easy to conceal and accurate, with a very nice moderately light trigger. As someone else mentioned, it manages recoil better than a lot of the small .380s, probably at least in part because it weighs about half again as much as an LCP (for example). My wife is quite pleased with hers. It is worth looking at for anyone interested in a small .380, and it might fit the bill for OP's wife.