OT: Hand guns

[SFlonghorngirl]

What's a good hand gun for a girl?

 

[orangeblooded]

38 special revolver

 

[Sirhornsalot]

.380 is a nice caliber fire arm for a woman. I purchased one for my wife a few years ago and she enjoys shooting it. I know this because she's sneaked out to the shooting range a few times without me. You only do that if you're enjoying it.

It's small enough for her to handle with confidence, but stout enough to stop whatever's coming at her.

The only complaint I've had is that finding training rounds (ammo) for it has sometimes been difficult, but the regular hollow points are always easy to find.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Guns are new to me. Is .380 a brand?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Guns are new to me. Is .380 a brand?

No, it's a caliber of pistol. Comes in a revolver (like my wife has) and a semi-auto which uses a clip.

The .380 is made by a long list of gun makers. You don't have to buy expensive to get a good fire arm. Smith & Wesson makes a nice 380 semi with a laser, makes it easier to aim for those who are somewhat inexperienced. Taurus is on the mid-low end but they make a fine revolver in the .380.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

No, it's a caliber of pistol. Comes in a revolver (like my wife has) and a semi-auto which uses a clip.
The .380 is made by a long list of gun makers. You don't have to buy expensive to get a good fire arm. Smith & Wesson makes a nice 380 semi with a laser, makes it easier to aim for those who are somewhat inexperienced. Taurus is on the mid-low end but they make a fine revolver in the .380.

Thanks SHL! What's a good price point?

 

[Texas Homer]

My wife has a lady Smith & Wesson 38. Has a hidden hammer to keep it from getting snagged in her purse and fits her hand well. I usually rock either my Sig 1911 or my Ruger 1911...yeah I am a 45acp kind of guy! Lol

 

[Epictetus]

The Bersa is a handsome little gun modeled after the older Walther made famous in the soft leather holster under the left arm of James Bond. It may come only in .380 caliber and not 9mm. But is sufficient I would think.

See Bersa Thunder Concealed.. http://www.bersa.com/bersa-firearms/thunder-concealed-carry.html

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

The Bersa is a handsome little gun modeled after the older Walther made famous in the soft leather holster under the left arm of James Bond. It may come only in .380 caliber and not 9mm. But is sufficient I would think.
See Bersa Thunder Concealed.. http://www.bersa.com/bersa-firearms/thunder-concealed-carry.html

Very cute! Anything related to James Bond is always a plus!

 

[BigPhil76]

Kel-tech pf 9 is a great pistol for a lady .. 9 millimeter.. small enough to fit your hand with great stopping power. under 300 bucks

 

[Epictetus]

The Walther PPK that was used in some Bond films was 9mm. Look them up on a Google images search.

I read all the books a couple years ago when a bi-centennial series came out. Glad I did.

They read far better than any of the movies come across as a film experience -- maybe that's just apples and oranges.

Fleming was a far better writer than I would have imagined.

Of note, the earlier firearms the Bond character used were no more than .25 caliber, not a large bullet at all.

Remember the books were written in the early 50s. Casino Royal, 1953 (the first).

Remember the scene in Thunderball when the pilot delivered the planes, landing under the sea, only to have his air hose cut (a means to get rid of him). In the book the scene is different.

The plane lands on the surface and does not sink. The pilot steps out of the cockpit onto the wing, carefully keeping his balance. And he has a most unusual witty thing in his mind to deliver to the gent coming towards him, having just stepped out of a boat alongside the landed plan. The scene reads like this... the pilot is Petacchi...

Petacchi said happily, "Good evening. Good evening. I am delivering one plane in good condition.' (He had thought the joke out long before.) 'Please sign here.' He held out his hand.
The man from the jolly-boat took the hand in a strong grasp, braced himself, and pulled sharply. Petacchi's head was flung back by the quick jerk and he was looking full into the eyes of the moon as the stiletto flashed up and under the offered chin, through the roof of the mouth, into the brain. He knew nothing but a moment's surprise, a sear of pain, and an explosion of brilliant light.

Fleming had come from a wealthy family, attended Eton, was a track star of sorts, good looking by face and build for the times, and (can't remember all the details, I have a full bio of him but it has been a while) was considered a trouble-maker by standards of the time, running around 'with women.' For Britain in the war he was Bond behind the desk, never serving in the field, in British intelligence. From there to his life at Goldeneye in Jamaica where he wrote the Bond stories it is interesting to see what was behind the Bond creation. He also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I purchased an old hardcover copy off eBay a while back. I believe the senior staff he worked for in intelligence went by code name R. Of course, in the Bond stories it is M.

 

[Boobie Miles]

Good luck in San Fran... I've been out here for a few weeks and this is the stark opposite of a place that would be okay with guns.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Thanks SHL! What's a good price point?

We paid $500 for my wife's, but I've seen them as low as $375.

 

[JimR]

What's a good hand gun for a girl?

None

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Good luck in San Fran... I've been out here for a few weeks and this is the stark opposite of a place that would be okay with guns.

Yes it is. I'm relocating to Austin in May. Where in SF do you live?

 

[Austin1911]

Several of the gun ranges in and around Austin rent handguns to try out. That's always my advice, so you can find what fits your hand and what you feel most comfortable with.

 

[Juan]

My sister has the CHL, shoots with some regularity and prefers the Sig Sauer .238.

She has smaller hands with a bit of arthritis. She says this one is easier for her to steady and rack.

-- Lacks the stopping power of the 9mm, et al, but gives the better accuracy and speed.

 

[echeese]

The Bersa is a handsome little gun modeled after the older Walther made famous in the soft leather holster under the left arm of James Bond. It may come only in .380 caliber and not 9mm. But is sufficient I would think.
See Bersa Thunder Concealed.. http://www.bersa.com/bersa-firearms/thunder-concealed-carry.html

Not a bad recommendation but let me go a step further. . .

#1 you want a gun that fits your hand comfortably. . .go to a gun shop and hold several. .Glock (this will be all brands) feels different from Bersa feels different than Springfield. . .and with each brand there are different models. . .

#2 revolver vs semi auto . ..these are types of guns. . .revolver has a cylinder you load shells in. . . semi auto has a magazine. ..you would be amazed how many women have trouble pulling the slide back to chamber a round. . .don't be afraid in the store to "rack" the guns a few time. .pulling back the slide. . .

#3 if there is a gun range. . .most have guns to rent. .usually cheaply . .. go rent a few and test them out . .

#4 clearly you don't know much about them. . .find a group like girls with guns (they have a group in SF and are on facebook) where you can get instruction on the basics. . .try a few . .cheap way to learn. . .

You can get a nice gun in the $350 to $550 range. . .and my wife likes the Bersa. . .of course she likes the same model from Walther (it's the exact same gun) with the built in laser sight which is twice as expensive. . . .

 

[PJB]

If you're being economic, I suggest you look at the Taurus brand. The company took over a Beratta plant in Brazil and make a similar gun. It is a bit less expensive than comparable guns. As for using a handgun for practice, you can but an inexpensive .22 caliber and use that for target practice. The bullets are the least expensive and the gun has no recoil.