Which Gun Should I Buy?
Posted on January 8, 2013 by Natalie in Advice, Education, Equipment
When it comes to choosing a gun, especially your first one, there are many factors to consider.
Kel-Tec P-11 9mm
Each gun, just like any other tool, has a specific implementation and as I am sure you know by now, there is a vast variety of them out there for your shooting pleasure. If you are like me, though, all of those choices can start to get a little overwhelming. But fear not! I have some advice that will aid you in finding the right gun. I will also list a few of my favorite female friendly firearms as well as a few recommended by the readers.
Shopping for a gun, as my friend Gracie from Packing Pretty says, is like shopping for a pair of jeans, new shoes or a new bra. You have to try several to be able to find the right one. Guns are very personal pieces of machinery and you need to be feel comfortable shooting the one you ultimately choose. The primary factors that play in to choosing a firearm to purchase are the following: Purpose, Comfort and Cost.
Purpose
What will your gun be doing? Do you want to use it for concealed carry, home defense, hunting, or just for fun? Many guns can be used for more than one purpose (ie, home defense + hunting, concealed carry + etc), but most of them have a specifically designated purpose. The more involved you become in the shooting sports, you will inevitably find that you need more than one gun to satisfy all your firearm needs. But dont let that overwhelm you. Start here:
Below is a list of some of the best guns for women as recommended by readers.
Concealed Carry
.380 Caliber:Ruger LCP**, Sig Sauer P238**, Walther PPK, Bersa Thunder, Diamondback DB380, S&W Bodyguard, Sig Sauer P232
9mm: Kahr CM9 or PM9, Smith & Wesson Shield**, Beretta Nano**, Kel-Tec P-11, Ruger LC9, Ruger SR9C,
.45 Caliber: Springfield XDs**, Glock 21,
Revolver: Smith & Wesson 642**, Taurus M327,
**Voted among the best concealed carry for women in an informal Girl’s Guide Poll
Click here for a more extensive list of common concealed carry firearms for women from the makers of the Flashbang Bra Holster (fyi: there is a photo of the bra holster in use on a live female on this page.)
Home Defense
Many people choose a shotgun for home defense, though others prefer rifles or handguns.
Shotguns: Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Browning Citori 725, Winchester SX3
Hunting
This area is pretty technical and I will let the hunters weigh in on this in the comments below.
Fun/Target shooting (paper, steel, skeet and trap)
All of the above!
Comfort
Grip- This is a major factor that I cannot emphasize strongly enough. The gun should feel comfortable in your hand and equally as important, you need to feel comfortable shooting it. If you aren’t comfortable shooting it, you won’t practice and practice is imperative.
Weight- Train with your prospective gun. Shoot and handle it for at least an hour or two to know whether you like the weight of it.
Control/Snapiness- Can you control the gun effectively when firing it? Can you keep the muzzle from popping upward?
Ruger LCP with a Hogue grip
Training will help quite a bit in this area, but be observant of this factor with every gun you try.
Hogue Grips is a fantastic company that can help you with any issues you may find with the grip of the gun you choose. For instance, many people find the Ruger LCP to be perfect for their conceal carry needs, but a difficult gun to grip. Hogue has created a customized rubber grip to solve that problem.
Cost
The financial piece is a big one for most of us these days. You want to stay within your budget, of course, but the last thing you want to do is compromise safety by buying an inadequate gun. There are a couple of ways to find a reasonably-priced firearm without putting your safety at risk. Namely, I would check out the USED selection at gun stores, look online, hit up gun shows, auctions, estate and yard sales. Any time you are buying a previously owned firearm, I suggest that you have a friend or relative who is knowledgeable about guns check out the used firearm you are eyeing before you buy.
Here is a short list of reputable online firearm dealers: GunBroker.com, BudsGunShop.com, GunUp.com
Do not forget to include the price of ammo in your decision. For instance, .22 is a wonderful, inexpensive caliber. I love to practice on paper with a .22, but it does not pack the punch that a .380, 9mm or .45 will. Many people like the 9mm because the ammo is plentiful and less expensive than, say, the .45.
There is so much to know about this subject and we are really just scratching the surface here. Talk to your friends, send me a message here or on facebook or twitter, and definitely ask the people behind the counter at the gun store if you have additional questions. And if the people behind the counter are not cool, find another gun store. There is no need to put up with prejudice or bad customer service.
Now go practice!! Shooting is a perishable skill and it is key that you maintain your ability. I like to take a class at least every 6 months to keep my skills sharp. If you need a group to go shoot with in your area, check out A Girl & A Gun Shooting Clubs around the country. And if you can’t find one, start your own! Also, find a list of ranges and class providers here.
NOTE: This article is a work in progress. If you would like to see a firearm or section added, please comment below.
The Wedding Dress Moment
When a gal tries on wedding dresses, they’re ALL pretty, and white, and they make you look like a princess. But there’s ONE that causes light to shine down from Heaven and the angels start singing and you know that its THE ONE.
Same thing happens with guns! They’re all kinda cool looking…they go *bang* when you pull the trigger, but every now and then you’ll run across one that makes you shoot straighter and gives you that feeling of an angelic choir in full “Laaaaaa!” When that happens…..GET THAT GUN!!! - Lisa Looper, creator of the Flashbang Bra Holster
Wilburn Man has it wired. Get your hands on many models, then go to the range & borrow or rent likely candidates. Just because it feels good in the hand doesn’t mean it works for you. While women are better shots than men, they are pickier about their personal weapon.
Cool of you to admit that women are a better shot. Very cool.
Great input, guys. Thx!
Ladies, rely on your instincts and intelligence and don’t let the guy tell you what is the right gun for you. Question everything, ask twice if necessary, and say no if you don’t like the gun. This is a shopping excursion — go to every store you can find and try them all on.
Don’t be afraid of black. The color of the gun can be changed.
My personal favorite, my daily carry preference, HK USP .45 Compact. Nice weight, never jams, as accurate as you are, well balanced, and the kick isnt too bad either. 9 mil SHOULD put them down, a .45, as long as you hit WILL put them down. Its self defense, to me, shouldnt have to think twice.
HK p2000 sk, or kimber solo…picked up both within two weeks of each other…the kimber i was on a waiting list for and finally came in. Now have more choices depending on the weather and what i’m wearing
9 mm. If a person wants a 380, the ammo is a little more expensive. Glock 17, 19, 26 or Ruger LC9. What I do suggest is that a person go to a gun range and rent different guns to see what is comfortable to the person.
Ladies!! I’ll relate to something you all will understand….
Guns are like shoes! depending on what you want to do with the gun, pick the one that fits you the best, make sure you can access all the levers and controls, and then, make sure you can “walk” on them. And you feel comfy on doing so. Otherwise, the firearm will end up in the closet, which is not good at all, if it was intended for concealed carry…. the shoe that fits your friend with a #6 foot, won’t necessarily fits your #7….try them before buying…..
I agree with Gerardo and will take that one step further. My HK P30 came with changeable panels for the grip so I could custom fit it perfectly for me. They may cost more, but sometimes you get what you pay for
Laurie has a keltec 380. she can stack some awesome groups at 7 yds. at first it would fail to feed but i polished the feed ramp and hasnt jammed since.
i love my sig p238 but next in line for purchasing is a glock 26 i would recommend either, but definitely test a bunch first to get a feel for what qualities you like in a gun.
S&W M&P Shield in 9mm….nice one for a beginner.
I had the Ruger LCP and didn’t like it at all. It misfired, jammed, and was inaccurate. It was a close range body gun, and not something I felt safe carrying. My LEO hubby took it to his range and couldn’t fire it accurately, so he went straight to the armory and replaced it with a Kahr CM9. I LOVE her (I call her Stella) and if I’m going to recommend a gun to a woman with small to medium hands, not much experience, and only using it as a means of self defense I’m going Kahr all day long.
Outstanding article!
s&w m&p 9c awesome gun!
I got a Springfield XD Sub-compact 9mm for Christmas. I love it. I’m 5’2″ and have small hands. It fits my hand good, lightweight and easy to use. I’ve run 100 rounds through it with no jams or misfires. It will fit nicely in my purse on on my person with a “sp” holster. I feel more secure with it and very comfortable with its operation.
Which gun to buy implies that you shouldn’t buy them all…
that’s an idiotit statement.
so you knew everything about every gun made before you bought one?
Great article. You should rerun that other one about selecting a handgun
@don- I should have said it in the plural.
@gerardo- I actually mention that in the article. Thanks for reiterating!
Go to a small gunshop that you feel comfortable in and hold as many guns as you can…it needs to fit your hands like a glove….play with the mag release, make sure it’s comfortable…
ALL OF THEM!
@GGG = I know, I read it entirely, but reading some of the comments made me feel like some were missing it, from there the remark.
I started with a S&W .38 Airweight revolver and I DESPISED it! It wasn’t too bad with target ammo, but with anything +P it was a nightmare. From there I went to a Glock 17 (9mm) which was awesome and wonderful, but a little too big for carrying (obviously). I have moved on again to a Glock 23 (.40) and love it, however, it’s definitely not for a beginner, as it’s got quite a snappy recoil.
Just remember that your first handgun doesn’t necessarily have to be your forever handgun. Also, don’t let the gunstore guy talk you into anything “Magnum”, and stay away from stores which only carry one manufacturer and not a variety.
Love my S&W Bodyguard
The bigger one you can control, are going to diligently train with and are going to carry all the time?… and a backup, just in case. You know: Two is one; and one is none, idea? :>0
For concealed carry, if you are a new shooter, consider a small revolver like a S & W model 60 or model 36. This is a very light weight revolver with small grips. As a female, I’ve carried one for years. For fun at the range, I like my Springfield Xdm. Kind of like the Glocks but with smaller grips for those of us with small hands. It comes in 9mm, .40 and .45. Just go to a range that has different guns you can try, and see what you enjoy shooting..
For hunting, Try the Savage model 111 lady hunter. Designed with/by women for a woman’s particular build. Love mine. I got a 308 but there are several caliber options.
Sorry to see that the Colt 1911 or the smaller Colt New Agent did not make the list. Actually I am purchasing the Colt Rail Gun in Stainless Steel as a home defense weapon, and other reviews place this quite high. Actually a version of it just got adopted as the new M1911 for the USMC. Somehow I don’t think the government could be wrong on this choice.
Kinda surprised you completely ignored the .40 S&W. My wife has been shooting my Beretta PX4 Storm sub-compact and loves it.
No .40?
I own the Ruger LC9. I adore it. It’s reliable and has ate everything I’ve fed it – even the dirt cheap crap. The only complaint I have about it is that it has a LONG trigger pull. You most assuredly want to practice with this one to get the feel of it.