Recommend

So my brother wanted me to offer up a recommendation for a co-worker. A work buddy's wife wanted a gun. So what did I recommend for her? A Smith and Wesson J-Frame revolver.

WHAT?!!!

Now hear me out.

Sure sure, the biggest mistake a gun shop does when a woman wants to buy a gun is to recommend the double action only J-Frame Ladysmith .38 revolver. With pink grips. It's a hard gun to shoot well because of the double action and not a pistol that will instill confidence in your ability if it's your first one ever. There are much better guns to offer to first time gun purchasers, and that applies if you are male or female, large or small.

But.

That said.

My brother's caveat was this woman grew up shooting, and her dad had quite a few guns at home. So with that assumption, a J-Frame revolver might be perfect for her.

Other caveats given: She is sorta leaning toward a 9mm as her husband's XD40 is a bit too big.

I mentioned that XDs can have a reputation for a stiff slide spring to operate, if she has weakish arms and/or hands. Not something that is hard to overcome with practice, but it may impact a decision. But an XD9 might be just fine, as are the other plastic guns like Glock or M&P or even something by Kahr, But all have thickish grips if her hands are small.

SIGs have even thicker grips. So if the XD40 is too big maybe NONE of those double stack 9mm's are for her.

I then mentioned the 1911 has a bigger bullet (but you can GET 9mm...) but thinner grip, or she might consider a Browning Hi-Power. That's if their all-metal weight isn't a problem.

The other options is to step down to .380s and get either the small Walther PPK or Bersa Thunder. Or, go even SMALLER and get the KelTec or RugerLCP .380s. I'm waiting to hear back if she needs the list narrowed down better.

But you see how a J-Frame might actually be hunky dory is this one case, right?

This all assumes she is a good shot already and will practice a bunch with the new revolver at first then practice at least monthly thereafter. With only 5 beans in the barrel, and smallish beans at that, and reload times being slow, shot placement sharpened by regular practice is important. It's something I worry about for my own self and limited talents with marksmanship.

Hmmm, probably the BEST way to recommend a pistol for her is to ask "which of your dad's smallish concealable handguns did you shoot best?" Get something similar to that answer.

And if I hear NOTHING back, not her preferences not her true skill level, not her hand or body size, and had to decide on a top recommendation right now? Get a Bersa Thunder. Especially if you said "A REVOLVER?" when I suggested a J Frame. I saw a Bersa side by side with the Walther at my gunshop today. I like the Bersa better. I kinda want one myself a little bit. It's a good size. Breda likes hers.

Get a good holster with it. But that's a whole nother can o' nemotodes.