What Gun Would Be Easiest To Use By A Female With Zero Training For Self Defense

[bhunted 887]

Ok, so enough with the dancing. Why not just tell us why she won't get training?

 

Nobody is trying to bust your balls here.

We just don't want anyone to get hurt.

Your asking us to recommend a gun for someone we do not know. You are an avid gun owner that has been around here for quite some time. I'd like to think you'd know best what you/she needs. Why put us in a corner to help make a decision without knowing the facts? Again, we are not trying to make things difficult but you should know the gun community in here by now. I'd guess most of us had some sort of training and would only recommend the same.

 

If at this point, I'd recommend you contact Sandy at the SAW Group. An all female membership. She and the gang are great with other females and can easily put her at ease rather than feel out of place with the guys.

 

 

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[matty 810]

Get a dog, and not one of those mop sized ones

[NJGF 375]

Ok, so enough with the dancing. Why not just tell us why she won't get training?

She really doesn't want anything to do with guns (like many people I have met). I wanted this info so I can gently make suggestions to convince her otherwise. I was able to get her to go to a range one time but not get out of the car. Small steps.

[NJGF 375]

Get a dog, and not one of those mop sized ones

She loves dogs but has bad allergies!

[Cereza 106]

She really doesn't want anything to do with guns (like many people I have met). I wanted this info so I can gently make suggestions to convince her otherwise. I was able to get her to go to a range one time but not get out of the car. Small steps.

 

Do you have a female friend who can take her to the range? That might make a difference, i.e. she might be more comfortable with another woman present.

[NJGF 375]

Do you have a female friend who can take her to the range? That might make a difference, i.e. she might be more comfortable with another woman present.

No but I have suggested female only classes and instructors.

[r4nd0m 4]

Aren't you glad you asked?

[bobblackrifle 28]

If she wants a gun something like this is good for small hands. 22m has low recoil.

 

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=103351&&index=1&mfg=All&mdl=All&cat=All&type=Revolver&cal=22M&fin=&sit=&pid=&inv=

 

If she will not get some training, no gun.

[bhunted 887]

She really doesn't want anything to do with guns (like many people I have met). I wanted this info so I can gently make suggestions to convince her otherwise. I was able to get her to go to a range one time but not get out of the car. Small steps.

Then get ahold of Sandy. Her and the gals will make her feel real comfortable.

 

 

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[GRIZ 3,369]

If she wants a gun something like this is good for small hands. 22m has low recoil.

 

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=103351&&index=1&mfg=All&mdl=All&cat=All&type=Revolver&cal=22M&fin=&sit=&pid=&inv=

 

If she will not get some training, no gun.

J frames are the worst thing to give a new shooter and expect them to hit something.

[Newtonian 453]

after yrs of prodding I finally got my wife to accept the idea of "something is better than nothing". she now owns my little S&W 63 8 shot 22 revo. Lightweight and simple. Likes it, shoots it accurate enough for self defense and is ok with the trigger pull. No way no how will shoot anything bigger or interested in a semi, too much info lol. I get her to the range a few times a yr to keep her tuned into that gun. I at least know she has 8 shots of 22 at her disposal and knows how to handle it. A little range time is a must or dont even bother giving her a gun. You owe it to yourselves to make sure she can handle and shoot it, thats not training just common sense.

You're a smart man. 

[bobblackrifle 28]

J frames are the worst thing to give a new shooter and expect them to hit something.

J frame in 22 caliber is manageable for small people. J frame in centerfire is not manageable.  Size of the firearm can be intimidating for small people.

[Zeke 5,504]

It's not stigma, its personal responsibility

[PeteF 1,044]

Almost everyone who goes to the movies knows which is the business end of a gun (even women who haven't grown up playing cops and robbers I would think) but for the rest almost surely not and I am not disagreeing with anyone on those points.

Movies also have a lot of bad ideas. Finger on trigger, muzzle sweeping etc.

My .02, contact Sandy from SAW. She may have some ideas.

Basic training is never a bad idea. And the SAW group really specializes in training for women.

 

I don't use fire extinguishers for fun, but I have them and know how to use them.

[Schrödinger's cat 87]

I meant that society has placed such a stigma on guns that some people are literally afraid to be near them. 

I know lots of people like that. My wife isn't quite like that, but I never got her to hold one of my guns, forget about going to the range. I did get her to watch me load a mag chamber a round and release the safety. I don't think she would know how to do any of those by herself, but she knows where my HD rifle is kept and as you say with her back against the wall with no other choice I suspect she'd go get it. I think I'll try to get her to watch me disengage the safety again tonight. That said I do have hopes of slowly talking her in to letting me take her to the range, she may have fun and then it's game on. I keep trying.

[Zeke 5,504]

I know lots of people like that. My wife isn't quite like that, but I never got her to hold one of my guns, forget about going to the range. I did get her to watch me load a mag chamber a round and release the safety. I don't think she would know how to do any of those by herself, but she knows where my HD rifle is kept and as you say with her back against the wall with no other choice I suspect she'd go get it. I think I'll try to get her to watch me disengage the safety again tonight. That said I do have hopes of slowly talking her in to letting me take her to the range, she may have fun and then it's game on. I keep trying.

Game on jus means 2x ammo,2x guns .

Alas, it rilly hurts so good I think

[GRIZ 3,369]

J frame in 22 caliber is manageable for small people. J frame in centerfire is not manageable. Size of the firearm can be intimidating for small people.

J frame of any caliber is controllable if you're willing to take the time to learn. It isn't just recoil but short sight radius which puts more emphasis on trigger control that makes J frames a bad idea for new shooters.

 

A K frame is not that big.

[Cereza 106]

No but I have suggested female only classes and instructors.

 

I wish you luck but if all else fails there's A Guide to Improvised Weaponry: How to Protect Yourself with WHATEVER You've Got by master sergeant Terry Schappert United States Army Special Forces.  

[boo 6]

As others have alluded, it's not about finding her the right gun, it's about getting her comfortable with guns. I could very well have been posing the same question as OP a couple years ago with respect to Mrs. boo. She was anti-gun and initially threatened to leave me if got one. While she still isn't into shooting, she no longer bats an eye when I'm holstering up and I nearly fainted last weekend when she suggested that we go shooting sometime. It's been a long journey to get to that point. I first got her to take a SAW intro to handgun course at GFH as a birthday gift to me. While it didn't seem to trigger an interest in shooting, it did make her a bit more comfortable around guns and it made her open to the idea of having my 686 revolver available when I'd go out of town on business (she reported multiple malfunctions shooting a 9mm semi-auto during the class, I assume due to limp-wristing). After moving here to America, I dragged her into the sheriff's office for her to get an LTCF. I explained to her that my purpose was for her to avoid trouble if I leave guns in the trunk while she takes the car, but I was just laying the groundwork for her future gun ownership. I think she was surprised when the people waiting to get their permits looked "normal" and the person in front of her in line was a doctor. She was expecting a room full of degenerates, but it dawned on her that it's okay for law-abiding people to want to carry a gun and criminals generally don't apply for permits. I think the final push came recently as she's befriended the mother of our daughters classmate in elementary school, who happens to be Federal LEO. Guns apparently have been a topic of discussion and she's apparently a proponent of gun ownership. While Mrs. boo probably isn't going to be camping out in front of Cabelas for Black Friday any time soon, she now finally recognizes the need to at least be proficient for that worst case situation.

[Blank 60]

 

I am looking for a gun that would be usable by a small adult female in a self defense situation. The person has has absolutely no experience with firearms and will not be getting any experience.

 

I know that normally I would say don't even think about using a firearm in this situation but if someone is breaking into her house in the middle of the night, having a gun with no training might be better than not having any gun (this is obviously debatable).

 

So given the premise which type of gun would be easiest and simplest for this person to have?

 

I was thinking of the following:

 

A semi-auto pistol but they might have issues knowing how to hold it to allow it to function properly. And if it malfunctioned they would have no idea how to clear it. Yet most of the time it would function properly so this might be OK.

 

A revolver might be more fool proof but the long heavier trigger pull might be an issue for a first time user (keeping it steady and aimed during the trigger pull). Incorrectly holding the revolver could be dangerous (for example putting their hand around the cylinder gap).

 

Something in 9 mm might be optimal but I also wonder if the lower recoil from a similarly sized handgun in .380 or 38 special might be easier to handle (along with the reduced noise).

 

A shotgun might be simpler to shoulder and aim. Maybe a .410 which would have the least recoil and noise. I doubt that a novice would know how to rack a pump so I was thinking about a semi-automatic. Reliability might be an issue.

 

Along the lines of the .410 shotgun would something like the S&W Governor be doable (a revolver that takes .410 shot shells)? A shotgun would seem to be a better choice.

 

Would a 9 mm carbine be easier to handle than a shotgun or handgun? 

 

I have eliminated anything chambered in .223 as a 9 mm carbine would seem to be lighter and easier to handle and effective enough. On the other end I have eliminated any .22 as too under powered for self defense although it would definitely be the easiest to handle.

 

I am interested in getting opinions on this.

 

Self Defense with a firearm IS NOT a recomended option for the untrained...

[Newtonian 453]

What is your relationship to this person? Does she live with other people?

 

Sounds like she is no way ready for a gun of any kind, nor would she be open to the idea of having a loaded gun around. If she's afraid to get out of the car at a gun range and has no curiosity or self-perceived need you're playing with fire. Just drop this idea.

[Newtonian 453]

Self Defense IS NOT an option for the untrained...

Whoooa. We have a right to defend ourselves. It's up to us what level of training we desire or think we need. This is more a case of extremely averse, unwilling, and scared than untrained.

[fishnut 2,358]

Get her an air soft gun. An intruder might think it's a gun and run away, hopefully. She can't accidentally shoot herself or a roommate. Also it can't be taken and used to shoot her by an intruder.

[Mr.Stu 1,922]

Get her an air soft gun. An intruder might think it's a gun and run away, hopefully. She can't accidentally shoot herself or a roommate. Also it can't be taken and used to shoot her by an intruder.

I think that's a really bad idea. It's an escalation of force with nothing to back it up.

 

I'm sorry to say it, but this lady does not seem to want to accept responsibility for her own safety and won't take steps to be able to protect herself.

 

The conservation is moot anyway, because if she won't even go to the range to receive basic training on gun safety and operation, she's never going to do the paperwork to buy a gun either.

 

Have her invest in a monitored alarm system with a panic button.

[jackandjill 683]

And what a timely news - http://www.njgunforums.com/forum/index.php/topic/84137-stupid-games-might-cost-you-your-life/

[Blank 60]

Whoooa. We have a right to defend ourselves. It's up to us what level of training we desire or think we need. This is more a case of extremely averse, unwilling, and scared than untrained.

Your Right Newtonian My post has been updated....

[JimB1 555]

No training and not willing to get any? A German Shepard and pepper spray are probably better options.

 

If she must have a gun, an hour of basic training and a Ruger LCR in 38 special seem like the minimum to me.

 

-Jim

[Golf battery 1,223]

Hey. Bond arms.

[GRIZ 3,369]

No training and not willing to get any? A German Shepard and pepper spray are probably better options.

If she must have a gun, an hour of basic training and a Ruger LCR in 38 special seem like the minimum to me.

-Jim

If you want to turn someone off to shooting a small frame, lightweight, short barrel 38 is the way to go.

[High Exposure 5,664]

If you want to turn someone off to shooting a small frame, lightweight, short barrel 38 is the way to go.

^^^ This

 

Running 50 rounds through a short barreled .38 J Frame is a miserable way to spend the day as a new shooter.