getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

I want an inexpesive .380 ACP or 9mm Luger or similar ammunition. I would be getting the gun for myself but if needed I want my teen daughter to be able to handle it without dealing with a major kick to it when fired.

I also want one that will allow me to grip with my entire hand. I held one today that didn't have a place for my pinky finger, I want to be able to FULLY hold it.

Thanks!

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Glock 19...

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

XD 9
CZ RAMI or SPO1/Phantom

RAMI is a compact so might be a bit small.

S&W MP9

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

If a revolver is an option, I found the S&W 357 to be perfect for both myself and my wife. She can easily handle shooting 38 special ammo with it, and I shoot 357 rounds. The gun is also not so small that it's hard for a man to hold. The revolver will be heavier though, so I would suggest she hold it and test fire it to make sure it not too big for her.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

I'm not so sure that would fit the lady's "inexpensive" criterion.

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchR...words=Glock+19

What about a Bersa?

http://www.bersafirearmsusa.com/

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

One problem a lot of females (who do not practice regularly) have is shooting limp-wristed, which is a problem with autos. A revolver would avoid the problem.

-end-

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Recoil with .380 Auto in blowback actions feels worse to me than firing .45 ACP in a 1911. I also suggest a revolver as it would be less expensive than an autoloader of the same quality, more reliable, and easier to use for someone who may not often practice. I also found than my wife could not cycle the slide on a blowback .380 due to the strong recoil spring, but she can cycle a 9x19 Glock.

I would look at the S&W J-frames (Models 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 60, 360, 442, 640, and 642 are all common), S&W K-frames (Models 10, 13, 15, 19, 65, and 66 are common), and the Ruger SP-101s in .32, .38, and .357. Examples of these can be found for less than $350 with little looking as revolvers are not cool and take longer to sell than autos.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

S&W 442, or cheeper brazillian equivalent, whatever little 38 taurus is selling. even a charter arms 38 will make appropriate holes.
Best defensive action possible for a young person in California would be to move to one of the Free States.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Kel Tec? Decent, small, semi-auto, cheap.

I also suggest the S&W 642/637, but it might not fit in the hand as needed. I have both and they are on the small side(But I love these guns!

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Kel-Tec P3AT is cheap, small and mag extensions might get your pinky on the grip.

Bersa Thunder is cheap, fairly reliable and fits a full grip.

Browning BDA is not so cheap, extremely reliable, beautiful to behold and fits a full grip also carriers 13+1.

Ruger LCP is fairly cheap, very small but will not fit a full grip, I cannot comment on this gun's performance or reliability as I have never fired one.

Walther P38 is worth the money, fits a full grip, has collectibility and makes good conversation.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Hi-Point c9. Costs ~$130 bucks and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

You mean a "free state" not under the jurisdiction of Washington, Obama, and Eric Holder?

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

That's good about the warranty because you are going to need it... a few times. That specific firearm is easily the crappiest 9mm I have ever fired.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

my girls carry S&W 642s or similar airweight

hammerless-can be shot from inside a purse
lightweight- light weight -but kicks a little harder
Revolver-only thing they have to do in a emergency is pull the trigger
38sp-ammo is common and not a real bad kicker


my gals also carry a C2 taser for places they cant carry a firearm, they also feel they are more likely to use the taser, seems like most women are a bit tentative to shoot to kill unless they have been attacked previously

Just my thoughts

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

That's the Taser with a computer chip "off switch," right? I wonder if the switch works by remote control? What if the kill chip malfunctions? "I'm sorry, Dave, but the felon attacking you cannot be Tased since I believe you, too, are a felon...this action is for 'your safety'..."


http://www.taser.com/research/Pages/ConsumerFAQs.aspx

Answer 7.

The TASER C2 is shipped out inactive and you will need to pass an identification verifcation a felony background check to get the activation code. TASER International has taken on the task of screening the purchasers to make sure convicted felons can't activate a TASER C2. You can do this over the internet or if you don't have a computer, you can do it over the phone and a trained operator will give you the code that is unique to your TASER C2 to unlock it. Once the TASER C2 is unlocked, you will never need to do it again but there is a $9.95 activation fee that is good for up to ten units.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

I admit that its not the greatest gun ever, but its cheap. Also, mine had many FTEs for the first few months that I had it, and it kept getting worse, so I sent it back to get fixed. They had it back to me in a week, and gave me an extra magazine for my troubles.

I havent had a single problem with it since, and its actually shockingly accurate and reliable now.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Taurus 24/7 Pro in 9mm

Lifetime warranty, nice ribber grip.

Can be had new for $350 + tax.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

My wife carries a Springfield Armory .40 XDm .. uses Cor-Bon 135 gr Ammunition and my wife is roughly 108lbs soaking wet ... she has no trouble with it .. It has three back plates to accommodate differing hand sizes ... we put the small plate on and she grips it perfectly ... mild recoil and plenty of stopping power ... I tried to get her one of the 19+1 9mm XDm from SA ... she won't take it ..To date, she has sent about 400 rounds through it ... goes to the range every other friday morning before work.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Im not Dave....were you commenting or asking a question or answering your own question? since you quoted me?

The C2 taser as you answered below in your post requires unlocking after that it works independantly, it has a laser sight, a bright light, and a 15ft probe range plus contact probes to deal with more than one attacker at a time, my girl carrys the taser to school(she is a college intern that also works for a legal firm she also serves warrents etc) and public buildings where firearms are illegal, she tests the taser regularly, and i guess if it malfunctions she will have to fight with her nail file and hand to hand as she has also be taught. were you subjesting another better solution? i am always open to sugestions for womens protection ,short of hireing a body guard for her, to me expense is not a issue.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

It's a joke. Ever seen the movie, 2001? The "star" computer, HAL-9000, goes insane, and starts telling the commander of the mission, David Bowman, he can't follow legit orders.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

That's crazy, I used the "I'm sorry, Dave, I cannot do that" line at work the other day and had to explain to 3 people my senior in age what the line meant and what movie it came from and provide enough popular references so they could at least identify with the bone throwing scene. I was truly taken aback that I could be in the presence of (3) 40yo people who had not seen the movie, did not know what the movie was and did not recognize the line from the movie.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

<<over 40 watched the movie several times....didnt remember the line or associate it...(guilty):Surrender:...my alzimers kicks in sometimes...that post makes tons more sense now.....:biggrin:

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

It's OK! :ok:

(I'm 38 this month, BTW)

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

CZ 2075B RAMI........my daughter has small hands and did not like the fat grip of the glock.....but she loved the CZ RAMI and shot very well with it for the first time shooting a gun. I don't know if it's Cali legal or not. Has to be on some kind of list??

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=48

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Desert Eagle .50

teach her to not just shoot them...explode them.

or...

I've always liked Makarov 9x16, they are an easy shoot for a beginner that doesn't like big bangs..and you can find double stacked magazines that will provide many opportunities if she is a poor shot.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Define "inexpensive"

If the Sig P6 is available in California (Used West German Police pistol) those can be had for under $300.

Otherwise, well, all my girls prefer revolvers.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I will take everyone's suggestions in deciding. I think we may have found one that works for my daughter and myself. The only thing that I know I am not going to do is a revolver. My fear is that reloading will take too long and the most we can have in a clip in CA is 10 rounds. I am hoping that I would hit my target before the 10 rounds are gone, but who knows the circumstances we would be facing with intruders.

Thank you again!

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Hitting a singular target should be well within the realm of 10 rounds. Hitting and disabling multiple targets is another matter altogether and 10-14 rounds may or may not be sufficient (14 being my physical max cap). For this I recommend that you have a BUG and a SO with Primary gun and a BUG. If that don't cut it at least you go down in a blaze of glory?
:5_1_120::yippee::5_1_120::yippee::565::565::5_1_1 20::yippee::5_1_120::yippee::5_1_120:

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Hitting a singular target should be well within the realm of 10 rounds. Hitting and disabling multiple targets is another matter altogether and 10-14 rounds may or may not be sufficient (14 being my physical max cap). For this I recommend that you have a BUG and a SO with Primary gun and a BUG. If that don't cut it at least you go down in a blaze of glory?

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

I have decided and picked a Kahr CW9. There are many reasons for this. But one of the other obstacles that needed to be overcome was finding what was CALIFORNIA legal and affordable, manageable, and something my daughter could handle too. We will be getting an extender for the hand grip because my pinky finger does not have a place to go without it. I like a firm grip with something like this.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions!

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

Nice choice!

Look around on gunbroker.com for an 8 round CW9-compatible factory mag with "pinky" rest.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

:offtopic:

Psss . . .

Hey . . .

(whispers)

Kubrick is on his way to becoming an unperson, and his films are destined for the memory hole.

His final film, Eyes Wide Shut, was said to be a major embarrassment to certain very powerful people, and upon subsequent review, many of his earlier films were found to be replete with crimethink, oldthink, and a variety of other doubleplusungood themes and story-lines.

Re: getting a self-defense handgun for a woman/teen girl in California
 

though the problem was 'solved' (one was bought)... I have to agree with the hammerless s&w j-frame. the ability to be ready to shoot and not expose the piece is paramount. not possible with a autoloader. that hi-cap mag means one shot if the gun has to be used while it is the purse or coat pocket.