Advice please!

[cackle]

I have an M&P .40 also but never had a problem with it not fireing

[cohoho]

In my opinon a conceled weapon = a small weapon! I highly recommend the S&W 642 in .38. Very concealable and easy to shoot. I can put mine in my pants pocket.

Reason I bought one also, it's all about concealment.....  A carry gun that you can actually carry......  Rounded edges no hammer and nothing to get caught up on.... Add the upgrade and get the laser grips, great shooting little gun...  If not for concealment, then get a Kimber, nothing else will compare. 

[jeff100]

I'm a big CZ fan, IMO they're one of the best values in handguns today.  The CZ 75 Compact in 9mm is a very compact yet high capacity firearm, very concealable.  The CZ75 Compact in .40 cal is what I carry but it's larger than the 9mm because of the pressure of the larger caliber.  Both guns are all steel.  CZ's are both SA/DA and one of the few DA guns that can be carried cocked and locked.  My other carry gun is a Taurus snubby in .357 magnum.  Taurus is also a excellent value in handguns and quality is first rate.  The Taurus mod 817 is a 7 round snubby .38 +P revolver.  Taurus also has a lifetime warranty on their firearms.  Bersa is another great value in handguns and their Thunder series are a good choice for a small concealed carry gun.  Ruger's new SR9 9mm is awesome IMO.  I've owned (and still own) many Ruger firearms and they are also a great value in a firearm.  The Springfield already mentioned here is one of the best deals in handguns right now, but they're larger handguns and not as concealable as others mentioned.  If you're a big guy, no problem.  If you're a small woman, I guess it goes in the purse.  My advice to you and your wife is to go to a range that rents handguns and shoot a few to see what works for both of you before you spend your money.  The .40 caliber can be a handful in a small gun depending on what load you're shooting and how light a handgun you're shooting it in.  A .38 special or 9mm might be a better choice for your wife without sacrificing anything in lethality...

[rasbo]

I got my wife a ruger sp101,5 shot 357 no thumb bar .wont jam,fits in my pack pocket.its a deed doer.

[RustneckNW]

The plan is to get her a 9mm or .380, since she's very petite, and I'm still eyeing the 40s&w, 'cause I'm, well... much bigger than her! Although I am tempted by the price difference with the 9mm; gotta stretch those $$$... And that round will do the trick still!

[snagglepants]

I read a very interesting article once about stopping power and basically it was proven that 9mm, .40sw & .45acp all have about the same percentage of one-shot stops.  With that in mind, I would probably go 9mm.  .40 is a fine round, but it is very snappy even in a full sized, heavy gun.  If you want something small, I would probably stay away from .40 becuase the recoil will be terrible.  If the recoil is bad, you won't want to shoot it much, and then you won't practice enough with it for carry purposes.   Just a thought...

[boneaddict]

Well if you ever get a chacne to do a side by side comparison.  Take three milk jugs frozen with ice and then shoot each one with those three rounds or calibers.  You be the judge.  THen if you are really bored, take a .357 and do the same. 

[uncoolperson]

springfield 1911, they have a cheaper model that runs about 500

or two charter arms revolvers, small and concealable... and they make a pink one (my wife likes all her pink guns).

[jeff100]

As I've said before, I carry and shoot a .40, love that caliber and shoot it well.  But unless you're going up against bad people wearing body armor, a 9 mm is perfectly adequate.  Unless whacked out on drugs, the human nervous system is very susceptible to hydrostatic shock.  Proper choice of a good expanding bullet is more important than caliber, within reason....and the nine is probably one of the cheapest calibers to shoot making practice cheaper, which means you can afford to practice more.  None of these calibers are worth a damn if you can't hit what you're aiming at.

[7mag.]

It all depends on the individual. I carry everywhere I go and I carry a Kimber full size .45 with a 4 inch barrel. Concealment can be an issue some times, but you just have to think ahead a little. You need to shoot all the weapons you are looking at before you buy. I have been sold on a weapon until I shot it and then I didn't like it at all. Some handguns just don't fit my hand right. There are several places that you can shoot used handguns before you buy.