45acp pistol options for a female

[DRobnsn]

What do your wife's or girlfriends prefer? For the females here what do you prefer in 45acp? 

Not really looking for something super light, but not full size 1911 heavy either.



 

[Becky]

http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p220-equinox.aspx

[wannabhntr]

Glock 30 or Glock 30 slim

[724wd]

those full size heavy 1911's soak up a lot of recoil!     my wife (5'2") had NO problem shooting my full size.

[CAMPMEAT]

Springfield XDS in .45. 6+1. Carry an extra mag is what I do when I'm in my summer garb. Perfect for a women.

[DRobnsn]

those full size heavy 1911's soak up a lot of recoil!     my wife (5'2") had NO problem shooting my full size.

I love my full size 1911 but I've had her pack it around for a bit in her purse and it wasn't long before she was saying its to heavy. I know she'd just end up leaving it at home if its to cumbersome and I want to avoid that. The grip on the 1911 is just a bit to big for her, its doable but not comfortable.

[10thmountainarcher]

Glock 30 was very tame the xds has a little more bite to it. The gen 4 has adopted the "sf" frame. Any reason you're going 45 and not a little lighter caliber?

[CAMPMEAT]

Glock 30 was very tame the xds has a little more bite to it. The gen 4 has adopted the "sf" frame. Any reason you're going 45 and not a little lighter caliber?

I've got the 29sf 10mm and the XDS 45. The Glock is a lot heavier, bigger and wider than the XDS. I would not recommend a Glock for a women, ever. Unless she was a man - women......

[DRobnsn]

Glock 30 was very tame the xds has a little more bite to it. The gen 4 has adopted the "sf" frame. Any reason you're going 45 and not a little lighter caliber?

I'm not dead set on 45cal for her but it would be very nice to keep our ammo sizes the same just for the ease of reloading and storage plus I already have a surplus of 45. I also really like the round for stopping power.

She isn't really bothered by that level of recoil. The first time we went out to practice she was shooting my S&W 357mag snub nose quite accurately.  After quite a few rounds she said it kind of hurt the palm of her hand a little but that was about it.

[10thmountainarcher]

Glock 30 was very tame the xds has a little more bite to it. The gen 4 has adopted the "sf" frame. Any reason you're going 45 and not a little lighter caliber?

I've got the 29sf 10mm and the XDS 45. The Glock is a lot heavier, bigger and wider than the XDS. I would not recommend a Glock for a women, ever. Unless she was a man - women......

My sister shot the glock better than the xds and she's 5'1" tops.. I've got small hands and became a sniper with that gun. I went to the 26 though. It's way smaller and I shoot it even better lol.

[iusmc2002]

My wife has a Taurus PT145 that she carries.  It has a short barrel, and snaps her wrist pretty bad with the 230gr ammo that is most prevalent in stores.  Once I started reloading .45, I loaded it with 185gr XTP's and its made a HUGE difference in how well the shoots it and how many rounds she can fire at one time.

We're looking for something smaller, she doesn't like my Xdm, but loves my Hi-Power.  Its just heavier than she wants to carry in her purse

[runamuk]

I have long fingers and bad wrists.  there was one 45 that I could shoot 2 or 3 rounds out of I think it was an XD tactical not the short body one.  I shot a custom one with custom grips hurt way too much to put more than one down range.  Tried 2 others one was a glock I think it was awful felt like holding a pack of cigarettes way to boxy.

I loved how my sig fit my hand it was however the 9mm model so I could shoot more than couple rounds

you might want to get her to a range to try a few and see which fits.

[Mongo Hunter]

What do your wife's or girlfriends prefer? For the females here what do you prefer in 45acp? 

Not really looking for something super light, but not full size 1911 heavy either.

If she wants it for carry I would say the baby Glock or S&W M&P compacts are a good option if you want to stay with .45.

Another option would be another caliber. 9mm is cheap and plentiful. S&W shield's or Glock 26's are awesome. also would be one of the small J frame revolvers in .38spl. Both these rounds you can find in hot or low recoil loads so she can practice and use what is comfortable to her.

[Windwalker]

As hard as it is - Kathy Jackson  wrote a good article that might help..

Buying a Gun for your Wife  http://www.corneredcat.com/article/for-the-men/buying-a-gun-for-your-wife/

And yes my wife pointed these articles out a few years ago after she attended one of her classes.

I witnessed the beginning of a long cold night for one guy that ambled up to the counter declaring he wanted the very same thing (a 45) for the very same reason..so I can load just one caliber...man was she pissed -

Kinda went like this..the normal light talk, yea we just came from the range..I am looking for a 45 for my wife..She looks on with half interest - chimes in innocent enough, "that one hurts my hand when I shoot it". (I can see his brain just clicked to the O-F-F position..) He ignores her with that glazed googly eyed gun drool look and asks to see the one right there..she takes it and - "its the same as the other one that hurts".."yea honey but I think we should get the same caliber so when I reload" he says.... que the red faced look on the wife. "I SAID THAT ONE HURTS WHEN I SHOOT IT!"
He is oblivious..she just spoke something from Venus.. ( an ear piercing alarm goes off in my head )
I thought she was going to knock him out..in my minds eye she inflated 3 times her size, fire and steam shot out and was set to explode ..then instead she spun and stormed off...

There should be a 'WARNING' sign at gun counters.. A male buying a gun to fit a female is a recipe for a cold night on the couch. 

BTW- My wife enjoys & shoots all the guns we have very well- including the 45's.

HOWEVER..and more importantly..
Her go-to favorite for carry is her M & P Shield 9mm, followed by the Glock 42 & Sig P232 stainless with Hogue grips.
Carry's them in Raven and custom leather holsters -

A small gun on your person is better than a big gun in the safe.
Choose the gun that suits you best.

[tbotts]

take a look at Kahr.  The p45 or the tp45 model.  Or if they are too light for her, the k series are steel frame.

[mountainman]

Recommend the M&P Sheild in 9mm

[jennyfell55]

I love my HK USP Compact

[Rich_S]

IMHO, the Detonics Combat Master, shooting 185 grain hollow points, has the gentlest recoil of any compact .45 that I have ever shot. Price is competitive,  style is timeless and parts are plentiful. Mine has been my carry piece since 1985.

The secret is the triple-wound captive recoil spring. Even a ham-handed klutz like me can field strip it in 30 seconds without tools. Besides, a lot of them were made locally. A lot of folks are surprised when I point out the "Made in Seattle" roll stamp.

[Dan-o]

Not trying to pick any kind of argument, but I'd be really sure she wasn't better off with a 9MM rather than being stuck on 45. 

Something she enjoys and orks for her will be much better......    ammo commonality aside.

Just my 

Best of luck!

[mountainman]

If she is set on .45, the XDS is hard to beat for a small, lightweight carry...but I agree, 9mm may serve her better. Then the S&W M&P 9mm is hard to beat!

[Ridgeratt]

there is always a Springfield EMP if you can find one.

[Rich_S]

If recoil is a consideration, caliber is not. What I mean by that is a 9mm may have more felt recoil than a .45. My 9mm Detonics kicks like an effin mule. I'm not sure whether the shooter or the target is worse off at the end of the day. Compared to that, the Combat Master is a *censored*cat. Same weight, same size.

To generalize is to err.