Best all around home self Defense options for the lady's

[Fl0und3rz]

Cheaper ones from Brazil, sample of one, would fail to open and close smoothly, to the point of requiring excessive force to close.  The finish is very poor (or cost appropriate).

And, by reports, they do slick up well enough, with competent attention and work to smooth the action, lighten the hammer springs (internal), and polish the chambers for easy extraction.  But the lightening of the hammer springs risks light primer strikes.

Minishells out of it was a hoot, though.

[wadu1]

Also love the idea of the coach shotgun.   Round count is an issue but very effective.

 

If I went that route, it would be a more expensive one, and it would be relentlessly tested and/or tuned up by a smith.  The cheaper ones from Brazil are not necessarily something I would hand to someone for SD/HD.

With ejectors rather than extractors.

About a simple a gun as you can find....not sure why the cheaper ones wouldn't work.  Have you ever had one fail to fire?  My stoeger coach gun shoots awesome and is a heck of lot of fun.  My 10 year handles it fine and loves to shoot it with target loads.  They can be a little heavy though.....even with the short barrels.

Nothing wrong with a Stoeger, I've go close to 1,500K down the tubes without one failure to fire. That includes 2 3/4 target, 3" heavy hunting loads and 00 Buck.

[Windwalker]

Not sure how to post a gif- here is a link for something cool though.

https://68.media.tumblr.com/6f5048c5d41be8dcbac79c2d8dabad09/tumblr_oku511YQdT1w4xyu5o1_400.gif

[danderson]

She has decided on a AR-15, .223 caliber, now we just need to figure out what makes sense for her. she's petite 

[Fl0und3rz]

Carbon/plastic are super lightweight. I am building a pencil barrel off forged receivers.  With Daniel Defense sights and milspec collapsible stock, it should be a pretty handy HD carbine.

Check the what would Stoner do project for lightweight carbine ideas.

 

[SGTDuffman]

She has decided on a AR-15, .223 caliber, now we just need to figure out what makes sense for her. she's petite

Build her a “pistol”. BCM has lightweight fluted barrels in 11.5”. You could make something very light and handy.

[stlusn30-06]

She has decided on a AR-15, .223 caliber, now we just need to figure out what makes sense for her. she's petite

Tell her to watch what is on the other side of the walls behind the target. I know people love ARs and .223 for home defense, but a .223 defense round will rip through a couple layers of drywall no problem. It can be a sketchy round for a house full of people.

[Fl0und3rz]

I believe he said he was rural.

As to ARs in 5.56/.223, I have a polymer/carbon collapsible stock carbine that is unbelievably light.  It has a pencil barrel, and that helps keep the weight WAY down.  It is so handy that I am building a pencil barrel AR with aluminum receivers for my everyday AR.  Another thing I noticed that a standard milspec buffer tube and collapsible stock is much lighter than some of the aftermarket options like a VLTOR tube and IMOD.

Check out the What Would Stoner Do series from InRange TV for some ideas.

Conclusion:

[Hillbilly Zen]

Here’s possibly an outlying opinion: don’t buy her anything.  Find out what she likes, or at least is willing to put a few hundred/thousand rounds through and become proficient with.  After that, if she is committed to the idea of killing a human with it in self defense, she should buy and manage her own firearm.  If it’s a 10/22, it’s marginal but maybe what she can shoot a gnats ass off with in the dark and scared.  If it’s a 20 gauge pump, excellent.  If it’s a tricked out AK with double stacked mags and a folding stock, even better.  But none of it makes a difference unless she chooses to become proficient and take responsibility for her own protection.    Two cents.  Best of luck!

[danderson]

We are as rural as you can get, gated driveway in the middle of 500 Acers of timber, closest neighbor is 1/2 mile away, going to head up to Stans merry mart to see what’s available 

[Alchase]

First time I took my wife shooting my ARs, she had a hard time with iron sights.
I handed her my m&p15 with a red dot and told her to put the dot where you want the bullet to go.
She was surprisingly consistent from 25 and 50 yards.
Definitely good enough for defense at home.
She also shot my Steiner P4xi 1-4 variable very well.
But she likes the red dot a lot, though she tends to giggle a bit when she shoots, LOL

[Jingles]

Have not seen anyone mention an AR platformed 410

[KFhunter]

AR9 pistol like this one, with the suppressor housed inside the handguard



It needs a weapon light w/ laser

[Igottanewknee]

We are a nation of Riflemen, not tasermen or shotgun men or pistol men.  Get an AR for her.

 

I feel just a little bit more manly owning an AR and reading that...