handgun for my wife's 21st b-day

[BIGINNER]

ok, i want to get a handgin for my wife for her 21st b-day.  what caliber should i go with? 
i think anything above a 40sw will be too much for her to handle, but i wouldn't feel fonfortable with her depending on a .380 to protect her,   i want to get her something very compact, semi-auto, (no revolvers)

hows the stopping power on a .380? am i being too picky? is a .380 good enough?  i was mostly thinking a 9mm, but   

i don't have much money, my wife's not working right now, cuz its summer break, (school job) and she's not on salary so she has no income through the summer,   but i will be taking on a weekend job with a budy of mine to get the money for her gun,  her b-day is in the end of aug.

so what sugjustions do you guys.gals have? what gun? cal?

thanks

[dad98684]

I bought my wife a Taurus judge , public defender with pink grips for our anniversary. She is very comfortable with it, and enjoys shooting it. just short of $400

[addicted]

if funds are really limited then you'll probably have to see what falls into your lap with the right price tag on it, probably used from a pawn shop or small gun store.

9mm will protect her good while not beeing too expensive to shoot a lot and there should be plenty of different pistol options.

Gotta see what she likes the feel of in her hand is the biggest thing.

and for the suggestion..... walther p99 9mm. double action, hammer, decocker. super safe and small enough fram for a woman's hand comfortably.

[HighCountryHunter88]

walther 380

[JimmyHoffa]

I would think a .380 would be fine in most cases, if it's for people and not animals.  People just need to be hit by something and most will panic and break off an attack.  I would, however, recommend something larger.  Just in case the attacker is on meth or PCP, you might need something more like a .45 ACP.  Also, I've heard from LE that if you do have to shoot someone, it is better to kill them than to wound them.  If they are still alive and disabled, they can sue you...but if the death is justified, the family won't likely have much success in a wrongful death suit.

[BIGINNER]

I would think a .380 would be fine in most cases, if it's for people and not animals.  People just need to be hit by something and most will panic and break off an attack.  I would, however, recommend something larger.  Just in case the attacker is on meth or PCP, you might need something more like a .45 ACP.  Also, I've heard from LE that if you do have to shoot someone, it is better to kill them than to wound them.  If they are still alive and disabled, they can sue you...but if the death is justified, the family won't likely have much success in a wrongful death suit.

YA, THIS WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE,  WE HAVE BIGGER GUNS FOR ANIMALS,  AS FOR SHOOT TO KILL,.. MY WIFE IS VERY AWARE OF THAT RULE,  WE KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAD LOTS OF TROUBLE AFTER NOT "KILLING" SOMONE IN SELF DEFENSE.    I JUST WANT TO HAVE THE PEICE OF MIND THAT MY WIFE WILL HAVE A GUN WITH HER WHEN I'M NOT AROUND AND SHE GETS INTO A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.

[addicted]

her being more comfortable shooting/handling the weapon is more importand than having lots of pop.  she can have all the power in the world in the palm of her hand and it wont matter if it comes down to it and she flinches away her chance to protect herself.   Smaller ammo is cheaper too so she can practice more making her more proficient.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/55/products_id/57836

[jackelope]

 Are you sure you want to start her with an auto gun?
Does she have any experience?
Charter Arms .38 special Pink Lady
 

[bearhunter99]

It depends on what she is planning on using it for.  If she is going to carry often or if it is more for the home and to shoot.  For carrying it is a little more difficult, the best concealable handguns are also very narrow framed which can produce a little more "bite" into the palm of her hand.  My wife was not comfortable with the narrow framed pistols and it caused her to "flinch" a little, which is not a good thing for when she actually would need to use it.  I bought her an XD40 subcompact, which is a little wider but still fairly concealable and she absolutely loves it.  The best bet would be to take her to a gun range that has loaners and have her try a few different ones and see which ones "fit" her.  It doesn't matter too much after that.  If she is very comfortable with a .380 or a 9m and can put em where they need to be that should be all that matters.  Better to place smaller bullets center mag than to have bigger bullets dusting everything around the target.

[addicted]

 

[Buckmark]

her being more comfortable shooting/handling the weapon is more importand than having lots of pop.  she can have all the power in the world in the palm of her hand and it wont matter if it comes down to it and she flinches away her chance to protect herself.   Smaller ammo is cheaper too so she can practice more making her more proficient.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/55/products_id/57836

 
Take her to a range that has mulitple guns that she can shoot and get a feel for what she likes, LadyBuckmark has multiple handguns and opinions on all of them vary, she has a .38 smith & wesson ladysmith (revolver), .380 ruger LCP, Walther P22, Colt trooper in .357, had a star arms .40, has shot a kimber .45 and Browning 9mm just to name a few, I will get here to chime in with her opinions from a ladies perspective. But as stated your wife needs to be comfortable shooting whatever it is or she wont use it...
ps: if it is only for in home protection get her a defence style shotgun....also....

[Klyne3]

I have the Ruger LCP 380 which I like to carry it's small, lightweight, fits my hand well and has the crimson trace. I saw one the other day for $299 with out the crimson trace, of course I also saw a pink 38 that I will be getting next  .

[BIGINNER]

her being more comfortable shooting/handling the weapon is more importand than having lots of pop.  she can have all the power in the world in the palm of her hand and it wont matter if it comes down to it and she flinches away her chance to protect herself.   Smaller ammo is cheaper too so she can practice more making her more proficient.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/55/products_id/57836

 
Take her to a range that has mulitple guns that she can shoot and get a feel for what she likes, LadyBuckmark has multiple handguns and opinions on all of them vary, she has a .38 smith & wesson ladysmith (revolver), .380 ruger LCP, Walther P22, Colt trooper in .357, had a star arms .40, has shot a kimber .45 and Browning 9mm just to name a few, I will get here to chime in with her opinions from a ladies perspective. But as stated your wife needs to be comfortable shooting whatever it is or she wont use it...
ps: if it is only for in home protection get her a defence style shotgun....also....

SOUNDS LIKE WE THINK ALIKE    I JUST GOT HER A DEFENSE SHOTGUN FOR HOME LAST WEEK. 

AS FOR CARYING,... NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO CARRY THE GUN AROUND ALOT,  JUST WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS,  (SHE WORKS AT A SCHOOL).  SO WE'LL HAVE A BIGGER RANGE OF CHOICES. 
I THINK I'LL TAKE HER OUT TO SOME RANGE FOR HER TO TRY SOME GUNS OUT.

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF "HOLE IN THE WALL" IN KENNEWICK LETS YOU TRY OUT THEIR GUN IN THE RANGE INSIDE THE STORE?

[BIGINNER]

any one have experience with the kel tec PF-9?  they're  cheap,  and my wife says it feels really good in her hand, 

its a little small for my hand,  but its for her, so its fine.      i could get an extended mag so it can fit my hand if i want to shoot it,   

[addicted]

did she get to shoot it? something that light mite jump around in her hand a bit too much?

It gets mixed reviews online.