handgun for my wife's 21st b-day

[Button Nubbs]

ruger lc9. my buddy has one and i like it. its small and not that bad to shoot. it will be my next concealed gun.

[Bean Counter]

Whatever you decide, Kudos to you.

Do you know what she likes to shoot? I bought my wife a gun too small for her 21st birthday and wound up buying her a heavier gun several years later. A few more trips to the range ultimately would have saved money. It does kind of ruin the suprise though I guess.

A .380 that she is willing to carry is better than a .45ACP that she leaves in the safe. My wife likes her revolver and has become decently fast at reloading with a Bianchi speed strip. I once heard that the average self defense shooting is only 1.2 shots and many times the presentation of a firearm will deter dirtbags.

Let us know what you choose.

[satchel3006]

hole in the wall does have some guns to rent. Has she shot a handgun at all? If not you may want to start with a .22

[BIGINNER]

YA, SHE HAS SHOT HANDGUNS,  I WENT TO HOLE IN THE WALL, BUT THE GUNS THEY LEY YOU SHOOT AREN'T REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR,   SHE HAS SHOT 9MM, (FULL SIZE ONES)  AND SHE HAS SHOT .38 SPL. AND .357 MAG.  SHE HANDLE THEM ALL PRETTY WELL, (FLINCHES A LITTLE ON THE .357)

BUT SHE HAS NEVER SHOT A COMPACT 9MM.   

BUT AGAIN,  LIKE I SAID EARLIER,  WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO BIGGER 9MM AS WELL, BECAUSE SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO CARRY A GUN AROUND AS MUCH SINCE SHE WORK AT A SCHOOL.

[FC]

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

It gets mixed reviews online.

Make sure she shoots any kel-tec handgun you are looking at before buying! Even the P3AT in .380 is pretty damn snappy, a lot of men don't like to shoot pocket sized .38 specials or .380's. Pocket .38's often have a lot more recoil than most women or beginner shooters want to deal with too. The difference between a full size gun and a tiny sub-compact or pocket gun in the same caliber is like night and day. .357 and .44 mag don't bother me a bit in full size guns but this little .38 I have and my kel-tec both sting.

[whitey]

Saiga 12..

Full Auto Saiga-12 (Alliance Armament)

But really the Lil lady packs the Kel-Tec 380..That thing when it fires almost wants to jump out of Your hands..
I love My Springfield XD 40 sub-compact. It is easy to carry and shoots great.
Jane even loves to shoot this firearm and shoots it well.

 

[BallisticsNut]

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....

 

Get her to the range, find a gun that "fits" her hand and she is comfortable with.   All the good intentions in the world wont do you any good if she isnt 100% comfortable using this thing when she needs to.  Let her decide!