I bought my 21 year old daughter a Smith & Wesson M&P Compact in 45 ACP. She shoots it plenty good enough to protect herself and end any issue that requires it. I didn't want to go smaller in caliber as I believe a 45 to be a superior fight stopper than a smaller bore, and don't believe the recoil is more difficult to handle than a smaller caliber, most of which have more muzzle flip. At 10-12 yards she was hitting a paper plate sized group but thought it needed sighted in better. I took it and put 5 in a quarter sized hole dead center, handed it back and told her it just needed more shooting, by her. I worked up loads for it and knew how the gun shot. A friend of her and her husband, liked it enough to buy one of his own. I think it would be a goodcarry gun for you or anyone.
