Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Handguns for Recoil Sensitive Women?

What's the general consensus on handgun choices for small stature women who are also recoil sensitive with low hand strength?

A friend of mine is having a hard time finding something that works for her. She started out with a S&W EZ .380, but even with that she had trouble working the slide and handling the recoil. Then someone talked her into a Keltec PMR .22 magnum. I think she handled shooting it okay but it's not a reliable gun and you shouldn't trust your life to it. Plus it's too large for practical concealed carry.

I also think the manual of arms for autoloaders might be a little too complicated for her. I'm sure that could be remedied with lots of practice but I think for her the simpler the better. That has me leaning towards revolvers.

I'm thinking Ruger LCRX .327fed. She can practice with .32acp and load .32H&R for carry. Getting a matching .22LR or .22magnum revolver wouldn't be out of the question for even cheaper and easier practice. What else should I be looking at?

Anything small and light will have a bigger recoil impulse than a heavier, bigger gun. A 4" K frame or L frame loaded with select loads is fairly easy to master. Maybe a bit hard to conceal.

Someone in good health can aquire strength and skill much easier than someone with health issues.

327 Federal might not be so good for anyone struggling with recoil or muzzle blast.

Might seem odd, but I think a gun that a person likes, regardless of the reason for liking it, may induce greater effort at familiarity.

The recoil is too much with the S&W E-Z .380? I'm thinking it's not really recoil that's bothering her. The recoil on that pistol is VERY tame. That said, it has a pretty sharp bark to it. I gave my wife one of those earlier this month. She's not a "shooter" and was a little intimidated. After she shot it the first thing that out of her mouth was "That's loud." I would double up the hearing protection (foam plugs&muffs) and see if that helps. If it doesn't help maybe working up to it is the answer. Start her out with a .22LR and let her get comfortable with it, then move up to the .380 . If it really is recoil you could add a little weight with a weapon light.

Just suggestions.

I've taken a lot of first time women shooters over the years.

I start them off with my SP101 in .22LR. Then we shoot the .22 semi-auto (either Ruger 22/45 or lately the Taurus TX22 Competition with a dot).

After they have shot a bunch with the .22LR and don't have the flinches, I usually go to a GP100 4" with light 38 special loads.

Next we go to a S&W Shield or Walther PPS M2 for the semi-auto side of things. If they like the grip, S&W compact 2.0 is on the agenda.

I have the best luck when we have time to go over the grip before we go to the range. Starting them this way has very rarely resulted in someone not instantly wanting a GP100. I'll also bring my Kahr .380, but most think that it recoils as much or more than a 9mm.

That S&W E-Z .380 is about the same size as Sig P365XL. It's not a micro pistol.

I am a fan of the 32s. But the recoil of 32 H&R in a LCR is no joke either. Might consider a sp101 in 38 with 38 wadcutters. Recoil is next to nothing. Or you could try a metal frame smith. You get extra weight, but it helps with recoil. You can go up to hotter ammo if need be.

Smith 63 22lr

Check out a Beretta .380 with pop up barrel. Don’t have to rack those and they don’t kick much at all.

DF

I have one, and that is the first thought that crossed my mind at your question. With light 85 gr loads it is a kitten. But with 120s loaded to max Fed mag velocity, it is anything but. It stings my big old meathooks.

Another option might be the SP101 in 327 Fed. It also is a six shot DA revolver, but is a little bit beefier and attenuates recoil a bit better. My SP 101 is the four inch, so it does not fit in a pocket like the LCR. But it is a joy to shoot even with maximum loads.

A 2 inch SP 101 might serve the aforementioned lady very well.

4" Smith & Wesson Model 30. 90 grain wadcutters over 2.5 grains of Bullseye.

32 S&W Long can be a good choice. Luckygunner.com has done some good testing with this caliber. Very interesting.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/pocket-pistol-caliber-gel-test-results/#32Long

Serious reply, but if she is really that recoil sensitive maybe pepper spray?

The answer is pretty simple.

The .38 Short Colt.







The .38 Short colt is essentially the grandfather to the .38 Special and chambers in any .38 or .357 Magnum revolver. It is essentially a .38 Special, cut to 9mm length. The commercial version I load are loaded with a 125 grain polymer projectile and are low recoil loads. As an added bonus, due to their short length they eject super easy out of revolver with short ejector rods like the typical J frame.

They are quite popular with J Frame/Chiefs Special shooters who like to shoot those style guns but don't like the recoil normally associated with shooting them. In a medium frame revolver there is hardly any more recoil than a rimfire load.

Here is a pic of .38 Specials compared to .38 Short Colts:





Here is a link to the Short Colts on the web store if you want some:

https://www.lostriverammocompany.com/product/38-Short-Colt-125-Grn-Poly-Coat-TC-Flat-Point-100-RND

I made a bunch about a week ago, and most have already sold.

Can you trader her in for a different one? My girlfriend (at the time) shot my 10mm without a hitch. Too many tender handed women these days

Not a bad choice.. My wife uses a Ruger SP101 in .32H&R.. No slide to rack, and the recoil is easy on her arthritic hands.. That....

You’ve a few very good options listed! I’m certain that these folks can give some additional advice/suggestions other than…..it appears that a revolver is the only real option. memtb

The Model 30s are made from "modern" steel and the industry standard pressure of the .32 long is a paltry 15,000 psi. Any factory ammo you buy for them is going to be abysmally weak due to the preponderance of ancient break top .32 long revolvers out there made "back in the day". Basically, it's Lawyer ammo.

I've owned a couple of old Smith & Wesson I frame .32 long revolvers from the 20s and I have a Colt Police Positive from 1920. I shoot them with Hornady 90 grain swaged hollow base wadcutters over 2 grains of Bullseye in deference to their age. But I wouldn't be concerned about twisting the ear of a modern Smith & Wesson Model 30. The .32 H&R Magnum (not really a Magnum at all) has an industry standard pressure of 21,000 psi. To put that in perspective, the old .380 ACP has an industry standard rating of 21,500 psi and nobody considers a .380 to be a magnum.

My opinion, a 4" Smith & Wesson model 30 in .32 long could push a 100 grain Hornady XTP at 1000,..even 1100 fps all day long without suffering any ill effects once you've found a propellant slow enough to produce that velocity at reasonable pressure and still burn clean and consistent at that velocity. (AA #5?)

Granted, a 100 grain .312 diameter bullet at 1100 fps isn't a big bear killer. But 1100 fps *should* open up an XTP and give anyone who catches one a very bad day.

Bottom line,..I have no doubt that a Smith & Wesson Model 30 made from premium steel and properly heat treated will have no problem handling as much pressure as a plastic Kel Tec .380.

I like your choice of a Ruger LCRX with 32H&R loads.

I really like my S&W 432PD in 32H&R and 6 shots is nice.

A 38 with some loads from Mackay would be dandy too.

Good luck with the search, Let us know what she settles on.

The OP didn't state the intended use for a handgun? Plinking/target practice or Personal Protection/CCW?

If the intended use is for personal protection/CCW I wouldn't recommend anything less than a 380 ACP. If she can't handle the recoil of a 380 she might be SOL. Try pepper spray, a taser or buy a trained guard dog.

S&W EZ in .380 or 9mm. Fits right in a shoulder purse and its always there.