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.

How about the .30 super carry. EZ slide and low recoil.

A steel frame .357 loaded with light .38 Spcl loads. (Think: S&W 66, Ruger GP100 or SP101, etc.) The weight of the gun helps negate recoil, and lightly loaded .38 Specials don't produce much recoil to begin with. My mom started shooting in her 70's and had zero hand strength. An automatic of any flavor was not an option for her. My daughters at the time were small and not into recoil. I let them shoot .22's until they said they wanted something bigger. The kids each decided on SP101's. Mom opted for a 3" GP 100. Nobody ever griped about recoil.

Here's my mom and my eldest probably 10-12 years ago:

Like I said earlier: they ALL love the GP100.

😁

Heavy gun and light recoil.

Push over punch.

If you can get her on a 22, a light loaded 45 might get her used to recoil.
A gentle buck isn't painful or intimidating, after awhile it's fun.
Maybe then she won't fear the sharper recoil of carry guns.


My wife despises the G19, but loves a Government Model gun shooting hardball.
And enjoys Ruger S/A 45 Colts. In levels up toward the top of SAA loads.


45s are her favorite, but she has never shot any little light ones.

Another woman? One that ain't afraid of guns?

5 minute crash course for my then girlfriend.
Some cast 38s in my Python shooting at a snowball.
She didn't want to, but did. Emptied it, ask if I had more ammo.

Married 27 years!😁

Your friend is not exactly unarmed packing a .22 revolver. Bad guys don’t want to get shot. They are looking for a victim, not a fight. Avoid the little dinky ones and get a mid sized gun. Have her get comfortable and confident with it. Eventually, she’ll be able to upsize it. In the meantime she’ll be no one to trifle with!

Edited to add: I’ve owned a Smith M&P Compact .22LR. It wasn’t a target gun but was very reliable and fun to shoot. I don’t think no booger man would want to go up against it.

I started my wife with my Ruger 22lr 22/45. She liked it but said it was not powerful enough. Next she tried my Glock 43, She liked the size but it was too snappy for her. A full size Glock 22 was a failure for her also, to snappy/powerful. I then converted one of my Glock 22 from 40 cal to 9 mm. She likes it as it is big enough that she can control it and it has a big magazine capacity. Load it monday and shoot til sunday. She shoots that pistol well and will take care of business when she needs to do so. I added a stream light weapon light which she really though was helpful. That is what worked for me. I did not have 380 pistol to let her try and we did not bother with the 38 S&W 649. Due to recoil and lack of capacity.

A steel frame 38 or 327 would be my choice.

You could load as wild or mild as you want then. I'd probably lean towards a 38 and shoot either Mackays 38 shorts or 38 target wadcutters.

It's been my experience that women who aren't really "gun people" prefer a revolver by a wide margin

A lot of wives won't take self defense seriously because their husbands are around, and they feel secure with him. They are too lazy and unmotivated to master a firearm. Don't even bother trying to find "the perfect gun" in that case.

My wife actually will ask me to take her to the range to practice. Seldom do I have to bring it up. She enjoys shooting and wants to keep her skills up.

Maybe a little bigger 9mm? My wife has gone through a glock 42, lcp, g19.

Her probably favorite to shoot is our m&p compact 22lr. If anything, that would be a great gun just for her to shoot, possibly even carry.

Once my wife shot my full size m&p 2.0 9mm, she had to have it. She carries it in her purse.

If you are contemplating a 22lr, I would look at the m&p compact.

The larger 9mm was the answer for my wife. She is not carrying the gun concealed but wanted it for the defense when i worked 4-12 shift for 8 years. She has kept up with her training and has confidence with that platform. Bad guys should beware.

I just went thru this with my wife. She has had access for years but little interest. Stated she wanted a revolver because despite the 25 years of instruction “she doesn’t get semiautos”.

We went shopping and despite my recs she went with a Ruger LCR in 38. After shooting it she doesn’t like it. I went and bought a LCR in 22lr which will be here in a couple of days. Better that gun than no gun…

FWIW, in my very limited experience 1) a grip that feels comfortable and 2) a reasonable trigger pull will often mitigate or erase female misgivings about recoil and noise. There’s nothing like a 13 lb. double action trigger pull to put off someone with limited hand strength. And recoil always feels more formidable if a grip just doesn’t fit a smaller hand.

Lots of good options in 38 special, 32H&R, 327, etc…. I have a CZ 83 in 380 acp that is a real hoot and very little recoil. It’s bigger than most would want a 380 to be, but the recoil is negligible. Price is right too.

Beretta 84 in 380 is not a bad choice. Semi auto Rugers in 22 LR. Smith and wesson in 38 smith and Wesson.

Hd the same issue with my wife. Got her a Ruger LCR in .327 and she didn’t like 32 H&R in it. I traded it for a Ruger Bearcat for her. She loves that one, but not great for self defense.

That’s what I was gonna suggest.

Hosted a CCW training class at my house. All three of the lady students loved my SP101 327. They shot it very well loaded with 32 H&R.

I'd rather shoot my 1911s all day long rather than a short light pistol/revolver. Too loud, to snappy. Recoil is very tolerable to me with the weight of the 1911 frame, so it my go to gun. If she is having issues racking a slide, I'd recommend a heavy framed 38/357 revolver. The ruger sp101 with houge grips is awesome.

1.Ruger sp101
2. Kimber k6 dasa
3. Colt king cobra

These 3 off the top of my head all come in 4" barrel target models.

Just a small womens point of view. Good luck.

I gave my wife a Mod. 60 from the Performance Center. There is no end to .38 Special loads for short barreled revolvers.

Went round on this with wife before I decided to get her a Walther PK380. She LOVES it and shoots it very well. Dad's arthritis made it hard to rack any slide so I had him try the PK. He racked a round and assumed he short stroked the slide and was amazed that wasn't the case. Said it was easier to rack than any 22 and shooting didn't hurt his wrist. Showed a friend- now his wife has same pistol. I let my nine year sold grandson shoot it. No issues.
To me, polymer is your friend with small pistols and dealing with recoil. That and good ergo's which Walther is famous for having.

Mackay
Those rounds look like they’d be a lot of fun!

Yep,

They are. They don't hang up the cylinders either, which makes them rather popular for knowledgeable revolver shooters in certain comps doing speed reloads. The short length causes them eject far easier.

the double action trigger pull of a rimfire revolver isn’t fun. i would look to a ruger sr22, or similarly decent, compact, reliable 22lr semiauto pistol, and put many 100s of cci 1200+ fps practice rounds through it. comfort, confidence and accuracy will win a caliber war.

if looking for reduced recoil 38sp ammo these guys are great. free shipping for military veterans.

https://cavalryammunition.com/products/38-special?variant=42301576085749