Ccw for my 56yo mom.

Hey,

My mom is set to attend a chl course next weekend, rather reluctantly due to her minimal experience with handguns but yet she entertains the idea of being prepared for potential outcomes. Need handgun advice, would rather go with an auto for her chl class so she isn't limited to revolver later.

What would be good choices for size, shoot ability, and min 9mm.

Thanks!

There's a lot more important choices to make before deciding on a pistol.

If she's hesitant, buy her a book called The Cornered Cat. After reading that and taking her CPL/CCW course, you should talk to her about important things to consider regarding carrying a firearm. I shake my head at all the various posts about "when would you draw your weapon" or other such things that should have been thought about and decisions made well prior to carrying.

As for pistol choice, you should talk to her about various considerations about functions and designs of pistols. Does she want a manual safety? Where is she carrying this firearm? Does size does she want? What trigger system? Single stack or double? Mag release style? All metal or polymer framed? Deciding on things like this will narrow down the field. Then she should handle the possible options. That may narrow down the field more. Whatever is left, she should actually rent/borrow and fire.

For any newbie, I'd put a Glock, SIG Pro or an M&P in front of them first unless there was specific things they wanted that ruled those out. They're pretty straight forward to handle. If they prefer a paddle mag release, you're switching to Walthers or HKs. All metal you're going SIG (or CZ, but I don't like some of the CZs short slides...hard to grab for chambering/malfs). External safeties change the choices too.

I wouldn't go rushing out to get a gun for her that she's never fired,just to take a class. Will the class provide a gun for those that don't own one yet? Could you let her use one of your guns until she finds one that she likes?

If possible, it would be better to rent first to see what she's comfortable with. I've taken quite a few women shooting that liked the feel of a gun, but hated it after they fired the first shot or two. This is the same scenario for men or women though. They buy a gun, shoot it a little and weather they like it or not, it's the ease of carry that seems to rule over all.

If she has limited handgun experience, a .38spl revolver wouldn't be a bad first choice as long as it's not a lightweight snub........more like a Lady Smith. The last thing I would want to do is buy a gun or suggest a gun for someone that has limited experience and will not shoot it until after it's paid for. Cheaper in the long run to borrow or rent.

Your question could assume that a 56 year old mom would fit into a certain gun stereotype and that's a mistake.

A childhood friend of mine recently reached out for some advice. She's a 46 year old married mom. Husband served a few years in Marine Corp. as a tanker. She declared her house a gun-free zone shortly after her first born so the 9mm Taurus had to go along with a few .22 pistols.

This would be the extent of semi-auto pistol experience between her and husband. She is a school teacher, husband is a fireman.

We hadn't visited since high school and live some 800 miles apart. So it was kind of an accident she was able to look me up to ask about guns or even know my recent history. The need was brought up in an email stating her friend had gotten carry permit and now she wanted one.

Her girl friend's husband is a highway state patrolman and gave some advice to my friend which she later followed up to see what I thought. Patrolman's thoughts mirrored mine. Revolvers are not a good option for several reasons. 5 to 6 shot capacity and digging in a purse for strips or clips is a problem. Hi-cap 9mm was a better choice. Patrolman of course recommends what he and his wife carry, Glocks.

I didn't want to see her narrowed to a window like that so I made recommendations ranging from Kahr, M&P and Glock. Her budget was under $500.00 so this made Kahr CM9 the obvious choice. M&P, I thought M&P 9C would be good. In Glock I suggested either G26 or G19.

The fella at range was pushing Springfields. I like the XD line up but Glock has lower bore axis and polymer wrapped magazines absorb recoil. The only micro-gun under $500.00 I trust is CM9. No way would I recommend Kel-Tec, Ruger or anything .380acp for primary carry.

The big day came when she called and said her and husband were going to range to rent pistols to try. I asked which range and called ahead for availability, then called her back and said you want to this, this and this. She responded with husband wanted to se this, that and another. To which I responded are you buying a gun for you or him ?

Well for me she stated. Good then buy what you like. You don't walk around in men's underwear and he doesn't walk around in women's underwear does he ?

No, she replies.

Carry guns are no different than underwear, if your not comfortable wearing it, you won't carry it. You need a gun for you and a gun for him. She agreed.


Make recommendations and let the final decision be your mom's without arm twisting is my recommendation.




My friend's choice was a G26 with finger extension. I would have suggested as her only choice the Kahr and tried to steer her into a PM9 bought off gunbroker for $525.00 before shipping and would've been wrong in doing so.

Just as important as the carry weapon is mode of carry. There are lots of choices. This one stands out in a quick Google search.

Gun Tote'n Mamas

Good Luck.

Freefire,

The Texas CHL minimum for full size autos is .32 ACP. No need to have her qualify w/ a 9mm - a .380" or .32" will do. Most CHL ranges have a good variety of rental pistols she can qualify w/. What part of the state are you in?

Also, has she considered the Virginia or Florida permits? They seem to be less expensive & time consuming than the Texas CHL, w/ no need to qualify @ the range. They're good in Texas as well.

Gig 'em,

backbencher

Thanks for the replies!

Yeah, she needs to try a few out and see what fits her the best.

She's continuing to state how she would rather not do it, but after explaining potential situations such as home invasion and car jacking, while watching my son, that the seriousness of it all sank in.

She's motivated to be prepared and do what it takes to protect her family and I believe that is what's going to get her through the class and shooting.

I'm taking her out this afternoon to try my xd9c, Glock 26, and LCP although limited, it will give her a chance to see a few of the options.

I appreciate the advice, suggestions, and guidance.

I think you're on the right track.

You might have here check out this excellent website for female shooters : http://www.corneredcat.com/Contents/

Do you have any heavy full sized autos? You can qualify with a full size. I'd start her off with something that easy to control to build up confidence. You don't have to start her off with a sub-compact.

Good advice. I prefer to start new shooters on full-sized pistols before introducing anything smaller. Fundamentals are easier to learn on a full-framed pistol than a pocket pistol and they tend to be a lot more forgiving to novice shooters. More grip area for purchase, longer sight radius, and more weight to soak up recoil really allow a new shooter to get comfortable. Once they get up to the point that a full-sized pistol is easy to control then move them to something a little more challenging. I don't know where the concept of "small guns for small people" came from, but it's like the opposite of what works IMHO. My girlfriend is 4'11"@100lbs and she has no problems with her Glock 17. It was more challenging for her getting comfortable with "lady guns" like my LCP and a friend's S&W 442. Hell, she's had trigger time on quite a variety of different platforms and her confidence level with full-sized pistols (Glock 17, Glock 21SF, CZ-75B, Beretta M9, 1911, GP-100, SIG 220, XD-9... to name a few) is much higher than the micro-frames.

Obviously in this case the end purchase will be something more compact, but there's no reason to skip the essentials on a full-sized pistol first.

"small guns for small people"

is a theory that prevents a huge number of wemin from becoming shooters. That & the outright sexism they encounter @ gun stores, ranges, gun fora, & gun shows.

Gig 'em,

backbencher

Good advice above. Whatever you try, if it's an automatic make sure she is comfortable racking the slide. I've come across more than one person, male and female, that had trouble grasping the slide and positively operating it. Ex. 40S&W tends to have a heavier recoil spring than most 9mms.

something she can shoot and operate well that is reliable

Don't forget the downright sexist "lady calibers" assumption. There is a pervading belief that somehow women are physically unable to shoot a "man's caliber" like .357MAG or .45ACP. Nothing further from the truth IMO. There are definitely aggressive calibers out there, but with proper training pretty much anyone can handle the common ones. Of course with an unforgiving platform even a mousegun caliber can be uncomfortable for the most seasoned shooter. I'm not a small guy and I will freely admit I'd rather put a box of full-house .44MAG downrange out of a Redhawk (a "man's caliber" in a "man's gun") than brutalizing my hands with a few magazines of .380ACP out of a PPK (a "lady caliber" in a "lady gun.")

The fiancee has flat out been asked,"Hon, don't you want a gun that smaller than your man's?"

"The handgun you want is the one your husband or dad gives to you."

and the best exchange:

"Sir, may I pick up this gun?"
"Well, does your husband say it's ok?"
"I don't have a husband, I have a fiance, and if he tried to restrict my choice of gun, he wouldn't be my fiance."
"That's why you're not married - no one wants an uppity woman."

From someone trying to sell guns @ a gun show. Evidently, not very hard.

Gig 'em,

backbencher

Sad. Reminds me so much of the other side (anti's) that would spout some bullshit about "you don't want a gun, they will just take it from you and use it against you." This was an actual argument posed to my girlfriend from ANOTHER WOMAN in regards to my girl's decision to own a firearm. Of course she used my immediate counter-point of "they can try, but it'll be empty by the time they get it."

Too-macho gun guys are as much a turn-off to potential women shooters as the anti's themselves and it's sad. Most of them being sloppy, fat old rednecks that have no business running their mouths about anyone else's physical abilities. The last thing we should be doing is turning away HALF of the voters in the country from our community. You want to see stupid gun laws start to lose their footing? Get more voters on board. Ignore the gender, sexual orientation, skin color, religion, and every other useless demographic point and start promoting rational self-defense to ANY LAW ABIDING CITIZEN.

Range report

Wednesday we went to the range to familiarize and basic instruction. After safety, operation and a half hour of dry firing she was ready to take single shots. She flinched her first but was surprised on how little recoil there was. After a few she was shooting the center out of the target but limited time had us there for just a couple mags.

We went back this morning and she was still riding high from the other day. Went over what we had covered, did the same drills, and she was back into it in no time. By the end of the session she was doing malfunction drills (tap, rack, bang) and attempting double taps!

Question, she's quite fond of the Springfield xd subcompact over the glock 26 but wants a skinnier grip, any suggestions?

Smith M&P with the small backstrap.

M&P 9c with the small back strap in place.

3.5 to 4 inch 9mm
HKP30
Pre 2011 Gen 3 Glock 19
M&P or M&PC

Let the church say...Amen!!!!

Copyright © 1996 - 2013 :: AR15.Com LLC :: All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.