We know women want a handgun that complements their body, but how do you pick the right one? What makes a great gun for a petite frame? How do you determine what size is best for you? What safety features are essential for a female? Learn about exactly how to choose a handgun for your body type.
Recoil
In choosing a handgun, recoil is a major consideration. This is even more important when the gun is being purchased for a woman, as she will likely be less accustomed to recoil and this can affect her shooting confidence and accuracy.
Recoil is an unavoidable consequence of shooting. Simply by virtue of firing a gun, you are going to experience some amount of recoil. This can be minimized through proper technique and choosing the right ammunition for your firearm, but the greater weight and length of a handgun will always result in less painful recoil than a rifle or shotgun.
Weight
When it comes to the best handguns for women, weight is a big factor. It’s all about what feels right for you personally, but generally speaking, the lighter the gun, the better. This is especially true if you’re new to guns. They’re heavy. We get that. And even for people who have owned guns for years and can wield them like pros, it’s nice to have an option that won’t weigh you down or make your wrist tired as quickly.
I have small hands, so a heavy gun is just not going to work for me. Not only does it make it hard to lift the gun, it also makes it difficult to aim and shoot. I like guns that are no heavier than 1 pound, but ideally less than 1 pound.
Handle Size
When shopping for a firearm, you want to make sure you’re comfortable with the grip size of the handgun you choose. If it doesn’t fit in your hand properly, then it won’t be very effective for you.
Considering handle size is obvious, but it bears repeating—her hands are likely smaller than yours, which means that you need to find a gun with a grip and handle size small enough to fit comfortably in her hand. This is also important because it can affect her accuracy—if the grip is too large, she may not be able to hold it as steadily as she should.
Misconceptions
There are a million misconceptions about what makes a “best woman’s handgun.” It’s no secret that women and men are different, but their needs when it comes to self-defense aren’t as disparate as some might think. In general, a woman wants the same thing from her handgun that a man does: dependability, accuracy, ease of use, and so on.
Some women might want something that is small or light enough to carry in their purse or pocket—but lots of men want exactly the same thing! Either way, there isn’t one gun out there that’s great for us and terrible for them (or vice versa). Instead, gun enthusiasts should be looking for features that make the most sense for the person using the gun.
Are you right-handed or left-handed? Do you have smaller hands? Do you have arthritis? Are there certain brands you know and love? Are you more interested in something with range or concealability? How much do you want to spend? These are all questions potential buyers should be asking themselves when they’re looking for the best handgun for them—not just whether it has glitter on it.
Revolver vs Semi-Automatic
It can be difficult to determine where to start when searching for your significant other’s first handgun. However, revolvers and semi-automatic handguns are the two most popular types of firearms available. In my opinion, revolvers are a great option for beginner shooters. They’re easy to use and easier to maintain than semi-automatic pistols because they have fewer moving parts. As a general rule, they are cheaper than semi-automatic guns. Plus, they are much more reliable.
If your loved one ever needs to use a revolver in an emergency situation, they may only have a handful of chances to hit their target before they have to reload the cylinder. Semi-automatic handguns tend to be more complicated and pricey than revolvers.
