Pocket pistols like this Colt Mustang are easy to carry, but can be difficult to control for men or women, even when chambered for the small .380 ACP cartridge.
have to impress your will and wisdom onto your lady friend.
Playing It Smart My suggestion would be to take
the woman in your life to a gun store — preferably one with a range. Let her examine several guns until she se- lects a few that feel comfortable in her hand and have a trigger she can eas- ily manipulate. I would also suggest you politely ask the clerk to keep his mouth shut until she has selected and fired several of these guns. No need to risk letting his chauvinistic attitude ruin the process. (You might only get one shot at this. No pun intended.) Once the lady has fired several
guns, she will be better equipped to make a decision based on experi- ence, as opposed to someone else’s opinion. Don’t be disheartened if she selects a gun of questionable stop- ping power. I hate using those words. I believe the only stopping power a defensive handgun has is the intimi- dation factor when pointed at some-
So you think a 1911 is too much gun for a woman? This lady grad- uated from the Gunsite 250 pistol class using a Kimber 1911 in 9mm, and she is only 15 years old.
one. If the situation degrades to the point a trigger has to be pulled, what you should hope for is that doing so provides you the opportunity to cre- ate distance and to escape, not that it will obliterate the bad guy. Handgun bullets are notoriously ineffective at stopping fights anyway. The important thing to remember
is IF you are successful in helping a woman find a handgun she likes to and can shoot; you have taken the first step towards bringing her into the world of guns, the concept of concealed carry and the notion of taking responsibility for her own safety. That’s a good thing. Even a man can admit that, and, if you make your lady friend happy by showing her how much you respect her brain and ability, she might just wear that lacy underwear you bought for her.
Triggers Most women have hands that are
smaller and fingers that are shorter than a man’s. To pull a trigger com-
A gun that is comfortable to wear and shoot is just as important to a woman as it is to a man.
fortably, the trigger finger needs to be able to reach past the trigger, to the point where the first joint is on the trigger. Now, this isn’t where you place the trigger finger to pull the trigger, but, handguns designed so the shooter cannot obtain a comfort- able grip (and extend their trigger fin- ger so the first joint is on the trigger) will very likely be uncomfortable to shoot and accuracy will suffer.
Sights I believe the addition of Crimson
Trace laser grips is a good thing for any handgun. Not only do they have tactical application, they can be a great aid when learning how to shoot. Additionally, most of the Crimson Trace laser grips are soft and com- fortable in hand. However, lasers are not a replacement for sights, and I also believe every defensive handgun must have good sights. Good sights are easy to see and fast to acquire. My wife, like many new handgun shooters, was struggling with obtain-
After a lady has found the right gun and mastered the basics of shooting it, quality tactical training is the next step. Doing this together, with your partner, can be fulfilling and enjoyable.
60
A lot of women carry a handgun in their purse. Regardless of what you think about off-body carry, it is well suited to the way women dress, especially if when done in a purpose- built purse, like those from Galco.
PERSONAL DEFENSE • SPRING 2011 SPECIAL EDITION
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