imported post
A female friend of mine is just starting to get into shooting. One range visit (first time shooting EVER) and she's already shopping for a gun lol. She's only had experience withtwo calibers so far: A .380 in a smaller sized handgun (Walther PPK/s and Kel-Tec P3AT), and a .40 full-sized SW99. She preferred shooting the Walther, as the .40 "surprised" her, however she shot well even with the .40.
I am going to take her to the range again soon and give her some more experience with the .380 and .40, and hopefully introduce her to a 9mm and a .45. I'm expecting her to gravitate around the .380 and 9mm, at least for her first gun. Obviously I'd love for her to want to carry the .45 or .40 right off the bat, but I'd rather she carry/own something she's more comfortable shooting, in the case that she ever has to use it.
So, I've heard plenty of good and bad about the 9mm, as well as the .380. Mostly what I hear about the .380 is that it's the smallest caliber most people are comfortable with, but they'd prefer something larger. The most common thing I hear about the 9mm is that it over penetrates and makes nice small holes that bad guys don't stop for. Whatever. It kills, and that's what matters.
So, if it comes down to the .380 or the 9mm, which should I suggested? I personally carry the .380, but almost exclusively as a back-up or concealed. I would be comfortable if she carried a .22 for all I care, as long as she's confident and could place the shots if/when she needed to.
Anyway, what do you guys think?
A female friend of mine is just starting to get into shooting. One range visit (first time shooting EVER) and she's already shopping for a gun lol. She's only had experience withtwo calibers so far: A .380 in a smaller sized handgun (Walther PPK/s and Kel-Tec P3AT), and a .40 full-sized SW99. She preferred shooting the Walther, as the .40 "surprised" her, however she shot well even with the .40.
I am going to take her to the range again soon and give her some more experience with the .380 and .40, and hopefully introduce her to a 9mm and a .45. I'm expecting her to gravitate around the .380 and 9mm, at least for her first gun. Obviously I'd love for her to want to carry the .45 or .40 right off the bat, but I'd rather she carry/own something she's more comfortable shooting, in the case that she ever has to use it.
So, I've heard plenty of good and bad about the 9mm, as well as the .380. Mostly what I hear about the .380 is that it's the smallest caliber most people are comfortable with, but they'd prefer something larger. The most common thing I hear about the 9mm is that it over penetrates and makes nice small holes that bad guys don't stop for. Whatever. It kills, and that's what matters.
So, if it comes down to the .380 or the 9mm, which should I suggested? I personally carry the .380, but almost exclusively as a back-up or concealed. I would be comfortable if she carried a .22 for all I care, as long as she's confident and could place the shots if/when she needed to.
Anyway, what do you guys think?