Has she shot before? Does she have any training on how to use a pistol? If you and her are really serious about carrying for self defense, I'd highly recommend finding some training.
Just throwing a small pistol in a pocket/purse is about 2% of the equation. When are you legally allowed to use it? What do you do if you pull the trigger and it goes click instead of bang?
All of those questions matter.
If she has any some training and already knows how to use a pistol proficiently, I'd recommend the largest pistol she can conceal AND shoot good. As LEO mentioned above, the smaller the gun, the harder it is to use we'll.
Easier than that first double action shot with a J frame?????Small semi autos are hard to operate and hard to clear jams because there just is not enough to hold. Easy to get the muzzle pointed in the wrong direction. A small revolver like an S&W 60 or any of the models similar in 38 spl. is hard to beat.
The Cornered Cat: A Woman's Guide to Concealed Carry https://a.co/d/1lrPifo
Don't forget, if it is open carried, a 5 year old could steal it.......Yep. All good questions. What's her experience level? How big are her hands? It is a handgun after all. If she's done some shooting, what does she like?
Do not simply throw it in a purse without the appropriate holster (or use a purpose built purse). It's a disaster waiting to happen (to say nothing about all the risks and disadvantages of off-body carry). If one is going to carry off-body in a purse, do it properly or don't do it at all (my opinion of course).
Just a few of many examples that could be cited:
A Critical (but often overlooked) Holster Function
Written by: Greg Ellifritz While reading my news feeds in the past few weeks, I've seen accounts of a couple preventable accidental shootings. I'd really prefer to see that my readers and students learnwww.activeresponsetraining.net
She's in jail after dropping purse — because gun inside it went off
The gun she was carrying inside her bag discharged and hit a woman in the leg.www.usatoday.com
Woman drops purse in Starbucks, accidentally shoots friend with handgun
A Florida woman dropped her purse on the ground as she waited for coffee at Starbucks — and ended up accidentally shooting her best friend in the leg. Pamela Beck, 51, from Pinellas Park, is …www.nydailynews.com
Woman, 80, shot in leg when gun falls out of her purse
What was supposed to be a regular trip to the dollar store for 80-year-old Bernice Hightower changed when her gun fell out of her purse.www.clickondetroit.com
Police: Gun in purse accidentally fires, injures two at eatery
A gun accidentally fired through a purse and injured two women eating inside a local eatery on Sunday, according to a Summerville police report.www.postandcourier.com
Do you pick out her bra’s?GF looking for a small gun for purse and holster. Pocket 380 maybe? Suggestions and reviews. Thanks
GF looking for a small gun for purse and holster. Pocket 380 maybe? Suggestions and reviews. Thanks
A duty gun and a gun for concealed, personal protection have different considerations.Easier than that first double action shot with a J frame?????
If truly a compact revolver was the best option for a woman, LE and the Armed Services sould still issue them.
My sisters and my bestie have no issues carrying sub-compact fo full size autoloaders.
The two women LEO here in Alex carry Glock 17's.
OP, dont let her be under gunned.
Take her to a range and let her rent a few,
Let her pick what she's gonna carry.
Do you pick out her bra’s?
What you like in a bra is probably not what she wants in a bra. Take her to a good gun range with nice selection of (bra’s) guns and let her try them on herself.