The Women's Revolver Myth Might Finally Be Dead

[Trapper Jim]

Wow....just wow

 

[Paul30]

It depends on the person. A self-defense handgun for someone who isn't a gun person, doesn't plan to go practice, just wants something "just in case". If they can safely handle a revolver, then it is better than nothing. I like a revolver for people like this because if a revolver doesn't fire, you pull the trigger again. If an auto doesn't fire, you need to rechamber another round, which may or may not jam. If they limp wrist a shot, then they only have 1 shot and an attacker who knows they are now holding a paperweight. Revolvers may have fewer rounds, but they are reliable and simple to operate. I have had people who could not rack the slide on an auto who were more than pleased to use a revolver. Then we have the problem of newer striker fire type pistols with no real safety. A revolver much like the old double/single action pistols needs a long hard pull to fire where many new striker fire pistols have AD much more often. Grandma carried a revolver in her purse until the day she died. They can also give someone peace of mind that they have an option other than be a crime victim where they might not feel comfortable with an auto. By all means, more training is better, if they can reliably handle an auto then go for it.

 

[Amishman44]

Call me a feminist but I've never believed in any distinction between "men's guns" and "women's guns". Running a gun is not a brute strength activity, the physical requirements of guns are extremely modest and effectiveness with one is all in skill and technique. Maybe some minor accommodations for hand size and anatomy need to be made here and there for some individuals, but I've never seen a good reason a woman can't run an AR or Glock as well or better than a given man. The whole reason we invented guns was to allow physically average or marginal people to kill effectively without having to spend six hours a day pumping iron.

Amen...neither a revolver nor a pistol are distinctly a 'male' or 'female' set-up...as to me, it's always a personal preference.
Racking a slide, for a male or female, is a learned action and can be mastered fairly easily with some skill or technique instruction and the individual is able to get some practice with it in order to get more comfortable with it.
I prefer revolvers...I grew up with them...I hunt with them...I can shoot them accurately in either SA or DA mode...etc., and I'm comfortable carrying a revolver for EDC. I have a Glock 36, single-stack .45 acp, that I carry in the rotation as well, but really just prefer the revolvers.
My wife prefers a semi-auto, specifically, a Beretta...she has a narrow hand with a long-fingered grip and prefers the larger-sized, Beretta 92 style grip. Because the wife also likes shoot .22lr in the little SP101 that I have, In order to better accommodate her shooting style, I picked-up a Beretta .22lr 'kit' for her 92FS, which she absolutely LOVES giving her the 'best .22 ever' as she calls, it on the same platform she already enjoys!
The wife also mentioned that she would like a 9mm carbine, to which we looked at several over the past 2-3 years, but I ended up picking up a Beretta CX-4 9mm carbine that takes the same magazines as her Beretta 92FS...and that has been a big hit as well! With a Red Dot on it, it's a tack-driver and, for the most part, matches what she already has!
That all being said, I can understand where the 'myth' might come from, but again, a myth is sometimes, just a myth!
I think most of the differences are education, experience, practice, and training!
When women get enough of those 4 items, and they have gained enough experience and are more comfortable with various handguns, they should be able to pick their own and be comfortable with it!

 

[Amishman44]

I recommend revolvers for those that won't go shooting.
So, simple is better.
Man, woman, doesn't matter.

All things said...I have recommended a revolver to those who're new to shooting or who don't really know what they want...
Reason being...they're simple to operate and function well in a time of need!
If one isn't going to practice sufficiently to master their firearm, in a lot of ways, a revolver is probably a better choice!

 

[climber1218]

My wife and I have taken courses together with Glock 9 mm semiautos at Boone County Sheriff's range (twice), S&W 686 revolvers at Thunder Ranch, and Remington 870 20 g shotguns at Gunsite...it turns out she can outshoot me with the shotgun but does well with all of them...I just keep one of each in different places around the house and let her decide what she would like to shoot the intruder with (I'm no dummy!).

 

[DadSmith]

Both my parents approaching 80 both use 38 snub nose revolvers. I load a light load similar to a factory wadcutter target load but with 158gr bullets. They are soft shooting, they can hit the target multiple times and the 158gr FN bullet will give some good penetration.

 

[Amishman44]

My wife and I have taken courses together with Glock 9 mm semiautos at Boone County Sheriff's range (twice), S&W 686 revolvers at Thunder Ranch, and Remington 870 20 g shotguns at Gunsite...it turns out she can outshoot me with the shotgun but does well with all of them...I just keep one of each in different places around the house and let her decide what she would like to shoot the intruder with (I'm no dummy!).

My wife is a tad better than me with a shotgun...
We shoot almost equal with rifle and 300+ meters...
I outshoot her in a heartbeat with a handgun...
She prefers 20 GA over 12 GA (she injured her shoulder playing college volleyball and doesn't like the heavier recoil)...so,
About 15 years ago, I found and procured a Remington 870 Tactical in 20 GA for her and set it up with a youth butt stock (only 13" of pull), a 4-shot side-saddle, Tritium front sight from XS Sights, and a nylon sling...she LOVES it and it's her 'go-to' in house gun!
I've been careful to let her pick her own over the years (she's tried many) and seems to be comfortable with the set-up(s) she currently has...I'm glad because it's stable with regards to ammunition, parts, etc.

 

[Mongo59]

Just because you know of an exception or two does not make it a myth...

 

[fullmetaljesus]

It's about time. When I was looking for my first gun I was told just about everywhere I went that revolvers are better for women because semi-autos are too complicated.

I was at the 1500 gun show last week? Or whenever that last one was.

I walked past a table where a guy behind the table was talking to a woman as he reached to take a semi auto back from her he said. "For women it's better for you to get a revolver bc your hands are too small to work that and most women don't know how to"

He said that, right to her face. I wanted to laugh but was too mind blown to even do that. The lady was standing next to some dude. He didnt even call the guy out on it.

I'm a guy with dainty little girl hands.

Like look at my face I look like gandulf the gray,
If I shave I look 12
I have the hands of a 90 year old woman.
I'm 36

I seem to handle semi autos just fine.

So ladies done let those chodes tell you, you can't handle it. Find the gun that works for you.

 

[Snapdragon]

I was at the 1500 gun show last week? Or whenever that last one was.

I walked past a table where a guy behind the table was talking to a woman as he reached to take a semi auto back from her he said. "For women it's better for you to get a revolver bc your hands are too small to work that and most women don't know how to"

He said that, right to her face. I wanted to laugh but was too mind blown to even do that. The lady was standing next to some dude. He didnt even call the guy out on it.

I'm a guy with dainty little girl hands.

Like look at my face I look like gandulf the gray,
If I shave I look 12
I have the hands of a 90 year old woman.
I'm 36

I seem to handle semi autos just fine.

So ladies done let those chodes tell you, you can't handle it. Find the gun that works for you.

The struggle is real. Half the time I can't even get someone to wait on me, especially at gun shows but sometimes shops also. I have walked up to several gun show booths and into a few LGS with cash in pocket and asked to see a gun, and the guys just keep waiting on the men because they are clearly the ones who buy guns.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

The struggle is real. Half the time I can't even get someone to wait on me, especially at gun shows but sometimes shops also. I have walked up to several gun show booths and into a few LGS with cash in pocket and asked to see a gun, and the guys just keep waiting on the men because they are clearly the ones who buy guns.

Oh oh oh Ok so I got this idea.....





But with guns!

 

[Snapdragon]

Exactly.

 

[shibumiseeker]

A nephew wanted to buy his diminutive wife a .38 snubbie. She shot my wife's S&W M60 and agreed it was not a good fit for her. She is now carrying a Glock 42. As in all matters, there is no one-size-fits-all!

My wife's favorite gun is her gen 2 Glock 21. Fits her small hands very well. She doesn't like firing my G20 or other 10mms because she's not fond of the sharper recoil, but she shoots that G21 better than any of her smaller guns. So I laugh when people say the G20/21 grips are too large for their manly hands...

 

[VERT]

The struggle is real. Half the time I can't even get someone to wait on me, especially at gun shows but sometimes shops also. I have walked up to several gun show booths and into a few LGS with cash in pocket and asked to see a gun, and the guys just keep waiting on the men because they are clearly the ones who buy guns.

Come down and see me. I will wait on you and show you anything you want. We love women gun buyers because women don’t mess around. Men on the other hand think the gun shop is some social event to show off their gats. Trust me we aren’t impressed and don’t care, we have probably seen, handled or shot anything and everything that a person has in a holster.

What are the most popular handguns for women right now? At least in the local shop that would be the Sig P365, Glock 42/43/43x, and Shied EZ380 or 9mm. These are what is popular for both men and women, these are what we have holster for, these are what we have magazines for, these are recommended. The Ruger EC9, Security 9, Taurus G3 and Sccys are budgeted minded and sell quickly when we can get them. They sell because they meet the magical price point. Honestly I don’t see much difference between between what men and women like in a gun.

 

[Hookeye]

Have seen newbs and some proclaiming understanding/ experience....with rounds backwards on magazines.

None of those ladies to my knowledge, put rounds backwards in a revolver.

Have seen many folks, mostly women but some men, bring in their auto to trade in on a revolver.

Some folks aint mechanical. Some folks had physical issues.

Dont care as long as they are safe and can hit their target ( most cant ).

 

[fullmetaljesus]

The support for women gun lovers in here are great but it's ruining my chance to start a new business.

It's called "gun bros". You call us. And a man will escort a female to a gun store/show to help give them man cred so they can buy some guns. And if the shop keep says stupid sexist stuff we gun bros will say :. " Hey, dude, uncool yo"



Did I forget the purple? It didn't I?

 

[actaeon277]

 

[Ark]

The struggle is real. Half the time I can't even get someone to wait on me, especially at gun shows but sometimes shops also. I have walked up to several gun show booths and into a few LGS with cash in pocket and asked to see a gun, and the guys just keep waiting on the men because they are clearly the ones who buy guns.

I firmly believe the market is going to teach those people an unpleasant lesson in the error of their ways.

IMO if you don't have at least one female rep on the sales floor of your shop at all times, you're behind the times. While there are no doubt many excellent men who are willing to treat women fairly, men and women are not the same and there is no substitute for having a woman available for female customers who are hesitant to talk to us generic gun bros.

 

[Mongo59]

The struggle is real. Half the time I can't even get someone to wait on me, especially at gun shows but sometimes shops also. I have walked up to several gun show booths and into a few LGS with cash in pocket and asked to see a gun, and the guys just keep waiting on the men because they are clearly the ones who buy guns.

Look him right in the eye and say, "Which hand do you pi$$ with?" And when he regains his composure and tells you which one, tell him, "great, put (that hand) in your pocket and hand me that Sig..."