Chicks and guns
What gun for Emily Miller? Voters picked a Sig 229. I’d say she needs to get to the range, shoot a few, and make up her own mind.
Meanwhile, no love for the XD. In comments, the Gunnie Internet breaks into a chorus of my X is better than your X. 9mm v. 45!
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:59 am
I’m afraid she will fing the 229 a little wide in the grip. I’ve god good sized hands and the 229 just doesn’t fit me as well as the 226 or 228. I’m suprised the M&P only got 12%
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:22 am
She did go to the range and shot Glock 17, Sig 229 and 226,Kahr K9, XD(M),M&P9c and Px4 Storm. She seemed happiest with the XD. I believe the poll was just to generate reader involvement. The idea for the series was good, but has been kind of lame in execution.
January 3rd, 2012 at 12:17 pm
At least she’s getting a gun. Better a good new gun today than a perfect one in the future.
January 3rd, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Mike V. – The grip width on the P228, P229 and P226 are an identical 1.5″
January 3rd, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Errr, stratch that, had a brainfart. That said, I’m positive P229 grips aren’t any wider than P228 grips, given that both have stock grips on the gun.
As for Emily, any of the guns she shot are good choices. Whichever one she shoots best and is most comfortable with will certainly suit her well.
January 3rd, 2012 at 6:36 pm
The comments on the linked blog included quite a few on ammo. Now, it’s true: 9mm, .40, & .45, with modern, quality JHP bullets made by reputable ammo makers, all exhibit very similar characteristics. One could feel well served by any of the three.
BUT — remember that nasty little ammo shortage? Pretty much all one could find was FMJ. Think that will never happen again? 9mm shooters should stock up on defensive loads. The .45 stops well with FMJs, but 9mm FMJ loads don’t. As an Israeli soldier was quoted as saying, “It works great as long as you shoot the guy six or seven times”.
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:42 pm
As someone who’s partnered with a woman, and who have instructed hundreds of women in our intro and intermediate classes, I can tell you what women like the best when they’re given a tablefull of 9s to work with:
The Smith M&P 9 Pro, followed by the Glock Gen4 34 (not so for the older handles and smaller ones). And, the larger steel Kahrs do very, very well.
1911s are well liked but the extra control seems to slow a few down.
Beretts 92s get the most boos, followed by most other DA/SAs. XDs get left on the table, but XDms seem to fare a little bit better.
And they nearly all skate away from revolvers once they actually try firing one.
One more common thing: they gravitate towards the smaller guns while they’re still in the classroom, but inevitably learn to like the longer guns- M&P Pro and G4/G34- once they’ve fired a few rounds.
This all applies to relatively new shooters, and of course, your results will vary considerably.
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:52 pm
I agree with uncle…
Dann in Ohio
January 4th, 2012 at 2:38 am
Please gunnies, unless your newbie friend has tons of money to burn, recommend only the glock 19. If they buy a POS that breaks, or a Sig that costs double, they will soon realize you lied to them and be pissed at the gun culture and you.
Make only 1 recommendation, G19, and let them figure it out after they own their first gun and understand the 2nd amd.
Disclaimer: I carry a Custom CDP but am so impressed with the reliability and value glock offers for newbies.