Hey all. I have finally convinced my mother to learn to use a handgun for protection, she'll be using it both at home and carrying it concealed in her car. She's a relocation agent who relocates people who live in areas where the government is taking the land for public use, right now she's working on building schools. She goes into pretty bad neighborhoods alone and talks with people who are unstable and VERY unhappy about being moved, and has received many threats, so you all can understand why I want her to carry a weapon.
For her first time, I took her to shoot Uzis since that is something she has always wanted to do. We took a one day class together and she LOVED it! Next I took her to the range and had her try a Colt .45, a Glock 17, a Springfield 1911 9mm, and a .38 special. She liked the Glock the best because of the relatively small recoil and the less weight.
I'm trying to figure out which gun would be the best for her to get, I'll be buying, but money is no object for my mom, so I don't mind spending whatever necessary to get her the best gun possible. She really liked the Glock 17, but was bothered by the fact that it has no safety, the 1911 was too heavy for her, she hated the revolver. I think that she would do best with a polymer frame, but then I bump up against another problem...
My mother wants a "pretty" gun. I asked her what "pretty" meant to her, and she said that she wanted a gun that gleamed. I swear, I thought I was going to lose it! [:)] I asked her if having a pretty shiny gun was negotiable, and she asked me why she should have to compromise! I lost it then, after about 10 minutes she asked me what was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing for an hour, I swear!!!
So as an option, I was thinking about the new Springfield XD's. I have never fired one personally, and I would LOVE any input from anyone here who has, or know someone who has. I figure that it has everything my mom would want. It's got the polymer frame, so it will be light, and it's supposed to have pretty light recoil, even the subcompact, again a good point. It's got a safety, I can get one in a 9mm, and it has a "pretty gleaming" slide, so it satisfies my mom's last request!
I can't find any ranges in my immediate area that have these guns to rent, and I'm not able to go to the range for another week or so anyway, so any information you might have would be greatly appreciated, and other advice as well. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it!
Tiffany