Posted: 8/29/2008 10:26:09 AM EDT
| Never shot the Bersa in .380 but many .380 pistols do have some 'smack-back' to them because they are mostly straight blowback. I have, however, shot the Bersa .22 and it is a very nice little pistol for the money. Maybe one of each? The .22 for lots of practice and the .380 once in a while at the range and for CCW? |
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proper grip and technique will help w/ controling the bersa as to the autos, has your wife considered anything else--anything else seem to catch her eye? other options that i can think of that will fit your criteria and that, imo, would be a step up vs a bersa would be a single stacked SW all-metal auto or Ruger and the fuller/mid sized autos will have less recoil/handle better vs the smaller autos, even tif its .380 |
| kahr cw9 can be found on gunbroker for 340$ new. Its a really nice gun. I have 3 kahr polymer pistols and love them. Bersa 380's are nice, they even have a bersa 380 plus with 15rd mags. not bad... As far as having to have a safety is this because of children being in the house? The only firearm I keep by me that has a safety is the ar15s and shotguns. I do have handguns with safeties but would never carry them. I like the idea of drawling the pistol and firing. the time it takes to take a safety off may not be long, but in a stressfull situation your wife may be pulling the trigger and nothing happens. bad deal |
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The first rule to consider for self-defense for those with low recoil tolerance and small hands and kids in the house is the K.I.S.S. principle. Keeping it simple, effective and safe are three different but interrelated subjects. In my experience with teaching those with limited experience and of small stature (and hands), autos require more extensive firing drills and practice than a reasonably sized revolver in an equally (or more) effective caliber. Autos, no matter which size they are, require a certain minimum grip tension to prevent "short-cycling" of the slide, and, like AlphaGhost said, "proper grip and technique will help" and "has your wife considered anything else-anything else seem to catch her eye?" My sentiments exactly, except I would go Alpha Ghost one more and suggest that she consider a good quality medium frame revolver, preferably an S&W with the new safety lock, if that fits your needs. Perhaps .38 Special +P or the new Ruger SP101 in .327 Fed. Mag. (My wife simply loves her SP101 in .357, keeping it loaded with WW Silver tip +P 125s) Both are much more effective than ANY .380 load and are simple, reasonably safe and effective. There are many autos in that class, as well, especially in 9mm P. in a medium to small frame which do not exhibit any more recoil than a .380 (Cor-Bon or Buffalo-Bore loads), and which are also much more effective. There are many others on this site with suggestions just as good as any I have, so sit back and enjoy, but remember not to let your predilection for autos color her decisions. Take her to a well-stocked, reputable gun store where she can handle and see for herself what are her options. One last thing: Remember the K.I.S.S. principle and after her purchase, send her to the best firearms training course you can afford! Don't scrimp on this, for her life and the lives of your children (and perhaps even your own) depend on how well she is trained. In any emergency, her training will come to the fore every time! God bless you and yours, sir, and remember, "You want respect, you gotta earn it!) - My Dad |
I think a j frame in 357 then shoot 38s in it. you will want the weight there for recoil. even a k frame would be good. My wife likes her 65-3 and 65-4 in the k frame. she likes the weight of the 3 inch barrel better though. I would shy away from an ultralight or airweight,,,, |
Much better recomendation right there. I second that. |
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www.centerfiresystems.com/SW-65-4.aspx centerfire systems has those for 319.99. it may be a hair to heavy at 36oz for your wife. my Wife thinks the 4" is just a tad heavy when shooting a long time. She likes the 3" you might be able to even find a better deal at a local gun store. just a thought. I have a j frame airweight but my wife doesnt like the fact that her pinky hangs off the end. She just refuses to shoot it. standard 38s out of the airweight feel comperable to medium 357 loads out of the k frames for her. 
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| ive tried to get her to even think about a revolver, but she says that is not what she wants...this weekend we went out and she shot my dads browning .380 and she loves it except for the grip being alittle big, which the bersa will be a little thinner... so that is what i am going to get her i just need to find a good place to buy one |
Well, *I* want a Ferrari to drive back & forth to work in too, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for me.  If this is her first gun to own that's truely "hers" & she were my wife, she'd damn sure get a wheel gun until she showed she was ready for the next step, IMO. I wouldn't tell her that in a controlling way, but along the lines of "I love you & don't want you to not be able to use the gun should you absolutely need to, so here's your revolver." We don't all have a Mustang GT for our first car at 16, for example. My .o2 |
Cant go wrong with a wheel gun. My wifes first gun was a wheel gun. She didnt like the slide on the auto loaders, she was somewhat scared of the slide cutting the webbing of her hand. So 3 wheel guns later and now she has a baby eagle semi compact steel 9mm. she likes it and I like it so much I plan on buying her the compact polymer version of it. As her first guns I really didnt like the fact that she might have a failure with a auto loader and not be able to clear it in a stressfull situation. the revolver was easier for her to get started. |