Female shooters have slightly different requirements when it comes to firearms. Differences in the size of their hands, clothing, and recoil impact all influence the type of gun they use. So, finding the best handgun for women is a very individualized choice. There is no specific handgun that is ideal for women. You need to figure out the best option for yourself by testing out a range of guns.
Now, this can be a very long process because there is an endless variety of handguns out there. To make it simpler and error-free, we have rounded the best handgun options in this post. All of them are designed to enable female shooters who are beginners, advanced shooting enthusiasts, and policewomen.
How to Choose the Best Handgun for Women?
To choose the best handgun for women, you need to consider the ammunition, caliber, and hand strength. And the purpose of the weapon. You should be clear about whether the handgun is for personal protection, concealed carry, or competitive shooting.
Ammunition and Caliber
The higher the grain weight, the better the shooting experience. Gain weight is the measurement of a bullet's weight.
For example, 437.5 grains equals one ounce. So, a 200-grain bullet will have a weight of 0.4571429 ounces. Similarly, a 45-grain powder charge will weigh 0.1028 ounces. The ammunition options for women who want to carry discreetly are a full metal jacket (FMJ), jacketed hollow point (JHP), and frangible ammo.
The most common type of ammunition is .22 LR. However, it is the caliber of a long rifle, and although it provides decent stopping power, you can be overwhelmed by recoil. If you have short hands, you can go with a smaller .22 LR or .22 MAG. 9mm is a popular caliber for concealed carry. It offers less recoil when you pair it with a full-framed or mid-sized gun and has good stopping power.
Hand Strength and Size
If you have some physical limitations regarding hand strength, you will face issues in racking the gun's slide. So, it's a good option to practice racking the slides of the gun at a store and see how comfortable you feel.
Also, the best handgun for women does not need to be small in size. It depends on the size of your hands. If you have bigger hands, a smaller gun will feel uncomfortable. You will also feel the recoil more, which will affect the accuracy.
But if you have smaller hands, getting a mid-sized gun will prevent you from proper handling. The best advice will be to try out firing with a few guns at a range and see what works for you.
Fit of the Gun in Your Hand
The best handgun for women offers a good shooting grip, which leads to a proper trigger press. The backstrap or the back of the grip should fit perfectly in the middle of your palm. Also, the web between your thumb and index finger should be high up on the grip so you can reach the trigger.
If you cannot get enough of your finger on the trigger, the handgun is big for you. There should be some space between the guns and the base of your index finger so you can have a proper front-to-back trigger press.
Purpose of the Handgun
Your choice of the best handgun also depends on your purpose. You don't need to worry about concealability if the gun is for home defense. Thus, you can get a larger gun. But if concealed carry is your purpose, look for compact handguns with moderate to high capacity.
For sports shooting, you should find a handgun that has options for customization. The more you can customize the gun, the better will be your performance.
Our Recommendations for the Best Handgun for Women
After learning about the points to keep in mind when choosing the ideal handgun, it's time to explore the top most reliable options.
1. Glocks for Women
The best Glocks for women are Glock 19, 17, 32, and 43X. The Glock 17 is ideal for women police professionals because of its accuracy, reliability, and capacity. The full-sized pistol has a 17+1 capacity and a long list of aftermarket accessories that women can use to customize the pistol according to their liking.
However, if you don't want larger pistols, consider G19. It is ideal for self-defense and competitive shooting but can be handled comfortably at 21.5 ounces weight. G19 also has a consistent trigger pull, making it a good handgun for beginner female shooters.
The G32 is more compact with 357 SIG and a 4-inch barrel. It is easy to carry and has a magazine capacity of 13 rounds. Finally, the Glock 43X is one of the best handguns for women because of its ergonomics. The guns are designed to suit people with smaller or average-sized hands.
G43X is a more balanced version of G43 with a longer grip but the same slide. Its extended magazine lengthens the grip to 5.04 inches and facilitates a significantly fuller grip. Your pinkie will rest comfortably on the grip, which is not possible with G43 with an extended mag.
2. P365 Rose by Sig Sauer
Sig Sauer’s P365 series of guns has been used by women for many years. They are small and easy to conceal, and depending on the model, they come with double-stack magazines ranging from 10+1 to 17+1. However, the P365 Rose is a creation intended especially for women. It is made in collaboration with a close competitor Lena Miculek and features rose-like aesthetics that appeal to women.
The gun is a 9mm striker-fired pistol with a 12+1 capacity and 20.7 oz weight. It ships with two 12-round mags, a mag loader, a Vaultek Lifepod Pistol Safe, and dummy rounds. The gun is easy to use and the slide moves easily on the frame. It also has a decent accuracy, and the micro build allows for concealment.
3. IWI Masada Slim 3.4
The IWI Masada Slim 3.4 is a great everyday carry weapon for women. It is concealable and has a slim grip which allows a nice and comfortable hold by women. The trigger is flat and not rounded, which makes pulling it easier.
Also, Masada Slim is optics-ready with a good 13-round magazine capacity. You can use the red dot optic when firing live to shoot accurately. The cut for this type of optics makes the gun more suitable for self-defense. This is because, with the red dot, you can anticipate the mistakes you are making while shooting quickly compared to iron sights.
4. Springfield Armory Hellcat Guns
One of the best 9mm for a beginner female is the Springfield Armory Hellcat gun. The guns in this range come in many variants, such as one with an optic and a compensator, one where you can add an optic, and the model without an optic. All variants have excellent iron sights.
All the Springfield Armory Hellcat variants are reliable, offer great accuracy, and have aggressive grips for women to handle them better. The recent Micro-Compact version is able to accommodate 11+1 or 13+1 rounds with only a 3-inch barrel and a weight of 19 ounces.
In addition, the extra mass in the slide and barrel minimizes muzzle rise for quick target acquisition and improved accuracy. Overall, the Hellcat guns are ideal for women with small hands aiming for self-defense.
Buy Holster for Springfield Armory Hellcat
5. Walther PDP F-Series
If you are looking for the best handgun for women, the Walther PDP F-Series will not disappoint you. The pistol was designed by Walther with women in mind, including policewomen who desired a concealed full-size gun. It is also perfect for civilians who want a home defense handgun.
You can choose between a 3.5" or 4" barreled model in the Walther PDP F-series. Both are chambered in 9mm Luger. They have an impressive 15-round magazine capacity. Both the guns in this series have smaller grip circumferences, facilitating a better fit for small hands. It also allows you to reach and pull the trigger back safely.
Another great design feature is the ability to eject the magazine and release the slide lock with a single hand. This makes the gun easy to handle.
6. Ruger LCP Max
Ruger LCP Max is one of the best handguns for women with small hands who are looking for concealability. It is a highly accurate pistol with a good capacity of 10 rounds (can be increased to 12 rounds if your hands are big) and a dovetailed sight.
The exceptionally concealable gun weighs 11 ounces. It has a raised wing at the back of the slide and enhanced grip for pinch and pull slides. Moreover, the Secure Action Trigger has a consistent pull, allowing for greater accuracy and control.
7. Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38 Special Revolver
Are you looking for something that can fit into your purse? Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38 Special Revolver is the best handgun for women in this regard. It's a lightweight pistol that is easy to handle and shoot with. Although the magazine capacity of five rounds is not that high, it validates the small size of the pistol, which is an effective choice for a backup weapon.
M&P Bodyguard .38 weighs only 14 ounces and has a pinned front sight and an integral rear sight. Its trigger pull is also smooth, and women with short heights and hands can easily manipulate the trigger.
Buy Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38SPL Holster
8. Beretta PX4 Storm Compact Carry
Beretta PX4 Storm Compact Carry is the best handgun for women who are beginners or want a reliable gun for self-defense. It is not too big nor too small, but in between a full-framed PX4 and its sub-compact version. It comes with a good 12-round magazine capacity and a full grip.
The most noteworthy feature of the gun is its rotating barrel system, or rotary action (locking mechanism inside the gun's barrel). It offsets the recoil, which is often a problem in lightweight pistols. So you can shoot for an extended period accurately. Additionally, the modular construction lets you change the backstraps to accommodate your hand and shooting style.
9. Kimber R7 Mako
Kimber R7 Mako is a high-capacity defensive gun (15+1 rounds) available in a variety of configurations. It is a perfect handgun option for women with large and small hands. This is because the extended base pad on the magazine adds plenty of areas for larger hands to fit. Despite the huge capacity, the gun is fully concealable in the IWB Appendix or at the 4 o’clock position.
Moreover, the Kimber R7 Mako Tactical comes in an optics-ready design and its rear night stays remain on regardless of whether you mount a red dot or not. Another important thing is that the recoil is manageable. This is especially helpful for beginner females or those who are sensitive to recoil.
10. Heckler & Koch VP9
Heckler & Koch VP9 has been a dependable classic for women since its release in 2014. This multi-purpose, striker-fired 9mm pistol is one of the best handguns for women for self-defense, duty use, and training. The pistol has ambidextrous controls, an adjustable grip, and an impressive 17-round magazine capacity. Despite that, the pistol has a compact frame that women can easily maneuver.
A standout feature of VP9 is its trigger, which has bladed safety and a slightly curved design. It is extremely easy for women of any skill level to reach and manage. This handgun has great accuracy and, when used with proper technique, leads to very little felt recoil.
Conclusion
The handguns above are packed with features to make shooting accurate and easier for women. You can try out any or all of them and be surprised at the comfort and convenience they offer when shooting. Make sure to get a holster customized for your chosen option. Contact Wright Leather Works to find a range of high-quality leather holsters for your handgun.
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