For the wife....

[Cjwglock19]

I have had my chl for about 2 years now, my wife had decided she too would like to get hers. We did some shooting yesterday, which she enjoyed doing . She really liked the feel of my glock 19, however the idea of no manual safety makes here uncomfortable. While she could carry without one in the chamber, I would feel better knowing she just had to flip the switch instead of rack a slide. She wants to go shopping and look at different guns, was just wondering if anyone could point us towards something of similar size to a g19 but that has a manual safety? She has large hands for a lady ( played D1 basketball at TCU) so she doesn't want a mouse gun (bersa thunder .380 felt too small). Anyway, thanks in advance for the suggestions of what we may want to look at.

[Broncrider]

you might look at the new bersa thunder 380 that has a double stack magazine, the grip is quit a bit larger. my wife carries a browning BDA 380 which also has a double stack which is a perfect fit for her hand.

[urnoodle]

I heard the M&P shield has a thumb safety. I know a few friends that have them. I liked how the trigger feels.

[bnc]

S&W makes several versions of the M&P, some of which include a thumb safety. That's about as close to a G19 as you can get. Also the Ruger SR9, they have a thumb safety and pretty good ergonomics.

[jayinsat]

I highly recommend the Ruger SR9c. It is a sweet shooter and is slightly smaller than the GLock 19. My wife has the G26 and we both think the trigger on the Ruger is better than the glock (just slightly). The slide on a new Ruger SR9c is a littler stiffer but gets easier pretty quick. Cost: $450 new at academy!

It is my EDC

[Teamless]

My M&P9c has a manual ambidextrous thumb safey.
She could also look at the Springfield XD9sub compact, with the grip safety on it, while it is not a "thumb" safety, you have to have a real grip on it to shoot it, just snagging the trigger wont make it go boom.

[Divided Attention]

Getting comfortable carrying "cocked and locked" or in the case of my 9c which has no safety other than the "special trigger" and the brain God gave me was part of my CHL journey. I now carry; and have since just a few weeks after getting my CHL, everything ready to go. My P238 has a safety, and I practice with it in "carry condition".

Congratulations to your wife in making a decision; which for us gals, can be tough!

Merry Christmas!

[RHenriksen]

Ditto for the M&P compact 9mm w manual safety.

I do have to ask, though - is she familiar with seeing your pistol stashed in a quality holster? IMO the only place for a firearm in daily life is either tucked into a holster, or locked in a safe. In those two circumstances, I personally feel no need for a safety.

Now, if I was the type to keep loaded pistols squirreled away all over the house, then I would certainly appreciate manual safeties!

Just a thought... A Glock in a good holster is like a Doberman with a muzzle on its snout.

[Cjwglock19]

Yes she is used to seeing it in a good holster. That is part of it too, she has to decide how she thinks she will be comfortable carrying as well. Like I said as a husband, I am glad she feels comfortable and wants to carry because I can't always be with her and the kids. As well, talking to her about shooting and helping her adjust was just another great time for the two of us! And gotta admit, something about my woman shooting a gun sure is pretty!

[Cjwglock19]

And thanks for the suggestions!! Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas.

[jayinsat]

I got the SR9c because of the safety. I don't even use it now.

[SewTexas]

if she's possibly interested in carrying around kids she may feel the need for a safety. This falls into the "let her pick the gun" category, guys. I'm just happy that another woman is interested in carrying.

[Vol Texan]

I don't know how this compares to the size of the other weapons mentioned, but my wife loves her Walther PK380. It has a good mid-size gun feel to it - definitely not a mouse gun.

And it has a safety on it.

[TexasGal]

If she is interested in the shield; The M&P Shield 9mm is a good gun for her if she is right handed. It's not ambidextrous. It does have a safety which is not too big. The nice thing about it is the slim shape is easily concealed in women's clothing so she has more incentive to carry the gun on her rather than in a purse. Avoid the .40 in this gun. The S&W Forum has a long-running thread concerning magazine drops in the .40 caliber model. The Shield was designed for 9mm and the gun in that caliber has a good reputation. Now, the trick is even finding one for her to look at if she is interested. Academy is selling them for $399, but you have to catch one off the truck. Call the stores in your area at 7:30 am and every couple days if they got one in the night before. They will hold one for you. We have located two this way for us. I saw one sell for $708 on an auction site this week so the price is right.

[Jumping Frog]

If she wants to carry a gun with a safety, I recommend at least 1000 repetitions of drawing, wiping off the safety, and dry firing. One must start implanting muscle memory for taking the handgun off of safe. Otherwise, one runs the risk of needing the gun in a self defense situation, forgetting the safety, pull the trigger but no BANG, and then fumbling around trying to solve the problem.

Anyone who is going to practice dry firing should, in my opinion, unload the gun showing both the chamber and magazine well clear. Place the ammo in a different room. I recommend using snap caps so one can also practice malfunction drills and reloads. Having the dry fire session in a room that contains no live ammo is a good safety practice, in that it build a mental habit that separates the practice session from normal everyday gun handling. I've read of too many cases where someone was sitting in their family room practicing dry fire. Then they reload the gun. A few minutes later, they unthinkingly draw and shoot the television. There needs to be ritual that creates a clear bright mental line to separate the start and end of practice.

If all this emphasis on muscle memory and practice seems like criticism of someone carrying with a safety, it isn't. I carry guns with safeties myself.