approrpiate handgun for single Mom

Question
Which affordable handgun can you recommend for a single Mom with two teenage sons in AZ? I would also like to carry it with me outside of my home - so it would need to fit into a purse. I own a single shot 12 guage shotgun which I used to train my Labrador Retriever but feel it is not a good choice for self defense and have only used it with poppers. Do you recommend that I also have my sons (15 and 17) trained in gun safety, and that I take a class in shooting a handgun - I have only shot rifles and shot guns - and an Uzi. I'm unfamiliar with handguns in general.

Answer
Sylvia,

Since I have no idea of what your economic circumstances are, I really don't know what 'affordable' means to you.  There are people that make enough money out there that think Glocks are 'inexpensive' at $500.  I'll try to give you a couple of recommendations to check out and you can make a selection based on what might work for you.


First,  I would definitely recommend that you get some good handgun training.  It should be possible to find a good NRA Basic Pistol course in your area.  It will give you a good grounding in just about everything you need to know for shooting a handgun.  It covers pretty much everything from basic firearms safety, marksmanship fundamentals, how to handle the gun and how to clean and maintain it.  Since your boys are older, you might even encourage them to take the the class with you.  Whether they take the Basic Pistol class or not, gun safety training is a must for them if you have firearms in the house.


Honestly, in my opinion, your shotgun is the best home defense option out there.  I strongly recommend using a shotgun for home  defense and using a handgun for personal defense when you are not home.  The 12 gauge has the advantage of being a 'one shot stop' against a burglar or intruder.  A pistol would very likely not give you this advantage.  Also, if it is a pump shotgun, I like the fact that I can have a shell with birdshot in the chamber for less lethal needs, but can quickly rack a shell with buckshot into the gun if I need something more powerful.

On the other hand, since most people don't carry shotguns with them as they go through daily life, the pistol is much more likely to be 'with you' if you need a personal defense solution as you go about your normal business.

There are any number of small semi-auto pistols or small revolvers that are good solutions for personal defense.  I personally like the Kel-Tec P3AT which is a small .380 caliber semi auto.  It is compact, highly concealable and has a magazine capacity of 6 rounds, plus one in the chamber.  I have found it to be accurate and reliable.  It retails for between $275 and $300.  It is a great pocket defense gun, but not one I would recommend if you plan to shoot a lot practice rounds through it.

I have also found that a small revolver is a good solution for personal protection.  Smith & Wesson and Taurus make very nice guns.  They are a bit more expensive, but also highly reliable and easy to operate.  S&W makes several models designed for women under the name of "Lady Smith".  The issue with the snubbie revolvers is that while concealable, they have a low ammo capacity and a long, fairly stiff trigger pull.  While this long trigger pull is good from a safety perspective, sometimes people with weak hands have difficulty with the trigger pull.  The other issue is that the gun will not be especially accurate in untrained hands once you get past around 7 yards from the target.

If you can afford it, another great solution is the Glock 26 subcompact in 9mm.  It is small and concealable, has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds, plus one  in the chamber, is easy to shoot well and nearly impossible to break.  One of the things I like about the Glock pistol is its utter reliability.  It is also accurate at ranges to 10 yards and beyond.  I also like the consistent and moderate trigger pull.  It is much easier to shoot than most revolvers (In my opinion...).

Whatever handgun you select.  Make sure it is absolutely RELIABLE.  I cannot stress this enough.  In terms of caliber, while I would not go below a .380 caliber, choose the largest caliber that you can shoot well.  Well placed hits in a smaller caliber are better than misses.  Also, make sure that the gun fits your hand. Depending on your physical size, some will fit better than others.  Try not to be tempted by 'bargain' pistols.  They rarely are a good choice...stick with a well know manufacturer and a standard caliber.
Best of luck to  you...hope this helps you out.

Regards,

Doug