My wife is thinking about getting into pistol shooting. Do you guys have any suggestions on what she should think about? I know very little about this. I have shot many pistols from a 9mm to a 44 mag, but that is it. I know not to let her start with a large gun. I would like to have an idea when we go to the store on what questions to ask and have an idea of what to look for.

Thanks
Mike

Why not start her with a nice .22 that feels good to her? Low report and negligible recoil could help develop good shooting form before moving on to a larger caliber.

Ditto

Rimfire is a great place to start. One great reason is you don't have to scrounge for your brass to reload and ammo cost is another great reason.
The Ruger MK2 is a reasonably priced handgun and you can find plenty of aftermarket goodies. The MK3 is probably good also but I have never handled one.
IF she decides to get rid of the gun the Ruger will hold it's value well if the original purchase price was a good value.

If she is willing to try some pre-shopping target practice, let her sort out the caliber issue. We have had 22's, 38's, 357's, 44's & 45's around the chuckwagon here. So when Mrs Biscuit was browsing, she chose a smith and wesson hammerless. She does fine with it.

357/38 special

i agree with james

See if you can find a place that rents handguns, that would be your best option. Let her handle and shoot some different calibers and models. I have seen plenty of women that can handle 9mm, 38 and 357's just fine. However for ease of use and low cost you just can't go wrong with a .22. Heck you could even get her a .22 rifle. Most indoor ranges will allow them, and it might be more accurate for her.

I would personally suggest a ruger semi auto pistol or a browning buckmark. I have owned both and they are great guns. I prefere the buckmark to be honest, but that's just me. I am little and like the feel of the walther .22, but I have heard mixed reviews about it. Haven't shot one either.

I was going to get my girlfriend a gun, but after looking around and playing I may get her an Airsoft rifle instead. They look and feel very real but are much safer and you can shoot them in your house if you wan't. We were going to get her a walther pistol or a 10/22 rifle, but then we shot some high end electric Airsoft rifles and she really liked them. She likes the MP5 with the silencer. And as an added bonous they can shoot full auto. If you don't know what they are they shoot those yellow plastic bb's at around 3-4 hundered FPS. The one she looked at was 300 bucks though without a battery pack and charger.

She decided she wanted a new bow instead though so she got a new Hoyt Rintec in target colors. I sort of wish we would have gotten the air soft rifle now that we moved into a trailer park. We could play with it in the house if we wanted.

Paul

CZ makes a good little 9mm, and the recoil is minimal.

I've got a 357 mag that my wife loves to shoot.

I agree with jame on a 357/38 but make sure it isnt one of them superlite models couse the can kick harder then a 44