Last Updated on April 26, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
Women purchase handguns for a variety of reasons, just like men. Some women are seeking to find the right gun for competitive shooting contests, for self-defense – or both.
Not only are size, weight, and caliber the primary considerations when either a man or a woman purchases a handgun.
But, because many women with a concealed carry permit pack their handgun in a purse instead of a holster, size and weight are even more of a factor when choosing the best handgun.
Each year more and more women are proudly exercising their Second Amendment rights and learning how to use and legally carry a handgun for self-defense.
Because so many of these women are novice shooters, the caliber of the first gun they train and test with is often low.
If the woman searching for the best handgun has never fired a pistol before or even been hunting with a rifle, the “kick” from a larger caliber can often be so off-putting that the wise decision to legally arm oneself is stopped dead in its tracks.
When teaching other women how to safely handle a handgun and how to shoot for the first time, I often opt to demonstrate the action of the gun first.
I use both a low caliber handgun like a .22 and my EDC (everyday carry) self-defense pistol, a Ruger 40C.
Both the weighter and caliber of each gun is decidedly different, even though the size is roughly the same.
Before the novice female shooter puts her hands on any pistol, I have her watch me handle and shoot each handgun so she can both hear and see what happens after the trigger is squeezed.
It is far better for the woman to be startled by the sound and kick of the gun while watching it be fired than to undergo the same experience when holding the gun.
I am almost always asked to teach the friend how to shoot using the .22 and not my Ruger 40C – but have never had the woman shake her head and just walk away after seeing the higher caliber pistol be fired as far too often happens if she herself attempts to fire a .40, .380, or 9mm caliber gun on her own, first.
Basically, husband, boyfriend, or father handing a novice female shooter his EDC handgun to shoot first during the initial training session is often a recipe for failure.
Start small and then build up to a higher caliber once the woman is both more comfortable with handling firearms and proficient is round placement.
7 Best Handgun Selection Tips For Women
1. Caliber
A .22 caliber gun is just as deadly as a .40, .380, or 9mm handgun when it is in the hands of a well-trained shooter. Sure, a higher caliber gun fired outside of center mass would still most likely be demobilizing and a .22 may not. But, when trained well, hitting outside of center mass should not be an issue.
I fully advocate for a female shooter having a high caliber handgun, but just not putting such a pistol in the hands of a novice that may not have the ability to handle it – causing her (or him) to walk away from learning how to shoot.
2. Size
Size matters from a variety of perspectives. The best handguns for women who want to carry a firearm in their purse or covertly on their person must be lightweight and compact.
If the handgun is going to be kept as a home defense weapon and not be used for concealed carry or open carry purposes, the size of the gun matters a bit less. But, if the woman has small hands, the best handgun for her would be one that is small regardless of where it would be kept.
The length of the grip is also highly important, especially for both novice shooters and those women transitioning to a higher caliber gun. If the woman holding the firearm does not feet the grip is long enough for her to firmly grasp, she often does not feel in control of the pistol. This is especially important when using a higher caliber firearms because of the more intense recoil the shooter will experience.
A shooter afraid that the gun with “jump” out of her hand will be neither confident nor accurate when squeezing the trigger.
3. Recoil
A handgun with a light recoil is best for a women or novice shooter. Repeated firing of such a pistol during training is far less likely to make the shooter’s arm sore or tired. The lighter recoil can also allow for a quicker recovery and fresh aiming in between rounds fired.
A compact handgun can still possess a hard recoil and a heavy pistol could have a light recoil. The recoil on a handgun is determined by not only the caliber of the gun, but its size and weight, as well.
The only real way to decide how much recoil is comfortable is by handing and then shooting various prospective handguns – before buying.
4. Weight
As noted above, weight is a factor that must be considered from both a recoil and an everyday carry perspective.
A gun that is too heavy to comfortably be packed either on your person or in a purse that you carry will not be carried for very long – completely defeating the personal protection and self-defense reasons for the handgun in the first place.
5. Safety Features
The safety features on every handgun can vary widely. Even in our modern world women are still the primary caregivers for children.
No mother or grandmother wants to worry about the gun they purchased to keep themselves and their family safe “accidentally going off” because the safety features it possesses did not meet the needs of its owner.
It is often of the utmost importance for a handgun carried by a woman to have both a manual safety and both a heavy trigger to help prevent accidental firing if the handgun is dropped if there is a round chambered.
Even the most responsible gun owner considers what could happen if the unthinkable happens and the gun is touched by someone who has no business handling it.
Gun safety, especially around children must remain a priority for all shooters, both male and female alike.
Owning a gun with the most secure and advanced safety features – combined with teaching gun safety to children while responsibly carrying and storing the gun, can help prevent accidental firearms injuries.
6. Magazine Capacity
How many rounds the chosen handgun is capable of handling may not be a first consideration by a novice shooter, but it is an important one, all the same.
Not only will the magazine capacity determine how many rounds you can fire without having to pause, it can also elongate the grip area on the gun as well as make the handgun larger and heavier to carry.
7. Comfort
A handgun with an ergonomic and textured grip will not only fit in the hand nicely and but can also bolster the confidence of a novice female shooter that she indeed can hold onto the gun firmly and be in complete control while firing.
Top 5 Handguns For Women
The guns on this list are highlighted as a “move up” guide for women shooters who are ready to transition past a .22 caliber pistol.
1. SIG P365
The grip on this 9mm handgun is comfortable and suitable for women with small hands. The SIG P365 was heralded as the 2019 Handgun of the Year by Shooting Illustrated as well as receiving similar honors in 2018 by Guns & Ammo.
2. Ruger 40C
The Ruger 40C is my favorite concealed carry handgun. It has a grip that you can hold onto even with wet or sticky hands. It has a little more weight to it than most purse guns, but it is durable, reliable, and can accommodate a 15 round magazine.
3. Kimber Micro 9
The Kimber Micro 9 is a reliable compact handgun created on a 1911 frame. The quick magazine release makes rapid reloading a breeze. It weighs a little less than 16 ounces and is barely six inches overall – making it a perfect concealed carry gun for women.
4. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield
The lightweight build on this slim 9mm M&P Shield also makes it a superb purse or on person concealed carry gun for women. It may not have exactly been designed with small hand shooters in mind, but works perfectly for that purpose.
The long grip on this Smith & Wesson helps to curtail the impact of the recoil. is a lightweight and slim 9mm pistol that is easy to shoot and highly concealable.
5. Ruger LC9s
The extreme durability and accuracy of Ruger pistols is fully felt in this less than 18 ounce handgun. Not only does this Ruger model boast a manual safety it also has an integrated trigger safety and easy to hit magazine disconnect feature.
This is what my Ruger 40C looks like when the safety is on but a round is chambered. Notice the white dot on the end of the gun screen right. That alerts you to the safety being set. On the top of the gun slide you can see a red line on a silver lever – this alerts you to the fact that a round is chambered. While the appearance of a safety being set and a round being chambered varies by gun brand and caliber, every handgun that has a safety setting component will feature indicators similar to those shown.
In this photo, you see the imprint on top of the lever that alerts you to the fact that a round has been chambered and the gun is loaded. You can also see a 40 caliber round angled up to go through the slide and into the barrel of the gun.
The finger on the magazine release button on the grip of the handgun.
My daughter is demonstrating the proper posture and cupped hand manner of aiming and holding a handgun.
A demonstration of how to load a magazine into the handgun. Note the barrel of the ground pointing to the ground. Always point the barrel away from people or to the ground even. Always handle every firearm as if it is loaded with a round in the chamber.
Keep your finger along the side of the slide and not the trigger when aiming until you are ready to shoot.
Concealed Weapons
Garnering concealed carry insurance is not required for gun owners in the United States. However, reviewing what CCW insurance programs have to offer – many include legal guidance and services, could be highly beneficial if you have need to use your handgun to defend yourself, your loved ones, or your home.
Final Thoughts
The best handgun for women should be both compact and lightweight. Fortunately for us ladies, there are a myriad of quality models currently on the market that fit that exact bill.
Because record numbers of women are training to shoot and getting concealed carry permits, manufacturers are considering our wants and needs when creating new models, styles, and accessories.