Concealed Carry & Home Defense

Foxwell Part Two: Tips for women buying their first handgun

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By Amelia Foxwell, Z7 Tactical

The importance of fit & function: fit your hand, your body, your gun.

There are some simple things to remember about fit and some more complex decisions you will have to ponder. 

1) How the gun feels over a glass counter has little to do with how it will feel defending your life. Do not buy a gun before you have shot that specific model, preferably repeatedly and under duress. 

2) Your grip and the fit of the gun in your hand is paramount above all and proper fit can fix a variety of issues you may have. 

3) If you are going to carry concealed the gun must also fit your body. There are many great women’s concealed holsters out there ( I will cover this next time) but none of them can conceal a cannon on a petite woman. 

4) The age old male adage is that women’s hands are too small for most guns. I personally am a freak of nature and have bigger hands than many men, however there is some validity to this stereotype. This simply means that not all guns will fit your hand. 

5)When you hold a pistol make sure the webbing between your index finger and your thumb is flush with the grip with no gap. If you can grip the pistol firmly with your middle, ring and pinky finger and your index finger (when stretched straight out) can reach the front of the trigger guard, your hand is physically big enough for the gun. That said there is  more to a good grip and this is where a good firearms instructor comes in riding a grand white stallion. 

Function- pick the right gun for the job 

Just as one size does not fit all one type does not fit all. When you select a gun think long and hard about how, where and why you are going to use it. Being realistic here is important. 

How- Sporting, competition and defense all use different firearms. Make sure to pick the one that is made for your use. This is where research and reviews will come into play. 

Caliber is also a consideration. Do not be afraid of larger caliber guns. Your solid capable grip will negate all of those fears. Depending on your environment and security concerns you will want different calibers and different types of ammunition. For defense I always recommend a .40 or .45 and a hollow point. However opinions are like ex boyfriends… and I am sure you will see many differing ones in the comments below this article. 

Where- Where you keep your gun will dictate the right gun for you. If you want to keep a gun in your glove box or on your nightstand different guns will work for you  than if  you want to carry one. Please, if you are planning on carrying your gun with you, carry it with you. Off body carry like purse holsters have many risks associated with them. 

Weight of a gun is important to consider in terms of how you will carry it. This is kind of common sense but what may not seem like a lot of weight can become an issue depending on your use. This is all a matter of considering your life and your security concerns and doing some research. I will be happy to answer specific questions and make recommendations for firearms you can try out. Just drop me an email. 

Why- “Hey lady why do you think you need such a big gun?” 

Aside from sporting or competition we own guns to provide us with a tool to defend ourselves. We each have different safety concerns and largely they will dictate what kind of gun makes us feel confident in our ability to defend ourselves. 

If you look at it and think that looks a little small or the caliber may be a bit small it will not give you the peace of mind you are looking for. There is the “Any gun will do if you will do” Dr. P school of thought, however when we buy our first handgun we generally have not achieved gunslinger status and being confident in a gun’s capability and fortitude helps us mentally gain strength. 

If your why is defense you want something that makes you feel safe, plain and simple. Trust your gut. If it fits your hand, your body, your budget and your needs, you have found  the key to your empowerment. That  is what this entire exercise is about. Buy a gun that empowers you and then continue to build upon that with your training. The gun you buy is just a tool, you are the real weapon. 

Welcome to a brave new world ladies. I hope to meet you at the range.

Part one of “Tips for women buying their first handgun” is available by clicking here.

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Amelia Foxwell is a women’s self-defense instructor as well as the Course Coordinator and a founder of Z7 Tactical. Ms. Foxwell is a Masters student and a mother who travels extensively both within CONUS and OCONUS hosting training and developing relationships with instructors and students. Amelia can by reached by email, Gunsareforgirls@yahoo.com

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