Nailing down the handgun(s)

[ASH556]

I have my rifles and shotgun where they need to be. I thought I was all set with my pistols, but lately I'm beginning to wonder. I have a pair of 9mm M&P's. One sits at home with an AAC EVO-9 silencer, Surefire X300, DG switch, and Crimson Trace grips...it's a really nice setup. The other is a daily carry gun with factory night sights and an X300 light.

Here's my thing, my wife is not a gun person. She'll shoot something if I put it in her hands, but she's requested that I pick one, show her how to use it, and let it be. So, that being said, I don't think the suppressed M&P setup is going to be that gun...it just has too much going on. I set it up with the light and laser and DG switch so it was all ready to go just by picking it up, but I think there are some issues with it:

1) It's big, physically and therefore a little intimidating
2) The suppressor is registered to me individually and not on my trust because I got it before we were together, so her using it, especially if I'm out of town could present legal issues.
3) Because if its size, she's also very unlikely to take it with her while walking the dog, baby, etc.
4) If it were to malfunction, she wouldn't know how to clear it, and is not likely to train to the point where it would become the immediate response that it needs to be.

So, with all of that said, there's another issue:

My carry M&P is not making me happy in the accuracy department. Yes, I know it's somewhat of a "known" issue and I could pay for a barrel, etc. Still, I'm wondering if I'm better off switching platforms. I initially tried to defend the M&P and have shot pretty good groups with it at 25 yds, like the 4" group shown below with one "flier." However, after shooting the pistol some more including some time on sand bags, I've discovered the following:

1) The gun is very ammo sensitive in terms of accuracy
2) Those "fliers" weren't me. Even on sandbags, the pistol would always throw one or two rounds that would open the group from 3 or 4 inches to 6 or 8 inches @ 25yds. As a civilian carrying the pistol, that's not a good margin of error to begin with.



So here's what I'm thinking:

Ditch both M&P's with all the mags, lasergrips, light (keep one X300), switch, etc.

Also ditch the 9mm silencer...probably not worth much, but I bet I could get $300 or so for it.

1) Buy an S&W 642 with Lasergrips and an Apex trigger kit for my wife. This will also serve as a good pocket carry gun for when we run out to the grocery store in the evenings and I have on basketball shorts or something.

My reasoning on the 642 beyond the general common sense about such things is my experience with my 55 year old mother. My stepdad travels a lot for work and she expressed interest in having a gun at home. I, of course, had some things in mind, but told her to meet me at the range. My idea was to let her shoot several different guns and choose the one she wanted (still within a certain criteria of quality weapons). She chose the 642 hands-down, but with a laser because her aging eyes didn't allow her to easily use the small sights. Once we got the pistol with laser grips set up for her, she was able to keep 5 shots inside a 2" group off-hand @ 7yds with a decent firing cadence. This is a woman who has never fired a pistol before and with just some brief coaching by me. I feel my wife would have a similar experience and the 642 would be much less intimidating.

2) Buy a new primary carry pistol for myself. Before switching to the M&P 2 years ago, I carried and shot it competition a Glock 19 for 8 years. It was a Gen3 gun, and never gave me a moment's trouble function-wise, but the grip was just something I never enjoyed. I mean, I could make it work, but it took work. Before switching to the M&P I considered having a grip reduction done to remove the hump, but I decided to try the M&P instead.

I figure with selling both guns and all the other gear that should give me $1,300 or so without the silencer...$1600 or so with the silencer.

A new 642 from work is like $370 + CT grips pro-deal @ $120 + Apex spring kit $26 = $516.

So, that leaves me $784 to play with to get a new carry pistol. Preferably that would include a holster and a good set of sights too, but I can fudge +/- $100.

Bottom line questions:

1) Does the 642 setup sound to you like the better way to go for the wife?

2) Recommendations on a new primary carry pistol for me? I work at a shop and handle the stupid things all day, so I can talk myself into and out of all of them...one of the curses of the job I guess. Part of me says just go back to a Glock, but I really don't want to deal with that stupid grip...the pros are availability of mags, parts, and holsters, though.

I don't care for a DA/SA gun, but the accuracy of something like a Sig appeals to me. The pistol must have a rail for an X300. Really prefer to stay with 9mm. Availability of mags and spares is a priority with anything I choose. XD is not a contender. Maybe a PPQ, but I've read some striker issues with them, and am not sure about the differences with the Gen 1 and Gen 2.

Thanks in advance for any and all input!

[gtmtnbiker98]

J-frames are poor choices for new shooters and truth be told, are poor choices for those not willing to put forth the time and effort to master. I'd let her choose the handgun and you support that choice. Just my .02.

[Pi3]

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...104659&page=20
Why not just get a storm lake fitted barrel? Won't that be less costly in the long run?

[Father of 3]

Have you considered the 9c? From what I've read and experienced with my brother-in-laws 9c, the 9c's don't tend to have the same accuracy issues as the FS models.

Is the threaded barrel for your other M&P from S&W or aftermarket?

Test its accuracy out to the same distance w/o the suppressor and see what you get. If its better than your other, keep it as your primary CCW since its tricked out and sell the other to fund a 9c for the wifey.

Or sell the tricked out one and buy a 9c and a KKM fitted barrel for your current carry model. With the laser grips and the can, you will have enough left over to buy a new barrel and maybe some night sights for the wifes.

Good luck.

[BTL BRN]

J-frames are poor choices for new shooters and truth be told, are poor choices for those not willing to put forth the time and effort to master. I'd let her choose the handgun and you support that choice. Just my .02.

I tried the revolver route with my wife a few years back, somehow I inherited another wheelie along the way.

In other words, she didn't like it; she does however do very well with a G19.

[ASH556]

Regarding the 642, the grips would be LG402 and the first box of ammo through the gun would be wadcutters. I did the same for my mother and my sister...neither had shot before and they both loved it. They were both much less comfortable with autos, which have less recoil.

I agree generally that handing someone with no experience and no training a small, light gun and just letting them run is a bad idea. However, stepping them through the process as I did with my mother generally yields the 642 as the best option. I'll get to the range with my mom's 642 and let my wife shoot it first to make sure she doesn't hate it...I'll let her shoot some other stuff too, but she's looking at it as a tool, not a comfortable, enjoyable thing.

[Tennvol12345]

My wife does pretty well with her snub nose model 60. Bobbed hammer and trigger job from the performance center. Gun also has CTC grips and is loaded with Critical defense standard pressure rounds.

Wheel gun is the best option for her since she doesn't have the strength to manipulate the slide on a semi auto.

For reference she is 5'0 and 95 lbs.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

[srcochran49]

I agree with the choice of a j frame Smith, and your plan to start off with wadcutters for your wife.

As for your carry gun, why not consider one of the HK models. Since you can purchase at a discount, they should fit your budget. A LEM trigger variant would eliminate the da/sa, if you dislike that.

[RHINOWSO]

As others have said, J-frames are often a poor choice for casual shooters, women AND men.

Take her to the store and let her try some out, see what feels good in her hand, etc.

For you, I don't know. I use HKs Light LEMs primarily with some pocket gun carry / BUG options (442, LCP). I personally hate change just for changes sake.

I'd keep the suppressor, hard to get rid of any your gonna lose $$$.

But hey, it's a free country.

[SteveS]

My wife has a S@W 642 and shoots it about every 3 years and she can shoot the J frame as good as it needs to shot.
The J frame is handy. It may not be the ultimate handgun to go to war with .