Best Handgun For Women: Top 9 Picks Reviewed In 2024
Basically, the best handguns for women are easy to manage and use as concealed-carry weapons. With that said, there are plenty of excellent handguns that deserve to be called the best. Practically speaking, it is hard to choose one because it all comes down to preference, budget, and what features are important to you.
So let’s start with discovering the best handguns for women to buy. In the end, you can hopefully find the best handgun for women that fits your liking and needs. Here you go; take a look at the top picks in the market today.
Admit it or not, women are often targeted by bad people and criminals. They see women as vulnerable targets, which is why it is essential for women to protect themselves and prove that they are not weak. While self-defense weapons are primarily the go-to choice for women, it is never too much to have the best handgun for women. In fact, a handgun is a reliable weapon for women who don’t want to rely on other people to defend themselves.
Surely, this is the right time to bust the myth of women being a weak target outside and the misconception about what type of firearms are best for women. No worries, this guide will help you find the best handgun for women. So if you are a woman looking for the right weapon that you can depend on to protect yourself when you are alone or outside, this post is exactly what it covers. Let’s discover the best handguns suitable for women in the market today.
Let’s roll.
9 Best Handguns For Women
Remarkably, handguns are designed to be amazing tools for several applications, such as self-defense, concealed carry, target shooting, hunting, and home defense. What’s amazing is that handguns are built to suit women. In fact, the best handguns for women are slim and lightweight. They also boast comfortable grip, being compact yet powerful.
Basically, the best handguns for women are easy to manage and use as concealed-carry weapons. With that said, there are plenty of excellent handguns that deserve to be called the best. Practically speaking, it is hard to choose one because it all comes down to preference, budget, and what features are important to you.
So let’s start with discovering the best handguns for women to buy. In the end, you can hopefully find the best handgun for women that fits your liking and needs. Here you go; take a look at the top picks in the market today.
1. Sig Sauer P365XL 9mm Pistol
Starting the list greatly is the Sig Sauer P365XL 9mm Pistol. What makes it fantastic is that it is among the most popular concealed-carry guns of today. One of the top reasons it is well-known is its increased magazine capacity in a micro-compact frame. It is an improved handgun model that suits women searching for a micro-compact handgun that is perfect for all-day concealed carry. Simply put, it is ideal for women to carry.
Besides being popular for having a small size and well-thought design, this best gun for women can fire flawlessly for a solid self-defense guarantee. Also, it features a lengthened slide, barrel, and grip. These components allow the firearm to utilize a 12-round, flush-fit magazine. It is a little different compared to the original P365 that comes with an extended 12-round magazine. Remarkably, its longer barrel and increased sight radius aid in aiming shooting targets.
Other outstanding features of the Sig Sauer P365XL 9mm Pistol include an integrated carry magwell and an extended beavertail. At the same time, it is optics-ready, which lets you freely improve your shooting experience with this handgun. More than that, it is equipped with a flat trigger with a 90-degree break, ensuring smooth and consistent shooting results. With how it is designed, there is no doubt that it is suitable for everyday carry applications.
From having a small size that perfectly fits women’s hands, lightweight and low-profile design to an elegant and high-quality build, the reason is obvious why this handgun model is one of the best handguns for women in the market today.
2. Ruger Security-9 Semi-Auto Pistol
Flaunting a sleek design, the Ruger Security-9 Semi-Auto Pistol appears to be highly suitable for women to use. It doesn’t look too intimidating, so you can carry it for everyday use as a self-defense weapon. What makes it impressive is it operates with the same Secure Action used in the LCP II. That’s why you can expect it to deliver a smooth trigger pull for a better shooting experience. Ultimately, it stands out because of its superior reliability, which makes it highly dependable during a time of need.
Additionally, the Secure Action system gives another benefit, making it a better handgun model compared to other similar-size striker-fired pistols. It gives more than a smooth trigger pull for consistent shooting. Even though it looks fancy and cute, you can expect it to do the job right. The combined trigger safety and manual thumb safety, on the other hand, ensures that the gun is safe, especially for beginners. The safety features guarantee a reliable handling advantage and will not cause accidents, even when dropped.
Moreover, this semi-auto pistol features a durable frame that is constructed from combined glass-filled nylon and a precision-machined, hard-coated aluminum chassis. It has a solid build that can survive hard everyday use. The frame is designed to contact the slide with full-length guide rails, proving the handgun improved slide manipulation and control. Meanwhile, the dovetailed 3-dot sights deliver intuitive target acquisition perks.
With a compact design that ensures easy concealment, the Ruger Security-9 Semi-Auto Pistol does everything expected from it as a reliable handgun for an amazing price. Don’t let the price deter you from getting it. After all, it is wonderful to shoot and comfortable to carry as an everyday companion. You can have peace of mind with this.
3. Glock 19 Gen5 Semi-Auto Pistol
A premium and upgraded handgun—that’s exactly the Glock 19 Gen5 Semi-Auto Pistol. In fact, it is a happy medium model between the sub-compact Glock 26 and the full-size Glock 17. That’s why there is no wonder that it is a popular handgun choice among many law enforcement agencies worldwide, and it also makes a reliable handgun for women for concealed carry applications. Jam-packed with outstanding features, this Glock model can be a solid companion.
Since this handgun is a premium choice, it makes sense that it doesn’t come cheap. Well, quality costs money. The good thing about this handgun is that its features are highly functional and come with great perks. For starters, it is equipped with similar popular and high-end upgrades as Generation 5 GLOCK pistols. The highlight of its construction is the overall elimination of leaf springs and replacing them with new coil spring designs—this provides the pistol with increased longevity and reliability.
Interestingly, this Glock 19 is ideal for both left-handed and right-handed shooters. The ambidextrous slide release and reversible magazine catch cause that perk. So it really doesn’t matter which is your dominant hand because you can quickly familiarize yourself with shooting with this gun after just a few practices. If you want a gun that you can shoot comfortably without any issues, this one is the obvious choice you need to get. The comfort in use is enough as a return for your money.
Moreover, this Glock 19 Gen5 Semi-Auto Pistol is designed with bevels for easier reholstering. That’s why there won’t be any trouble regarding carrying it every day. It will not cause any issues when kept close to the body using a gun belt. Meanwhile, the included GLOCK’s Modular Backstrap System can let you freely add or remove additional backstop pieces, such as a beaver tail, which is good for larger hands to prevent issues with slide bites. Definitely, it is not bad if you happen to have larger hands.
In terms of construction, this Glock 19 pistol comes with a slide and barrel that are made from GLOCK’s latest ion-bonded nDLC coating. This is a great-quality coating that incorporates a truer black advantage that gives the gun an improved ability to function in dry conditions. Meanwhile, the long-requested feature—the front strap no longer has finger grooves—suits any finger size to fit comfortably around the grip. The bottom line is that it is surely comfortable to use at all times.
With how the Glock 19 Gen5 is constructed, it is a premium handgun choice that is friendly for beginners. All in all, it is compact and powerful, which can be a reliable and versatile companion for different shooting purposes.
4. Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Double-Action Revolver
Like handguns, revolvers are another go-to option for the best handguns for women. If you are looking for one, the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Double-Action Revolver makes an excellent choice for several good reasons. For starters, it boasts excellent construction with an aluminum cylinder frame that integrates a barrel/ejector rod shroud, while its cylinder is built from PVD-coated stainless steel. With that said, you can expect a long lifespan from it, promoting long-time use.
Unlike other revolvers, this model boasts a reduced weight, which makes it easy to control and shoot. Such issues about it being heavy is rare to happen. Impressively, the reduced weight is caused by the lower frame assembly—the grip frame and trigger guard—being made from a light polymer material. Thanks to that, it fits concealed carry applications, using a gun belt, pocket, and holster. It will never snag and only stay in place because it is designed with a concealed hammer.
Moreover, this revolver for women is equipped with sights, such as a fixed, grooved rear sight and a pinned, fast-draw front sight. Because of their presence in the gun, you can actually achieve a quick shooting experience with it. Meanwhile, the ambidextrous cylinder release lever designed on the upper-rear portion of the cylinder frame lets you freely use it using either hand. You can also quickly alternate without encountering any trouble. Hence, it makes sense why it has fast handling perks.
Ultimately, the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Double-Action Revolver makes the perfect concealed-carry handgun companion outside since it is created lightweight and for fast handling. This won’t disappoint you if you are searching for a reliable handgun you can count on performing flawlessly during stressful personal defense situations.
5. Taurus G2c Semi-Auto Pistol
Compared to other handguns for women on the list, the Taurus G2c Semi-Auto Pistol is more in the budget-friendly range. The best selling point of this handgun is its excellent durability and reliability advantages, but it is still available at a great price point. Despite being not too pricey, you can still make sure that you will never make a bad choice getting this if you are on a budget. In short, it is never inferior to more costly handguns.
In terms of operation, this pistol functions using a striker-fired mechanism that comes with trigger safety and manual thumb safety features. Definitely, it doesn’t look cheap if you will check out what it is made of. Its polymer frame is created with aggressive texturing on the grip surfaces, promoting enhanced control. Even if you have a beginner’s skill in shooting, you will encounter no trouble with this semi-auto pistol. Plus, it has a nice compact size that exceeds expectations.
Moreover, this compact pistol has an integral accessory rail that gives you the freedom to attach any aftermarket sights and lights. Adding to that, it features a fixed front sight with an adjustable rear sight that can help you achieve precise shot placement using a variety of ammunition. That’s why it is an awesome, fun little gun to shoot for accurate results. Perfect for daily carry, you can count on its amazing quality and dependability.
Another great thing about this Taurus G2c Semi-Auto Pistol is it field strips easily for easy and time-saving cleaning and maintenance. This is the best go-to choice to pick if you are searching for a reliable handgun for daily carry that will not cost you much. Hence, it proves that you don’t have to invest a lot of money just to have a firearm you can comfortably use for better safety outside.
6. Sig Sauer P238 Scorpion Semi-Auto Pistol
Sporting a shocking and attractive small size, the Sig Sauer P238 Scorpion Semi-Auto Pistol is a superb micro-carry handgun to pick if you want a small but terrible weapon for self-defense. Also, it has an amazing luxurious feel that makes it a fancy choice. While there is great attention to its style and look, you can still trust that you can count on its power for defense and protection. Hence, you can have peace of mind.
Certainly, this pistol model is among the classic, elegant pistols you can find in the market today. This fact is quite obvious in its overall construction. Contrary to other handguns for women that are made from a polymer material, it features an aluminum frame that provides a one-of-a-kind luxurious feel. This means it highly suits women’s hands. It is also highly comfortable to hold and grip because of the high-tang beavertail.
Along with high grip and control, this handgun is great for producing less amount of recoil than others. It has just the right amount of power suitable for women, not too much so that you can use this well using beginner’s skill. Meanwhile, the manual thumb safety is ambidextrous, so it is easy to use, no matter whether you are left-handed or right-handed. There’s no time to waste when it comes to familiarizing yourself with it. After all, the trigger is smooth to use and breaks incredibly fast.
All in all, the Sig Sauer P238 Scorpion Semi-Auto Pistol can impress you with its top-notch texture and control, proving it is the best classic, elegant handgun for women you can buy. It is impressively attractive with its combined flat dark earth finish and black anodized controls. Design-wise, there is no doubt that it is the best handgun for women.
7. Springfield Armory XD-E Semi-Auto Pistol
Ergonomically designed to be slim and trim, the Springfield Armory XD-E Semi-Auto Pistol is undeniably great for concealed carry applications. What makes it best is that it utilizes a hammer instead of the original striker-fired XD pistols. The primary advantage of choosing a hammer is that it requires much less effort to rack the slide for loading or clearing. In terms of operation, it surely fits to be handled by women.
Additionally, this handgun is equipped with a double/single-action trigger, which allows you to fire it instinctively in double-action or with a deliberate, precise aim in single-action mode. Meanwhile, the single-stack magazine has dramatically increased concealability due to the decreased width of the grip frame. This means that it is more effortless to carry concealed for self-defense advantage. Using a holster or gun belt, you can keep it close to your body.
Moreover, the ambidextrous thumb safety ensures no-accident events to worry about in terms of carrying the pistol cocked and locked. The safety feature also serves as a decocker. Besides that, the durable polymer frame with GripZone ensures that this handgun guarantees a solid, non-slip hold. No wonder it is suitable to be owned by women and beginner shooters. Thanks to its Point and Shoot Ergonomics feature, it supports great focus on the target for better shooting results.
Besides the ambidextrous thumb safety, this semi-auto pistol is jam-packed with an articulated safety lever. Hence, it proves that it is well-built for amazing use that is worth investing in. Not only that, but it has a forged steel slide created with a Melonite coating that gives solid protection against wear and corrosion. Therefore, it can withstand hard use and intense weather conditions. Also, the sights included makes it an ideal companion in dim or bright lighting situations. It will never fail to be a dependable self-defense weapon for women.
This Springfield Armory XD-E Semi-Auto Pistol is designed to fieldstrip easily with no tools and professional skills required for cleaning and maintaining it. That’s why you can expect it to have a long lifespan, giving you more than it’s worth. So, if you need an easy-to-conceal lightweight handgun, this makes a nice choice.
8. GLOCK 20 Gen 4 Semi-Auto Pistol
Searching for the best handgun for women that is suitable for hunting applications? If that’s the case, you need to discover the GLOCK 20 Gen 4 Semi-Auto Pistol. What makes it one of the best is it chambered in the powerful and all-too-capable 10mm Auto. With just a few uses, you can quickly realize why it is among the favorite handguns in the community. Even in a big hunting game, it can produce safe finishing shots.
Featuring a high-quality polymer frame combined with an innovative modular back strap system, this handgun ensures drastically reduced recoil and a custom grip advantage for added control. As a matter of fact, you can still have a solid and sure hold, even if your hands are sweaty or completely wet. The rough texturing designed on the frame supports a no-trouble hold, which is an excellent perk when hunting.
Like other well-designed handguns for women, this model also incorporates an ambidextrous, reversible magazine latch. So, this handgun is obviously suitable for both right-handed and left-handed shooters. Meanwhile, it also comes with a dual recoil spring assembly, which helps with increasing the service life, adding recoil mitigation, and effectively reducing muzzle flips for faster follow-up shots. The bottom line is that making this handgun a hunting companion will never be a mistake.
This GLOCK 20 Gen 4 also has great customization that allows you to attach any aftermarket laser lights or tactical flashlights, which makes hunting in dim-light situations more bearable. Plus, sight acquisition quickly functions in any light. That’s why there is no doubt that it is an ultra-reliable handgun—easy to operate and maintain, so it is a favorite. It operates with three standard 15-round or three 10-round magazines, it complies well with various city or state restrictions.
One thing is sure, the GLOCK 20 Gen 4 Semi-Auto Pistol is a go-to choice for hunting adventures.
9. Ruger Wrangler Single-Action Rimfire Revolver
One thing that you will like about the Ruger Wrangler Single-Action Rimfire Revolver is its phenomenal bargain price and power since it is chambered with affordable .22 LR ammo. That’s why it makes a perfect sidearm for defense. You can effectively take care of varmints and pests using this handgun. Life on the farm or ranch is better with the help of this handgun.
Moreover, this handgun is made with a cold, hammer-forged barrel that features 1:14 rifling. So, it undoubtedly comes with the accuracy needed to get rid of pests. Thanks to its aluminum alloy frame, it boasts a quick-drawing, lightweight feel. You can expect that it always feels amazing to use it for different shooting purposes. The checkered synthetic grips bring a confident grip and extra shooting control to help get the job done right.
While this revolver is in the budget-friendly price range, you can’t expect anything less with this. In fact, it is equipped with a transfer bar and loading gate interlocks, which virtually eliminate accidental discharges. The blade front and integral notch rear sights, on the other hand, promote excellent straight-shooting accuracy to guarantee that it works exactly as you expect it. Sounds great, right? Well, it is since it will not cost you much.
This Ruger Wrangler Single-Action Rimfire Revolver looks classy in its Silver Cerakote Finish. Impressively, the finish brings more than just beauty since it provides solid protection against rust, keeping its good look even if it is consistently subjected to bad weather and harsh use.
Best Handgun For Women Buying Guide
When it comes to buying the best handgun for women, you must understand that it is important to have a buying guide. Judging a handgun model based on important factors will ensure you get the best handgun that precisely fits your needs and preferences. Here are some of the most crucial factors to consider:
Size
Since there are different types of handguns, it is not surprising that they vary in size, which is a big deal for concealed carry applications. Also, the grip size is another crucial thing to consider. For the best handgun for women, it is best to pick compact and ultra-compact models. They are easy to carry and are ultra-reliable everyday weapons.
Luckily, the handguns that completed the list above have the ideal size suitable for women. So feel free to get one.
Capacity
Most of the time, when you need a firearm, it will not be a drawn-out firefight. So it will end quickly. Nonetheless, it will never be bad to have plenty of ammunition on hand, just in case. Standard handguns tend to have higher capacity compared to revolvers. Yet, revolvers are more reliable and safer to use.
No matter which one you pick, this guide review covers both handguns and revolvers, so you are really in the right place.
Customization
Generally, handguns are designed with innovative customization, featuring custom grips, triggers, rails, and slides that effectively improve the shooting experience. In addition, some models come with interchangeable back straps that are great for small and large hands. For accessories, most handguns that are on the list above are optics-ready. Therefore, they are great to choose from.
Price
Whether you admit it or not, price is a crucial buying guide factor. In fact, it is a great influencer that you will not be too impressed with a pricey handgun if you are working on a tight budget. Good thing this guide covers handguns in varying price ranges so you can find one that fits your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQs section will give you more relevant information related to the best handgun for women and other similar topics. Check out the questions below to learn more.
What is a good caliber for women?
There are different good options of gun caliber for women. Small handguns that are chambered with .380 ACP or 9mm ammunition are the ideal options to choose from since these calibers have enough power to effectively halt a threat. More importantly, they cause recoil light enough to manage comfortably by women’s strength and skills.
Is a revolver a good handgun for women?
Revolvers are designed lacking complex mechanisms, which makes them smaller, lighter, and easier to handle than other types of handguns. Because of that, a revolver is an excellent choice for women who are looking for a reliable handgun, ideal for self-defense and excellent shooting practice experience.
Is 9mm enough for self-defense applications?
Interestingly, 9mm is more than enough for self-defense applications. In fact, it has been a choice for a long period and even effectively secured its place in the firearms world. That’s why 9mm is one of the best options for self-defense, regardless of where you are on your self-defense journey.
Is a Glock good for a beginner?
While Glocks, like the Glock 19, have no significant changes in the design for the past generations, they still make a reliable handgun for beginners. Additionally, due to their popularity in accepting different accessories, they are great starter firearms for most people.
Moreover, a Glock, like the Glock 19, is good for a beginner because of being fairly lightweight, with a positive and short reset that makes shooting the firearm easy to manage. No excessive recoil, which ensures that it is easy to control.
Why are revolvers better than pistols?
Revolvers and pistols are among the top picks for the best handguns for women. Because of that, they are often compared to each other, which sometimes makes revolvers better than pistols.
Remarkably, revolvers are well-known and prized for their impressive mechanical reliability and simplicity of use. They are designed non-depended on the ammunition to index the cylinder and fire. Thanks to that, they can fire various ammunition types—from low-pressure target loads to full-power combat loads. This is an evident advantage that makes revolvers better.
Definitely, a revolver is a hard-to-beat choice for a first home-defense firearm. More than that, a high-quality revolver will not disappoint you if you are searching for an ideal handgun to conceal carry.
Which Glock is good for small hands?
There are a lot of Glock models that fit to be handguns for women. But for those who have small hands, the Glock G43X makes an ideal option since it comes with a slimline frame, compact-sized grip, and short trigger reach. Also, it is a Glock model that is easy to conceal and operate. What makes it worth buying is its slightly longer frame for increased accuracy and lightweight design that makes it great for everyday carry.
Are revolvers good for beginners?
Revolvers are good for beginners since they are powerful to shoot, which gives ultimate protection in terms of preventing criminals. Also, it is noteworthy to know that these handguns can be too big for newbies. So, there can be some issues regarding the safe shooting experience. Too big guns can be challenging to shoot because of the grip and safety handle. Nonetheless, there are models of revolvers that are surely great for beginners, like the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Double-Action Revolver and Ruger Wrangler Single-Action Rimfire Revolver.
Which is safer: a pistol or a revolver?
Misfires can happen to any type of handgun and primarily present safety risks when you need to have the ability to fire quickly. When it comes to misfires, revolvers are actually considered to be safer compared to pistols. The reason for that safety advantage is the unique design of revolvers. In fact, when you encounter a misfire in a revolver, all you need to do is to rotate to the next chamber.
Conversely, it needs better precautions in pistols because the defective cartridge they have needs to be ejected first. Ultimately, that’s how revolvers are safer.
Where to buy the best handguns for women online?
Nowadays, firearms are great to buy on online sites. As long as you are purchasing from trustworthy online sites, you are good. Besides safety, it is also a bonus that most online sites offer lower prices along with great discounts and deals. As for the best handguns for women, they are great to buy from reliable online sites, including Brownells, Cabela’s, and Palmetto State Armory. Remember not to go to suspicious sites.
Final Thoughts
Being a woman comes with different threats. That’s why it is a relief that the best handguns for women exist. So, you can always have a weapon you can count on to protect yourself. Essentially, this guide is created to help you find the best handgun for women that meets your standards. Let’s have a short recap if you think it will be too time-consuming to check each handgun model using several factors. Instead, let’s focus on the best applications for each model.
For instance, the Sig Sauer P365XL 9mm Pistol is the best handgun for concealed carry and self-defense due to its lightweight and low-profile design and several other good reasons. Meanwhile, the Ruger Security-9 Semi-Auto Pistol can impress you with its top-notch reliability and functionality, making it great for beginners. The Taurus G2c Semi-Auto Pistol is a little, fun handgun to carry and shoot.
Moreover, the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Double-Action Revolver is a go-to handgun that delivers flawless performance during stressful personal defense situations. Really, the list above won’t disappoint you. Hopefully, you can choose from them. Always go for the best handgun model that feels most comfortable to use in any situation.
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