I realize this is a pretty old thread by now, but I'll post my opinion nonetheless.


Last Christmas my wife and I decided to get my mom a self defense pistol, we had a long time to choose and settled on a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ .380, as it's a lightweight (weighs in at just 19 ounces and this is important for someone who may have difficulty holding a heavier gun), easy-to-use pistol that's perfect for someone with small hands or limited hand strength. It's also very reliable and has a comfortable grip.

At first she didn't use it, and then we saw her shooting at cans in the field behind our farm