I’ve built 2 AR9’s….mainly as range toys. 

Are these a decent compromise for HD for people that don’t really shoot that much? 

I’ve set aside a 9mm pistol, a 556 ar and a 12ga semi shotgun for each of my girls. 

But I’m thinking an ar9 with a hydraulic dampener is pretty mellow so it would be more conducive to getting them to the range.

Also cheaper to train/practice
- cheaper ammo
- somewhat easy to reload compared to 556
- mild muzzle blast

Or get them takedown 10/22’s

Or just get both….ar9 and 10/22 for each girl.

Each has it's pro's and cons.

A 9mm AR would be more accurate for a noob to shoot due to the physics of the gun, compared to a pistol.  There are more points of contact on a rifle and it's also more forgiving for trigger slapping or flinching than a pistol is.

But with the above, there are more things to do to operate a 9mm AR than a 9mm pistol.  Assuming it's a striker fire.  A 9mm would have the charging handle and manipulate the safety.  Compared to a pistol, rack the slide and you're ready to rock n roll. 

Maybe take the girls to a gun store and ask them which one they want?

My younger daughter visits in December.   I’ll take them to kokohead to try out a Ar9, a 9mm CZ P07, Browning BDM and a 38 revolver.

I’m thinking a 38 revolver has less recoil and easier to use than a pistol….no racking.

Concerns I have about 9mm pistols are racking the slide and steeper curve to learn to shot well. 

Another thing is that I feel it is sort of easy for someone with not much trigger time to accidentally pull the trigger for a firearm  (At paintball, my friend shot his foot twice.  I think he had switched to an electronic trigger….fairly light trigger.  I guess he always had poor discipline since he didn’t shoot actual guns)

So a revolver….or da/sa or dao pistol is what I have for handguns for the girls.

I think the ar9 is easier to rack and easier to learn  to shoot decently.  Has 30 round capacity.  Yes…remembering the safety will take time/practice.  Honestly, I think most people in a high stress situation using a firearm with a safety will forget the safety.   (I used to play paintball and often forgot the safety).

I should get a 22lr upper!   That is really cheap training

I would not give a gun to a non-gun person unless they can get good serious training.
I suggest a pepper spray.

Oldfart
Good point!! 

I’ve trying to get my daughters out to the range when they would visit….but everything went belly up….covid, lead contamination, reservations…

I’m waiting for table reservations to end before I start trying again.

I’ve already sent pepper gel to the kid in Seattle.   I’ll pick up pepper gel for the one that recently moved back to Oahu.

Pepper spray is all that I have too.   Besides a bright flashlight and a machete

You are groggy,
Something has woke you up,
You have to act.NOW!

Shot gun.
 

I like shotguns.  My wife and do trap and we will eventually keep a shotgun in the house when my last kid is older.   

But i don’t know yet if my girls will take to shotguns.

I’ve tried to invite the older one and her husband to trap but the husband isn’t interested….i think it’s because his vision is poor. 

He shot a small case of low recoil 12 ga slugs using a semi gas and only hit the target stand at 50yards a few times

I’m thinking he will come out to shoot an ar9 if I put a red dot on it.

My opinion....
I retired from the electronics industry.
I've seen enough failed or broken electronic stuff to literally fill a dumpster...maybe several dumpsters.

That's why I don't believe in putting electronic sights on my defense gun. Murphy's law is a bitch.

In general, people will try and continue to do what they enjoy.  Personally, shooting a soft shooting long(er) gun is way more enjoyable and fun for me.  As well as generally easier and quicker to getting newbie shooting and enjoying.  Saw and experienced that over many years with the shooting sports fair.  While not of the "get a complete newbie to shoot" level, but I do think it would be way easier to get those with little to no shooting experience shooting and hopefully having it stick. Why folks bring newbies to the range and force them into shooting say .44 Mag or .454 Casull is   

As for red dots, I am an advocate for red dot for newbies as well as utility on defensive firearms.  The technology has come a long way since the "dark ages" of Aimpoint tubes on pistols.  Yeah, things fail and electronics are no exception and I would agree more prone to failure (than the gun itself).  However, they are "capability" multipliers.  Yeah, I get some may not be comfortable with putting their life on performance of electronics, but A) that's why training is important and B) do those folks only drive old technology cars and planes? 

And shotguns in this case?  Def not 12 ga. . .

My opinion....
I retired from the electronics industry.
I've seen enough failed or broken electronic stuff to literally fill a dumpster...maybe several dumpsters.

That's why I don't believe in putting electronic sights on my defense gun. Murphy's law is a bitch.

That's why it's important to train what happens if your dot goes kaput.  I've trained this and this happened to me during an exercise.  I immediately flipped to back ups and proceeded to finish the exercise.  I loved when this happened, because it was unexpected. Training when an expected failure helps prepare you for the unexpected ones.

 
The first 2 sentences that the OP wrote indicated that he was seeking advice about sd guns for non-gun people. That's why I immediately suggested pepper spray. It is an easily deployed SD option for people with little or no training or legal hoops to jump through.

If the kids are receptive to carrying pepper spray, then I would train them with air guns or 22 rifles or pistols. Not all children will be interested in the firearms.
You can't force them to be interested either.
Firearms are something best taught when kids are young.

The first 2 sentences that the OP wrote indicated that he was seeking advice about sd guns for non-gun people. That's why I immediately suggested pepper spray. It is an easily deployed SD option for people with little or no training or legal hoops to jump through.

If the kids are receptive to carrying pepper spray, then I would train them with air guns or 22 rifles or pistols. Not all children will be interested in the firearms.
You can't force them to be interested either.
Firearms are something best taught when kids are young.

I started shooting air rifle when I was 5 years old. I have friends and family that are not interested in owning a firearm but enjoy going to the range with me once in a great while
yeah, firearms are not for everyone


whatever you choose for HD, practice with it. become familiar and comfortable with it
develop muscle memory for it. which means at least several hundred reps shooting it. practice defensive shooting scenarios
I am most comfortable shooting revolvers so that is my primary line of defense at home with a good flashlight. for ccw I use my Sig P365 bc its more concealable

I like red dots. but I like to have the iron sights co-witness just in case the dot fails, I can still use the iron sights

My girls don’t care too much for firearms so I’m sort of doing a work around…..try to get their husband/BF interested….and hope the girls tag along. 

At minimum at least one person per family will have experience handling a firearm.

I’m not really into electronics (red dots)….mainly cause good stuff costs a lot and I’m  a cheap bastard….and red dots could break. 

Besides, my house minuscule….to aim I’m just putting the light on the night guest’s chest or using the handgun silhouette (daytime) or down the side of the rifle’s hand guard (daytime).  Max distance of 15-20’ in my tiny home.

But if it helps get my girls and their husband/bf to the range….ill put a red dot or lpvo on the AR9

If you're not sure if they'll take it up, I suggest just training them on your firearms first.  Make it a family fun event together so it's more enjoyable.

I don't own an ar 9mm but it seems like a good choice for HD.  Red dot is a must.  You gain so much from using one.

Thanks Zippz!!  I’ll try to get the clan out there

I’ll put on a lpvo or red dot on my Ar9 so it is easier for the kids to get decent groups at 50