SPBCTS, I've only trained a couple of thousand women, so bear with me. If your wife isn't a shooter already, the rental is THE way to go! The more different types they have the better. Then, when she finds one SHE likes, get one of those! The biggest issue I've seen with husbands buying for wives is they most often get what they "think" the wife wants. I've only been married a decade and I still have no idea what my wife thinks...unless I messed up. While the SIG 239 is a decent little pistol, it may not be the best choice for her...that she would make. My buddy got his non-shooting wife a 239 in 9mm and it is a great paper weight. Again, if you can rent from a place with a big variety of choices, even better. Failing that, in our area when at a shooting range, most often all it takes is telling another shooter "We've been thinking about getting my wife one of those," and you'll get a "Here! Wanna shoot it?" This is usually followed by stories about all the good and bad experiences they've had with that type of firearm. Once she has made her choice, running the drills is much easier. Yes, every type has its quirks but IMO starters are much more willing to practice when they have a pistol they like, that they chose. Jon