[dnr1128]

Anybody got any suggestions for a revolver that would be suitable for a woman to use for home defense?

I'm looking to trade my ultrastar for a revolver that my wife can use, or maybe a small auto that she can use. My compacts are tough for her to rack the slides.

 

[shoeshooter]

.38 Special, probably 4". Check out these stainless model 64 LE trade-ins, several comments on the S&W forum about their good condition. Good deal, can't wear'em out.

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/smith-wesson/revolver/cPath/16_211_431

I got a Smith model 10 for my wife, didn't know about these or would have jumped on it.

 

[Xd357]

Smith modal 66,64,65,686+(7shot). Basicly a k-frame or a L-framed. Buy in .357 if you can. You just load .38's for her. You could also look at the ruger .357's. I've got two (j and k-framed) y'all could shoot if you wanted to.

 

[NRA_guy]

Buy her a light .38 special with a full hammer and put a Crimson Trace Laser grip on it. She will love it.

S&W if you can afford it.

Taurus if you are limited on funds.

I have an all titanium Taurus (85T, which is not made any longer) set up that way and I love it.

Way more people need revolvers than have them.

 

[chuckusaret]

My wife CC a Ruger LCR with the Crimson Trace laser. She loves it. The thing is rather snappy with +P ammo.

 

[GunOneDown]

honestly, One that she WILL shoot and practice with some.
You could buy any listed, but ask her what she likes and will atleast attempt to shoot.
If she won't shoot or try, save the money and buy a baseball bat or cast iron skillet b/c it would serve the same purpose basically.
She might want a "pink" or "purple" one. Charter makes them.
Point is, ask her what she would like. JMHO.
GOOD LUCK

 

[JMS39339]

G1D makes a great point. If she has shot a .38 wheelie then you may be on the right track. If not, then you should try to find someone with one that would let her try. I have a friend who bought his wife one thinking it was the best choice for her. She shot five rounds through it and told him she hated it and had no intention of shooting it again. She ended up with a small 9mm and loves it. She goes to the range and practices with it, carries it, etc but it's important to find a gun that she likes.

 

[Cliff Cargill]

I'm asked this question quite often.

Lots of people believe that an ultra-lite model 38 special is best for a woman.

I've learned a good bit working with lady shooters, and here's what I've found:

1. Lighter guns mean more recoil. I've seen women with very lady-like hands shed tears after just a few rounds. They're holding the gun properly, but it pushes straight back into the curve of the hand. It hurts them, and they don't like it. If they don't like it, they won't go to the range and practice.

2. Light weight frames do not hold up to the round counts needed to stay proficent. By far, the best revolver you can buy is a Smith & Wesson 640. It's a .357 and it's built for that pressure, but I would just carry a good 38 special self-defense round. Then, just have them practice with bulk pack target rounds. That gun will hold a long time. It also has the weight to absorb the recoil. It won't hurt their hands, and makes for a quick follow-up shot.

The laser sight grips are neat to play with, but they don't take the place of really knowing how to shoot well. You have to learn the basics and apply them:

1. Stance

2. Grip

3. Sight Picture

4. Trigger Control

No gadget will ever help you bypass those basics.

Hope this helps. :thumbup:

 

[dnr1128]

thanks for the input from everybody! I'll be looking around and seeing what I can find.

 

[NRA_guy]

But have you ever held a woman's purse? They weigh a ton.

A heavy gun is better for shooting, but as the saying goes, they need to actually have it with them.

One option would be to go to Surplus City and let her try several different guns...

 

[Leopardcurdog]

I'm asked this question quite often.

Lots of people believe that an ultra-lite model 38 special is best for a woman.

I've learned a good bit working with lady shooters, and here's what I've found:

1. Lighter guns mean more recoil. I've seen women with very lady-like hands shed tears after just a few rounds. They're holding the gun properly, but it pushes straight back into the curve of the hand. It hurts them, and they don't like it. If they don't like it, they won't go to the range and practice.

2. Light weight frames do not hold up to the round counts needed to stay proficent. By far, the best revolver you can buy is a Smith & Wesson 640. It's a .357 and it's built for that pressure, but I would just carry a good 38 special self-defense round. Then, just have them practice with bulk pack target rounds. That gun will hold a long time. It also has the weight to absorb the recoil. It won't hurt their hands, and makes for a quick follow-up shot.

The laser sight grips are neat to play with, but they don't take the place of really knowing how to shoot well. You have to learn the basics and apply them:

1. Stance

2. Grip

3. Sight Picture

4. Trigger Control

No gadget will ever help you bypass those basics.

Hope this helps. :thumbup:

Well said, and thanks for saying it. Makes great sense.

 

[bonedust75]

Buy this if she can handle it.
Model: 638 S&W 38 Special +P
1-7/8" Barrel - 5 Rounds
Product #: 163070
MSRP: $616 You can find a used one for a good price.
Look on S&W website and feel free to message me one here or email because I have the dealers catolog for this year and I will be more than happy to answer any questions.

 

[smoffett]

Anyone with practical experience with 32 H&R mag or 327 Federal? I hear they are lower-than-38-special in recoil, but equal or better in power, and the ones I've seen are 6-round capacity. Never had a chance to shoot one myself though.

 

[chuckusaret]

I have a Ruger SP101 .327 and it has less felt recoil than my wife's LCR .38 +9. I found this ariticle on the .327 that pretty much tells the whole story:
Excerpt from the story.
The new .327 Federal Magnum offers muzzle energy twice that of .38 Special +P loads, and velocities comparable to a 125-grain .357 Magnum, with 20 percent less recoil in its hottest version. Designed specifically for use in lightweight small-frame revolvers, the .327 Federal Magnum allows a six-round cylinder compared to five-round capacity for similar-sized .38 Special and .357 Magnum guns, with the added benefit of chambering .32 S&W, .32 Special, and .32 H&R Magnum loads as well.
The complete story:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1924678/posts

 

[Joe S.]

my wife loved the 3" 357 SP101 we looked at when at bass pro last time. she said it felt better than any she has held so far.

that is what i plan to get as soon as money allows i reckon...

its a nice piece.

 

[Xd357]

If it's for HD I wouldn't go with a j-frame. CC yes but not HD.

 

[Ed Hunter]

OK, here I go again. I’ve made similar posts over the past few months.

Ladies and handguns – whenever the issue comes up I urge whoever is involved with this issue to go to http://www.corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx.

This is a website of Kathy Jackson who is connected, if nothing else, with USCCA. That website is addressed to women and answers just about every question a woman might have. It should be required reading. (The guys need to read it too)

I urge you to take a look at it.

 

[swede62]

I have a model 10 Smith for my wife at home and it's loaded with 38 S&W ammo(not Special). It would less effective than a Special round, but the recoil of Special was too much for her. It was a step up from the 22 Taurus she had.

 

[NRA_guy]

OK, here I go again. I’ve made similar posts over the past few months.

Ladies and handguns – whenever the issue comes up I urge whoever is involved with this issue to go to http://www.corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx.

This is a website of Kathy Jackson who is connected, if nothing else, with USCCA. That website is addressed to women and answers just about every question a woman might have. It should be required reading. (The guys need to read it too)

I urge you to take a look at it.

I had to remove the period at the end to make the link work.

Thanks.

 

[Doug Bowser]

S&W Model 10 4" or 5". I would not buy a new one or a revolver made after 1975 by S&W. The new S&W revolvers are not up to the quality of the earlier models. I would load 110 gr +P .38 Special loads in the revolver. I do not like handguns for home defense. My preferred home defense firearm is a 12 ga shotgun.

Doug