Just looking for suggestions on a handgun that my wife can carry. I know what I want but this one will be hers. I want to spend as close to $300 as I can. Thanks for the help

taurus m85 .38 spl.

You aint gonna get much of a gun for $300. Now 450-500 would be a better window.

Be very careful how you treat her after she starts packing.. I'm just sayin'.

Bersa Thunder DT .380, I have 2 of them. My wife loves hers.

+1

not a revolver. most men cant shoot a DA revolver well or reload quickly, i wouldt expect a woman, who will likely practice (notice i didnt say "train", because even fewer men actually do that) less than most men, to become proficient enough to resolve a situation.

ruger lcp swhootd great and not to big, and they are 299.00 to 325.00 at the gun shows,

I second the revolver for all the reasons below, I have trained several women in shooting and they all take to them very well.

You have a couple differant options I suggest you shop around and find a Used SW in 38spl, you can find one for slightly over your price range. Or go with Taurus same thing new will be slighty over your price used right at it. You might consider raising it alittle after all if your wife is going to be using it for defense you want piece of mid that it will be reliable.



There is alot to be said for a Revolver, especaily for Women. Most of the time women resort to carrying in there purse, look in the botom of your wifes pruse there will be all kinds of debris and grit, that will jam an auto unless you constantly clean it, Revolvers click bang everytime unless there is a catostrophic failure.

Where do you get that its hard to shoot ? from 5yds or closer you can easily instictivly point and shoot with great accuracy form them, not to mention a good DOA trigger is better than most DA/SA triggers you find on guns in that price range. In addition there are no complicated safetys to fumble with, nor is a gun that needs one.

Most women lack the strength in there hand to rack slides on autos, especaily the smaller ones that fit them, here again what happens if the must clear a jam due to weapon failure.

Calibers, again most smaller framed guns will be a .380 two things here, first ammo is scarce, second 6 rounds of .380 in comparison to 5rds of .38spcl +P wich do you think is going to do the job quicker ?

Plus the price point he mentioned puts him in the crappy end of autos even if he went used route, yet he could get a decent new revolver and a great used one if he shops around.

I hate shooting revolvers and wouldn't expect my wife to like one.

I second the LCP mentioned above. Plus they come in a "raspberry" model for women.

The Lcp and keltec are not fun to shoot. If you did the 380 , I would look at the Sig or the Kahr for recoil purposes.

Thanks, thats alot of good info. I was leaning towards a revolver. When we go to the gun store today she'll get to shoot whatever she likes and I think that will help the most, whatever she is comfortalble with. Now I can mention all that you said and look smart. thanks again.

2" Stainless revolver of reputable manufacture in .38spl. They weren't designed to be fun to shoot, they were designed to be reliable and effective, which they are. One thing, though, when she goes for her CHL be sure she uses a semi-auto. I bet the instructor will loan her one. Otherwise she'll only be able to carry a revolver unless she re-tests with a semi-auto.

I agree with psychosmurf,

Revolvers dont have the Cool Factor of semi autos but they are simpler and more reliable the autos.

And way louder and less enjoyable to shoot in my limited experience.

I agree with the revolvers, there is no jamming, pulling back the slide or making sure the safety is off, just point and pull the trigger, my wife has a model 85 and loves it.

smith chief or SP 101. Same thing I recommend for men to carry.

There a Taurus 9mm Millennium for sale in the trading post for $300.00.
I think his name is ThatGuy

its not a lack of "cool factor", snubbie revolvers are less capable than autos in semi and unskilled hands. if she has a gun in the bottom of a purse and needs it immediately, its not much better than no gun at all. make her use a holster and buy a police trade in glock 19. under budget and sensible.

a revolver with sh@# sights is a handicap.

Chief special or detective 38.hammerless,easy pocket carry and makes a mans eyes bulge.When he looks in the bore.Great little attitude adjuster.

I don't really think people without skill should carry pistols of any flavor. If the lady would like to carry a concealed life stealing device, she should learn to use it properly. The practical advantages of revolvers for civilian use are well documented.



The likelihood that you will need sights or even find them advantageous in a defense situation is slim to none. That's why people learn to point-shoot. The crimson laser grips exist for a reason. Sights are too slow and you can't count on enough light to use them. Big bold sights snag on clothing and/or holsters in carry situations. etc. etc.

You could grind the front sight off my snubby and I'd only be upset because it would look weird to me, not because it would make one iota of difference anywhere but fooling around plinking at obscene ranges.

I would get a 20 gauge coach gun with hammers, maybe a 410

Well said.

Academy sells a 38 special snub nose around that price range brand new. Rossi brand. Make sure she gets plenty of range time in with it no matter what she goes with.

Let her shoot both semi-automatics and revolvers and see what she prefers. It won't take long. Whatever she decides on, practice, practice, practice.

Then practice some more.