LOL this thread is funny. Why for your wife?

My mom carry's a Ruger LCR 38 it's hammer less and on the money.

Jeeper, I've been away a couple of days due to some medical issues. I'm not sure if you have made your decision or not.

I see that you are in DFW. Have you tried going to the Bullet Trap in Plano. It gets awfully busy there, and I can't say that I really enjoy going there anymore - but they have a lot of different handguns to rent. That is how my wife decided what she liked. Perhaps the two of you can take a day off during the week and head over there and give some different handguns a try. IMO, whatever she feels comfortable with, regardless of caliber or action, is what she should get.

I was against the 380 as well, but to tell you the truth I often carry a small 380 on me now when I don't feel like carrying my Colt Commander on me. I don't really worry about it (especially in the summer when everyone wears light clothing) because although the projectile is less than half the weight of a .45 acp, it still gets adequate penetration.

I would also think, like my wife, if she shoots what she likes and becomes confident and skilled, bumping her up to something more powerful is much easier. Now that my wife is comfortable shooting, she finds that she can rack the slide on semi autos that she thought she once couldn't (and she hasn't started a body building program at the gym!).

I like and have always shot revolvers - but for my wife she finds shooting the semi auto easier to shoot more accurately, maybe due to a double action vs single action trigger pull. My problem with revolvers is one of safety because of the kids. 2 of them are well trained and know their way around firearms and what to do if they found one laying around. My 3 year old, I'm not 100% sure yet (I sometimes worry if I fall asleep on the couch with my gun at my side). Because of that, a semi auto, with a round not in the chamber is an extra step of safety. It would be physically impossible for my 3 year old to rack the slide on one of my semi autos, and because of this I feel a little more comfortable. In a few years, I won't have to worry about that because she will be shooting like the others and will know her way around firearms. I'm not sure how old your kids are and if they have started shooting yet or not.

I will say that I also like the idea of a SxS Shotgun in 20 gauge, that some others have suggested. They are short and easy to maneuver, and I feel easier to hit with if you are under stress of any kind. The longer sight radius on a rifle or shotgun really helps give an advantage.

I've seen plenty of videos of frantic shooters who could not hit something only 10 feet away, with a short handgun, that makes me feel that a rifle (or shotgun) with a mounted light is ideal for the home, while a handgun is good for travel away from the home. Once someone is confident and skilled, and can guarantee that they won't have a problem with stress or nerves while being assaulted/attacked, then maybe there would be less of an advantage of a long gun over a handgun. Again, just my opinion and how I have thought things through for my wife, kids and home.

-Mike

Thanks for the info Mike! Yeah, already made the decision. Had her in Academy and Cabelas and tried out several semis and revolvers. Like I've experienced in the past, she had trouble with the slide on all mid to full size handguns. Small 380's and pocket 9mms she was able to operate no problem. She really liked the Ruger LC9 since it wasn't too small. In the end, she kept coming back to the S&W 642. Her reasons were: it was lightweight, small, no-brainer operation, no magazines to mess with, no hammer to mess with, no safety to mess with and she liked the silver/gray look. Only downside, which I knew she'd mention, is that the sights suck.

Since they didn't have any of the non internal lock models in stock I decided to wait til the market hall gun show today. Only found one dealer that had non internal lock models. They had the base 642 for $355 and the 642 w/ factory Crimson Trace for $515. So the laser model one came home with me. Now gotta get her behind the gun. She's shot 38 snubbies before so think she'll like it.

Good choice, and the laser helps make up for poor sights.

Good job on the S&W, I'm sure she'll enjoy shooting it. The Crimson Trace will be nice to have, especially if she would ever need to use it in low light situations where sights would be difficult to pick up and use.

Not sure how much the trigger varies from gun to gun, but my 642 had a whopping 12 lb pull from the factory. It takes some getting used to to hit anything in a hurry with a 1-5/8" barrel and a long heavy trigger pull.
I installed an Apex Tactical Specialties spring kit and did some polishing and the pull is 8 lbs and pretty smooth now, but still not the easiest gun to shoot accurately.

If it's for the home only then I would go with something like this,

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger-coach-gun-supreme.php

I know that the subject of the 20 gauge was discussed before, but Chaparral05 beat me to the punch. The Stoeger is a break open two shot 20 gauge, it has a tactical rail to mount a flashlight (which I would always recommend for home defense) or a laser, you can also mount a friendly sight on the top rail. There are only two pieces that your wife would have to know, the break down lever which is under her thumb and the trigger. You also have the advantage of not having to be super accurate. She can wait for the intruder to come into the door way and fire. There are great home defense rounds that can be handled by small woman, PDX-1's are my ammo of choice. Get her a revolver as a back up piece when the shotgun is out of ammo, the other advantage that I see is trying to reload 2 rounds in the shotgun is easier than 5 in the revolver.

I have a small frame woman that I am teaching to shoot and I agree that while some woman are able to handle the automatic handguns, some aren't. You have to think about the ability to not only rack a slide, but hold the gun firm enough that you don't end up with stove pipes. I have all sorts of handguns, but my girlfriend knows that if I am not there to grab the shotgun.

My wife had a S&W Lady Smith sub nose which she hated. She loves the Ruger 101.

Again, I’m a little late getting in.
My better half has an 870 with 4’s, an M&p 9 compact with laser and a S&W J frame 38 within easy reach. Also totes another J frame in the truck for just in case.
I wouldn’t want to stand in front of her, as she can shoot
J-frames work well for the gals, IMHO

TBone

S&W 642 airweight (.38 spl) w/ a trigger job; nix the +p's... or did someone suggest this already?

My wife loves my Shield in 9mm.

Already picked up a 642 with no internal lock and factory crimson trace grips. Its not fun for her to shoot but itll get the job done if she needs it

.38 special revolver

Boy, you could open a can of worms..Many ladies want something stylish in their hands..ie: " It does'nt look good in my hands".
If your lovely spouse is so weak she cannot rack a pistol back, get her a dbl. bbl 410 shotgun w/short bbls..or a pump..she can
rack that and would make an intruder wet himself..We run into this all of the time on conceal carry courses at the Club..I had
a lady so old and infirm that I had to stand behind her while she
shot her targets to requalify..She didn't need a carry license..
Most lady Skeet Shooters shoot a 10 to 13 plus pound shotgun at targets and are very proficient..Large and Small Ladies..DD

642 is a great gun. I can shoot tight groups with mine and the trigger pull is smooth and consistent. I always recommend revolvers for home defense. Simple operation and you don't have to worry about jams.

After some range time she'll get used to it.

You could try your Saiga again.
First scary factor is looking into the barrel of AK47 chambered for 12ga.
IF you dont have little ones running around, you can keep it always loaded and chambered, and with safety off.
for compactness you can get a 12 round drum. If you afraid of second round deformation over time due to frame pressure onto edge of round, it never happened to mine. Check it once every 2-3 weeks just to make sure. you can alway find a steel cased SilverBear high brass rounds, just for that purpose (permanently loaded home defence)
My Saiga had sometime issues with bird shots #8 or #7-1/2. Installed a reduced recoil spring to cure that.
It is a heavy shotgun, so it will help with recoil management. Add limbsaver buttpad to save some bruising.
And if she still not comfortable, you can always get a revolver.
Actually look at Chiappa Rhino. It has low barrel placement to help managing snubby recoil. Read good feedbacks from people who tried it. Gun looks weird, but works fine

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_in...facturers_id/19

That works well for "always loaded" shotguns.

This seems to be the most logic so far...

My wife has had the same trouble with racking the slide on most of my guns. I have gone through ruger lcp, diamondback, s&w .38spl, glocks, sigs, you name it i have been through it. Out of every gun i have owned trying to get her used to function she just couldnt do it. The trigger pull on single action revolvers was too much and the recoil was too much. After about a year now she is comfortable with a glock 19 and my sig p238hd

It takes alot of practice and some training for a small woman to really get used to semi auto handguns. She still cannot get comfortable with my glock 27

Mine like's my sig 225 wants me to paint it pink. She 5'1 100lbs figures she'd like one of the bigger guns i have that i really like lol.

We went through a pile of pistols before my wife decided on the XD9. She can easily outshoot me so I always make sure momma is happy.

I agree that a 20 ga. would be best, especially a pump. She can keep buckshot rounds in the gun, just not in the chamber. Everyone knows and fears the sound of a pump being loaded. With the sound of the chambering she may be lucky enough to not need to fire it if there was a situation in which she would need it. Just my 2 cents. I bought my wife a male German Shepherd. You'd have to be a complete moron to walk in our house uninvited. He doesn't even like the people we do invite in. Plus, he hears and smells everything, better than any alarm system.

Recoil is not bad on a snub 38 and if you find it to be too much pick up some of the low recoil defense rounds.

Already picked up a 38 snubbie guys. However thinking about picking up a HD pump shotgun too.

Sold the Saiga last week to help fund a build. So its gone.