Home Protection Pistol for wife

[Fish Killer]

I don't know a lot about pistols. I have searched the archives and did not find anything.

My wife does not like being home alone when I am out of town overnight. I keep a shotgun close to my bed, but she is adament about not shooting it.

Does anybody have a pistol they recommend that would be good for her? I would like a gun that she would be comfortable firing and has a relatively minimal amount of firing issues.

Thanks for your help.

[CombinationLicense]

.38 Special revolver - 5 shot "J" Frame Smith & Wesson with a short barrel would do the trick. No muss - no fuss, pull the trigger and it goes bang.



"CL"

[Uncle ted]

in a home defense situation she needs to be accurate with it as her life would depend on it. so with that in mind the best thing to do is take her to a gun store and let her choose one that feels good to her. she needs to be comfortable with it in order to be accurate with it. for home def i would say a 9mm or .40 would be a good choice

Originally Posted by Fish Killer

I don't know a lot about pistols. I have searched the archives and did not find anything.

My wife does not like being home alone when I am out of town overnight. I keep a shotgun close to my bed, but she is adament about not shooting it.

Does anybody have a pistol they recommend that would be good for her? I would like a gun that she would be comfortable firing and has a relatively minimal amount of firing issues.

Thanks for your help.

[SImudBogger]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

.38 Special revolver - 5 shot "J" Frame Smith & Wesson with a short barrel would do the trick. No muss - no fuss, pull the trigger and it goes bang.



"CL"

Or a hamerless revolver. I read an aricle in a shooting magazine awhile back about defense guns for women. The articel really stressed ease of use. Safeties and slides and de-cockers are probably not a good idea.

[RedneckFishin]

well i'd go with a 9mm with a lazor grip. that way she doesnt have to be the best shot in the world if an intruder does come into the house. all she has to do is put the red dot on the intruders chest and squeeze the trigger. the bullet will do the rest

[ko]

I am getting a S&W 686 for my girlfriend.

7 shot revolver. She can practice with .38 special and work up to .357 magnum.

[baltz526]

detectives special type. several makers have them. i have one for sale on ifish classifieds. my wife has a taurus 85 38 special. perfect ladies gun.

[Critr Gitr]

Originally Posted by Fish Killer

I don't know a lot about pistols. I have searched the archives and did not find anything.

My wife does not like being home alone when I am out of town overnight. I keep a shotgun close to my bed, but she is adament about not shooting it.

Does anybody have a pistol they recommend that would be good for her? I would like a gun that she would be comfortable firing and has a relatively minimal amount of firing issues.

Thanks for your help.

taurus judge 5 shot .410 shotgun/45 long colt... when close needs to count

[Ifishsum]

Unless she's pretty familiar with guns, a revolver of some sort is your best bet IMO. Even someone who hasn't been around guns will know how to fire a revolver, and it's a relatively safe weapon to keep on the nightstand. I'd suggest a .38 special, it's powerful enough but not as loud and recoil is very manageable.

[Got One!]

When I bought my wife her 1st pistol, (and last she still has it and she'll never part with it) I bought it during the 1st day of her CWP training. (the gun shop held it)

She had never fired a gun before that. I had her shoot a box before class, showing her the "ropes" and basic safety. It worked out she was pretty much a natural with it, and the class was a priceless way to familiarize herself with owning a firearm. (aside from me talking about it, shooting them, and seeing my guns around)

A Ruger P89 9mm She is 5ft nothing and has no problems with it.

I guess if you have any handguns, best thing to do is go have her shoot a few rounds at the range, I don't know about around here but in other places gun shop/ranges would have "demos" you could try.

Btw, if you do put an auto in her hands I recommend 1 round in the clip the 1st couple go-rounds and point out if there was another it would shoot next time she pulled the trigger.....That 1st shot can be kinda exciting and they tend to turn around to give ya the...did you see that?!! look.

I personally wouldn't give a handgun to someone without also giving them a CWP class, but thats just me! And thats regardless if they wanted to go get a cwp or not.

Good luck and happy shooting

[Yeti]

After buying my first S&W J frame this week I have to agree with that choice for my wife. If she the grip fits her then it would be a good choice. It is easy to control with 38 PD ammo. Mine has night sights that line up real easy. I ended up with a M&P 340. It is very light at 13 oz but still very controlable with 38's.

Get what fits her and encourage her to shoot as much as possible.

[Flying Roast Beef]

I feel compelled to post on this matter. In my opinion the most important part of this decision is to make sure that she has the mind set to use whatever you get her. If not it is more likely to be used against her.

[M'kay13]

I'm going to have to vote against the snubbies. The short barrels on these make them hard to aim. I know, "not much aiming in a defense situation", but you are going to take her to the range to practice (right?) and she may get discouraged when she can't hit a man-size target at fifteen feet. Also, the shorter barrels are prone to suffer from heavy barrel flip and recoil.

I am not anti-revolver (we have two around the house for defense), it's just I have a hard time being accurate with my 2" barrel and I shoot it regularly.

That said, any gun that goes bang (reasonable caliber) is going to do the trick if the shooter can get the bullets to go where they need to. So, practice, practice, practice.

To answer the question: 2"-4" .38 with Crimson Trace.

[Hauki]

For a hand gun you might consider a standard middle of the road 38 cal revolver with a 3-4 inch barrel. I would suggest taking her shopping and finding one that fits her hand\trigger finger correctly. S&W, Ruger, Taurus have various models to look at.

Please get her some training. Maybe check out this club in Clataskanie. They do NRA BASIC PISTOL CLASS FOR WOMEN. I'm not a club member or have been to their range. According to the web page, if you call a head, they might be able to come up with a loaner hand gun for the class.

http://www.crpcactionpistol.org/inde...s/Page1577.htm

http://www.crpcactionpistol.org/pdfs/bpfwaug08.pdf

Good luck \ be safe

[STRUTTIN-1]

P38 small easy to shoot minimal recoil.Does the job.Cheap to shoot.

[ajfishfinder]

S&W J-Frame Airweight 38 hammerless with Crimson Trace Grips.

[Cliff D.]

Take her to the store to see what she likes. Wife wanted her own, i was thinking spurless, airweight revolver. She liked semi-autos. She loved the feel of the P-95 Ruger. We both liked it so much i had to buy one from Ampersat so we could both play.

[scottishsetter]

Take her to the store and have her point a Winch. Lever Model 92 in 357mag.

[jaysea]

Whatever fits her hand and that she can shoot with confidence.

[stlhdr1]

Glock .40... She loves to shoot it.

Keith

[sandy77]

There are several issues you, and she, should consider.

This is my opinion, and I'm a woman.

First, she must know absolutely that she would USE the gun with lethal force. If she has no problem with killing someone in self-defense, then you're on track in getting her armed. A lot of women say they would "wound" them, and in my opinion, should therefore not have a firearm.

I would recommend a 4" .38 hammerless revolver, with a laser grip. I personally have a S&W .38 Airweight snubby for packing when I fish, but I also keep it with me for home defense (along with others, ha). The Airweights are truly awesome, but they are a bit of a mule, and you don't want her aiming at the ceiling on her second shot. Also, they are often 5 shots, so have her trained with a speedloader. Also train her up with using a flashlight with it, in case she has to investigate a noise.

A lot of people think .357s are hand cannons for women, and I totally disagree. See if she can handle a .357, it's easy finding 7-shots in those. I could shoot a .357 all day, let alone in the middle of the night with some dude over the bed.

I definitely recommend a revolver over a semi, for obvious reasons, like more operator-friendly. Take her in, and see what fits her hand, etc. It doesn't hurt having a back-up firearm like a bolt-action rifle under the bed too. Good luck!! She will feel much better with a firearm near her at night.

[4th_Point]

There's been some good opinions given so far, and a few that I don't quit agree with.

In my opinion:

1. First, if you or your wife need to use a firearm, it is simply to stop a threat. Not to wound, or kill. I would emphasize this over and over. You don't want to be giving a statement to an officer and talk about killing someone. You stop the threat and nothing more. If you are involved in a shooting, you get the paramedics to check you over. You or your wife are the victim(s), not the person that was shot.

2. Short barrel J-frames take some time to master. Some people never do. They are excellent for concealed carry, but why bother with something so small in the house?

3. Most "non-gun" people have a difficult time making an informed decision in the store. You can take your wife to the local shop and ask her to pick what feels good, but often times all the guns feel ok. Plan on repeat visits, or be willing to buy and try different handguns. You might get lucky and find just the right handgun, but you may not. If the firearm doens't suit her, sell it. Don't get hung up on getting the right one the first time. If you do, that's great but this expectation can lead to disappointment. Remember that many people who are knowledgeable about handguns buy and sell firearms in order to get the right one. She may decide that an auto feels best, but when she shoots it she gets stovepipes due to limp wrist. Things like this can mess-up the idea of letting her choose what feels best. Maybe a trip to a range with rentals would be helpful if you and your friends don't have an assortment of handguns for her to try.

4. I agree that a 3-4" 38 special would make a great nightstand handgun for many women. With heavy loads it would have manageable recoil with good performance. I would not suggest 357 magnum ammo. There is generally too much recoil, flash, and noise.

5. After trying a 3" 38 special for my wife, we have settled on S&W 45ACP revolver for her. No safeties, slide release, etc. but it still chucks a large diameter bullet. Low pressure for manageable recoil, low flash and noise compared to a magnum. Premium 45 ACP hollowpoints will expand to over 1" in gelatin. When we go camping there are several hot loads with flat point FMJ, and Autorim ammo with 255gr. hardcast bullets at 900 fps. These "woods" loads offer better penetration than regular self-defense ammo.

6. Don't just limit her to 38 specials. If she can handle an auto, then that is a good platform. My wife is better off with a revolver due to its simplicity. I feel better with her using an N-frame in 45 ACP rather than a J-frame in 38 special. A 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45ACP would always be my choice over a 38. Again, a 38 is good for a J-frame since the handgun is so light and recoil with 357 can be intense, but there's no need to use such a small platform in the house. There is a self-defense instructor that suggests that the smaller the women, the bigger the gun she should have. Instead of little J-frame with weak loads, she suggests a heavy handgun to help manage recoil instead of using a weaker cartridge. My wife handles the 45 ACP really well in the N-frame, even better than the 38 J-frame.

7. Someone once said that handguns are toys. This is true and we should only rely on a handgun when a long-gun is not practical. A shotgun, rifle, or carbine would be preferable to any handgun. Consider noise, recoil, and muzzle flash though. The 357 levergun suggested earlier would be an excellent choice even with 38 special loads. Handgun caliber carbines generally have better velocity than if the ammo was used in a handgun, plus there would be less flash and bang. A shotgun with reduced recoil loads would be a good choice as well. A sxs or u/u would be easier than a pump or auto for many people not used to firearms. Remember that noobs and experts alike can short-stroke a pump-shotgun. Most people can shoot a longarm with very little practice, but a handgun is difficult to master and usually requires frequent practice.

YMMV.

[PIR8 Hook]

My wife has a Tarus 9 shot double action revolver w/ laser grips in .22LR

Why? because she shoots it well & there is nothing to think about in a stress situation other than "PUT THE RED DOT ON WHAT YOU WANT TO HIT AND PULL THE TRIGGER UNTIL THE GUN GOES CLICK"

Why in .22? 1). She can shoot it enough to get good with it.
2). She is not bothered by recoil
3). The .22 kills more people in the USA than any other caliber.....I'll agree it's not a powerhouse BUT I wouldn't want 9 Stingers in my carcass either & the way she shoots it they'd all be in the head.

[Dusky]

I have helped out two women with this same issue. The ladies know each other. One with a J frame Smith the other with a Smith 66. Both Women prefer the 66 over the J frame. I would suggest the Medium frame Smith over the J frame with a 3-4 inch barrel.

[jager]

most shootings are at 3 feet, accuracy not all that important, any gun shot indoors is going to sound like a cannon, maybe take your wife shooting and see what she likes, then keep her shooting to make handling her firearm comfortable and automatic. My wife had a 9mm she shoots a lot, then when I brought home my Taurus tracker 7 shot 357 she traded me ( actually she took it) and still shoots all the time and is extremely comfortable with it, as well as the winchester defender ready on the wall..

[goforchrome]

38 4 inch revolver or 9mm auto, whichever fits her hand.
Being a novice, she will be noise and recoil sensitive and be put off by a big bang and sharp recoil.
Start of slow.
Work up slowly with practice.
I would consider a K-frame SW.
Lots of used 65's and 66's available online.
Good size, quality and reliability.

[rimrock]

Buy a German Shepherd or other "sharp" dog breed, far better home protection than having a gun in the hands of inexpereince.

[wsuweston]

I would forget the handgun and go with a shotgun

[Grantspastor]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

.38 Special revolver - 5 shot "J" Frame Smith & Wesson with a short barrel would do the trick. No muss - no fuss, pull the trigger and it goes bang.



"CL"

[scottishsetter]

My wifes car has 12" brakes.
I like the Colt Det.Spcl. in 38


Or the Ruger 3" GP-100 357 fixed sights(heavy side)
Laser pointer and 2 Million candlepower handheld light with the Model 92 lever gun in one of the pistol calibers.(or the 45lc/410 shotgun pistol)
Dogs....will not allow an intruder to "get over your bed"
Their smell cap. alone is like 280,000times a humans'.
Good Luck and Practice!!!

Edit: I also like Black olive and shrimp pizza with extra sauce, well done.

[spottedhawk36]

my wife shoots my 40 cal just fine but has trouble with the action putting a round in the pipe, i am going to get her a 38 revolver.

[fishcrazy123]

.44 mag is where its at

[larryb]

snake charmer shotgun in either 20ga or 410 short and easy to handle not much recoil

[sandy77]

Originally Posted by fishcrazy123

.44 mag is where its at

that's what I want next, a big ol dirty harry .44 mag, haha.

Oh, and last point, this could be argued over and over, but both concealed weapons instructors I've had, had said that when you're in the situation, you don't have time to decide to "wound." It's happening, and you are in survival mode, and that courts question your decision to use lethal force if there is time to have the thought-process to decide to aim for a knee, or whatever the case may be. I don't care what other people choose to do, but I live alone with a cat. I know what my decision would be. Wish I could get a dog, for sure.

[bigjake_888]

My wife hates the 38 special. Too much.

[Keeper]

I would try and talk her into using the shotgun. There is no mistaking the sound of a shell being chambered which may send the intruder right back out of the house. If the intruder continues at her she has a couple of options: shoulder and shoot or shoot from the hip.

She doesn't have to have perfect aim with a shot gun.

Oh and once she has fired (and sprayed him with pellets) three times at the intruder...she can beat him violently with the butt of it.

Signed...the wife

BTW - I actually shoot a semi-auto for hunting but would always grab my husband's pump action due to the chambering noise for home protection.

[uhmw]

20 gage single shot jr shot gun w/6 rounds on the stock sits over the fire place in the bed room. Simple as open it up -drop in a shell and pull back the hammer. Aiming aint an issue. It all comes down to attitude. My wife would be like a moma bear crossed her cubs. Its when that kentucky red neck blood starts a boiling Even I feel like running

[Bobberman]

Shot gun might be the way to go if possible. I would also recomend a pattern your HD weapon, you might be suprised that the scatter gun is not a death ray

[Tvfowlhunter]

12 Gauge Remington 870.

[Wildarcher]

Originally Posted by wsuweston

I would forget the handgun and go with a shotgun

[death roe]

shotgun easy to use reliable and effective. its my easy rest medicine

[outdooraddict]

Some great points have been raised, but I'll throw in my $.02.

My wife KNOWS when and how to shoot her S&W Model 60 and my S&W Model 19. Both sport CT laser grips and are loaded with .38 +P's (plus 2 speed loaders). Someday, I would like to have 3-4" models, but for now the shorter barrel works great for concealed carry also.

As for the dog, she's viscious when a chihuaha comes into the yard, but I just can't depend on her if some strungout druggy bursts into the house. Golden's are known for a wicked tongue lashing though.

My wife has practiced shooting both of these defense guns and puts 5 or 6 shots inside a pie plate up to 50 ft. She understands that if she, or our children's, lives are threatened, she will shoot until the perpetrator is on the ground.

[Cliff D.]

If you do go with a handgun, have her try something with laser grips. It seems to hold their attention and give a confidence boost.

[fisher22]

My girlfriend has had a 380 auto for some yrs. now, and did not feel as if it were enough. She just recently went to Sportsmans and got herself a 45 ACP. She is a tough minded gal and I would not want to be on the other end of her holding a pistol.

[Linejerk]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

.38 Special revolver - 5 shot "J" Frame Smith & Wesson with a short barrel would do the trick. No muss - no fuss, pull the trigger and it goes bang.



"CL"

[HuntNFishAddict]

Does she have to have a pistol. I think a pump shotgun is the best home defense weapon around. You don't have to be as accurate with it, and if you rack a round in it and they don't run, they deserve to be shot. Everyone knows the sound of a pump rackin a round.

If it must be a pistol, go out to one of the indoor ranges that allow you to try many different types, then get the one she shoots the best.

[hook]

Keep it simple and small. Although raking a round in a shotgun is intimidating
even a short barrel gun is to cumbersome in a home for most people. Auto loaders have lots of fire power but are too complicated in the middle of the night in an emergency situation. A small revolver is always ready to go and goes bang when you pull the trigger. Now with the new 32 mag's that are on the market a women doesn't have to be overwhelmed with recoil and still have knock down power.

[Tri-Fecta]

The Uzi 9MM.

[Klicker]

Another vote for the 5 shot Smith in 38 caliber.

[jvp]

something she isn't afraid to shoot. even a 13 round p22 walther works. i and my wifee also like the 38 revolvers of which many mfg. make them

[jvp]

Originally Posted by PIR8 Hook

My wife has a Tarus 9 shot double action revolver w/ laser grips in .22LR

Why? because she shoots it well & there is nothing to think about in a stress situation other than "PUT THE RED DOT ON WHAT YOU WANT TO HIT AND PULL THE TRIGGER UNTIL THE GUN GOES CLICK"

Why in .22? 1). She can shoot it enough to get good with it.
2). She is not bothered by recoil
3). The .22 kills more people in the USA than any other caliber.....I'll agree it's not a powerhouse BUT I wouldn't want 9 Stingers in my carcass either & the way she shoots it they'd all be in the head.

taught my wife to start at the groin and fire three up the body and then do it again. that makes 6 of 13 and then make sure they aren't moving. what do your hands do when something is threatens your manhood? Usually good for a second or 2 and they count in your hallway or other close encounters. remember fear, flight and fight. always hope the 3rd is avoidable and never let the first freeze you. take lessons in weapon self defense.

[Idahoan]

sawed off semi automatic 20 gauge shotgun

[CombinationLicense]

Originally Posted by Idahoan

sawed off semi automatic 20 gauge shotgun

Not sure that's a good idea Idahoan. It goes without saying that you want to make sure that your defense weapon is a legal firearm but I was taught to make sure that your ammo is "off the shelf" stock as well. There is a very realistic possibility that the shooter (Read: innocent resident) will be sued by whoever you have to shoot or their surviving estate. The last thing you want to do is look like you were acting illegally or with malice aforethought. They will only use it to make hay against you in court.



"CL"

[someguy29187]

What about a tactical shotgun? Has a shorter barrel, and longer magazine. Shotgun will take a lot of life saving guess work out of the equation.

[CombinationLicense]

Originally Posted by someguy29187

What about a tactical shotgun? Has a shorter barrel, and longer magazine. Shotgun will take a lot of life saving guess work out of the equation.

Sure thing - I'm not arguing the effectiveness of the shotgun, I keep a tactical handy in the house myself. My point was that "altered" firearms and/or ammo isn't the best idea if you have to go in front of a civil jury. We all know that technically there is NO difference between a 20" factory tactical shotgun and a 20" pump gun that someone chopped with a hacksaw, but in front of a jury the chop job could make you look rather uncivilized. Not to mention that if that chop-job ends up with less than an 18" barrel you have committed a felony!

Hence, I still believe that a 2-4" .38 revolver with some quality factory ammo is the best bet for a relatively inexperienced person seeking a simple/effective home defense weapon.



"CL"