[Redhat]

I'm looking for good advice on .38 revolver form my wife.

Antone done this kind of shopping before?

Thanks

[Don Lu]

im in the procees right now...this is what im leaning towards..
http://www.genitron.com/HandgunDB/nfdetails.asp?ID=156

[Doug Add]

Best advice I can offer is take her and let her shoot several different models so she can decide what she prefers. I did this with my wife, and not only did her decision surprise me (demonstrating the wisdom of her choosing, not me), but I also discovered what an excellent shooter she is.

[ChristopherG]

Yep, lots and lots of folks. They usually get started with questions like these:

What's the goal of her having a gun, or in what context will she shoot it most?

Has she shot before?

Is she going to carry it? If so, how?

Does she have the handstrength to pull a double-action trigger?

[Redhat]

I like the Ladysmith too, but I think she might be more comfortable with a longer barrel. Easier to be accurate with, and not quite so much muzzle flip.

She has been shooting exactly one time before with a rented Ruger .22 auto.

Hand strength is an issue, she can't retatact the slide on either my XD, or CZ 75, but she can on my Colt Gov't model....go figure!

She wants a gun for home protection, not planning to carry.

Thanks again

[Doug Add]

Any way she could get her hands on a Ruger six series revolver? My father-in-law has a 4" Police Service Six with which my wife is comfortable. It will likely one day be hers, but for now the home defense handgun is a 4" S&W 586.

The Ruger six series are wonderfully reliable revolvers and can usually be found for a good price.

[22-rimfire]

I would suggest a 3" GP100 357 revolver that you would use primarily with 38spls. Has smaller grip which I like over the 4 or 6". It is also what I use for home defense handgun. It is fun to shoot at the range. Shoots well out to moderate defensive ranges which is all I shot it at; essentially 5-25 yds, but mostly in the 10 yd area. I shoot other guns at longer ranges.

Here is a link to look at one at a fair price. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_49_76/products_id/70265

[Redhat]

I'll keep the Ruger in mind.

I also like the looks of the S&W Model 10

[springmom]

I sympathize with the "racking the slide" problem. Mine are strong enough but sometimes if my arthritis is really bothering me, it can be a challenge. Have you shown her how to rack it crosswise...to push the slide rather than try to pull it? When I first got my XD, that was how the salesman showed me to do it so that if my arthritis was messed up I could still rack it (and it worked!)

Here's my two cents' worth on revolvers. I like my snubbie (although it's hardly a home protection gun, LOL) but I did NOT like revolvers when I first started shooting, not at all. The recoil was harder to take than it was with a semiauto (for me, and I had an XD-40). When I decided I wanted a snubbie, I *wanted* to get a Ladysmith. But they don't fit my hand at all....way too small a grip. So I ended up with a S&W m37 airweight with good rubber grips that absorb enough recoil that it's just fine.

She's going to have to handle several and decide which one fits her hand the best. The Ruger GP-100, as a .357, can handle .38 loads and if she wants to work up to .357's then she can. The m37, if you can find one that was made without the lock, is great. If her hands are small, the LadySmith may be just right. But it's going to take literally "hands on" experience to know which.

Tell her good luck, and congratulations on being ready to protect herself!

Springmom

[22-rimfire]

I might also add that she needs to participate in the selection since it is HER gun unless you just want to add a gun to your stash. You might as well look at the Ruger SP101 to round out the Ruger line with the 3" barrel. I prefer the GP100, but many like the smaller SP101. The 3" GP100 is really a well balanced revolver and I have grown attached to it.

The Smiths will have smoother actions out of the box relative to most Rugers. Dry firing the Rugers seems to help smooth them out. I just sit in front of the TV and snap away (unloaded of course). You can't go wrong with a Smith in general.

Find a used 4" Colt Diamondback in 38spl. Really a fine little revolver. Bit more money usually though. It feels about like the Ruger GP100 but is lighter.

[Redhat]

Springmom,

Yes I have showed her every possible way to rack the slide. I am very familiar with different techniques as I have been training folks for about 12 years. I don't want a pistol with a lot of "bark" 'cause I would like her first experience to be a good one!

She is very petite, so I will look into the model 37 too.

Thanks for you reply

[michael_aos]

My wife loves her Model 67.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/162802_large.jpg

Mike

[Serpico]

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e249/sipowicz/P1000666.jpg?t=1163896406

[TFin04]

My mom and girlfriend both like the steel frame S&W J Frames w/ either the old school original grips or the slim "ladysmith" grips.

The new rubber grips from S&W, Taurus and Ruger were too big for their hands.

The steel guns are much easier to shoot, and w/ a 3" barrel model recoil will be manageable.

[Chuck Dye]

An advantage the Ruger SP and GP revolvers have is their grips mount to a core peg rather than a full profile frame, giving custom grip makers far more room to get the length of pull right for small hands (I encountered this in the form of a .22LR SP-101 set up for the owner's kids.)

I strongly recommend visiting www.corneredcat.com and reading http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=234817, especially the posts by women.

[michael_aos]

Don't overlook the Model 64.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/162504_large.jpg

[XavierBreath]

Do what I do. If you see a gun you like, buy it for your wife. Buy her some ammo too. Since you don't want her to shoot unsafe equipment, you must do a thorough safety check, often over the span of several years. That is what a loving husband would do. Our sacrifices are many, and our time is small. Finally, after a thorough safety check, durability testing, and accuracy charting, let her shoot it. If she doesn't like it, graciously accept her rejects into your own collection.

My wife has always appreciated my efforts.


Seriously........I'm looking for good advice on .38 revolver form my wife.Let her choose her own gun.

[Pilot]

I let my wife shoot a bunch of my autos when she was considering buying a gun for herself. She tried my CZ's, HK's, 1911's, Sig, Mak, etc. We went to a guns store and she held many semi autos. She ended up with a revolver, a S&W 642 .38 Spl with CT laser grips. She wanted something light and small to carry. The recoil is a little stout but she can handle it fine and its not a range gun your going to put hundreds of rounds through each time. For the range I'm going to get her a larger framed revolver, also in .38 Spl.

[Nhsport]

Keep away from the cute little guns . The heavier longer guns have less recoil,better sights and are just a joy to shoot.As others have sugested you need to get your wife involved as hand size and strength will come into play. I own colts and rugers but the S&W guns seem to be much better in general because of the great triggers which add to great fun shooting.
I have found the S&W 686 to be one of the best all around easy shooting guns but the medium size grip may not work with smaller hands.
Lay in a good supply of light target loads,don't push a newer shooter into the heavy loads untill they get used to how the lighter ones shoot.

[MCgunner]

Trigger effort on a DA can be a problem for women. A Wolf spring kit and a little buff up can turn a Ruger SP101 into one REAL slick trigger and the weight of the gun will help with hot .38 recoil. I'd think about it anyway, with the 3" barrel for longer sight radius. I don't own one, but want one.

[Gary A]

Redhat - your appreciation of the Model 10 is, IMO, very well placed. I'm pretty much a Ruger guy, but a good Model 10 is a great blend of size, power, weight, ease of use, generally good trigger, etc. A model 10, 64 or any of the adjustable sighted versions, 15 or 67, would be outstanding if they suited her.

[ronto]

I'd go along with others who have suggested a Ruger SP101 3 1/16" barrel DA/SA in .357 and launch 38 Specials from it...and NO internal trigger lock either.

[CZ.22]

Someone recomended the 3'' GP100 in .357. Ruger makes a 4'' Gp100 in .38 Spl.+p. Its got the short grip frame of the 3''. I'm not able to shoot handguns at my range until I'm 16:mad: but I like the feel of the GP100.
If you live in humid/wet places a Model 64 with a 4'' barrel would work.

[El Tejon]

You must lead the horse to water, but the horse must decide if it will drink.:)

Let her pick! Rental range or let her pick from your armory or guns loaned by your buddies.

I have over 20 years of women leaving me, before they all have left me some wanted to go shooting. You must let them pick.

[Gary A]

The 4 inch GP100 in .38 really is a nice option. I have two, both picked up used. They are not as well-balanced, IMO, for a .38 as the Model 10 but I wouldn't part with mine. And they are a bit heavier and very strong. I believe they all have the 1/2 lug barrel. At least mine do. Ruger made the same configuration in .357, which I also have. My favorite GP of all time. 4 inch barrel, 1/2 lug, fixed sight .357. Model 10 is a bit easier to wield, IMO and plenty strong for .38 Special +P. There are still a lot of older Model 10s around, although the price has been going steadily up.

[Rotorflyr]

As already mentioned, if you can, take her to a range that has a good selection of rentals, and let her try them out.
Since this may not be an option, take her to a shop (or shops) in your area that have a decent selection of revolvers and let Her find one She likes. All the recommendations in the world really do no good, especialy since she isn't a "gunny" (least not yet ;) ), as everyone is different

You also mention she has no plans on carrying it, and just want's it for defense at home......If she intends it to be a "night stand" gun, I'd recommend her picking out a shotgun instead, if she's small of stature, she should check out "youth" versions. A shotgun will server her better for home defense (especialy if she doesn't shoot much), the pump action should be easy for her to work, and the (occasional) practice can still be fun (and accuracy doesn't need to be as precise).

[CZ.22]

If she doesnt shoot that much dont get her a snubbie. They're harder to shoot accurately. Consider a 4'' GP100 or M64/10. Or possibly an SP101 with a 3'' barrel.

[bakert]

Unless she wants to carry it concealed or in her purse or "just has to have it", I think most men make a mistake by steering a wife or girlfriend toward a snubbie. A 4" is much better for most shooting. My own wife likes and shoots 6" barreled revolvers better than others. Hell, most of the men I know can't shot a snubby worth darn at more than 5 to 7 yds if that, which in my opinion is what snubbies are for anyway.

[kahr404life]

My wife likes the S&W 642 :p but she's also understands rifles shoot farther:what: .

[Redhat]

Lots of good suggestions here and thanks for all.

Of course I intend to let her try the guns, I wouldn't just by one and tell her that's it! However, I posted this hoping to get some suggestions oin what type revolvers have worked for other women so I would know where to start.

I have owned a GP100 4" .357, but I think it probably is a little bigger than needed for .38 spcl.
The SP101 sound good though, although in my experience current Ruger's don't have a very good trigger.

I did notice no one suggested anythinig from Taurus. I looked at their guns and they have a very large selection.

[pax]

Redhat ~

Unless there is some very, very compelling reason for her to avoid doing her own research, your efforts to help her by narrowing down the choices are probably a bit counterproductive if your goal is to help her become an enthusiastic and responsible gun owner.

You see, doing the research to pick out the gun is a very important part of the process of becoming a responsible gun owner. It gives the new gun-person a chance to learn about firearms, to explore her likes and dislikes, and to do some necessary soul searching about what she is looking for and why she is looking for it. This basic research allows her to make some very important fundamental decisions about gun ownership.

How she does the research is up to her. She can take a class. She can hop online and ask questions of faceless strangers. She can surf gun manufacturers' websites and read product descriptions. She can go into her local gun shop and ask the guys behind the counter. She can buy a book, subscribe to magazines, visit a gun show, ask gun owning friends and family for suggestions of guns to try ... the list of ways she can research her new purchase are literally endless. Every one of those research methods has something to commend it, and something to be cautious about (but as an adult human being, she can probably figure those out on her own if you give her a chance).

What sure seems to be happening in most of these "help me pick a gun for my wife/gf" threads, however, is that someone else has taken over the process of picking out a gun for the newbie. The woman in question no longer owns the process of figuring out which gun will suit her. She's not the one doing the research, even if she is the one who makes the final choice between a very narrow list of possibles. Someone else is doing all of the filtering. He's trying to help her, but by taking over her research he is crippling her growth.

Very few people pick out the absolute best firearm for themselves, first time out the gate. (Did you?) Most pick something not-quite perfect to begin with, and then later trade up to get something better or more appropriate or more pleasing. That's normal, and especially normal when you are trying to find a multiple-purpose gun, such as one upon which you will learn to shoot and also use for defense -- or especially, one for learning to shoot and also for carrying.

So.

Possibility A: She does all her own research, with limited input from you, and picks out her own gun. For whatever reason, maybe no reason at all, it turns out not to be the bestest gun for her. Since she owned the process of buying it, if the gun doesn't suit her needs, she'll do what every other new gun owner has done at one time or another -- breathe a deep sigh, figure out what was wrong with the gun she had, and go buy the next gun.

Possibility B: Someone else did all the research. Maybe she got to choose between two or three very similar guns, but she did not do the research to select those two or three. The gun, for whatever reason, turns out to be less than perfect. So she shoves the gun back into the safe, decides guns aren't for her, and quits. She didn't own the process, she only owned the gun ... and the gun didn't work. And she may not even be able to articulate why it didn't work, which means you are both back at square one for picking out a gun for her even if she is willing to let you try it again.

That is why it's a bad idea to do her research for her. Help her find resources, sure. Suggest places for her to look, you bet. Go with her to the range to rent a gun, oh yeah! But make sure she is the primary researcher, and make sure she owns the process of narrowing down her own choices.

You'll be glad you did ...

(But if you decide to ignore all of the above, and continue doing all the legwork for her -- at least make sure the gun fits her hand properly. Have her read http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/TryOnGun.htm for info about that.)

pax

[springmom]

Pax, are you channeling me here? :neener:

Redhat, while I stick with my original answer, Pax is right. Please get your wife involved in the picking. Don't do this yourself.

XB, thanks for a humorous way of stating this same.

This is important. Point her to this site, and to www.womenandguns.com and suggest that she check out that forum. Mostly women, for one thing, so she can talk to other women about what works for us. But it's hers to do, first and foremost.

Springmom

[ArchAngelCD]

Pax makes some very good points, I would take his advice.

If had strength is an issue you're better off with a revolver IMO. If it's for home protection then a nice 4" 357/38 is probably a good choice but only if SHE likes the gun and it fits her hand well. I have a 7 shot S&W Model 619 that I love to shoot but it might be a little too have for her although the added weight will lessen the felt recoil.

Good luck.

[nelson133]

Pax is a her, but oh well. Another suggestion that has been tried by other members of the board is to let her try out your guns, if you own several as many of us do. Of course you may lose a favorite piece, but it is an excuse for you to go buy yourself another.

[dbarale]

I did notice no one suggested anythinig from Taurus. I looked at their guns and they have a very large selection.

I carry a Rossi 88, my wife carries a m60 Ladysmith.
Absolute reliability for her guns is the key for me. Also, it is a lot easier to get a trigger job done on a S&W (or even Ruger) than a Taurus.

And do not think the GP100 is too big for .38. The bigger the gun, the more comfortable it will be to shoot. My wife's favorite is a beat up 4" Security Six.
In this case, bigger is better.

[ArchAngelCD]

Pax is a her, but oh well.
Sorry Pax, I'm new here and don't know who is who yet. I meant no disrespect. :o

[jonsidneyb]

Hi Pax,

Remember me? :)

[Jkwas]

I agree with the "let her pick it out" group. My wife hates revolvers.

How about this one?

http://www.thunder5.com/docs1.html

[Brian Williams]

S&W model 10
S&W 642
S&W 1905 4th change
S&W 60-4
Suggestions only, But they work.

Any will do, just need to find the grip to fit.


then it comes to fitting holsters!!!!!AAaaaaaaaaaaaRRRRGGGgggggghHHhh!