I decided on a revolver for my daughter.

[Kevinch]

First, thanks to all who took the time to answer my questions about buying my 24 year old daughter a revolver & offered advice on what to consider.

I cruised the on-line auction & classified sites & visited a few gun shops. In the end, I bought this at the shop where I have purchased practically all my guns:



A NIB S&W Model 637-2.

First, the cons: this barrel is shorter than what I had decided on (which was 3"), and the gun is a little lighter in weight than I had desired too. But when I handled a well used 3" M36 along side the 637, it became apparent how much easier it will be to carry the smaller gun.



For the pros: In addition to the carry advantages, this particular example seems to have a nice trigger pull. My dealer has no problem with dry firing to check the action & this one is realtively smooth in DA, with a crisp SA. It does have the rubber grips to help absorb recoil, and as a .38SPL +P is the caliber I was looking for.



Finally, the price was $325. I've seen used snubs going for around $275 - $300 or more. I know it's an aluminum alloy frame & they sell for a little less, but I thought the price was right. I'd appreciate some opinions on that - is $325 a good price? I'm asking, because I plan on buying my wife a revolver next Saturday & may just pick up another 637.

I can't wait to give this to my daughter! Both her & my wife won't be home until after this weekend & I know she'll be surprised!

 

[sm]

Way to go dad!
Great Pics as well.

Since you are showing this much responsiblity and I don't know daughter's shooting experience ...

Training - which will bring out further the gun fit to her ( she may find another stock fits better, therefore handles percieved recoil better along with Concealment for carry).

Ammo testing for POA/POI

I also like to recommend the Speer Plastic training bullets. this are primer only, reusable and assists with useful practice of gun handling and shooting. Think dry-firing except with plastic bullets with fun. Especially if not able to attend a range , weather is bad, - if you have safe indoor area, great practice.

Steve

 

[Mulliga]

Price is fine. $325 for a new 637 is a good deal IMHO. For that price, I probably would have bought one, too.

An Airweight means easy packing in a purse - easier than any .357 short of the scandium handbusters. I know you were looking for a 3" .357 but I think this will do just fine - I doubt they'd want to touch off many full house .357s in a M60 or an SP101 anyway.

My advice is to buy a bunch of different grips and find out what your daughter prefers shooting with. The default boot grips work well for some people (for pocket carry, I actually like them better than the Hogue and Pachmayr options available), but a slightly larger grip wouldn't make much difference in a purse and it'd help with practice.

 

[lanceman193]

I don't think you have to worry about how mutch practicing she's gonna do with that sweet little airweight.....

 

[ugaarguy]

Kevinch,

Beautiful pics, very nice piece at rather attractive price as well. Any tips on getting a young lady into shooting? My sister is 26 and I can't seem to get her to see the point in getting a CCW. Glad to hear your daughter has, and wife will be getting, a fine carry revolver.

 

[Kevinch]

Thanks for the comments on the pictures. I upgraded our digital camera a short while ago, & while this little camera is hardly "cutting edge" it certainly is an improvement over our old Kodak.

Since you are showing this much responsiblity and I don't know daughter's shooting experience ...

Training - which will bring out further the gun fit to her ( she may find another stock fits better, therefore handles percieved recoil better along with Concealment for carry).

Ammo testing for POA/POI

I also like to recommend the Speer Plastic training bullets. this are primer only, reusable and assists with useful practice of gun handling and shooting. Think dry-firing except with plastic bullets with fun. Especially if not able to attend a range , weather is bad, - if you have safe indoor area, great practice.

Thanks Steve. We will be spending time on training. I don't really have a place to shoot inside my home with plastic bullets, but we only have to open the back door & step out onto the porch to shoot. The only ammo I have now is what I picked up yesterday at Wally World; a 100 count box of 125G Winchester FMJ & a 50 count box of Winchester 125G +P; along with some lead semi-wadcutters I have laying around. We'll have to work on ammo selection.

My advice is to buy a bunch of different grips and find out what your daughter prefers shooting with. The default boot grips work well for some people (for pocket carry, I actually like them better than the Hogue and Pachmayr options available), but a slightly larger grip wouldn't make much difference in a purse and it'd help with practice.

Good points Mulliga - we'll have to see how her hand fits the grips. For size comparison she can handle my SP101 with the stock grips & my 686 with wooden finger grooves (we'll probably use both of those in training anyway). I noticed Crimson Trace now has a rubber overmold Laser grip for the J-frame that is a little larger than the hard polymer unit they produce. But - at something along the lines of $225-$250 ( ), if that is what she wants she can pay for that one herself!

Any tips on getting a young lady into shooting? My sister is 26 and I can't seem to get her to see the point in getting a CCW.

ugaarguy, I don't really know what to tell you because I never really tried to get my daughter interested. She had very little exposure to guns before her mother & I started dating & eventually married; while her bio father has a few firearms he isn't "into guns" like I am. I simply asked her one day if she'd like to shoot with me & we ended up plinking in the back yard for a while. She'll probably be moving into her own place within a year or so & I believe she'll appreciate having a gun for HD. I hope to have her get a permit to CCW so she can at least carry in the car & while she rides her motorcycle - we'll see how that goes!

 

[Ala Dan]

Great pic's and a fine weapon, I'm sure she will enjoy it~!

SMART MAN

 

[fiVe]

GREAT choice (this is the 642's hammered cousin). Nice pics, too.

 

[TheEgg]

DON'T CLEAN IT WITH ANYTHING LIKE GUN-SCRUBBER! It will remove the paint on the frame.

Limit your cleaning stuff to things like Hoppes #9.

 

[Photoman]

Nice choice. Small and light enough that she might actually carry it. Good caliber. Try CorBon DPX. If too hot, then non+P Federal Nyclad. I think Ammoman still has some. Consider having the lock de-activated.