Revolver for me AND my wife...

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Collector0311

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I've been looking at my options lately, trying to study and look around. I want to purchase one, lightweight, internal hammer, 357/38, that feels solid enough in my hands, but isn't too large for my wife. So far I have put hands on, and really liked the M&P340CT, as well as the bodyguard, and the Ruger KLCR. What other manufacturers along this line am I missing? Again I reiterate that both me (large hands) and my wife (small hands) will be shooting this as I begin building her knowledge and confidence around firearms seeing as how this will most likely end up as her carry in years to come.
Thanks for any help everyone!
Regards,
Brandon
 
What other manufacturers along this line am I missing?
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None. I would stay with Smith and Wesson or Ruger.

If you want something that is small and feels solid, take a look at the Ruger SP101 DAO (double action only) and/or the Smith and Wesson 640 and 649.
 
My wife is about 5'6", #120, and does not have big hands. I let her try holding the Ruger GP100 3" with the smaller compact grips, the S&W 15-2 2" Square Butt with the magna's, and the SP101 in 9MM (357/38 would be more practical to find) with Pachmayr's and a trigger buff by yours truly.

When asked which one she would want to be left with, after dry firing to test (and some basic instruction), she chose the SP101 9MM with the short barrel.

YMMV.

Good luck. :)
 
My wife also claims the KLCR. Stick to the .38's and she will shoot me into the poor house when we go shooting. I have a dedicated press just for .38sp because of her. I have never given her any .357 to shoot, nor has she expressed desire to.
 
I don't care for the heavy recoil in a lightweight, short barrel 357. I keep my S&W model 66 2 1/2 inch loaded with 38 Special.
 
I would say the KLCR is a good choice, because it's lightweight, simple, affordable, has a good trigger, and with the wide variety of .38 Special and .357 Magnum ammo available, you should both be able to find something comfortable to practice with and also something suitable for defensive use.
 
A "J" Frame S&W is an experts gun; substantial recoil, difficult to shoot accurately.
I hear gunshop Commando's recommend them continuously for a woman's first handgun. Bad advise at best.

For what you describe, a "K" frame, 2" barrel would be hard to beat.
M66 if you need .357, M10 in .38.
 
DOA sp101, does not have the internal hammer, at 27 oz it's not exactly a lightweight either, but shootability is great with standard pressure 38 loads. If you want to feel 'macho' put some 125 grain screamers in and get ready for the fireball.
 
Again I reiterate that both me (large hands) and my wife (small hands) will be shooting this...
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If you figure out to get the same shoes, hats, and gloves to fit you and your wife, then you might find a handgun to fit you both.

lightweight, internal hammer, 357/38,...will be shooting this as I begin building her knowledge and confidence around firearms
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Perhaps not the best choice of handguns to school your wife with? Has she had much range time with your semi-auto?

...will most likely end up as her carry in years to come.
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Either you are a prophet or will be buying more than this one gun. My money is on the latter.
 
+1 for the LCR. I find it MUCH softer shooting than any airweight smith. Not exactly a "pleasure" to shoot .357mag out of, but not unbearable. .38spl are quite toleralbe.
 
If you want her to be able to shoot it well and you want it to fit you well enough to shoot well I would suggest that you can't do it with one gun. The need for the grip shape and trigger reach to be wildly different for small to large hands is simply too much to expect for one gun to fit from small to large. One or both of you will suffer for accuracy, comfort or both.

I've worked as a part time RO at a local rental range and I've had a lot of first time lady shooters that didn't like semis take an instant liking to a K frame S&W. I'd have to say forget about a small frame for your lady and get her an oh so slightly larger and slightly heavier K frame in .38Spl. Start her out with some 148gn waddcutter target rounds and work her up to doing well with 158gn regular or +P rounds and call it a day.... unless she is like some and wants to move up the recoil scale. Not many do but those that step up to the plate typically don't stop until they are pushing 500Magnums dwnrange.... :D Along the way fit out the gun with some grip scales that fit her hand while still allowing good results with DA shooting.

Of course this assumes that SHE likes the revolvers in principle and it's not you trying to push something onto her.

... And then get your OWN DARN GUN to join in the fun.... :D

My wife also claims the KLCR. Stick to the .38's and she will shoot me into the poor house when we go shooting. I have a dedicated press just for .38sp because of her. I have never given her any .357 to shoot, nor has she expressed desire to.
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I can think of far worse things to "suffer" with in a marraige than having to dedicate a press to that significant other. But I WOULD make her pull the darn lever.....:D
 
Model 10 SW is what turned my wife full from a phobic into a gun owner herself. Great for a first timer gun, and inexpensive enough (Bud's for $270 or so? ) that you can put the savings towards whatever gun she demands once she's comfortable.

After a few years with it, For her Birthday, I took her to the store to buy her first gun... What does she do? She goes and buys a Sigma 9mm, purely on how it felt in her hand.

And Woe to the Detractor who says one word about her cheap little gun.

She gives me a run for my money. I blame the extra fatigue from loading her mags for her, to preserve her Nails. ;)
 
I highly doubt your wife will want to fire a .357 Magnum round in a M340 and if she does I'm sure she won't want to ever do it again. I know I don't want to! (and I'm not at all recoil sensitive)

If you are looking for a small revolver that will fire 38/357 ammo I would suggest a slightly heavier revolver than the M340, it's the S&W M640. It's Steel construction makes followup shots quicker and probably more accurate. I own one and I like that revolver a lot. BTW, my M640 shoots 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum very accurately.
 
She gives me a run for my money. I blame the extra fatigue from loading her mags for her, to preserve her Nails. ;)
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WHAT A "NANCY" YOU ARE! ! ! ! :D

Get her a Maglula Uplula loader and get her to reload her OWN magazines..... A guy has to stand his ground on SOME points..... even if they are the rather minor ones.... :D
 
I'd rather be Whipped with a woman who can outshoot me on some days, than skulking around, hiding my guns like a social Leper. It could be worse!

Besides, I'm the one who lost her last loader. ;)
 
I like to practice S/D scenario's w/ heavy magnums or +p .38's. In a heavier frame of course. If you find her a frame she is comfortable pulling the trigger until it goes click,click w/o being nervous/scared of and hitting center mass a couple times out of 6 then you got your winner. Eventually you want her to carry it with confidence. I have rather large hands and after a couple cylinders of magnums through the smaller frames I say uncle. Can I put them all in center mass? Yes, but I have to slow down and really focus. In a life or death situation she won't have that luxury. Just my .02.
 
As has been stated before in this thread, a small J-Frame sized or small revolver is a tough handgun to master. My wife is a fine shooter, and often fires a steel .357 snub with zero problems, but she wants nothing to do with my J-Frame sized guns, especially firing +p ammunition.

I've found that she likes the larger for caliber guns best, and doesn't like the small for caliber ones. Her softer hands simply don't stand up to the stress.
 
Besides, I'm the one who lost her last loader.
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Then I would suggest that instead of a bouquet of flowers that you come home on some random day with a new reloader in a nice little glitzy gift bag with suitably coloured tissues bursting from the top in the most decorous of manner. Bonus points to you if you have a bottle of her favourite wine in the other arm.... Otherwise your life will no longer be worth living.... :D
 
Collector0311 said:
I've been looking at my options lately, trying to study and look around. I want to purchase one, lightweight, internal hammer, 357/38, that feels solid enough in my hands, but isn't too large for my wife. So far I have put hands on, and really liked the M&P340CT, as well as the bodyguard, and the Ruger KLCR. What other manufacturers along this line am I missing? Again I reiterate that both me (large hands) and my wife (small hands) will be shooting this as I begin building her knowledge and confidence around firearms seeing as how this will most likely end up as her carry in years to come.
Thanks for any help everyone!
Regards,
Brandon
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Your wife will end up hating guns and shooting if you buy her a snub to start with. Bad, bad choice.

The Ruger sp101 is likely the best choice for her. Smaller, but still very comfortable to shoot with 38spl.
 
Dnaltrop has it. Let her try a Mod 10 S&W with a round butt and she will never be happier...The only one better is a Mod 10 round butt is one with after market grips.
 
try to find one in 357 instead of 38.easier to sell if you don't like it,and in case of emergency,when 38 is not available,you can use 357 if that is available.look for the m649 shrouded 357 also in stainless,no rust.
 
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