What's the best....

[BP Hunter]

Oops, sorry for the last post I should have read the previos posts before my post Yes, a revolver is a good option.

I actually have the 870 12 gauge and Bersa Thunder .380 at her disposal. She knows where they are. I really do hope that she would never have to use them.

thanks.

 

[saenzrich]

+1 haha so true....who would know better how to deal with your wife than...You.


As for my wife she can't rack the slide on most of my guns so I got her a Ruger sp101 3" with some 38spl loads, its the only gun she'll shoot at the range that she's not scared of.

 

[kingpin008]

The funny thing in this post is that I actually did not get the answer I was looking for - what is the best HD weapon???

Actually, a few people mentioned things like getting a dog or some mace...but you ignored them. Others have made the excellent point of what good is ANY weapon, if she's not going to use it?

So, have fun selectively choosing which answers to respond to - hopefully you'll get the one you want soon.

 

[DAP90]

The funny thing in this post is that I actually did not get the answer I was looking for - what is the best HD weapon???

Which, given her attitude towards guns, may not actually be a gun. The best HD weapons may be strong locks and a phone - a loud dog - a SD class - whatever.

A gun can actually be a liability in some cases.

If you want a 20 gauge SxS by all means, purchase one, show her how to use it and where it and the ammo are stored but don't think that actually makes her protected by itself.

 

[mbt2001]

I actually have the 870 12 gauge and Bersa Thunder .380 at her disposal. She knows where they are. I really do hope that she would never have to use them.

Is it cut down to fit her? 12gauge kicks hard, I shoot them regularly and do not like the kick, I wouldn't want my wife to shoot one, especially one that wasn't sized for her.

I do not like auto's for women, trouble racking slide and more moving parts. Get something that is hers for her, that she maintains, owns, and is responsible for. Something that satisfies her need for safety and simplicity that is not intimidating. Revolvers are safe, easy to tell if they are loaded, no chamber or FTF issues.

P.S. Firearms are the most efficient tool for defense, but they are not the only tool. I second getting her input about security and defense rather than you telling her what she should do.

 

[Remo223]

A sawed off single shot shotgun. Show her how to load and fire it. Leave it in the bedroom. Show her where you put the shells.

do yourself a favor and ignore this advice

 

[rellascout]

I actually have the 870 12 gauge and Bersa Thunder .380 at her disposal. She knows where they are. I really do hope that she would never have to use them.

If this is the case I am not sure what the issue is? She has defensive weapons at her disposal if she needs them.

IMHO I agree with other posters who are suggesting things like a Dog, cell phone, good locks, heavy doors & security system etc. 99% of the time criminals are looking for the easiest target on the block. The #1 think you can do to keep yourself and your wife safe is to do things which make you a less attractive target.

Why force the issue? If someone is not comfortable with shooting & does not enjoy shooting they are not going to become proficent enough to properly respond to a real life threat.

Just becaues "we" love guns does not mean the person we choose as our partner does. You seem intent on converting her. Honestly I have to ask why?

 

[oneounceload]

Thanks for your inputs. I am thinking of a Remington Sportsman short stock 20 gauge semiauto. Just rack and rock. But I was also thinking of installing a lazer so all she'd need to do was to point the laser to the zombie.

First - YOU need to stop thinking you know what's best for HER - Stop right now and do not pursue that flawed thought process any further.

Have her (and you), read Thecorneredcat.com - written by a woman for women (and stubborn male counterparts)

Then get her a lesson where you are no where to be found

THEN let HER decide what she needs, if anything at all. A can of bear spray may be all she wants, or she might go hard-core for a Title II gun - it's HER decision to make

Happiness and tranquility in the household will then come to pass

 

[hirundo82]

But she scored really well with my DPMS 16.5" barrled M4.

Offer to buy her her own AR15. Tell her that you'll get furniture for it in her favorite color.

 

[BP Hunter]

Thanks for all of your comments. Believe me ALL have helped, not as Kingpin has implied that I have selectively chosen to answer and wanted to hear. I will ask her what she REALLY wants.

Thank you all!

 

[AlexanderA]

Most women are rather practical-minded (as opposed to most men....). This goes back to the days of the cavemen, when the women would maintain the homes, raise the children, and cook the food while the men were out hunting and waging war on one another.

Anyway, when it comes to self-defense, I think women go on the basis of concrete perceived threats, rather than some vague notion of "self-protection" in the absence of such credible threats. And, indeed, if there were such credible threats, their first reaction might be to move away from such a crime-plagued area, rather than arming themselves.

Consider yourself lucky that your wife doesn't object to your interest in guns. (Often, such an objection takes the form of opposition to spending money on guns, rather than to the guns themselves.) I'd let sleeping dogs lie if I were you.

 

[kingpin008]

BP - Thank you for taking the initiative and asking her. At the end of the day, that's what was getting me so frustrated - it seemed like you had this agenda, and would not be swayed.

I apologize if I came across rude or snarky - this is a particularly charged subject for me (and others) for a number of reasons. In the end, we all want the best answer for those involved, ya know? Hopefully you & your wife can come to an agreement that works for the both of you, and keeps her safe should the need arise.

 

[Snowbandit]

My wife shows little interest in firearms also. I'll but her anything she wants but, in the mean time, there is a S&W, 640, 38 Special available for her use should she desire. I'm not going to push the issue anymore. I doubt she could hit anything with it but that's on her now. We have a range in the garden behind the barn and plenty of ammo for her to practice with. I'm a certified firearms instructor and have even offered to have someone else teach her. Nothing else I can do at this point. She's taken the PPCT training so she's not helpless I guess. There's also that 150 Boxer/Rott cross that someone would have to deal with if they wanted to mess with her.

 

[BP Hunter]

I apologize if I came across rude or snarky - this is a particularly charged subject for me (and others) for a number of reasons. In the end, we all want the best answer for those involved, ya know? Hopefully you & your wife can come to an agreement that works for the both of you, and keeps her safe should the need arise.

I'm cool, brother!

 

[hermannr]

Hej BP hunter: May I suggest a High Standard Olympic (22 short only) with the compensator to get her started on. Or a High Standard Trophy (22 LR with an extra barrel and slide for 22 shorts?

My wife was not a shooter until I purchased an old High Standard Trophy with 3 barrels and 2 slides for her. She really prefers the 22 short only setup, (I know don't laugh), with the compensater attached. Now all she wants to do is go shooting.

I am not sure the reason, but I suspect it is because she does not (or cannot) grip the pistol firmly. Firing .22 shorts out of a compensated 3lb+ pistol has almost no recoil even if the pistol is held lightly.

She absolutely does not like to shoot my double action Colt, even though it has a very smooth trigger pull and she has shot it before... I'm not sure, but if she was put in a defensive situation that she would pound 10 rounds of .22LR out of her Trophy into a perp first before she would ever think of picking up that Colt.

One other option might be that fire breathing .22 called the FN FiveseveN. Awfull expensive to just experiment with though if you do not want one for yourself.

 

[Onward Allusion]

BP Hunter

What's the best....
OK, I have a dilemna. My wife is not into guns. She has nothing againt my collection of guns, my carrying wherever we go and even arming myself at home. She actually encourages my 10 year old daughter to go shooting with me. She has gone shooting with me only once. She shot a a Walther 22LR that she could not hit anything with. But she scored really well with my DPMS 16.5" barrled M4. I have taught her how to charge the M4 and use it. She actually bought me a Benelli Nova tactical 18.5" barrel recently because I had no "Italian" made gun. She has cycled the Benelli because I forced her how to use it.

I have asked her countless of times to come out with me so she could learn how to defend herself when I am not at home. But she refuses. My question is: what is a good HD weapon for a person who has very little experience with firearms?

There is no "best". Get her training. A revolver would generally be simpler than a semi-auto for newbies.

Most of all it is a matter of mindset. Sell it to your wife by stating that everyone in the family needs to take responsibility for its safety, including her. Ask her what she would do if there was a home invasion and she was the only thing standing between the BG and her daughter. I know it sounds harsh and callous, but sometimes reality is that way.

 

[sixgunner455]

She's an adult. She doesn't want to shoot.

Learn to live with it, and buy a big dog.

 

[rellascout]

There is no "best". Get her training. A revolver would generally be simpler than a semi-auto for newbies.

Most of all it is a matter of mindset. Sell it to your wife by stating that everyone in the family needs to take responsibility for its safety, including her. Ask her what she would do if there was a home invasion and she was the only thing standing between the BG and her daughter. I know it sounds harsh and callous, but sometimes reality is that way.

Honestly why can't people accept that some people do not like to shoot, do not have an interest in shooting and that trying to scare or manipulate them into shooting is not a good idea.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Honestly why can't people accept that some people do not like to shoot, do not have an interest in shooting and that trying to scare or manipulate them into shooting is not a good idea.

I gotta agree with rellascout. I don't care to use scare tactics on my loved ones. The most you can do is lead by example and hope they pick it up.

 

[Remo223]

I used a different tactic with women.(before I gave up talking to them about guns I mean)

I would debate them on the ethics of gun ownership. My belief is that it is a matter of civic duty to own and practice with a firearm...and that a secondary benefit is that it is just plain fun. Women like to learn the details of guns, in my experience. They don't like the smell and noise of guns though. I would get them hooked by first convincing them that they are not being good citizens by not owning a gun, then teaching them all the different features, parts, and safe handling practices of different types of guns. They pretty much universally like guns at this point. After that its a matter of getting them to a shooting range for their first experience.

This is the point where you are most likely to lose them. many women just do NOT want anything to do with the noise and the smell of gunfire.

 

[ForumSurfer]

many women just do NOT want anything to do with the noise and the smell of gunfire.

And some can't get enough of it. I surprised my last girlfriend with left handed controls and an ambidextrous charging handle for my AR one Friday. I got a better response than the 1st time I sent her flowers.

I'm just saying we shouldn't try to sway them at all. Lead by example, and if anyone wants to follow that is great. I'm not moving on my opinion on self or family defense, but I'm willing to share it. Most times, whoever I'm dating will come around. For those that don't, no amount of arguments from me are going to matter. The last thing I want is to teach someone to rely on a weapon for self defense when they technically are only doing it because I talked them into it, not because they genuinely want to protect themselves. Now you have an armed and unsure person who may make a situation worse than it was.

 

[txhoghunter]

Forcing a gun into her hands will do the exact opposite of what you are wanting. My mother was the same way until I caught two guys lurking around our house and peeping into the windows. If I wasn't home, they could have broken in, and neither my mother nor my little brother know how to use a gun.

Even if you leave her a gun, if she does not have the mindset that she will kill a human being if she needs to.....well, it will have little use.

You need to give her her space, and wait until she is ready.

 

[ForumSurfer]

My mother was the same way until I caught two guys lurking around our house and peeping into the windows.

Yep, some people can't be swayed. I have a coworker like that. Even after his neighbors were victims of home invasions, he didn't believe in armed response. He figured he would be ok if he just followed the assailants orders and offer no resistance.

Low and behold, I bumped into him at my local gun store one day. He was taking his CCW class!?

He stated someone kicked in his door while his family was home. Everyone was fine, but severely rattled. We talked briefly. He said in the past he had silently agreed with me on some of my conversations about self defense and gun control, but stuck to his guns by staying anti and preaching about not offering resistance. He told me that once it happened to him, or nearly happened...he realized just how helpless he felt to protect himself or his family. That is a story I've heard from more than one person. Some people can never be convinced until it happens to them, or they make their own decision.

 

[HGM22]

As others have said don't force the issue. Give her time to think about it. Remember, if she has a gun but doesn't want/know how to use it the gun could very well be a liability, not an asset. This would be my biggest concern.

Have you talked to her about non-firearm defense? Making sure the doors/windows are locked, having a charged cell phone nearby at all times (AKA her carry piece), awareness (including not opening door to strangers), etc. These may not be what you want but a good, locked door and a call to the police can be just, if not more, effective. Besides, if you ever have to use a weapon in self defense it would be very helpful to have her simultaneously calling the police (remind her to let the police know you are armed).

On the other hand, if one day she does decide she'd like a weapon, and that weapon is a firearm, then I'd suggest a .38spc revolver. No safety to forget to take off, no jam drill to learn, no stiff spring to pull back, etc. Don't forget a flashlight though!

 

[Old krow]

I believe that a revolver will have the simplest manual of arms and likely the easiest to use assuming that only one cylinder is needed.

If she wants a gun, I'd let her pick. I don't think that was the intent of your question though.

Remember, if she has a gun but doesn't want/know how to use it the gun could very well be a liability, not an asset. This would be my biggest concern.

For that reason I would stay away from long arms personally. A handgun could be more discrete.

And this is how you need to deal with your wife....