Help me pick out a revolver

[tluxtele]

I need some help. I know very little about revolvers. Here's what I "need".

Budget: A little north of $350.00 but not much.

Purpose: This isn't perfect but I'd like it to fill two purposes. I would like a "pocket pistol" for times I don't want to carry my M&PC (LCP or similar). But I also want something for my wife when she's home alone with the kids. As much as I'd like her to go gun shopping to see what will fit her best, she will not... so I have to kinda guess for right now. She knows how to use my M&PC but racking the slide is a little difficult for her. She said she would like to have a revolver so she could just point and shoot and not have to worry about everything that goes with a semi-auto.

Size: I know the more mass the gun has the more recoil is absorbs but to use it as a pocket pistol my research is leading me to think I'm looking for a smaller J-Frame. Is that right?

Caliber: I'm a little confused here. I see a lot of people saying 380 isn't a very good round. I thought I have read that a 38 special is close to a 380 (which would make me think it's not that strong of a round) but it seems to be very popular. I also can't imagine my wife handling much more than a 38. Is a 38 special a valid home defense round?

Again, I don't know much about revolvers. Looking around I was thinking about the S&W 442. Is that a good gun? Based on what I listed, what would you suggest?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Normandy]

Look for a S&W 638, used. Retail $400ish.

There's also a lot of love for the Ruger LCR. Check them out.

 

[rswartsell]

I think you are asking a single gun to perform 2 rather incompatible roles. I agree with a revolver probably being the answer for your wife if she has trouble racking the slide of your M&P and wants the simplicity. However any revolver that would fit the description of a pocket gun will be among the most difficult to shoot well and the hardest recoiling for caliber. There is nothing wrong with .38 special for your needs, in my opinion it is probably ideal.

I would strongly suggest a K frame such as a Model 10 for your wife and pocket the M&P. I just do not see the 2 roles as compatible with 1 revolver.

 

[Smith357]

You are really looking for two different guns, a pocket pistol is not easy to shoot well without plenty of practice. Get your wife something that she can hit the target with under stress easily without extensive training time. I recommend a 20 gauge pump shotgun loaded with 2 3/4 #4 buck for the home, or a big dog.

A .38 special surpasses the .380 ballistically. The 158 grain SWCLHP worked for the FBI for many years. I keep my K38 in the nightstand loaded up with the FBI load and don't feel under gunned.

 

[sappyg]

I agree with the previous posts. We are really talking about two different guns.

If the OP reloads the air weight S&Ws might cover the bill. Lighter loads for the wife if needed and +P for pocket carry if desired. But, there is that budget to worry with...

Sounds to me like the wife may not really care one way or the other. If she wanted a gun she would be willing to shop for one. Just mention the word 'shopping' to my wife and she's looking for the car keys.

 

[rcmodel]

something for my wife when she's home alone with the kids. As much as I'd like her to go gun shopping to see what will fit her best, she will not..

Well there's your problem Bucky!!

If she won't go shopping to find a gun that suits her?
She won't go shooting to practice with it enough to be safe handling it.
(And let's leave out the kids )

What you need to get for your uninterested in guns or shooting wife, is a can of pepper spray.

At least her or the kids won't kill someone by accident with it!!!

rc

 

[tluxtele]

Thanks y'all so far. I'm willing to keep listing. The fact is it'll probably be carried by me more than it'll be used by her but I was hoping to find something that would be easier to use than an LCP... which is what I was looking for at first.

There was a suggestion of K frame revolvers. Again, I know very little about revolvers. Could you give me some model numbers so I can look around?

Well there's your problem Bucky!!

If she won't go shopping to find a gun that suits her?
She won't go shooting to practice with it enough to be safe handling it.
(And let's leave out the kids)

What you need to get for your uninterested in guns or shooting wife, is a can of pepper spray.

At least her or the kids won't kill someone by accident with it!!!

rc

First off Bucky, I thought you wanted to leave the kids out of it. It's also an amazing jump/assumption that because my wife doesn't want to go shopping my kids will somehow accidentally kill someone with a gun in our house.

The bigger part of this is she hates shopping no matter what it is. It's not because she's not interested in guns or learning how to use it. We plan on doing some shooting this summer. My father-in-law has a number of different calibers and we are going to spend some time going through them. I'm looking around right now and trying to learn.

I do thank you for your time and opinion but we will be picking up a revolver for her. Do you have any suggestions for us to look at?

------------------------------

Another question this leads to for me... what is a popular revolver size for women and concealed carry? I took my concealed carry class with a woman from church who used a rather small revolver... I think it was a Taurus but I don't know the model. It was her first time with the gun (second time shooting in her life) and she did great. Now my wife (at least at this point) will not be carrying, but I didn't think a smaller revolver would be bad for her based on what I saw from this woman from my church.

Again, thanks y'all for your help. Looking forward to learning from y'all.

 

[rcmodel]

A K-Frame S&W should be high on your list.
(Model 10, Model 15, Model 19, etc)

Ruger SP-101 for a smaller gun still big enough not to sting with full power loads.

rc

 

[JSH1]

I do thank you for your time and opinion but we will be picking up a revolver for her. Do you have any suggestions for us to look at?

The best revolver for your wife is the one that she shoots well, fits her hand, and has recoil that she can handle. No one here knows what the right model will be. I've seen many friends that have purchased a gun for their wife only to have that gun sit in the nightstand or glove box.

You have the right idea to go shooting with your father-in-law and try a bunch of guns. That is the place to start.

As others have said, you are looking for two different guns. For nightstand duty you want a large frame revolver like a Ruger GP100 with about a 4 inch barrel. To carry, look at the Ruger LCR. You may find a compromise with something like the Ruger LCRX with a 3 inch barrel. It is model #5431. A Ruger SP101 could also work with a 3 or 4 inch barrel. The SP101 is a lot heavier than a LCR so that will help with the recoil but the gun is still pretty compact.

 

[Delmar]

A K frame Smith would do okay. I wouldn't worry too much about barrel length-those 2 inch barrels don't conceal much better than a 4. Its the cylinder which stands out more than anything else. And with a 4 inch barrel its going to be easier for both of you to hit what you're aiming for.

Some other suggestions would be a Ruger SP101 which can be had in a 3 inch barrel.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I cast my vote for the Ruger LCR, too. I had one of the 2" versions with no hammer but sold it and bought the new 3" LCRx. It's a great little revolver. The grips that come with it (or the Tamer grips that I prefer) do a good job of mitigating recoil. It's kind of hard for me to guestimate another persons tolerance for recoil; the 2" LCR is a bit of a handful with +P loads but not unmanageable by any means. One can do the bulk of their practice with milder loads, saving the hotter stuff for actual carry. Yeah, I realize you need some practice with full power loads but once you're basically proficient I expect the adrenaline dump will help compensate for recoil and blast to a large degree.

Probably the OP is describing two different guns but the 3" LCRx is a great choice for one of them. The trigger is great and it's surprisingly easy to shoot well.

Bud's has several versions of the LCR including the new 3" LCRx version for $379 right now with free shipping. Hard to beat that deal.

 

[bannockburn]

A used S&W Model 10 with a 3" barrel and a round butt configuration might be a workable compromise for both concealed carry and home defense but please note I did say compromise. As others have already pointed out what you really need are two guns for two different applications. A J frame S&W, like a Model 442 or 638, would make for a decent choice as a CCW while a K frame S&W, like a Model 10, 15, or 19, would be well suited for HD.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Me...

If you have limited experience with revolvers and want a simple, safe revolver to defend you & maybe your trained wife, my first suggestion would be the new Ruger LCRx 3" .38spl +P. It's light, accurate, easy to clean, and can offer a decent power(defense caliber).
The longer ejector rod will help pop out the spent(fired) cases and the 5 round cylinder is easy to load-unload.
The LCRx 3" barrel model has adjustable rear sights and can be modified for your aim or what .38spl defense rounds you might use.
You can add after market Hogue grips too or opt for a Crimsontrace Lasergrip. The red laser can help with marksmanship or defense carry if you or your spouse need to hold a felon at gunpoint.
My friend purchased a Ruger LCR .38spl +P 2.25" barrel with a Lasermax Crossfire red laser in the spring of 2013. He uses it for home protection with DPX .38spl +P rounds.

Other good snub revolvers include the S&W J frame 442 or 642. S&W also markets a 642 without the security lock(which I prefer). You or your wife might want the added security of a manual lock.
As for .38spl defense loads, Id stick to factory made ammunition only, no reloads or hand loaded ammunition. Good brands include; CorBon DPX, Hornady Critical Defense, Winchester Defender or PDX1, Buffalo Bore 158gr lead SWC HP +P, Glaser Safety Slug silver, DRT.
As for spare rounds, you can carry a few Quik Strips from www.tuffproducts.com . You can carry a few 5/6/7 round strips in a purse or briefcase. 2 .38/.357magnum strips can fit inside a Altoids candy tin.
Always carry at least 1 or 2 revolver strips or speedloaders. Extra rounds might be needed.
Keep your new firearm clean and inspect it often. Dirt, oil, grit, lint, etc can damage any firearm. Learn how to properly clean & oil the revolver too. Read the owner's manual & if you can take a safety class or 2 if available near you.
Learn & understand your area's gun/use of force laws too. A critical incident or break in is not the time to learn the law or what's a good plan.

 

[righteoushoot]

If you end up looking at or getting a Ruger SP101, do yourself a favor and get a set of Pachmayr Compact grips for it. Very much helps with recoil without drastically altering the size of the gun.

 

[Crayfish]

I think you got a lot of good suggestions from these folks already. Hard to find the "one gun" as most of us have looked long and hard for that holy grail.
I carry a Rossi M88 snub 38 that was purchased in 1994 for $215.00 every day and its been a good firearm although I hear the newer ones after Taurus bought them have quality issues but, you can find a good used one for 250ish. It is steel so easy recoil (my view) and I keep the small wood grips on it as it conceals great and that grip is so much faster for me to draw than the Pachmyer grip I have for it. It goes on the nightstand for my home defense gun at night and my wife is deadly with it. She is a better shot than I am and I think a lot of women are from my experience. She can rapid fire all 5 in about a 5" spread at 10 yards. I would like to try that 3" LCRx, seems like a winner for the role you want.
P.S. I am still looking for that one gun too. If you know of a slim, high capacity, light weight cannon let me know.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

What others said about the J frame being a bear to hang on to while shooting is spot on. In my opinion, they are good pocket guns for back up or "bad breath distances" but not great shooters. Especially for folks who don't shoot that much.
When I was looking for a gun for the wife, I immediately thought: K frame revolver. So I purchased a model 10.
We went out shooting and she picked up my Sig 239 (my carry gun) and really, really liked it. Much more so than the Model 10.
If your are stuck on the revolver, go K frame. If she doesn't mind a semi auto, check out a DA/SA like a CZ PCR or a Sig 239 (in 9mm). I picked up my Sig 239 for $550.

Now that is just my experience with MY wife. YMMV

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Well there's your problem Bucky!!

If she won't go shopping to find a gun that suits her?
She won't go shooting to practice with it enough to be safe handling it.
(And let's leave out the kids )

What you need to get for your uninterested in guns or shooting wife, is a can of pepper spray.

At least her or the kids won't kill someone by accident with it!!!

rc

RC has the correct answer here. An unwilling gun user is an unsafe user. Ability and willingness to use a different gun is irrelevant.

The only solution is to get her to pick one, or if she can work your gun, buy an identical one for her. But any way you slice it, she needs to practice, or she is a hazard.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

RC has the correct answer here. An unwilling gun user is an unsafe user. Ability and willingness to use a different gun is irrelevant.

The only solution is to get her to pick one, or if she can work your gun, buy an identical one for her. But any way you slice it, she needs to practice, or she is a hazard.

I think it is a stretch to say an "unwilling gun user is an unsafe gun user".

Just because someone isn't really interested in guns does not make them unsafe. My wife is very safe, but only shoots occasionally.
Heck, one of my best friends was a Marine and he isn't really into guns, but he is not unsafe.

 

[MrBorland]

Folks, the OP clarified that his wife doesn't like to shop. He said nothing towards an unwillingness to learn to use the gun and learn to use it safely.

 

[JERRY]

you can get a new Charter Arms for that price most any day. get two sets of grips, one small for ccw and larger for range time and home use.... whichever the gun comes with get the opposite in addition.

you can shoot .38 specials loaded down to the recoil of a "hot" 32 (148gr. WC target loads, mid range loads and heavy (for caliber) loads..... something the kids can shoot for fun as well as stuff you can load for serious work.

 

[Zendude]

If you want a revolver that your wife could use for concealed carry, consider a Charter Arms 5 shot in 32 H&R Magnum caliber. The price is in your range. It has a fairly soft double action trigger and a soft recoil. I would bet that she would not like the recoil of a 38 in any revolver weighing less than a pound. Defense ammo is not hard to find in 32 H&R although less expensive practice ammo is. I have one and I don't feel like it is too feeble for self defense at all.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Ruger GP Clapp model .357magnum ....

I was going to suggest a NIB(new in box) Ruger GP Wiley Clapp ed revolver blue or stainless(target grey) 3" barrel but that might be way over the posted $350.00 price range.
The Clapp GP line does offer a lot for the $$$. Id buy one just for the collector value & .357magnum caliber but I have a few other choices for guns, first.
My first privately owned handgun was a NIB, unfired Ruger SP101 2.25" barrel SP101 5 shot .357magnum. It was a stainless steel DA only model. I really liked it. I loaded it mostly with either Magsafe SWAT .38spl, www.magsafeonline.com or potent Remington Golden Saber 125gr JHP .357magnum.
Id suggest the Ruger SP101 series to anyone who wants a robust, well engineered stainless steel revolver. The Ruger LCR offers a lot but there's nothing wrong with the older SP101 line.

 

[sappyg]

Probably the OP is describing two different guns but the 3" LCRx is a great choice for one of them. The trigger is great and it's surprisingly easy to shoot well.
Bud's has several versions of the LCR including the new 3" LCRx version for $379 right now with free shipping. Hard to beat that deal.

I keep forgetting about this one... Why? IDK.

The LCRx could be an excellent choice. Very light. Hits are easy. Impressive trigger. I really like what's going on there. Couldn't call it a pocket gun but it checks most of the boxes. That's a lot of gun for less than 4 bills.

 

[sgt127]

No one gun will meet all of your criteria.

A Ruger SP101 would be the best compromise for carry ability and comfort for the wife to actually shoot.

This would be great for home defense but not nearly as carry able.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...790/used_s&w_police_model_10_38sp_square_butt

 

[Doug S]

Like some of the others, I'd pick an SP101 2 barrel. I'd load it with 38 Special for the wife. Small enough to pocket if you want, and as the same time a little larger and heavier to help manage the recoil.