inexpensive bedside handgun for my wife

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futureranger

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there have been a number of house robberies around where i live in the last month or so and i would like to get a inexpensive bedside handgun for my wife, for the last few weeks she has had my 1911 but she has a lot of difficulty working the slide, plus i cant carry it when she has it at home during the day. i just need something that goes bang if she needs it too it doesnt have to be pretty, i need something under 200 bucks (tight budget with a baby on the way and pawn shops never have anything that cheap). i was looking at P64's and other surplus sidearms, maybe put on some durracoat or something. any suggestions?
 
1858 Remington from 'Cabalas'...


May have to open the Windows and run some fans after use, but, it'll do the job alright.


Well...even though it would, if you want a newer design, I'd say, shop around locally for Police or Security Guard Turn ins or Trade ins which often show up in batches at Sporting Goods Stores or smaller FFL guys...and, consider an S&W Model 10, .38 Special, which, when having enough bluing loss from a lot of carry, and battered Stocks ( may be seldom shot and perfect and lovely mechanically ) can be priced around $200.00 sometimes.
 
thanks for the help, ill take a look at some smaller gunshops around and ask, i guess 200 is a little low, but i dont think i could spend anything over 350, how much does that open my window of selection?
 
I've been at two shops in the last week that had the following:

Kel-Tec .380's and .32's - $175
Kel-Tec PF11 9MM - $175 (Kicking myself for not grabbing that one!)
Ruger LCP - $225

When you bump it to $350 you could go to any of the above new, or (my preference for home defense) a used S&W .38, as the others mentioned. Semi-auto's often make those who aren't around guns a lot, a little nervous. Not to mention, any of the above can fail to cycle with a limp-wristed shot. And, the .380's above do "bark" a good bit.

Save for the higher end and get a .38 revolver. Load it with wadcutters, and your wife will be VERY comfortable shooting it. Wadcutters have surprisingly good ballistics for self-defense. And better her to shoot them confidently, than holding the gun with her head turned away and missing, due to the fear of the hot +P loads. As they say, it's all about bullet placement.
 
I'd go with the used S&W's that Mike linked to--you should still be around $300 after shipping and FFL fee. A 3 or 4 inch K-frame .38 is nearly perfect for your wife's need.

The guns MSC mentioned are all good guns but I wouldn't recommend them in this application. They are all smaller guns, which would make them harder to shoot well and increase recoil. Since it sounds like this will be a dedicated HD gun, there is no reason not to get a larger gun.
 
I'd go with the used S&W's that Mike linked to--you should still be around $300 after shipping and FFL fee. A 3 or 4 inch K-frame .38 is nearly perfect for your wife's need.
Click to expand...

Strong agreement here. And... Gosh I sure hope nobody takes this the wrong way but, well, automatics come in different flavors - the rugged functionality of a Glock, the sexy purr of a Beretta that melts in your hand - but whatever the design, holding a revolver just feels different from an auto. They inspire confidence and that's something that's an intangible to quantify, but is a point in favor of the K-frame for this application. Simple, easy to aim, and cocking one is almost as good as running the slide of a Mossberg.
 
Academy has the Rossi 38 special 3" barrel on sale thru tomarrow. $199.00. It has a really nice feel to it and very compact. I read about a man that fired a .357 mag in a hallway. He is now deaf in one ear and very little hearing in the other. 38's are a little easier on the hearing.
 
Make sure that she can operate easily under presure when things go bump in the night. If she's not a regular shooter then a revolver may be the best choice. If it's only going to be for home defense then a 4" revolver might be the way to go as it gives you a longer sighting radius then a snubbie, the extra weight helps with the recoil and the larger size is more intimidating and inspires a bit more confidence. Of course if she's going to be carrying it around the house regularly instead of just keeping it in a nightstand then a snubnose is probably the best choice.
 
Ruger P95 is my girls gun of choice and i have a hefty collection... she like just cheapest gun hahahaha... she shoots it well. Its the softest shooting 9mm ive come across, it has a rail for the light, can be shot DA/SA, night sights available. Dependable and it holds 17+1 (i beilieve thats right).

you can find them from 225-250 fairly common. I would and do trust my life and my loved one's life to it.

JOe
 
Concerned enough to feel the need for a firearm for the wife and yet there's a low $200 budget? Can certainly understand the baby costs and such but there are times NOT to cheap out.

That said, I'd look at a revolver rather than an auto (less complicated to operate) Bottom line is to let HER make the choice AND have her practice with it. Needing it for it's purpose and being unfamiliar makes as much sense as putting such a low price on her safety.
 
wow... the 259$ on those S&W .38s ... sound like an awesome deal.

definitely a revolver.
And like someone said ... shes at home,
so why not pick a good sized revolver?

( or get a 200$ short shotgun?)
 
Bedside handgun

I was in my favorite shop yesterday, and the owner showed me a handgun he had just purchased in a big group buy. It a LNIN New England Firearms model R73, round butt .327 mag, either 2.5" or 3" bbl, believe it comes both ways. I wouldn't try the .327 mag in it, but it will shoot the whole downward range of .32 revolver cartridges; .32 H&R mag, .32 Long, short, etc. I asked him what he was going to put it on the shelf for, and he said; "$225".
 
if you bump it up to 350 you have a few more options. )ou can probably find a ruger speed six for around that price or if she prefers auto's the forementioned Ruger P95. summitgunbroker.com has a great deal on a S&W 4043 for just 269 if she likes ,40. Since she is pregnant you should make sure to ask her physician if its ok to shoot. Both the sound and potentially the lead could be a cause for concern and you should make sure practicing with a new gun won't cause the little one harm. Congratulations, by the way :)
 
There are still a lot of Smith Model 10/M&P revolvers out there for cheap. Many police agencies turned theirs in for auction when they went over to other platforms...and a good many are in remarkable condition, aside from holster wear.

Not long ago, I picked up a heavy-barrel Model 10 from a local dealer for 150 bucks out the door...because it looked like it had been dragged up the road behind a pickup truck.
It's the slickest, smoothest piece of work you could hope for without being specially tuned by a good revolver smith. Still tight and shoots like a house afire, I suspect that it was stored long-term in a leather holster, which accounts for the appearance...but underneath that ugly skin is a fine revolver. It's fast becoming one of my favorites.

Refinish it? Nah. Pretty is as pretty does.
 
talked to the doc today and shooting guns is a no-no as far along as she is (sharp noises like that are stressful and can induce labor... thats not good)... so i guess were not going to the range today to try-out my buds taurus 357/38... i guess her trying out different platforms will have to wait a month or so, but ill still get her to some gun shops to handle some different things. thanks for all the help and great advice.
-Pat
 
P-64 is a very good choice after springs are changed, especially for a man if you are "carrying" -- for the money, not much better.
Here, find a small, used, QUALITY named 5-shot .38 revolver.
Please, PLEASE, do not rely on a new Taurus -- a 15 year old one or more, fine!
Al
 
talked to the doc today and shooting guns is a no-no as far along as she is (sharp noises like that are stressful and can induce labor... thats not good)... so i guess were not going to the range today to try-out my buds taurus 357/38... i guess her trying out different platforms will have to wait a month or so, but ill still get her to some gun shops to handle some different things. thanks for all the help and great advice.
-Pat
Click to expand...

the DR. should have also warned you about her exposing her and the baby to heavy metals, contaminates, ect...


very bad for the unborn!

:(
 
How about a big dog!

+1 on the 38 revolver. Keep it simple. Plus it's easier to dry fire for practice. I'm not sure I would risk the wife's pregnancy at the range but dry firing is still good practice.
 
I would go with either a nice used Ruger P series or a used Ruger SP101 or SW revolver.
Look also at a used SW 5906 9mm they are some great, easy shooting guns

The shotgun suggestion is a great one also, since you said it was for home use.
 
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