Ladysmith/Hornady

[Robert B]

I just bought a new stainless Ladysmith and Hornady critical defense lite 90gr .38 spcl for my wife. With the revolver being stainless and the ammo supposedly at 80% the recoil of normal .38 loads, I am hoping she can handle the recoil. This is the gun that she chose.

Hornady rep:
1100 fps from 2 in bbl
11 in penetration denim and gel
242 FPD

Do you think this was a good choice?
Thx

 

[19-3Ben]

Do you think this was a good choice?

I think you're asking the wrong people. She should go to the range, and shoot the ammo you bought, and see if it shoots accurately and if the recoil is ok FOR HER.

It doesn't matter worth a hoot if I think it's a good choice or not. It's going to be her gun, and if (heaven forfend) she ever has to use it in a defensive encounter, it will matter how SHE handles it.

For what it's worth, my wife has picked a Ruger LCR in .38spl, and is giving a very hard look at this exact ammo. It seems to have performance that she is comfortable with, and she is just waiting for the box of ammo to actually arrive so she can test it out.

 

[Haywood]

Recoil and noise are Range issues. If an attacker has her by the throat she won't be thinking about recoil. As long as she can control the gun she will be fine.

 

[19-3Ben]

Recoil and noise are Range issues.

Which is exactly why, if recoil and noise are are a deterrent to her practicing at the range, she won't be as familiar with the weapon should she ever need it. Familiarity and practice breed proficiency. The time to figure out you're not proficient is not when the bad guy has you by the throat.

It's her gun, and it's her who would have to use it.

There are few things more insulting than when a guy makes what HE THINKS is the best choice for his wife/girlfriend and then she has to live with what he decided in all of his majestic wisdom. I've known women who practice regularly with .45+p in their 1911s and carry those daily, and I know women who prefer a little Beretta .22LR because the tip-up barrel makes it easy to chamber a load.

I don't want people assuming they know what's best for me, and I would never presume to know what's best for my wife.

When my wife told me she wanted a snub nosed revolver for carry we went to the range and she shot about a half dozen different makes/models to get the feel and see what she liked. Then we hit the internet together and looked at every maker of modern defensive ammo and discussed the pros/cons of each one until she make up her mind for which compromise she thought best suited her needs. HER gun. HER carry ammo. HER decision.

 

[majortoo]

A Wise Man

19-3Ben is obviously a happily married man. Those who wish to enjoy that condition would do well to read his words carefully and ponder them often! As another wise man once said, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" In marriage, unlike the military, you get to choose your own weapon!.

 

[Jaymo]

As much as I hate pink anything on a gun, my wife got pink Hogues for her .38.
I think she wanted them just to keep me from shooting it.