Looking to buy a revolver for my girlfriend and need some advice

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bhhacker

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Hello all. Like the title says I am shopping for a revolver for my girlfriend. She has shot all my guns (1911,sks,.40 Sigma. I am letting you know this so its established that shes not a gun shy noobie. While I am a auto loading fan, she has loved the look of revolvers since before she was shooting and I thought it would make an excellent present. I am looking for advice on one that is at most 500, but preferably under that. I am also hoping that it will have a relatively common round so she can shoot a ton with it as well. Thank you all for your time.
 
Tell her to shop for her handgun just like she shops for shoes. If it doesn't "feel right" in her hands, she'll never shoot it enough to become proficient with it. If she's not proficient with it, she may as well carry a ball bat.

Do NOT get sucked into any caliber , or manufacturer arguments. If she can't hit her intended target, it doesn't matter what she's shooting, or who made it.
 
Ruger GP100 great gun.I have a ss model w/a 6 inch barrel.Way better gun than my taurus.
 
look at the Taurus J frames. I have a Titanium ultralight in 38spcl that I love. I got it for $250ish a few years back. Just like S&W, you have the option of hammer, hammerless, or shrouded.
 
If I were to buy my wife a revolver - she loves revolvers! I would buy a Ruger SP101 in the new .327 magnum cartridge.

But take my advice and just take her to a couple of gun stores and let her pick out her own gun (that you pay for). Trust me, you will both be much happier.
 
Take her to a gun show and/or a range that rents... Once she finds something she likes the feel of, buy it at Bud's, unless your gun range *doesn't* gouge people...
 
bhhacker,
Do yourself a favor, don't pick out a gun for your girlfriend. Like some of the above posts have already told you, she has to pick something for herself. Would you want someone telling you what to carry? I highly doubt it, I know I wouldn't. My suggestion would be to take her to a large gun shop like Cabela's or a gun show and tell her to pick something she likes and you will buy it for her. In that way she will still be surprised but she can pick something that SHE likes.
 
what will it be used for?

I have two revolvers that my g/f loves and calls hers.

The range gun is a S&W 66-7 K-frame with a 4 inch barrel. she has only shot a handful of 357's but with 38spl she wants to shoot that all day long.

The carry gun is a S&W 37-2 J-frame. She has only shot this one 20 or so times and likes it very much. But shooting 20~50 rounds at the range is about all we can do.

She needs to do the picking. I made that misteak once.
 
Mr. Hacker,

My advice to you FWIW , DO NOT buy your girlfriend a hand gun, rifle or whatever. Give her a gift certificate and have her buy her own gun. Stay within the law, and why mess with twice the paper work. (or is it paper work twice?)

D R
 
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Light (Air weights), carry. To much recoil with +P

Light, carry, reg .38's only

Heavy, no carry.

Heavy, .38 +p's easy.

Answer? 8 to 10 light, unless she drives a big 4X4. Then get her the biggest revolver you cn find. Taraus 608 comes to mind for the price. 8 Shot .357 ported barrel. Just an awesome gun to shoot!!! Just awesome, and you'll get some every time she shoot's it, guaranteed.:D

It really is awesome looking to. Nothing like a pop can sized cylinder!:eek:
 

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"DO NOT buy your girlfriend a hand gun, rifle or whatever. Give her a gift certificate and have her buy her own gun."

I'd have to agree with that advice but not necessarilly for the reason given. She is much more likely to shoot it if she picks it. Many D/A triggers are too heavy for some women. Remind her that small light guns are not as much fun to shoot as larger heavier guns.
 
Yeah, what Phil and the others said.

GP100 with a 4 inch barrel is great, unless she's a wee 100 pounds with proportionate hands. In which case, it'll be too heavy and/or too large.

Lady Smith may be a good choice, unless she's a large woman and has large hands. In which case, it'll be too small.

Maybe she'd like a single action. In which case you screwed up when you didn't listen to her tell you previously, and bought a DA only.

What if she likes stainless and you buy blued?

etc.

Let her do her own thing. You may be surprised what you learn in the process.
 
Show her some of the Ruger single-action revolvers and don't be too quick to rule out the .22 rimfire. They are tons of fun and cheap fun at that. And fun with .22s is what has made millions of people good shots.
And for cryin' out loud don't push her to "carry" or to get something in case she decides to carry (read: in case you talk her into it later).
If you really want her/your investment to really be worth something, ignore all the mall ninja "carry"-addicts and steer her toward something she can have Fun with.
And letting all the paperwork be in her name is excellent advice.

:cool:
 
Please post a photo of her hand, with a ruler next to it. OK, just kidding! Seriously, she needs to be in on the selection process. My wife likes K and L framed S&W revolvers, but she is not tiny. A previous girlfriend, whom I will call "K," while not small overall, had tiny hands, and shot solid steel J-frames very well from the first round. A K, L, or GP100 would have been a disservice to "K." One revolving pistol that fits many quite well is the SP101. I am just mentioning some things she should look at, and try. Light alloy-framed revolvers can be difficult to shoot well, and may be best left for experienced shooters. Edited to add: If she likes revolvers, don't let the mall-ninja gunstore commando talk y'all into something autoloading. I wear a big-city police badge, and like to think of myself as able to handle just about any weapon, but my preferred real-world defensive firearms are revolving pistols. I carry a DA .40 autoloader in my duty rig, by regulation, but but bring an SP101 snubby and 4" Ruger GP100 or Speed Six to work with me, too.
 
Tell her to shop for her handgun just like she shops for shoes. If it doesn't "feel right" in her hands, she'll never shoot it enough to become proficient with it. If she's not proficient with it, she may as well carry a ball bat.

Do NOT get sucked into any caliber , or manufacturer arguments. If she can't hit her intended target, it doesn't matter what she's shooting, or who made it.
Click to expand...

VERY well put!
 
UPDATE:


Well I took her to mcbrides where they had a gp100 in the stainless steel finish(new 499$), and the S&W model 65 (used 260ish) She loves them both. They both fit really well in her hands too. Which is a better gun in your guys opinion?
 
i don't think there really is a "better" between them. they're both great in different ways. if you end up going with the used smith, be sure you run it through the "revolver checkout" stickied at the top of the revolver forum. other than that, you really can't go wrong.

will she think you're being cheap if you go with the $260 gun instead of the $499 gun? if so, get the ruger... :)
 
Well I took her to mcbrides where they had a gp100 in the stainless steel finish(new 499$), and the S&W model 65 (used 260ish) She loves them both. They both fit really well in her hands too. Which is a better gun in your guys opinion?
Click to expand...
Both are quality revolvers and you wouldn't be wrong buying either. The M65 is lighter than the GP100 so if she is going to carry this revolver you might want to take that into consideration. The GP100 is built like a tank and will last a very long time. You shouldn't shoot 125gr bullets in the M65 so you are somewhat limited to 158gr or heavier rounds. If you can find a used S&W L frame that would be even better IMO. I have a 4" M686 and I feel it's a great revolver. I know it's very accurate and easy to shoot.

If there is any way for her to shoot them both before you buy that would help. The one she shoots better would be the obvious choice. Is there a range near you that rents guns so she can try them out?
 
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