New Revolver for the Woman in My Life?

[Skofnung]

Hey folks.

I've been thinking...
A few years ago I bought my girlfriend a revolver. It is a Rossi 851 .38 Special, 4" barrel with rubber finger groove grips. I bought it for her because at the time, she and I lived 20 miles away from one another and her roomate was seldom home. She has been properly trained in it's use.

Before anyone asks why I would buy her such a crappy gun, let me say that this gun belonged to a friend of mine and it shot like a house a'fire before I traded for it. It has been nothing but accurate and reliable in her hands for the past four years. She handles it like a champ.

Well... I will be putting a ring on her finger very soon. I figure, if she is good enough to be my wife she deserves a better weapon.

I want to upgrade her to a S&W .357 of some sort.

She is a small girl, 5"4" 100 lbs. She lacks upper body strength, so my beloved model 28-2 (N-frame) is out. I am thinking that a round butt 4" model 19 would be the best idea.

My question is this: In the realm of S&W revolvers, what would YOU choose for your special lady?

Again, bear in mind that she can't hold a large gun steady for long. I want something that is close in size to the gun she has now.

Thanks.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Again, bear in mind that she can't hold a large gun steady for long

If she's a good shot, she won't have to!!

 

[Majic]

If she is comfortable, proficient, and accurate with the revolver she has now then why must she move up in caliber? If the Rossi has proven itself then what more could a more expensive revolver do? She's still the same person so why does a ring on her finger makes her any more important? Was her life less important back when you got the Rossi?
What you need to do is ask her if she wants a more powerful revolver. It's not you with the finger on the trigger. This has to be her decision. It really doesn't matter what you think about the subject.

 

[Coronach]

Agreed. Let her pick.

You want me picking your guns for you?

Mike

 

[Brian Williams]

Let her pick

You can pick your nose,
you can pick your friends
do you want to pick your friends nose


Same goes for firearms




Recommendation is a S&W mod 65 Ladysmith 3" and load it to what she shoots well.

 

[saltydog452]

A gun for your lady.

Defensive tools, including firearms as well as fire extinguishers have to be available before they can be of any real value.

Availability, training, and mind-set would seem to be more important considerations than platform, caliber, and ammo.

That said, a small frame light weight 36 caliber revolver that she is comfortable with, and on her person would seem to be one solution. Its been the best compromise for us. A 38 in hand beats anything else in the purse.

salty.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Everytime I take a lady shooting, their favorite has always been, with no exceptions, my 19-3. Also readily available and well priced. Try it; she'll prolly like it.

 

[Skofnung]

Whoa, perhaps you guys misunderstood, or I was not clear with my writing.

First off, I don't plan on getting rid of the Rossi. It will still be her gun. I just want to get her another one that is better quality. The Rossi is a good gun, just like a VW Beetle is a good car. I would like to step her up to a higher level of quality.

When I said she has been properly trained, that means that she is adept in it's use. She shoots it as well as I do, not as quickly as I do in terms of draw and reloads, but she is improving. That will come with time.

With a .357 you can always step down to .38 if recoil is a problem. So far, she has handled other .357s (a model 19 with a 6" tube) without complaint.

What I am asking is, what are other options in the realm of S&W revolvers that we may want to consider? A more potent round in a house gun is the goal here, so snubbies are out. I may get her one of those as well for CCW, (I know she likes the model 36 round butt) but a 4" moderate weight .357 is what is needed.

Suggestions?

 

[Standing Wolf]

...what are other options in the realm of S&W revolvers that we may want to consider?

There are two Colts you might want to consider if quality is the object. The first is the Detective Special, a compact .38 special six-shooter. You have to shop around for one, and prices vary quite a bit, but for a compact revolver, nothing's finer. The second is the Python with a 2.5-inch barrel. It's about the same size as or slightly larger than a Smith & Wesson K frame, and handles the .357 magnum cartridge. You have to shop around long and hard for one, but it's to Smith & Wessons as Porsches are to Volkswagens.

 

[tbeb]

In a moderate weight S&W .357 magnum revolver I think your only choices are the models 13, 19, 65, and 66. 13 and 19 are blue and 65 and 66 are stainless. 13 and 65 are fixed sight, and 19 and 66 are adjustable sight. I'd buy her a 4" model 66 and make sure it sports grips which enable her to get first joint of finger on trigger. Double action trigger pull on Smith's is usually pretty nice, but if you need to, then have a competent gunsmith lighten the double action trigger pull and tell him you want to maintain reliable ignition. Load it with .38 special +P 158 gr. lead hollowpoints. If you want a little more power without increasing recoil then load it with Winchester 110 gr. JHP's. My wife's house gun is a .357 magnum stainless Ruger Speed Six (fixed sight, round butt) with a 2 3/4" barrel and stock grips that has a custom 8-lb. double action trigger pull. It is loaded with .38 special +P's. My wife is petite and this combo works well for her.

 

[Little Loudmouth]

How about a Model 19 with 2 1/2 inch barrel? I'm no guru, but my Dad has one, and I shoot it all right. It's not a bad gun.

 

[BusMaster007]

Q. New Revolver for the Woman in My Life?

A. Why? What'd she do to tick you off?

I'm suprised that didn't come up sooner...
Boy, you guys are TOO serious sometimes!

Are you looking to make the gun as similar to the Rossi as possible? The cylinder release is similar to the S&W.

If not, a Ruger GP-331 would be an excellent and not too costly revolver in .357.

Good Luck.

 

[Majic]

Here's a question that a lot of times never get asked:
If the .38sp has enough power to carry around as a personal defense load then why must the house defensive handgun be chambered in .357mag? Touching off a couple of .357 mags in the confines of a room can be quite shocking.
You should have the same level of confidence and proficiency with the house gun as you would with the personal defensive gun. I understand the want of new gun, but she already have a 4" revolver that has proven itself and she is comfortable with it so why is it now inadequate? If you just want a 4" S&W chambered in .357mag then you both need to go shopping to see what you both can live with.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. The "house gun" that turned out to be just "right" for my wife is the S&W Model 65 LadySmith. She cannot handle magnums, but .38 Special +P Remington 158-gr. LSWCHP's are no problem for her from that gun.

Best.

 

[RickH]

If you are going to marry her, best to not get her anything bigger than YOUR gun. Look at the "lady smith" line, some fine guns there. By your gun I meant the N-frame, anyone thought different didn't take the high road!

 

[carpettbaggerr]

You want me picking your guns for you?

If you're buying, I'll be happy with whatever you pick.

OTOH, I wouldn't want a girlfriend to pick a gun for me.....


[Ladies like Tamara being too few and far between]