Revolver for CCW for wife.

[Collector0311]

My wife prefers a revolver as well. She broke it down pretty simply for me.
A long stiff pull on a DAO LCR made her more comfortable than a crisp single action trigger because she felt like it would help avoid accidents in the purse. She felt that for the LCR to fire, it took a much more deliberate action. She told me safeties can get caught in zippers and straps and it made her anxious.
She just likes the simplicity and confidence she had with the LCR. And my Jframe for that matter.
As for me, I just want her to feel confident and safe, no matter what she is carrying. If she ever has to use it, she is going to have to remember to be brave, I don't want her having to remember slides and safeties and magazines at the same time.
Aside from all that, get the LCR357! The extra weight is negligible, and the magnums are a fun option for you when y'all go to the range.

 

[weblance]

I agree that if she wants a revolver, then the LCR is a great choice. Let me add another, the S&W 638. Its a 38+P, lightweight aluminum frame, and a shrouded hammer. The great thing about this revolver is that you can shoot it Single Action at the range, gaining confidence, and learning accuracy potential. The hammer shroud keeps the revolver from snagging in clothing. Its a unique setup. You can get these revolvers in 357, but not the light aluminum frame. Smith lowered the price recently on the 638, and they are now under $400. Thats a great price, for a great revolver.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

J frame mod. 36 ladysmith in .38 spl. Comes with a factory smoothed trigger. Not cheap, but worth the price. My wife has a 3" barrel on hers, a gift from her Dad (his personal favorite as well). Don't let the 'lady' name throw you- every man that has shot it fall in love with the trigger.

 

[35 Whelen]

So let me get this straight. Wou taught a woman how to shoot well with a 9mm semi auto. A woman shot very well with a 9mm semi-auto, so you hope she buys.......a .38 revolver.

This is confusing. I'm sure glad my wife just gets to shoot and buy whichever guns she she feel proficient with and choses for herself.

I'm editing to add that once again, I actually have a small .38 on my hip right now. I am in no way advocating for semi-autos over revolvers for defensive use I'm just saying that my experience does not match yours and having taught many women to shoot, I've found very little difference between the two platforms.

Did you teach your students how to clear a stovepipe jam? What about a failure to extract when the slide picked up a fresh round out of the magazine and jammed it against the fired case that's still in the chamber? What about a failure to feed?

I ask these questions because a friend brought out his little KelTec 9mm (sorry, I don't know the model) and in one shooting session it exhibited ALL these malfunctions...with ball ammunition, no less.
I recently traded for an almost new Sig Mosquito and that little sucker would fail to extract 3 - 4 rounds out of each magazine.

I know not all autos are this bad. My Star and my Colt Gov't Model 45 are unfailingly reliable 110% of the time. But to my way of thinking, you factor in worst case scenarios when choosing a firearm for someone who may not be totally familiar with it and who may not practice with it as they should.

35W

 

[Deer_Freak]

My wife stated shooting my Heritage rough rider. Soon she was shooting my Blackhawk with the 9mm cylinder. Next thing you know I come home she is shooting her new Ruger SP101 357. Once she blew up a few milk jugs with the blackhawk she could see how devastating the 357 mag cartridge really can be. It took her about a year to make that decision. Now she just grabs one of my guns that suit her attire.

 

[AABEN]

The 15 S%W will make a good one or the 10 witch will a little less weight.

 

[Kymasabe]

My first choice would be a Ruger LCR .38
Second choice would be a new Charter Arms in the color of her choice.
Third choice would be a S&W airweight and I'd specifically look for a 432PD, is j-frame with 6 rounds of .32 H&R Mag. Great gun.
No taurus for me, don't like the grips or the triggers.
Keep in mind, if it's too big or too heavy, she's not going to carry it.
So I'd say forget about 3 inch barrels and all steel framed revolvers, too much to lug around. Who cares if it's not comfortable shooting 100 rounds with the thing at the range. All she's gonna need is 5 shots, well placed, in a light recoil round.
Lightest round I've ever found was a .38 special SHORT made by MagTech and I order mine thru Sportsmans Guide. Taught my girls to shoot when they were 10 and it's the round I used in my S&W model 36, and now used to train newbies with in my Charter Arms Undercover .38.