good handgun for home defense for wife on a budget.

ritepath said:
Find a CZ p-07....new style ones will run a few dollars above 400 though.


The perfect pistol IMHO....
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Both guns are empty FWIW

I agree. I have tiny man hands, i mean tiny, and i think i'm about to put the med backstrap on the p07. The grips are super slim on the sides much like a 1911. It should fit her well. I'll put it in perspective for you OP i worked with four female nurses in ER three of the four had larger hands than me. That's what i get for being a premi i guess :confused:
 
You are looking for the wrong thing. Your wife needs a gun she can wear at home. A nightstand gun is only good for a small percentage of possible needs. If someone kicks in the door when she answers they will most likely have a nice 400.00 nightstand gun when they leave. She needs to get comfortable with a gun and get one that will always be available to her. Best if you could both get concealed carry permits but at LEAST have it on you at home.

The Caniks are nice bit if she thought the Beretta PX4 was big in her hand, she might have a little trouble with the trigger reach on the Caniks or CZs. The trigger reach on the SAR B6P is easier but it also has the safety/no de-cocker like the Caniks and most CZs. Probably the best fit would be the Bersa already suggested.

Above all though get her comfortable and trained.
 
I have long advocated a revolver, preferably an S&W medium frame (Model 19, for example) for home defense for beginners. Simple to load, simple to operate. .357 is a good choice, since lightly loaded wadcutters can be used for practice until the person is familiar enough with the gun to "graduate" to fulll power loads.

Pistols are fine, and most have greater capacity than a revolver. And many of us love gadgets and the more "bells and whistles" the better. But to a beginner, what we think of as "cool" features become points of confusion and a potentially fatal detriment to the simple tasks of pointing and pulling.

Jim
 
I got my CZ75 P-01 used for $375. (They had a 10% off on guns that weekend).
Try the 3rd Gen Smith & Wesson like 3906, 6906. They are normally in that range.

I would think that since your wife is going to use it, she may want a consistent trigger pull like those of a striker fired gun. Then your $400 can get something new like a Ruger SR9c or something like that.
 
doesn't exactly meet your specs,, but ... my wife is not a gun fan but does go to the range with me on occasion ... after trying several of my guns, from 9mm to .380 ... she fell in love with the LCR in .22mag that I got to play with ... it's in her nightstand now ... not a great stopper, but she does shoot well and it's better than being unarmed ... when I'm away, it makes me feel good to know she has access to a firearm for self-defense ...
 
My girlfriend is similar to your wife in reference to being a bit gun shy. I agree with the revolver thoughts but would add to look at something in a medium frame, the small J frame sized pistols can be pretty snappy. With that said I took my girlfriend to the range with the thought that a revolver would be a good fit, so I rented a 4" S&W 686 and let her have at it and I was wrong, she hated it and was very uncomfortable with it. I let her throw some rounds down range with a few auto's, she loved them and is now the proud owner of a M&P9c.
Also a class should be a priority. My career over the last 25 years has been military and law enforcement, I have a good grasp of firearms fundamentals but I am not a firearms instructor. I taught her the safety rules, sight picture/alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze, breaking down and maintaining the gun, malfunction drills etc... but I am still having her take a firearms safety class this Saturday which will also suffice to meet her requirements for a concealed weapons permit. I am taking the class with her mainly just to comfort her a bit and spend a fun day together shooting...:D
 
Define "budget" . When it comes to self defense there's no such thing as "it will do" or "good enough".
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Don't be ridiculous. Of course there is. There are a whole bunch of downright inexpensive guns that are utterly and totally reliable. Maybe they don't have the fine craftsmanship of a Swiss watch. Maybe they won't hold up to getting run over by a halftrack in the mud or have superlasernightsights but good enough means just that, "good enough" to a lot of people.
 
First thing I would do is buy a pellet gun and set up a small range down the cellar. This way you can train and learn some fundamentals without being in a crowd at a range.

As for the weapon, I like the 44 special revolvers in this role.
 
Define "budget" . When it comes to self defense there's no such thing as "it will do" or "good enough".
Click to expand...
Don't be ridiculous. Of course there is. There are a whole bunch of downright inexpensive guns that are utterly and totally reliable. Maybe they don't have the fine craftsmanship of a Swiss watch. Maybe they won't hold up to getting run over by a halftrack in the mud or have superlasernightsights but good enough means just that, "good enough" to a lot of people.
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Actually, I think Glock fits in the "good enough, it will do" category. Undeniable reliability and durability, combined with uninspring trigger and "could be better" ergonomics.

My flippant answer to these kinds of questions is often "buy a Glock and be done with it".

IMHO & YMMV
 
I will also add.
My wifes 327 magnum is a J frame size revolver. That way when she is ready it can be used as a CC option for her. ( almost there she agreed to do it, but keeps making excuses)

If its a house gun. Boy I tell you, you can find some real good prices on some Smith & Wesson K frame 38 specials.

Totally reliable, easy to use and effective in its role.

I just got this one for $275. Awesome gun!!

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