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Handgun for my girlfriend for home defense
- Thread starter FyredUp
- Start date
Like you said get her what she wants first - but I like your idea of a revolver for her as an alternative defensive weapon. I also agree with your approach - don't have to clear them, etc.
I would probably not go with a 2" because even in my hands, I find they jump quite a bit. I think I would try and steer her toward a good S&W 4" in .357 mag - and she can shoot .38's or .357 mag in it ( whatever she wants ). I would try and find a good used one / model 19 or 66 something like that in a K frame that will probably fit her hands better - but if she likes an N frame better, than go with a model 27 or 28. I think you'll find a lot of options out there in the $500 - $750 price range.
I've taught a number of my granddaughters to shoot / and wives of quite a few friends - and a lot of them gravitate toward the 4" revolvers (the balance seems right to them) - and they get comfortable with the operation very quickly. I usually start them on the same revolver, 4" or 6" in .22lr, but they move quickly to shooting a .38 or .357 mag. But when they go to a bigger caliber - they don't seem to like the same gun in a 6" barrel ( it feels like too much gun to them ). None of them seem to care for a 1911 in a full size, 5" barrel, even if its chambered in 9mm ( one granddaughter is an athlete and a tom boy and even at 13 she likes a .45 acp....but she's unique). The semi-auto they all seem gravitate to is a Kimber Tactical Pro model I have, 1911, 4" barrel, alloy frame in 9mm. It seems to fit their hands better in terms of width especially. They like the grip and the controls on a 1911 ( and that might be me pushing it, because its my favorite as well ). I have a couple Sig 239's as well in 9mm and .40 - and the Sigs are kind of split 50/50 among most of the ladies - but most of them don't like the triggers ( length of reset in smaller hands, etc ). I have Sig 226's in 9mm and .40 - and none of the ladies care for them ( too heavy, too wide, double stacks, etc ).
On the revolvers - I teach all the ladies a technique of cocking the hammer with their weak hand - fire it single action / and almost universally, they seem to like it. None of them are too accurate with a revolver double action / the Single Action technique is the same I was taught as a kid of 6 or 7 shooting a full sized revolver when my hands were small ( and I still do it today as a habit ). Its a hair slower - but its damn accurate... Good luck - and have fun with the search.
I would probably not go with a 2" because even in my hands, I find they jump quite a bit. I think I would try and steer her toward a good S&W 4" in .357 mag - and she can shoot .38's or .357 mag in it ( whatever she wants ). I would try and find a good used one / model 19 or 66 something like that in a K frame that will probably fit her hands better - but if she likes an N frame better, than go with a model 27 or 28. I think you'll find a lot of options out there in the $500 - $750 price range.
I've taught a number of my granddaughters to shoot / and wives of quite a few friends - and a lot of them gravitate toward the 4" revolvers (the balance seems right to them) - and they get comfortable with the operation very quickly. I usually start them on the same revolver, 4" or 6" in .22lr, but they move quickly to shooting a .38 or .357 mag. But when they go to a bigger caliber - they don't seem to like the same gun in a 6" barrel ( it feels like too much gun to them ). None of them seem to care for a 1911 in a full size, 5" barrel, even if its chambered in 9mm ( one granddaughter is an athlete and a tom boy and even at 13 she likes a .45 acp....but she's unique). The semi-auto they all seem gravitate to is a Kimber Tactical Pro model I have, 1911, 4" barrel, alloy frame in 9mm. It seems to fit their hands better in terms of width especially. They like the grip and the controls on a 1911 ( and that might be me pushing it, because its my favorite as well ). I have a couple Sig 239's as well in 9mm and .40 - and the Sigs are kind of split 50/50 among most of the ladies - but most of them don't like the triggers ( length of reset in smaller hands, etc ). I have Sig 226's in 9mm and .40 - and none of the ladies care for them ( too heavy, too wide, double stacks, etc ).
On the revolvers - I teach all the ladies a technique of cocking the hammer with their weak hand - fire it single action / and almost universally, they seem to like it. None of them are too accurate with a revolver double action / the Single Action technique is the same I was taught as a kid of 6 or 7 shooting a full sized revolver when my hands were small ( and I still do it today as a habit ). Its a hair slower - but its damn accurate... Good luck - and have fun with the search.
I generally recommend against that practice.On the revolvers - I teach all the ladies a technique of cocking the hammer with their weak hand - fire it single action / and almost universally, they seem to like it.
The main reason is that if the situation is resolved without shooting the defender is left with a loaded, cocked revolver and a full load of adrenalin.
Their first option is to decock the revolver. Decocking a loaded revolver is not tremendously difficult, but it is a procedure that is quite likely to result in an unintentional discharge if not executed properly. Doing it with a full load of adrenalin is a pretty bad idea in my opinion.
Another option is to put it away somewhere and decock it later. Storing a loaded, cocked revolver for any length of time is not a good idea, nor is carrying around a loaded, cocked revolver trying to figure out a good place to leave it for awhile.
If the police show up you'll have to either decock the revolver or hand over a loaded cocked revolver and let them decock it. Neither one of those options are particularly attractive.
A FAR better option is to have a person select a gun that they can use properly.
JohnSA is probably right...
I was 'taught' to shoot a double action pistol single action always and I don't know that it wasn't a disservice. Yes, for target practice, it is generally better but in practical situations you need to know how to shoot as well as possible with a single trigger pull and no cocking of the hammer.
What happend to me was I bought a S&W model 19... the single action trigger pull is probably somewhere in the half pound or less range... in fact a few times the damn thing has gone off on the 2nd cock of the trigger with the lightest damn tough to the trigger I've ever had... So, my decision on this was to start shooting it in double action... I found out this gun had the sweetest double action trigger in the universe (yes I know I'm exagerating)...
but it did let me find out I could shoot pretty dern good in double action... which if a really bad thing is happening how you want to use a da revolver.
I was 'taught' to shoot a double action pistol single action always and I don't know that it wasn't a disservice. Yes, for target practice, it is generally better but in practical situations you need to know how to shoot as well as possible with a single trigger pull and no cocking of the hammer.
What happend to me was I bought a S&W model 19... the single action trigger pull is probably somewhere in the half pound or less range... in fact a few times the damn thing has gone off on the 2nd cock of the trigger with the lightest damn tough to the trigger I've ever had... So, my decision on this was to start shooting it in double action... I found out this gun had the sweetest double action trigger in the universe (yes I know I'm exagerating)...
but it did let me find out I could shoot pretty dern good in double action... which if a really bad thing is happening how you want to use a da revolver.
I understand your reservations about cocking a DA revolver - but in my view, you shouldn't cock it unless you intend to fire it. As you say, it can be decocked safely ... if for some reason you cocked it and decided not to fire at least in inexperienced hands - maybe not in inexperienced hands - so I get what you're saying.
All of the people I'm teaching are intro level shooters - so its mostly about being sucessful hititng a target and having fun - operating a weapon safely - getting over a lot of predetermined issues - not teaching defensive techniques. It's my opinion that not all weapons training is intened for defensive purposes - general familiarization, marksmanship, trigger control, etc at a range have their place, esoecially in the beginning. But I understand your concerns as they advance in their shooting - to certainly bring that up as an issue for discussion - but for me personally, its a solid technique and I've used it sucessfully for years. It works for me.
All of the people I'm teaching are intro level shooters - so its mostly about being sucessful hititng a target and having fun - operating a weapon safely - getting over a lot of predetermined issues - not teaching defensive techniques. It's my opinion that not all weapons training is intened for defensive purposes - general familiarization, marksmanship, trigger control, etc at a range have their place, esoecially in the beginning. But I understand your concerns as they advance in their shooting - to certainly bring that up as an issue for discussion - but for me personally, its a solid technique and I've used it sucessfully for years. It works for me.
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Don't get me wrong, I've done (and continue to do) a lot of single-action shooting with DA revolvers. It's certainly a lot easier to make hits by cocking the hammer rather than using a DA pull and that makes shooting a lot more fun.
The problems arise when you're training someone specifically for home/self defense. Then you have to consider what will happen if a hammer gets cocked during a "situation" but the defender doesn't fire (for whatever reason.) It's all well and good to say that one shouldn't cock a gun unless they intend to fire it, but when you combine training that says a gun isn't ready to fire unless it's cocked with the reality that over 90% of gun uses don't actually involve firing the gun, it becomes obvious that a person being left with a loaded & cocked gun after a "situation" is quite a likely outcome.
I've had one incident where I dimpled the primer of a live round while decocking a loaded revolver, and that was at a range, in a zero pressure situation with the muzzle pointed downrange. I NEVER want to have to decock a loaded revolver in my home after a shooting or after a situation where a shooting came very close to happening. For that reason I advise people who can't shoot well with a DA revolver pull to look into a firearm that works better for them and I also advise those who can manage a DA revolver pull to always train shooting in DA if they're using a revolver for defense.
The problems arise when you're training someone specifically for home/self defense. Then you have to consider what will happen if a hammer gets cocked during a "situation" but the defender doesn't fire (for whatever reason.) It's all well and good to say that one shouldn't cock a gun unless they intend to fire it, but when you combine training that says a gun isn't ready to fire unless it's cocked with the reality that over 90% of gun uses don't actually involve firing the gun, it becomes obvious that a person being left with a loaded & cocked gun after a "situation" is quite a likely outcome.
I've had one incident where I dimpled the primer of a live round while decocking a loaded revolver, and that was at a range, in a zero pressure situation with the muzzle pointed downrange. I NEVER want to have to decock a loaded revolver in my home after a shooting or after a situation where a shooting came very close to happening. For that reason I advise people who can't shoot well with a DA revolver pull to look into a firearm that works better for them and I also advise those who can manage a DA revolver pull to always train shooting in DA if they're using a revolver for defense.
dodgerfan175
Inactive
I agree wth your girlfriend on this one nothing beats the stoping power of a shotgun for home defense.
anythingshiny
New member
I guess I will add my .02 as it does not look like you have yet purchased either a shotgun or a pistol.
The issue is not necessarily that she 'likes' the gun. My wife loved this little 5 shot shrouded hammer ti-light lady smith i think it was, but the issue is that when the time comes she will have to FIGHT! with it. There will be stress and whatever is nearby is what MUST be used to fight. I need her to understand that I want her to be able to put as many rounds on target as fast as possible. There may need to be a reload with a cylinder gun after "only" 5-6 rounds...as the threat may need more rounds to be stopped.
If your gal is not going to be carrying on a daily basis and this is to be a 'bump in the night' and 'barn gun' then I cannot recommend a Glock 19 enough. There is nothing but a trigger to pull when pointed at said threat. If she is not a gunny and does not train with frightening regularity, even the cylinder latch on a handgun will be unsurrmountable stress in a fight, in the dark with more stress than she has ever experienced.
Nothing against a good scattergun...but again, unless you are training hard and regularly it is not the best choice for SD in a high stress environment. I cannot tell you how many times, even in a soft classroom setting, folks forget to take off the safety or chamber another round... they squeeze the trigger and nothing happens and they get this look and eventually look at you the instructor and go " huh?...it wont shoot "
If you have ever taken a class that puts you under even a little stress...no matter how long you have been a shooter...its really really easy to forget, mis-step, or just completely freeze and stare at a gun run dry...
Get her involved in shooting, a class or 2..get her input and listen...but in the end it is a FIGHT! that you and she are preparing for...pick the best tool for a fight...something and I mean no insult...but something idiot proof, because under stress we often become idiots.
The issue is not necessarily that she 'likes' the gun. My wife loved this little 5 shot shrouded hammer ti-light lady smith i think it was, but the issue is that when the time comes she will have to FIGHT! with it. There will be stress and whatever is nearby is what MUST be used to fight. I need her to understand that I want her to be able to put as many rounds on target as fast as possible. There may need to be a reload with a cylinder gun after "only" 5-6 rounds...as the threat may need more rounds to be stopped.
If your gal is not going to be carrying on a daily basis and this is to be a 'bump in the night' and 'barn gun' then I cannot recommend a Glock 19 enough. There is nothing but a trigger to pull when pointed at said threat. If she is not a gunny and does not train with frightening regularity, even the cylinder latch on a handgun will be unsurrmountable stress in a fight, in the dark with more stress than she has ever experienced.
Nothing against a good scattergun...but again, unless you are training hard and regularly it is not the best choice for SD in a high stress environment. I cannot tell you how many times, even in a soft classroom setting, folks forget to take off the safety or chamber another round... they squeeze the trigger and nothing happens and they get this look and eventually look at you the instructor and go " huh?...it wont shoot "
If you have ever taken a class that puts you under even a little stress...no matter how long you have been a shooter...its really really easy to forget, mis-step, or just completely freeze and stare at a gun run dry...
Get her involved in shooting, a class or 2..get her input and listen...but in the end it is a FIGHT! that you and she are preparing for...pick the best tool for a fight...something and I mean no insult...but something idiot proof, because under stress we often become idiots.
dirksterg30
New member
I'd suggest going over this website with your girlfriend; it was very helpful to my wife when we were picking a gun for her: http://www.corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx