Newby question

6

69nogo

Inactive
I am looking for a starter revolver for my wife for home defense. She is not strong (5'2", 105lbs), so I need to find one that she will be able to handle, and be good for home defense. There is a taurus 38 special snubby that has the bobbed hammer and is stainless steal, factory refurbished for $200. But I worry if that is enough for home defense.

I was going to have her practice with my future buy (9mm semi-auto) but she has a hard time racking the slide not good for the heat of the moment house break in! :eek:

So, is a .357 most likely going to be hard for a small lady to handle the recoil? Also what do you think about the price of the taurus?

I am new to hand guns, only experiance was 10+ years ago shooting g-pa's .357 revolver, but can not remember the recoil for it, so any and all help is much apprieceated!!! :D
 
I think you are right on track on your thinking relative to recoil. The 38spl are pretty easy to handle in a medium sized revolver frame. I would prefer not to have a bobbed hammer as that is for concealed carry versus to have around the house. The bobbed hammer forces you to shoot it in double action only. I rarely shoot my double action revolvers in double action as it is considerably easier to develop the shooting skills of safety and marksmanship in single action.

Ruger makes the SP101 and GP100 revolvers that are pretty economical. I prefer the GP100 as it is all steel and heavier. It is chambered for 357 mag, but I usually shoot 38spls through it. The magnums are fun, but the recoil may jade your wife away from the shooting sports. The GP100 (3-inch) is my home defense handgun loaded in 38spl+P's.

Frankly, I would start with a 22 LR revolver and work up to the 357/38 revolver. The 22's are much easier to shoot and you learn how to shoot with them if you take the time at the range on in the field plinking. Yep... that means two guns.

There is such a wide selection of handguns and calibers available that it really is all about personal preference. Stay away from shooting the magnum loads until some skill is developed. Take your wife to the gun store and handle some revolvers. Then perhaps do some shooting at a range with a friend's guns or rent them to get a better perspective on what you are really comfortable with.
 
Hi 69 - It's hard to know exactly how your wife will feel - obviously she needs to feel comfortable shooting the gun. If you are not in a hurry, then once you have some tentative choices lined up, I'd suggest taking her to some rental ranges (can call ahead to see if they have guns you are interested in buying). You can find some in your area through:
http://www.packing.org/range/index.jsp?state=MN

A few general comments:
- I think the revolver is a great choice - it's easier to learn and also requires less strength to operate
- The lighter the revolver and the shorter the barrel, the easier it is to pick up and hold out on the end of your arm :)
- The lighter the revolver and the shorter the barrel, the larger the flash, noise, recoil, and muzzle flip, which can be unnerving :eek: . Even if it's not, it slows down followup shots
- Everyone has a different compromise for these factors they feel best with

Good luck!
Carbine
 
I have the SP101, and the GP-100. I wouldn't recommend either considering she is new to shooting, and small framed. The SP101 weighs 25oz's, and that's a maybe if she turns out to be a natural.

The GP-100 3"brl. weighs 35oz's. Nope...!!! :rolleyes:

Try looking for a Taurus 85 Ultra-Lite, .38Spl.+p, 2" Brl. It weighs 15oz's, and has a light SA & DA trigger. The recoil is very managable, but a little loud as most subbies are inclined to be. The cost is around $250.00...Here's mine...
 
Wow, that is a pretty snubby, gold accents, pearl grip!

Thanks all so far, keep the suggestions coming. May wait until a gun show also to get a chance to have her handle a bunch of different revolvers :)
 
First the .357 magnum will probably be too much for her.
Second there is no need in looking at small snubby revolvers. They are by far the hardest firearms to shoot accurately. She will be better off with a 4" medium frame revolver. It will have a longer sight radius for aiming and a heavier frame to help soak up recoil.
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that the small revolvers are perfect for women just learning to shoot and in reality that is the furthest from the truth.

BTW...The .38 Special cartridge is a great for a defensive round in the right loading. Don't get caught up in all the writings and stories saying you have to have a .357 Magnum. You would be surprised at the number of people who have the magnums and can't shoot them very well or have a magnum revolver and keep it loaded with Specials.
 
I wouldn't start someone out on an airweight, if I could help it. IMO, airweights are for carrying, not shooting. Don't forget lightweight means more recoil. I have a S&W model 10 (38 special) with a 4" tapered barrel at home that was one of my first guns. Not too heavy, not too light. Tapered barrel balances it out nicely. Grip-wise I think it would fit a small handed shooter just fine.

You can find them used around here for around $200 or so.
 
For the wife

I almost made a mistake starting my wife off with a Taurus 85 snubie. She shot it, and was hitting where she needed to on a B-27, but just didn't like shooting it. The recoil is pretty stiff. Luckly I had a couple of other guns there that day, and she got to see that not everything kicks that hard. She shot my Taurus 66, with the same loads, and liked that, but the gun was bigger and heavier than she wanted. Then she shot a Ruger 22, Single Six. She loved it. No recoil, and she could hit with it. We picked up a Bersa 22 for her. She shoots it a lot, wants to get some good instruction, and as she gains skill and experience, she figures she'll move up to something bigger. In the meantime, she's happy.

I know there are a lot of people in the world who will tell you that 22 is worthless for defense, but I figure it's better than nothing, and she's enjoying shooting, and learning. When she's ready, she'll want something bigger.

I guess the key is to let her find a gun she has confidence in, and enjoys shooting.
 
22-rimfire

She is not strong (5'2", 105lbs), so I need to find one that she will be able to handle, and be good for home defense. There is a taurus 38 special snubby that has the bobbed hammer and is stainless steal, factory refurbished for $200. But I worry if that is enough for home defense.
I was going to have her practice with my future buy (9mm semi-auto) but she has a hard time racking the slide
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Cuz the lady is new to shooting...Needs something for home defense....38Spl.+p will do that...she's 5' 2", and weighs 105Lbs.
I did say maybe on the SP101, using .38Spl.+p...
The GP-100 (mine is laying right here on my desk) is a very big gun for a little lady, without any shooting experience. :o
 
Hmm... I just have to dissagree with you on the GP100. It is a medium framed revolver and has small factory grips that make it more comfortable for someone with small hands to hold it. The weight helps to minimize the recoil. I would totally agree with a large framed Colt (such as the Anaconda), Smith frame (Model 29 or 57), or even the mammoth Ruger Super Redhawk. The 4" Diamondback in 38spl would be a great little gun for her. Stylish and accurate!

My suggestion is and has been that she go to a gun shop with a wide selection of handguns, pick them up, and handle them. Then go to the range and shoot a few of the small ones that she will probably gravitate towards and she will be back to a medium framed revolver as the best option even for her 5"2" stature.

Better yet, start with a 22 revolver to learn the fundamentals and move to a medium framed revolver for the home defense gun.
 
For in-home defense nothing is better than a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with No. 9 shot. The shorter the barrel the better, for fast pointing. My daughter used to shoot skeet with my 12 gauge and loved it, she was pretty darned small too. Recoil on a shotgun is more of a rolling push type of thing and really not a big deal if not loaded with magnums. Teach her to fire it from the hip in the house, and/or remove the standard stock and replace it with a pistol grip stock.

Shotguns are deadly inside a house but the shot will spread out over distance and isn't nearly as likely to leave the house and enter a neighbors house the way a bullet can, No 9 shotgun pellets will go through fewer interior walls in your house too.
 
Weighing in with .32 Mag

Versus starting with a .22, I refer you to the many threads on .32 H&R Mag. That way she will at least be starting (and maybe staying, but can always still graduate upward...) with a round that can be more legitimately used for SD. More expensive ammo (than just about any other choice) to be sure, but she doesn't (and esp with the .32--or .22 for that matter) need extensive range time using up lots of rounds for competent close quarters home defense. There's a very good chance she'll get hooked on any of the Taurus, Ruger or Smith offerings in the .32 Mag. And all of these small frame formats permit 6--versus 5--shots. Even a lightweight .32 snubbie does not have much recoil but still gives close to non + P .38 pow on the receiving end.
 
but she doesn't (and esp with the .32--or .22 for that matter) need extensive range time using up lots of rounds for competent close quarters home defense.
Click to expand...
Short range or long range, a new shooter have to put rounds downrange to figure out what they are doing. To be in a SD situation they have to place those rounds accurately and with some speed. Then add in the fear factor that will probably be present and hopefully the lessons learned at practice can be repeated with each bullet going where it was aimed.
The number one thing for a new shooter to do is practice, practice, and practice. People must somehow forget how easy it was to miss when they were just learning.
 
Majic

Majic, you are absolutely right, but if like many folk they/she doesn't have the time or inclination or $ (regardless of caliber) for practice, practice, practice--but perhaps just practice :-) , would rather she have a SD round (of some sort) -- and the non-intimidating .32M is the easiest and most encouraging way to get (and for some small stature/recoil shy, stay) there from the get go. Just was trying to indicate that the round was good enough that if one was not going to be firing a gazillion rounds, for cost to not be a factor--if HD/SD was primary goal, and not shooting on regular basis. Rather she be armed with the .32 and have some "reasonable" practice--enough to become comfortable with the gun and again pointing/aiming/shooting short range, than the .22 and have mucho practice -- unless she's going to make it an avocation like many of us. But, again you are right, ultimately no substitute for practice!
.22 Ruger Auto
.32M 4" Ruger SA Birdshead
.38 Sp. 4" Taurus DA
.40 SW
.44 Mag 5.5" Ruger Vaquero
all with significant range time :-)
 
22-rimfire

OK!!! Pick up your GP-100, extend your arm to align the sites, hold it there a couple of seconds....NOW put your body into a 5' 2" 105lb frame, and hold it for a couple of more seconds... ;)

My wife is not a shootist. She is 5' 6", 130Lbs, and she has difficulty picking it up, and holding it out there long enough to site, and pull the trigger. If, and when she does, I don't want to be anywhere around!!! :eek: If the lady in point is going to have trouble lifting, and siting the gun, recoil is a moot point...

Does anyone really think a small frame female, with no shooting experience should consider purchasing a GP-100? The 3"=35oz's and the 4"=37oz's//// :confused:

Maybe you could teach her a SA first shot, and fan the other 5!!!? :)
 
Have her rent or try a SW model 10 or a Taurus 82 38 special revolver with a 4 inch barrel. These are the perfect revolvers for those with little or no experience to start with. Then proceed from there. Find out what she likes and what is easy for her to use. You may find that she might go up or down the scale on caliber but do not force the issue. What works for you might not work for her. The most important thing is confidence- no confidence=no hits. And hits are what really counts in CCW/HD regardless of caliber.
 
Thank you all!

The wife really liked the feel of the taurus snubbys in her hand. So, I purched online a new in box Taurus Model 605B 357 Mag for $235 to a local FLL (actually, I need to find one, but have a good list of them) :D

Did I do okay on the price? I prefer stainless, but at this price, I thought I could not go wrong. I will start her on 38 special, and then after she gets comfortable, I will move her up to the 357, and then the magnums :p
 
You did good!!! ;) You would have paid over $100 more for a sp101. I fired mine today for the last time. :( It's either going to trade, sale, or I'll use it as a kadava :eek:

No pearl grips, huh?

Good luck...Shoot good
 
No pearl grip :p

Rubber grip, my favorite. Feels best. The pearl felt like a wet bar of soap in my hand.

Why sell your sp101? :confused:
 
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