Rookie question - looking for advice

Here's another option Butterfly,,,

Charter Arms is an American company that makes very nice revolvers,,,
My Lady friend has a 5-shot snub-nose revolver in .38 Special,,,
It's a very nice little handgun and goes bang every time.

I also like revolvers and own several Smith & Wesson .38's,,,
One thing I like about the S&W line is that they made several "companion" guns chambered for the .22 LR cartridge.

Basically 2 identical guns but one in .22 for inexpensive practice,,,
And one in .38 Special, a good solid get-the-job-done caliber.

I have three of these pairings and I believe it helps me shoot better,,,
I go to the range and shoot 200-250 rounds of .22 for less than $10.00,,,
Then I pick up the other one of the pair and shoot a box of 50 for around $16.00.

So I get a lot of practice shooting for not too much money,,,
Since the guns are identical practice with one is practice with the other,,,
I will admit it is not exactly the same thing because of the difference in recoil,,,
But for all practical purposes the pairing of a gun in .22 and a gun in .38 is a good training thing.

So much so that my Lady friend saw the advantage to this,,,
She purchased a Charter Arms .22 that is virtually identical to her Charter Arms .38 Special.

Now when we go to the range she has a lot more fun,,,
Because she gets to shoot a lot more bullets,,
Because of that extra trigger time,,,
She's getting better faster.

I'm not saying that this is "the only way to go",,,
But it is a viable option you might consider.

Buy the .22 Pathfinder first,,,
Use it and the cheap ammo to get proficient,,,
Then buy the .38 Special undercover for real defense use.

Snub-nose .22 Pathfinder
Snub-nose .38 Special Undercover

Hope this helps you,,,
It certainly worked for Kathy.

.
 
I love snub nose revolvers. They are harder to shoot well than larger guns. If the gun is strictly for the house, you may want to go large frame because bigger guns are easier to shoot well with than small guns.
 
Its all about what fits your hands, how you intend to carry it ( weight, size, etc ) - and partly how much you want to spend.

Others have advised you should really go to a range that rents guns / and at least get familar with basic revolvers ( in .38 spl probably ), basic Double Action / Single Action semi-autos in 9mm , and single action semi-autos in 9mm ( like 1911 platforms). You might like them all / or you might not like any of them - but then you can fine tune your search a little.

Some smaller frame guns might fit your hands / but they might have springs in them so tough to pull back against and load a round that they become poor options. I have arthritis in my hands and wrists now as I approach 60 / and to pull back a 20lb+ spring on a .40S&W gets pretty ridiculous for me most days ( and I'm 6'5" and 275 lbs ) but I'm losing some power in my hands these days ...so its not sexist / you have to pick what will work for you.

I do intro shooting lessons informally for a number of people, friends, kids, etc ....and one of the guns that I have that seems to be a good option for a lot of ladies is a Kimber, Tactical Pro II model, 4" barrel, alloy frame in 9mm. Its not too heavy, not too clumsy, easy to shoot, easy to load and fire. It retails new for around $ 1,000 these days / but its a good option if your budget allows. Most of the ladies I talk to really don't like heavy trigger pull guns like Glocks, Springfield XD's, Berettas -- or the grip angles / or the fatness of the grips. A few ladies like the smaller frame revolvers / like the older S&W like a model 19 or something like that in a 4" barrel. But the long trigger pull of a double action revolver doesn't appeal to people with smaller hands.

Men and ladies alike / have different sized hands ...so its not sexist. Some gun mfg's market to ladies with colors, etc ....or to men, with macho names ...and rails on guns to attach lights, etc ...and I even saw a handgun the other day with a little 4" bayonet on it ...(and in general, I'd say stay away from all that stuff )...

Have some fun with your search / and your training. If you can find a gun you really like / and get some time on the range with it ...before the class, I think the class will pay bigger dividends for you. Some instuctors are more macho, more "tactical" oriented, some are more "shooter" oriented ...but they all have prejudices on guns they like - and guns they hate ( me too ). You just have to work thru all that stuff / and so do guys ....ask a lot of questions / shoot as many guns as you can.

If you see someone at the range that has a different gun / ask them about it, do they like it, would they buy it again ...etc Most people will talk if you show some interest - and give you a hand. Heavy recoil is not your friend ....stay away from anyone pushing you into heavier caliber guns ( like .357 mag, .44 mag revolvers / or .40S&W, .45acp ) ...until you have more exposure and then want to find out about them ... There isn't anything wrong with those calibers ( the .45acp is my favorite ) but not the best intro to handguns for new shooters usually.
 
butterfly,

Keep in mind that you posed this question on a handgun forum. For a broader perspective on home defense options you can pose the same question in our General Discussion Forum or the Rifle and Shotgun forums.

Whatever you choose, be sure to get enough trigger time to familiarize yourself with its operation.
 
You didn't mention concealed carry so I'd recommend checking out a full size 38 or 357 magnum. You can always load the magnum with 38's. If you can fire some before you buy thats great. If you can't its not the end of the world. I never fired any of mine beforehand and I've been happy with all of them. If it feels good in you hand it usually works out okay with practice.
 
Welcome butterfly,

I'm in the shotgun camp for H/D. A nice 20ga. loaded with some 00buck is very effective.

Some may say that a shotgun is to bulky to be answering the door with but I say we shouldn't be opening the door to strangers anyway.

My HD handguns are only there to get me to my shotgun. Maybe both should be in your future as well.
 
Lot of good replies here, but I’ll throw in my 2 cents. Nothing wrong with starting with a .22LR handgun. Try to look into the future and determine if you’ll be using a revolver or semi auto, then get a .22LR that closely matches it. Train with a professional with the .22 until you feel comfortable. Then step up to the center fire. If you like shotguns, I always suggest to women to look into the Mossberg model HS410. (HS = Home Security) It’s a seven shot .410 shotgun with pistol grips on the forearm and stock, and I think a 20 inch barrel. Easy to control for even the most petite woman, and seven rounds of .410 buck shot should do the trick if needed.
 
Welcome Butterfly. Wile I agree with the course intructor telling you to start with a .22, I don't like that they want you to buy one, but if it's your only port in the storm... At any rate, Above all else, get one that feels good to you. I know very bid guys who say the .45ACP is too much to handle, and I've seen a 5'1" 105LB women shoot mag after mag of the stuff and love it. We're all different. If you start with a .22, I really think a revolver is the best bet, and if you want to trade up to a center fire later, you won't have any new controls to learn. You can always trade it in later too, but when once you see how cheap and fun a .22LR is to shoot, I bet you won't.
 
Many have mentioned Pax's page and a good course. No need to repeat myself.

I would just add that the small 22 semiautos like the Bobcat and PT-22 have a tendency to be jammers. Seen it a few times.

So that's a strike against them.

But if you train, a healthy person has many options. The standard option recommendation for those who don't train are a 38 SPL revolver and one of the lower recoil SD loads.

I'd stay away from a shotgun unless you train with it. Yes, untrained folks have used all kinds of guns successfully, but if you are going to put out the effort - train.
 
For home defense, it's hard to beat a shotgun.
Click to expand...

+1 on this!

But if you train, a healthy person has many options. The standard option recommendation for those who don't train are a 38 SPL revolver and one of the lower recoil SD loads.

I'd stay away from a shotgun unless you train with it. Yes, untrained folks have used all kinds of guns successfully, but if you are going to put out the effort - train.
Click to expand...

Whether you get a revolver, semi-automatic or a shotgun, you will need to train with it. You can't just buy a gun, stick it in a drawer or in a shotguns case, behind a door and expect it to aid in your defense. The due dilligence of going to the range and practicing is paramount.
 
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