This changes things...

[JGulley317]

You opened this discussion by telling us you are a broke college student. I assumed that meant you can only afford to buy ONE firearm right now, so it was important to pick the best one to serve multiple purposes. Self defense and carry for you, and home defense for your mother.

It was just a thought, I wouldn't be able to buy them at the same time.

But for the other posters who didn't see...she doesn't want a handgun of any kind. So I'm just going to stick to what I want, except in 9mm so she can use that. I can always buy a .40 the next time around. She'll practice on the smaller calibers and work her way up to 9mm. I'm not going to worry weather she wants a hammer fired or striker. I'll have her choose which one she likes better in her hands once I narrow my choices down more. Her choice will make a difference in my ultimate decision.

Thanks for everyone's opinion and advice, Gulley

 

[JohnKSa]

Part of the reason was that which I repeated above: .22LR is a small bullet that makes a small wound channel. It was noted that people have been killed with .22LR firearms, but it was also noted that in such cases the person generally survives long enough to do serious damage before ultimately becoming incapacitated.

It is certainly possible to instantly stop a person with a shot from a .22LR, it's just not as probable as with larger calibers.

The fact that the .22LR is not a good choice for self-defense does not mean it has no potential to be effective, just that it has less potential to be effective.

The .22LR was mentioned only in passing, and it was pretty much stated that it was ineffective for self-defense.

There are certainly documented instances of people and large animals being instantly stopped, instantly killed or instantly incapacitated by a shot from a .22LR and that's what makes statements like this a gross exaggeration.

Here's an example of an attack in progress stopped by several shots from a .22 pistol.
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=96192.0

Single shot from a .22 pistol ends an attack.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=632239

6ft+, 250lb rapist killed by a single chest shot from a .22 pistol.
http://www.wistv.com/story/15140008/female-motel-clerk-kills-robber

Is it the best choice? Of course not.
Is it a good choice? No, not really.
CAN it work? Of course it can--we know it can because we can point to documented instances where it has worked. And that means that any comments indicating that it can not be used as an effective self-defense round are inaccurate.

 

[Lost Sheep]

If you're as broke as you say you are, consider that 9mm ammunition costs a bit over HALF what .40 S&W

and 22 rimfire costs a fifth of what 9mm costs.

Practice improves performance and one must practice at least three things.

Trigger control

Sight alignment

Recoil management.

If you reduce the number of things your mother (and you) are practicing to master to only two or one, you make your practice more worthwhile. Learn to put 22s on target consistently, quickly and only then add recoil into the mix.

Besides, practicing with a 22 will put you on the range where you can observe other shooters' techniques and guns. Talk to them, maybe even get invited to try a few rounds.

Go onto the web site "CorneredCat.com". You will find good information there that applies equally well to you as it will to your Mother.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

I've given this question some thought

(edited for brevity) She said she'd allow it {a gun in the house}. As long as, I teach her how to shoot, take her range from time to time and teach her gun safety.

I HIGHLY recommend both of you take a gun safety class together from a professional gun safety instructor.

It is highly problematic for one family member to teach another member how to do almost anything. The quintessential problematic situation is the husband teaching the wife to drive a stick shift. Family/interpersonal relationship dynamics get in the way of the instructor student relationship and the parent/child dynamic is one of the most difficult to apply in the instructor/student direction.

See professional help. If not from a firearms instructor now, a family counselor later (LoL)

Lost Sheep

P.S. House gun? Shotgun Much easier to hit with than any handgun.

P.P.S. Better than a gun? Medium sized dog. Combination burglar alarm, defensive tool and foot-warmer (try THAT with a 9mm). Never needs batteries, reload twice a day. Concealed carry is tough, but they are self-propelled.