What gun for HD for wife?

G

gilfo

New member
Let me explain my problem. My wife knows nothing about guns nor does she want to. I want to get something for her to use if she needs it when I am not home. It would be a case of bringing her to the range once maybe twice to get familar with it then leave it a safe place in case she would ever need it. There has been a lot of home invasions going on and I would feel alot better knowing she had something to fall back on. She is a very girlie girl but tough when she needs to be ( she cut up a snake pretty good one time when I was away on business) so I'm confident that if she needed to she would use it to defend herself and the kids. So question is something light on recoil, easy to use. Maybe a revolver in 38 special or 22lr. What do you think???
Thanks
 
Yep, for people who don't fool with guns and you want something simple and reliable, you can't beat a revolver. A 380 or maybe a 9mm would be good for her too, but autos are harder for a non-gun person to understand and there is a lot more to learn about what to do in a failure to fire or failure to eject. There are varying opinions about spring life in a magazine in an auto, but it's not anything you even need to consider in a wheelgun. A 38 revolver would be hard to beat. Also, you could buy a 357 so you could have some fun with it and she could still shoot 38s. ;)

Don't go with anything less than a 38/380. The smaller calibers can be effective but require much better shot placement, and I would not trust myself carrying anything smaller unless it was a back up for VERY close range. Most of the popular revolvers have Crimson Trace grips available too, making it easier for her to place shots if she ever needed to. I recommend getting her used to shooting without it though. The laser sights should not be a replacement for adequate training, just a supplement.
 
You know your wife and I obviously don't. However, your statement of her not wanting anything to do with knowing guns gives me pause.

What do I want more in this world than another guy gaining interest in the responsible ownership of firearms? Women gaining interest. I can not overstate this opinion of mine. If you understand where I'm coming from, then I hope you will understand my next statement:

I would NOT get her a gun. Just once or twice to the range is not going to cut it. If she is not willing to put forth the effort on continual training and practice that, IMHO, is required to be able to effectively use that firearm I'd pass on getting one. IMO, there's also initial and recurrent training that should be involved on when NOT to use the gun. The two types of training go hand in hand. Firearm ownership isn't for everybody. And based on the information provided I cannot in good conscience suggest a firearm.

If you want her to have protection when you're gone, get a dog...and train it properly. It will keep her company, too.

My post is not intended to offend or ridicule your good intentions....
 
I almost agree. I would get her a .22 revolver and keep it in a safe. I wouldn't give someone with no interest and little knowledge in guns a .38 revolver.
 
My wife does know how to shoot- she grew up on a farm and has 5 brothers. She's quite proficient with rifle and shotgun.
That said, she had VERY limited experience with handguns, and expressed to me she had no comfortability with semi-autos after firing one of her brother's 9mm and experienced a jam (I was not there that day, and have no idea the make and model).
She is now taking lessons weekly at the pistol club from a pro (retired SP officer) with a nice Security Six in .38/357, and is enjoying it. She says it's a nice release after a hard day at the office...;)
As said before, practice, practice, practice.
 
I almost agree. I would get her a .22 revolver and keep it in a safe. I wouldn't give someone with no interest and little knowledge in guns a .38 revolver.
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A medium or large framed .38 is not bad at all. Even for a new female shooter. Recoil from one of these is very minimal. My wife is small 5'2" 120 lbs. She doesn't shoot, but has shot a few of my guns a couple times. Even my 2" .357 shooting .38 is ok for her. Obviously a larger frame would be even better, that's why I said medium or large frame.
 
a good .38 revolver with a 4" barrel. It will be big enough that it wont kick bad and simple enough that she will not have any problems using it if the need arises.
 
My "house gun" is a 4" .38spl and my wife and 11 year old son can both shoot it pretty well. Except for those with physical shortcomings just about anyone should be able to handle a medium frame .38 with a little practice....in my opinion of course
 
My wife has a S&W Mod. 60 .38 spl. snub. Always a good choice.

MY true story about her. She doesn't shoot that much. I got after her a while back to go practice because it had been so long she would not hit the target. Finally she went to the range. I put up the target at reasonable close range. She picked up her Mod. 60 and put holes through the center of mass and then the head. She put down the gun and said she would wait in the car and read the news paper while I shoot. She also said to clean her gun when we got home.:eek:
 
I show my wife how to shoot most of my handguns. The one she wants by her side when I leave town was a 38 snubby. It kicked being an ultralight but it was simple - nothing to think about or remember. Other guns included, Walther PP 32acp, Keltec P32, CZ82 9mm Mak, FN HiPower and 1911s.

I thought the PP would have been the pick, not the snubby. I recently sold the snubby for a 3" SP101 357 that is stoke with 38spcl when I go out of town. Much easier to shoot.

In conclusion a steel 357/38 spcl stoked with 38spcl. CDNN and J&G had some model 10's at good prices.

Oh and an OU 20g by the closet door.
 
My issue is with safety. I once carefully demonstrated how to handle and shoot a pistol for a lady. She then accidentally fired it into the ground about 6 feet in front of her. Once my buddy's wife came with us to go shooting. She used the gun to point at me in casual conversation Joe Pesci style. People who don't know anything about guns and don't care to know anything about them are better off without them. Or at least with a very low power heavy trigger pull revolver in a safe for extreme emergencies. Guns are not for everyone. My opinion.
 
My "house gun" is a 4" .38spl and my wife and 11 year old son can both shoot it pretty well. Except for those with physical shortcomings just about anyone should be able to handle a medium frame .38 with a little practice....in my opinion of course
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I agree with BerettaBuckeye. It also helps that he is a fellow Buck! Go Bucks! :D

She put down the gun and said she would wait in the car and read the news paper while I shoot. She also said to clean her gun when we got home.
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That's funny stuff madmag.
 
I get from your post that she will use this "gun" at home for defense if needed when you are not there.
I would suggest a shotgun---20 gauge double with appropriate loads---pump action if she can learn to use it properly and is comfortable with it.
This is what I did with my wife and then we spent some time getting her up to speed with a revolver.
We did the shotgun first--wife learned how to use it quickly and became very familiar and comfortable with it ---then went to a 38 Spl. revolver----she still prefers the shotgun.

Oh, it was more fun for her too when we shot some trap with it---she likes to hit those clay thingies
(her words).
 
I disagree with the shotgun aproach for a woman that is totally new to shooting. IMO, the recoil and "punishment" from a shotgun is much greater than say a mid sized .38. I don't think this would not be good for a woman that is new to shooting.
 
I disagree with the shotgun aproach for a woman that is totally new to shooting. IMO, the recoil and "punishment" from a shotgun is much greater than say a mid sized .38. I don't think this would not be good for a woman that is new to shooting.
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It worked fine for my wife and that's why I suggested a 20 gauge----just start with mild loads ---put some shot in the butt stock, good recoil pad and make sure the shotgun FITS her and teach proper technique.
Shouldn't be a problem, my wife is kind of small.
She is shooting magnum buckshot loads now no problem.
 
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