Recommended to look at

[85t5mcss]

Digest version-lady friend is wanting to get her first gun for protection/carry. Average size and strength. I have taken her shooting before and gone over basics and just looking for a recommended list of what to check out. She has shot Glocks and 1911s and Berettas and struggles with racking the slide. So I'm thinking it may be better to focus on a wheel gun. (Still up to her ). I don't know much about revolvers so what are a few that we should look at? Caliber? (38, maybe. Sound of a 44 mag at Atterbury frightened her)

Any training in Danville area? Or further West ?

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

the new S&W 351 .22wmr snubbie
?
Ruger LCR

 

[Harleyrider_50]

This'd be MY choice fer a chic other'na semi-auto......


Product: Model 60LS

 

[02roadster]

This'd be MY choice fer a chic other'na semi-auto......


Product: Model 60LS

Yep, Lady Smith is a very nice piece.

 

[CindyE]

I love the S&W revolvers and the wood grips. Do you really gain much with the .357 over the .38? .357 is one of my favorite calibers, if not THE favorite, but I've heard that you don't really utilize all the power when it's in a snubby.

 

[Harleyrider_50]

I love the S&W revolvers and the wood grips. Do you really gain much with the .357 over the .38? .357 is one of my favorite calibers, if not THE favorite, but I've heard that you don't really utilize all the power when it's in a snubby.

Oh yeah...........think +P .38 on 'roids.......

 

[Harleyrider_50]

Yep, Lady Smith is a very nice piece.

Could prolly carry 'at myself.....

 

[CindyE]

Oh yeah...........think +P .38 on 'roids.......

I just Googled it, looks like there's tons of debate on the subject, more than I can wrap my brain around at the moment! Either way, both are great rounds.

 

[Smokepole]

Digest version-lady friend is wanting to get her first gun for protection/carry. Average size and strength. I have taken her shooting before and gone over basics and just looking for a recommended list of what to check out. She has shot Glocks and 1911s and Berettas and struggles with racking the slide. So I'm thinking it may be better to focus on a wheel gun. (Still up to her ). I don't know much about revolvers so what are a few that we should look at? Caliber? (38, maybe. Sound of a 44 mag at Atterbury frightened her)

Any training in Danville area? Or further West ?

Heeheeheeheeheeheehee ?? Oh . . . wait, . . my bad. At first read it looked like "Average size and LENGTH." TOTALLY different subject.

Carry on!

 

[Sling10mm]

A friend just picked up a Ruger LCR in 22WMR, and it is a really nice piece. I'm not a fan of the caliber, but if it gets her shooting, and she is comfortable and proficient with it, that is what is important.

I like the Ruger SP101 in 357 Magnum; I have the 3" model. One could shoot 38 Special to gradually develop their proficiency, and then carry 357 Magnum or 38 Special +P.

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

here's a really good thread with lots of good info and opinions ->
https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/handguns/333690-2014-great-snubbie-shoot-off.html

 

[IndyT0m]

I love the S&W revolvers and the wood grips. Do you really gain much with the .357 over the .38? .357 is one of my favorite calibers, if not THE favorite, but I've heard that you don't really utilize all the power when it's in a snubby.

Of course you have a lot more energy behind a .357 round vs a .38 round but in a snub nose it will be difficult to control and if she got scared from a sound of a .44 magnum a .357 cartridge will not fair much better. I have a Ruger Sp101 and firing 357's in it is like shooting a cannon. I personally love it but a friend of mine almost dropped it after shooting it the first time. Now put some 38 specials in that same gun and it's like night and day. Personally, I would refrain to get her a .357 unless she shoots 38 specials in it. I would take her to a gun range and let her shoot various calibers and guns and see which one she likes. I carry a M&P Shield 9mm and love it. Easy to conceal and easy to shoot. Great first time gun for a woman with average strength. If she is not familiar with Pistols make sure she can pull the slide back easily. Some women can and some don't or are scared doing it thinking the gun will go off while chambering. Either way a beginner gun safety course may be a good idea.

 

[Drotis]

I bought my wife a Ruger LCR in 38 spl. She can handle the recoil just fine. I like the .22 magnum caliber....but I haven't seen any for sale around me since before the 2012 election.

 

[Birds Away]

If she is of average strength then she can be easily instructed on how to rack a slide. Strength isn't really the issue. This will open her up to a wide variety of choices.

 

[Snapdragon]

I prefer the LCR in .357 because the steel/polymer ratio is higher and because of the option to shoot .38+P or .357 (even though recoil with .357 is pretty bad).

 

[VERT]

No reason to load 357. Stick with a good 38+P.

3" steel revolver will be easier to shoot and less recoil.

Most people can handle the slide on the current crop of mid to full size 9mm pistols. Practice and technique not strength. I can teach people to shoot an auto easier then a revolver.

 

[cosermann]

If she is of average strength then she can be easily instructed on how to rack a slide. Strength isn't really the issue. This will open her up to a wide variety of choices.

^^ This. If she can't rack a slide after learning proper technique, then she is NOT of average strength.

See here (an article by a woman for women): http://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/

 

[leftsock]

^^ This. If she can't rack a slide after learning proper technique, then she is NOT of average strength.

See here (an article by a woman for women): Rack the Slide | Cornered Cat

Check out that article. It's been my experience, with the women in my family, that they only have "trouble" racking the slide because they're trying to do the "pinch" or "slingshot" method, and after they were taught to do the overhand, their troubles went away. People (new users) also have to learn to not ride the slide home too. Just pull back and let it go.

 

[Bigtanker]

If she is of average strength then she can be easily instructed on how to rack a slide. Strength isn't really the issue. This will open her up to a wide variety of choices.

This^^^^^

Here is a short video to help.

[video=youtube_share;kbayNc6D9HY]http://youtu.be/kbayNc6D9HY[/video]

 

[BrewerGeorge]

No reason to load 357. Stick with a good 38+P.

...

I agree strongly with this, and no longer shoot .357 out of anything shorter than a 4" barrel. A lot of that extra powder is being waste burning outside the barrel once the bullet has already exited. It's nice to have the capability so you can share ammo if you need to, though.