38 spl+p

[Hapworth]

Classic husband misstep: choosing a handgun for the wife.

Make a small investment: a few trips to local ranges so she can try out a variety of handguns and determine what what feels right to her. This will pay off dividends in the long run.

Next: procure the weapon of choice and invest in a defense handgun ownership/maintenance/use course for her.

As for advising a specific piece, more information is needed from you. Will this be exclusively for home protection, or carried, too? If carried, will it be carried open or concealed. If concealed, inside the waistband or outside.

What didn't she like about the 686? Was it more the recoil (if so, what loads were you using?), or the overall size (helps determine if a J or a K frame is in order here, and steel framed v aluminum)?

[SteveS]

One of my best friends used to have a real nice gun shop so I was able to play gun shop employee and so many men wanted to pick out the wrong guns for their women. Bring the Mrs out to a nice brunch then bring her shopping. Go from there.

[Plumber237]

Another vote for the LCR, I prefer the CorBon DPX .38+P rounds, which are also on Doc's list.

[SteveS]

Iam looking to buy a 38 spc+p for my wife,the last revolver i bought was s&w 686 357 mag for a duty weapon.But thats way to big and to much recoil for her. I will probably go to academy this weekend to look,my local gun store is small and way to high,I could get a new gun for the price of a used one." they sale 4oz spray CLP for 11 bucks,its 3.50 or so from wallyworld."

Also my local wallyworld doesnt sale guns. " Small town...lol. "
i dont want a 1 inch barrel but dont want 4 inch either.is s&w what they used to be? ruger?? Let me know what you guys think.... thanks.

Did you ever buy a new pistol?

[youngAR]

I, too highly recommend the LCR. But, there are better choices in a handgun for women. My wife loves my GP100. But some can't pull the trigger back. Pick one that SHE's comfortable with and teach her on it. If a .38 the ultimate choice, buy 148gr wadcutters.

[ColtSeavers]

Outside of the (should be obvious) take her to the store/range and let her decide.

Wife has and loves her 2-1/4" .357 sp101, especially after we changed the grip for a hogue fingergroove rosewood. She'll shoot every round of .38 she can get her hands on if you don't watch out, which is fine by me as I'm just happy she's happy with and using/practicing with her gun. It is actually a pretty damn nice revolver IMO, a little snappy with full power .357s through it (but nothing to wory about) and downright tame with .38+p.

[Vegasshooter]

It seems like the really important things have been covered, ie: let your wife shoot as many as she can get her hands on. That said, my wife very, very much enjoys my 4" S&W 66. She shoots standard .38 loads into a fist sized target ALL day long, or until she runs out of ammo, and I have to pry it out of her hands. She started on a Ruger Single 10, yes, the 10 shot version of the Single six. The S&W was a very natural next step up. That is one persons opinion, and YMMV. The other great choice is the Ruger SP101 in .357 with .38 loads. This is my BUG, and it is fantastic as such. She can really handle the 2 inch. The Ruger is a bobbed hammer, and as such it is a DAO revolver. I find, as a husband, that what we like doesn't always translate to our wives. I was super patient and spent the money on the .22 first, then moved her up when SHE started asking and looking at my guns. I REALLY think that has paid dividends because she never got scared or intimidated. BTW, there's nothing wrong with 10 rounds of .22 CCI Stingers to slow an intruder down in a defensive scenario. My wife is 5'2 and about 120 pounds. I would not hesitate to recommend the S&W 66, or the Ruger SP101, but let her decide.