Mrs Doc's Planning to be an Anne Oakley - Gun advise

[Doc Tinker]

Mrs Doc wants to start packing a gun - What should she get? They hold classes at the Airport near us and she will enroll as soon as she has an idea of what pistol is best for her.



Doc

 

[LSMITH]

Doc, I am no fan of S&W anymore, but one of their J-frame five shot 38's is awfully hard to beat. The Taurus of the same design type are also quite nice to carry and shoot. If she is given to practice on a regular basis and is not recoil shy then I would say commander length 45ACP for sure!!! The 38 is more suited to people that are not intimately familiar with the pistol they carry, i would be my first recommendation. Hope this helps.

 

[Blackcloud]

My advice is just not to make her mad at you!!(Or hope she is a really bad shot )

 

[GFoley]

Doc,

Someone else just ran a similiar thread about handguns just a couple days ago. My suggestion has always been to find a gun that feels good and fits the hand, then choose caliber. Most mfgrs make the same gun in a couple calibers so getting what you want isn't a big deal.



Revolver vs. Pistol ?

I think a double action revolver is hard to beat for a defensive handgun. If I end the situation, good; if not in 5/6 rounds, then break contact and rethink/reload. No safeties, just point and pull the trigger.



Auto loader:

Unless the Mrs carries a cocked and locked single action or a loaded double action pistol, there are more steps involved in bringing the pistol into action. Training will make them second nature but more steps are more steps. The biggest additional step is loading the gun. Not inserting a magazine, but racking the slide and releasing it to load the first round. This must be a two handed operation. Advantage to revolver here if you must use the other hand in a defensive maneuver to protect your self from an attacking blow.



In the end, it is better to have a gun that she is capable of using if a situation arrises than to not have one and need it.



Glenn





Maybe she can practice on the fast movers near the cat washer after it finishes the final rinse cycle, whadda ya think about that?

 

[illflem]

Sawed off Winchester '93

 

[Deezul1]

A revolver is always a good choice for someone who is not going to spend a lot of time practicing and getting real familiar with their gun. A revolver has no safety to have to remember, all you have to do is point and pull and its also safer in some ways as its ready to go with no extra things to have to think about in a bad situation where with a semi auto you either have to chamber a round first or carry a round in the chamber with the safety on. I shoot action pistol competition and shoot 1000 rounds a month with a auto loader pistol and still chose to carry a revolver as my carry weapon.

 

[M Barnett]

Take a good look at a Ruger SP 101. Without a doubt, I would recommend a revolver. Practice often, be sure she learns when to use it and when not too. I believe in the ability to self defence, but the responsibility is huge. Once the bullet starts down the barrel, it cannot be called back.

Michael

 

[Cummins4Life]

I would recomend the ruger sp 101. My dad just bought a s&w 640 (hammerless 5shot . 357), the thing is a piece of crap. I would also recomend a small sigarms automatic, great quality if its not to complicated. Make sure she practices and knows exactly what the gun will do.

 

[Briar Hopper]

A small revolver, like the other guys say, that's a good choice.

But check out the NAA Guardian . 32, from North American Arms.

It seems uncomplicated, and is a little powerhouse, just the right size. A very hot seller these days, thanks to it's quality and size.

Uh, Doc, guns are okay. Just don't give her any knives.

 

[The patriot]

This place has some good deals on used Ruger revolvers:

http://www.kyimports.com/ruger.htm# Ruger

Down the bottom of the page, the Security-6 or the Service-6 are hard to beat. 38 and 357, take your pick.

These may be a little too much gun for her to carry on her person, but will fit nicely in a handbag.

I'd have the hammer bobbed, and youre set to go.

Eric

 

[B.G. Smith]

Packing heat

My choice would be a double action only like the Keltec 9mm or a Beretta wildcat 32 cal. Simple operation, safe to carry loaded. I agree that some of the wheel guns are less likely to malfunction. bg

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Just get her a Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Cassull. She wont even need ammo, just the size of it will scare anyone.

 

[stevek]

I'd go with the Magnum Research . 50 cal... Packs a mild kick but one bullet would do the trick

 

[Bigsaint]

This post should hit triple digit replys, lol.



Here's my $0. 02. Take her to a local shop and see what fits her hand comfortably, then go from there. Keep it simple if she chooses an auto, but make the caliber 9mm at the minimum and . 40 cal would be preferably in my book. If she chooses a wheelgun, and there's nothing wrong with that either, minimum cal. should be . 38 special and I would choose a . 357 as they make many in the same dimensions of the . 38 while giving you the ability to use the mags. if you choose and if she can handle the increased recoil. The . 357 wheel guns will also be able to digest a steady diet of +p . 38's and allow you to start her off with the very mild . 38 wadcutter loads, for practice.



Choose a good brand, regardless of the weapon. S+W, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Beretta, Glock all get the nod.



Have her take a class, if available, and choose a well made holster as well.



Scott W.

 

[KMC]

I agree with what most have said. Small light weight revolver in . 38 and able to handle +p or +p+ loads. It should be simple and easy to operate. Alot of women do not do well with racking the slide on an auto. Most women can handle the recoil of a . 38 - much more than that and they may not "like" it. And if they don't like it they won't practice and that is a major handicap IMHO.



Ken

 

[The patriot]

Yea, what Scott said about wadcutters for practice.

I had my wife out going through the drill with my Smith 586 with the wadcutters.

While she wasnt looking, I slipped some super hot Federal 125 gr's in there.

After 2-3 wadcutters... ... BOOM !! She turned around to look at me, and I gave her a deadpan look and shrugged my shoulders.

Next shots BOOM..... BOOM !!

When she was done, I asked her what was different. She said "It was louder".

I asked if it kicked more, she said "A little I guess".

Getting off topic again... ...

Eric

 

[sdalton]

I am not a fan of S&W anymore either, but I have a titanium model 342. It is hammerless and very light. It is a . 38+P 5 shot. I bought it before S&W stuck their foot in their mouths and ticked the entire shooting world off. I believe Taurus has some comparable models. I have carried all kinds off duty and this one is one of the most convenient, and reliable. Glocks are good too but heavier and bulkier



Scott

 

[Partyat33]

Doc,



Why don't you send her to self defense or some kind of martial arts class. Then if you make her mad she can beat you up !!!!!







Dennis

 

[SLindblom]

weight

I like my Ruger SP101 (and my Security Six . 357, and Blackhawk . 41, and Super Redhawk . 454)



However, my sister loves to go for walks on the ranch when she comes to visit, and we (dad and I) insist she carry something for the big cats that have been spotted here. She didn't like the weight of the Ruger (over 2lbs loaded), so I lend her my Glock 23 (. 40 S&W). It's not much lighter, loaded, but the feel/size seemed to suit her.



For simplicity, I'd go for a wheel gun. The glock naturally "points" a little better for me. I also just bought a Kahr MK40 (40 S&W) (very compact 4"X5" and 1"thick). So far so good.





http://glocktalk.com/ has a forum devoted to carry issues.



If she goes with the Redhawk . 454, as suggested above, the muzzleblast will take care of what the bullet does not, especially at combat range. Wear hearing and eye protection.



EDIT: you need some weight to absorb recoil, especially with magnums. A light gun with a heavy/fast bullet hurts the hands.

 

[muddyboots]

Back when I was working I carried a Sig 229, double-action only. No safety or decocker to worry about. Just pull the trigger. It's compact and the . 40 S&W cartridge doesn't kick much. Besides, I've found that women are generally better shots than men.