.38 for CCW for my Wife?

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TheBill

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I was thinking about a Taurus 605 to serve a dual purpose:

01. Let the wife practice and carry a snub, lightweight .38 for her CCW.
02. I would finally have a .357 to shoot.

After spending a day or two reading up, I've encountered 2 counter issues that I need more opinions on:

01. Reading that as a personal protection round, the .38 doesnt make a lot of people comfortable, and that I'd be better suited with a 9mm or <
02. Shooting this small snub .357 (the 605) is unappealing to shoot. Kicks too much and just isn't any fun


These both hit home because I want her to have a caliber to practice with enough to get good (without breaking the bank. And soemthing that I feel she is protecting her life with.

I am pretty much dead set on a revolver due to the fact that she has a hard time racking a slide on a semi-auto. She get's the hang of it, but if she doesn't pick up the pistol, she goes back to having trouble getting that first round chambered.

Your thoughts? (i am having trouble finding a 9mm revolver in the right size....and I really don't know enough abotu moonclips to know if they're a pain in the ass?)
 
why is the .38 being a poor round (whatever) an issue if you plan on stepping to 357 for actual carry anyways? it doesnt have to be FUN to shoot. Get a 357, load it with 38s, practice, load with 357s, carry on.


or let her choose. but she's a woman. clearly not within her cognitive abilities to pick a gun
 
*I'm probably pushing it, but I'd like an exposed hammer just so we can DA or SA if we choose at the range
 
Best solution is take her shopping with you, and let her handle some revolvers. I bought 2 S&W's several years ago, a snub and an old 4" police revolver (Model 15), thinking she would like the snub.

She loved the 15 immediately, and shot the snot out of a target with it right from the start.
I used the snubby for several years.

Use the right ammo in a .38 Spl that you are practiced with, and you are doing fine. Try the old FBI load (I have Remington's version)- a soft lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoint +P. One od the best street loads ever made.

Let your wife pick her own gun - you wouldn't let anyone pick one for you....

mark
 
Dogngun...You see a .38+P round as adequate for CCW?

I have taken here many times to various shops...if she picked her own, she would have a NAA Guardian or smaller!

I have an XD .45 and it's just too big for her hands, so it's made her think she needs something of the micro-compact size, and i can't let her "protect her life" with that. Maybe just a peace of mind thing
 
Hence the reason i said I need a round we can practice plenty with w/o breaking the bank.

We can talk in circles all day about how a .22 if placed correctly is plenty of firepower.

I'm speaking from a CCW peace of mind "if attacked" scenario.
 
I would have no issues carrying a .38 loaded with good +P rounds. The speer short barrel gold dot would be at the top of the list.
 
Take her to the shop and let her decide. I thought the same thing when looking for guns for my wife... " snub 38 like my 637 is a perfect wife gun". As it turns out, my wife hates my J-Frame 38 with a passion. I could barely get her to fire 5 rounds through it at the range. She prefers her KelTec P32 or her Sig P239 9mm.

Don't ask me why... just let her decide.
 
I know how she feels about semi-auto's.

I'm also bein a lil selfish too.....I want one that I can take to the range when I go w/o her
 
A revolver is the best CCW choice for anyone, however:

(1) Do NOT get a "lightweight" model.
(2) Do NOT get a Taurus.
(3) DO get a steel Ruger or S&W.
(4) Do NOT get a "38 Special Only" if you have a choice (get a 357 and use 38's).
(5) Use 158gr LSWCHP or Speer GDHP +P 38 Special ammo.
 
or let her choose. but she's a woman. clearly not within her cognitive abilities to pick a gun
Click to expand...

Do we dare touch that one? I'll bite. It actually might not be within her abilities to pick a gun. And it might have little to do with gender.
 
I bought and love my S&W 638. It has a shrouded hammer so that it will not snag when you draw, but still allows SA shooting.

Yes, it is airweight.
Yes, it kicks a bit with +p ammo.
Yes, it fits into my front pocket and has smooth curves so that it does not look like a gun.
Yes, it is enough to take the wind out of most attackers.

A J-Frame .38 in the pocket beats a .45 in the sock drawer at home.

-Jim
 
It is a great idea! It was what my wife started out with, qualified for her CHL with and carried daily for a while. Even better you can get her a set of pink hogue grips and she is set. I would stay away from an airweight, it will kick so much that she probably will not like to practice with it. A .38 +p is plent fine for stopping an attacker. If you have any further questions about it send me a PM ir you like.

I agree with everything Ronto said except item (2) and while there is nothing technically wrong with getting a ".38 only" it is nice to have the option to use .357. I personally have had 5 taurus revolvers and 1 taurus automatic and have not had a problem with them. When I carry a .38 snub it is a taurus model 85. I have over 2000 rounds through it with no problems so far. The 605 my wife had (she now has my S&W 60 pro series that she stole from me) had well over 1000 rounds through it problem free. I even used it to shoot .357 sometimes.
 
You both need to read through Kathy Jackson's webiste www.corneredcat.com

I'm an instructor and I do this for a living. Trust me in that she really needs to pick the gun for herself. You can make suggestions on guns she might want to try, but she needs to make the final decision.

Here's my thoughts on your specific questions:

I was thinking about a Taurus 605 to serve a dual purpose:

01. Let the wife practice and carry a snub, lightweight .38 for her CCW.
02. I would finally have a .357 to shoot.
Click to expand...

Ok, here's what I see as your first problem. If she is getting a gun for her to use for defense, then get a gun for *HER* to use for defense. The fact you want another caliber for target shooting is irrelevant. She should pick the gun and caliber she wants. Buy yourself a .357 later, when you get the cash, but don't make "her gun" conform to something you also want to shoot.

I am pretty much dead set on a revolver due to the fact that she has a hard time racking a slide on a semi-auto. She get's the hang of it, but if she doesn't pick up the pistol, she goes back to having trouble getting that first round chambered.
Click to expand...

Once again, *SHE* needs to decide what gun she's comfortable using. If she doesn't like it, she won't carry it or be confident with it.

Has she ever worked with an instructor? Has anyone ever taught her the proper methods to work the action on a semi-auto to make it easier? It's not a matter of strength, it's a matter of technique. Read through Corneredcat.com . Kathy had an article there about using the proper technique to rack the slide that is much easier then how most men do it. (I teach a slightly different version myself, but Kathy's works as well and she explains it better then I could on-line).

Once she understand the proper technique she should have no problems working the action of a semi-auto. If she gets a chance to work with an instructor in person who understands how to teach the proper technique that would help.

01. Reading that as a personal protection round, the .38 doesnt make a lot of people comfortable, and that I'd be better suited with a 9mm or <
Click to expand...

A .38 Special is fine for self defense. Some people might not be comfortable with it, but some people aren't comfortable with anything less then 12 Gauge 00 Buck.

It's a handgun round and all handgun rounds are "marginal" at best. We carry handguns not because they powerful, because they aren't, but because they are convenient.

For .38 Special I recomend a good HP or JHP. Out of a snub barrel one of the best choices is the Speer GDSB 135 gr JHP .38 +P load. This is designed specifically to expand out of short barrel guns.

02. Shooting this small snub .357 (the 605) is unappealing to shoot. Kicks too much and just isn't any fun
Click to expand...

A snub .357 is probably one of the most difficult handguns to shoot at all. It's not just "not any fun" it's quite difficult to do well. The lighter the gun, the worse the felt recoil. A lightweight .357 is darn near "unshootable," in my opinion, especially if you want to practice with your defensie load and not just count on being able to fire five rounds "when it counts."

The small grip, short barrel with short sight radius, and heavy double-action trigger also makes a snub revolver harder to shoot then many other guns. It can be done, and you can master it, but it takes some effort.

[qute]These both hit home because I want her to have a caliber to practice with enough to get good (without breaking the bank. And soemthing that I feel she is protecting her life with. [/quote]

Then you don't want a snub .357. A snub .38 would be a better choice, if *she* picks a revolver.
 
Thanks for the responses. I am weighing everyones opionions prior to my purchase.

Yes, she has been taught by an instructor how to rack a slide. However, like I said, it rarely works on the first try (right hand above right hip, left hand on top of slide holding steady. Right hand pushing out while left hand only holds *not pulling*)

It sounds like SP101 is my best bet......**Now my selfishness comes back into play saying "but you've always wanted that 686 or GP100***
 
And do NOT take advice from people who tell you things like "Do NOT..." without saying anything to explain. They are not demonstrating a working knowledge of the topic of their own advice.
 
I don't need to re-read cambeul. As I said, I am weighing everyones opinion, and appreciate Trebor's input greatly...

Please understand she has handled a ton of guns in a ton of gun shops, and shows. We have shot multiple pistols at Spragues.

You can wear out your clicking fingers by highlighting and underlining "her" all you want. Understand that she has put this in my hands based on her lack of "preference" and would like her husband, to make an educated purchase for her...after a couple months of regular range trips and she doesn't like it I CAN SELL IT.

So I am here asking for your opinions to reduce the chance of a buy then sell scenario......
 
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If she is leaving it up to you, get what you think she can shoot the best.

I am not in favor of shared guns, excepting that in emergency you or she might have to grab whichever is closest. But don't buy HER a gun because YOU want to shoot it. Apply that "educated purchase" in her best interest and then get your own. Most people have some pride in personal possession and like exclusivity.

Don't go too small, light, cute, or cheap. A lady here was considerately armed by her husband with an Airweight .38 S&W and it is no fun at all for her to shoot. I have been letting her practice with my steel gun and then finish a session with one (1.0) cylinder full in her gun for familiarization. He is a Glock guy but she was brainwashed into the Revolvers for Women cliche by her Dad who was a revolver era cop.

I think a .38 Special loaded with one or another hollowpoint is adequate for self defense. It is a good compromise between power and recoil and has been for 110 years.
 
My wife likes the Makarov PM better than the Glock 27 in terms of shooting and handling. She also liked the grip on a Walther 9mm at a gunshow. Same with an HK P30 but she didn't get to shoot eiher. It's really all a matter of preference.
 
Thank you Jim.

I have a buddies Taurus .38 special lined up for this weekend, as well as a Ruger P95, and an XD9

Having a little trouble getting more revolvers to try out right now. But we'll see what she leaves the range thinking.

I am not basing this on what I want more than what she wants....my giddiness over .357's just leaks through my text, but won't come purchase time. She will have to take CCW course with this gun, so it is NOT in my interest or desire for her to fail.
 
A Makarov is one that she has NOT got to handle yet. A nice lady over at Derby Guns suggested the Glock as well. She was not a fan of the grip. SHe liked feel of Taurus 709, AND Walther PPS (didnt like looks of Walther).

If she likes the SA's this weekend, we'll have to work on her ability to rack the slide for us both to be comfortable with her carry
 
If you AND HER really think a revolver is best for her than it is just a matter of getting the right one. Get a snubby with full sized, rubber grips and made of stainless steel, not light alloy so the recoil is not bad. If you think the .38 ammo will break the bank invest in a .22 revolver of like make. I am pretty sure Taurus makes a snubby model 94 that would make a good mass practice gun. .22 handguns pay for themselves very quickly. :)
 
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