Firearm chooses

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This is a bit over the top for me. What happens when the gun goes click instead of bang or the second round fails to feed after the first round doesn't stop the attacker? Semi-auto go click and fail to feed reguarly. I had two of them do both just last month.
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Hence, my awesome strategy to buy her two semi-autos :evil: everyone wins!

This is not a one gun only defense. The house we are looking at moving too has three stories so I may open a thread discussing what guns for each different floor. ;-)
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Point further proven.

While I agree that the vast majority of the time any woman of any level of strength can charge any handgun, it's just a matter of technique, someone who is legitimately injured might not be able to. My mother had an accident several years ago and injured her left wrist, and it healed poorly. The only slides she can handle are of .22 handguns, but I also found she can rack the slide on a Walther PK 380, which was designed specifically with this intent. But I always steer people to long guns for home defense, and if it's someone who I actually care if they live or die, I will tell them not to use a .22.
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I agree, as my mom has issues with most slides. The easiest gun I have to rack the slide? Beretta 92FS.

OP, sorry for diverting the thread back to semi-autos. It sounds like you already have/had a pretty good idea of what you want. It just seemed odd that an AR was in the running and semi-auto pistols were ruled out. For that matter, a pump shotgun I'd trust less in the hands of an inexperienced user than just about any reputable semi-auto pistol. In all honesty, I'd feel better with my wife having my Beretta with 16 rounds of 9mm, than any 6-shooter. That gun hasn't jammed in well over the last 3,000 rounds. If it did jam, chances are it would be after the 6th round, so it still comes out ahead of a revolver. But that is just my risk/benefit analysis. YMMV. If she is comfortable with a revolver just go with that. They are the most "no-need-to-do-anything-but-pull the-trigger" style guns, at least till the cylinder is empty.
 
My wife has a model 36 ladysmith w 3" barrel (a gift from her Dad for college graduation--HIS favorite pistol). They come with a factory smoothed and lightened trigger pull. An absolute joy to shoot. You might be money ahead buying one of these and skipping the trigger job after the fact. They aren't cheap, but they are nice.
 
It sounds like a medium frame revolver in .38 SPL like the S&W Model 10 is going to be your best bet and not really a bad choice at that.

I'd hate to rely on a single-shot shotgun, or even a double barrel and if she can't operate the slide on an auto, I would be concerned she might have trouble with cycling a semiauto or pump shotgun. Likewise the bolt on an AR may pose problems, although it might be worthwhile for her to give them all a try. A 20 ga semi or pump shotgun or a pistol caliber AR isn't a bad choice for HD, after all.
 
A revolver .38 is the obvious choice. The heavier the better as it will dampen recoil.

Not to be difficult, but the Berreta Tomcat and Bobcat are both semi autos that can be loaded and fired without ever having to rack the slide. However, the frame on my Bobcat cracked after about 200 rounds so i don't recommend them.
 
Have your wife check out a Mares Leg, lever action pistol. My wife loves hers. She can wrap her arthritic hands around it, it's easy to lever a round into the chamber, you can aim it like any other pistol, and after you have discharged a round, there is no need to decock it since it won't cock unless another round is levered into the chamber unlike a semi-auto. It's easy to load, has a nice long sight radius, and is heavy enough to absorb much of the recoil yet light enough to handle easily.

My wife's choice is 44-40, but Mares Legs can also be had in 22LR, 357 Magnum, 45LC, and 44 Magnum.

Woody
 
Having done a bit of low light/enclosed space shooting, my strongest recommendation for HD (for anyone) would be a carbine in 9mm.

when loaded with subsonic 9mm ammo, the muzzle blast/ flash is so much milder than anything else I have tried.

Regardless of training level, anyone is going to shoot better with a carbine, as opposed to a pistol. And they are far less likely to shoot themselves (or you!) in the foot.

They cost of purchase and ammo means that they will be practiced with more often.

while they can be a little tough to charge, an aftermarket/homemade larger cocking handle will make it much easier- plus a higher mag capacity means they might not need to be reloaded at all.
 
Regarding the flip-up barrels. At least on my 21A Bobcat (22LR) there is no extractor, in order to facilitate the flipping up of the barrel.

If the OP is worried about click/no-bang, then a flip-up would be a terrible choice, as the only way to get the gun back into the fight is to flip up the barrel, manually pull out the cartridge by trying to hook the rim with your fingernail, and then insert another round and push the barrel back down.

I love my bobcat for the range but wouldn't trust it, or its 25 or 32acp brethren to HD.
 
The AR requires different technique and action to chamber a round than a handgun. My former soldier daughter tells how easy it is to use hence my consideration. The final proof will be in the gunship and shooting range. Aha the Mares Leg. It is at the top of my want gun.
 
I would let her shoot the S&W mod 10. Mine have often found new homes at female friends. They just seem to wander off. IF you think that it is too much for her I suggest the Berreta .380 with the flip up barrel, no slide manipulation required.
 
I suggest a smith model 10 or a single-shot 12ga shortened to 18"
IOW I suggest you let your wife choose what gun your wife wants to wield in her own defense.
 
mdauban,
I can assure you from first hand experience that the mere sight of a double barrel shotgun quiets the rowdist bar. The H&R automatically ejects the empty and is very quick to reload. Care to stand in front of it and take your chances?
 
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I may be seen as a bit demanding but I expect my wife and kids to display a certain degree of shooting skill therefore they must be able to handle what they choose. But we need to narrow the choices for a informed decision. Misses are not a good thing in the real world.
 
I can assure you from first hand experience that the mere sight of a double barrel shotgun quiets the rowdist bar. The H&R automatically ejects the empty and is very quick to reload.
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Perhaps, but like the oft-repeated assertion that the sound of racking a pump action will send the most hardened criminal fleeing, I prefer to have something substantial to back it up. No doubt a 12 or even 20 ga load of buckshot is a most effective stopper, but I worry about only having two shots which can all to easily miss under the pressure of a real emergency situation. True, break the action open and she can reload, but is she going to practice this hundred of times until she can do it without thinking in the dark, when she is terrified, and when someone might be in the middle of attacking her?

Certainly better than nothing but not IMO its just not the ideal HD weapon. :uhoh:

Care to stand in front of it and take your chances?
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Really, do we have to bring up that tired defence of a questionable choices again? No I don't want to stand in front of a double barel shotgun. I would prefer not to stand in front of a 12 year old girl with an air pistol either, but that does not make such a combination an ideal home defence choice. :rolleyes:
 
Perhaps, but like the oft-repeated assertion that the sound of racking a pump action will send the most hardened criminal fleeing, I prefer to have something substantial to back it up. No doubt a 12 or even 20 ga load of buckshot is a most effective stopper, but I worry about only having two shots which can all to easily miss under the pressure of a real emergency situation. True, break the action open and she can reload, but is she going to practice this hundred of times until she can do it without thinking in the dark, when she is terrified, and when someone might be in the middle of attacking her?

Well I have seen firsthand more than once the effect the sound of racking a round into the chamber of pump shotgun has (ever see a grown man lose control of his bladder) but we are getting off topic. Your lack of confidence in your use of the shotgun is not shared by her or myself.

Also the term "terrified" when describing how my wife reacts when attracked is totally inapporiate, sexist and demeaning to women in general. What makes you think she or any other woman will cringe in fear or is this a situation you have to deal with with the women in your life? Oh I guess I forget to mention she successfully fought off a mugger without being "terrified".
 
NO High Point. I believe in buying high quality firearms although I do not want a custom gun.
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Some comments about the CX Storm has raised some doubts. Also it is expensive for its type.
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Only expensive when compared to Kel Tec and Hi Points. What other of its "type" are a better value, and can also be considered quality. Sure maybe some complaints on the internet, but it is the INTERNET.

Seems like you already made up your mind for either a revolver or break-action shotgun. Neither ideal for HD for me, but you know your wife better than anyone so go nuts.

Also the term "terrified" when describing how my wife reacts when attracked is totally inapporiate, sexist and demeaning to women in general. What makes you think she or any other woman will cringe in fear or is this a situation you have to deal with with the women in your life? Oh I guess I forget to mention she successfully fought off a mugger without being "terrified".
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I don't think his comment was sexist at all. And your wife probably was terrified, or at least pumped up on adrenaline when that happened. That is the point. In any life/death situation, even professionals' blood starts pumping faster. No one is totally calm and serene in those events, that is why we practice practice practice. Because we know that a 3" group at the range is probably a 9" group under stress. That 1 second reload under ideal conditions could be 3 seconds under stress and may be the difference between life or death. But if you and your wife are more concerned with a jam out of a semi-auto than fumbling with some shells trying to reload a 2-shooter, then stick with the double-barrel strategy.
 
Just so I understand..... Your wife participates in mounted shooting, but is concerned about a stress-induced decocking error? She rides horses, but hand strength is an issue? She can't manipulate an auto, but a DA revolver is just fine?

Sounds to me like she REALLY wants that Model 10. Get it for her. Get one for you, too.
 
Here is a suggestion. Get her a M26-C, they are now available to the general public. It will take down a 300 lb assaliant flat to the ground with one shot. They are made by Taser.

No messy blood to clean up, no slide to rack, no loud noise, no bullet holes in the walls, no lawyers for court. It is the fastest and easyst way to take down a bad guy.

Take a look.
Jim

http://www.defenseproducts101.com/tasers.html?gclid=CIeerfykh7MCFexAMgodyXIAow
 
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Just so I understand..... Your wife participates in mounted shooting, but is concerned about a stress-induced decocking error? She rides horses, but hand strength is an issue? She can't manipulate an auto, but a DA revolver is just fine?

Sounds to me like she REALLY wants that Model 10. Get it for her. Get one for you, too.

In mounted shooting we decock our guns by pointing them at the ground and firing them. Since we use blanks there is no harm as long as we don't point it at our horse.

Pointing the gun at a attacker who has stopped his actions and pulling the trigger to decock the gun with live ammunition MIGHT be seen as a bad thing by a jury.

Our Ruger Vaqueros used for Mounted Shooting only have a 4# trigger pull. Compared that to a 12# double action trigger pull.

Care to guess how many LEO's can safely decock a single-action revolver?

Beat you to it. I already I have a Model 10 with a square butt and heavy barrel. That is why I know about some of the problems she is having with the grip and trigger pull. If you have read my previous post she has small hands and weak wrists hence my thought about a pencil barrel round butt.

The Police Positive Special is a Detective Special with a 4" barrel. They have totally different feel but without having one for her to try I will have to buy one sight unseen off of the Internet. Of course having another gun can ever be senas a bad thing right?

I have seen lots of heavy barrel square butt used cop gun trade-ins but have not ran across a pencil barrel one yet at a reasonable price.
 
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BSA could you try using the quote-wrap function when responding to people. It is a lot easier to read and decipher what is your text and what is text to which you are responding. You are already copying and pasting so just highlight and click the little text bubble icon so it looks

like this
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Only expensive when compared to Kel Tec and Hi Points. What other of its "type" are a better value, and can also be considered quality. Sure maybe some complaints on the internet, but it is the INTERNET.

IMHO at $800 the CX4 is overpriced. I would buy one in the $500 - $600 price range. Also around here they are slow movers so resale would be issue. I agree they are interesting.

AR's run in the same price range and hold there value better..

Seems like you already made up your mind for either a revolver or break-action shotgun.

You have not read my posts. The only type of firearm I have ruled out is NO SEMI-AUTOMATIC HANDGUNS.

Neither ideal for HD for me, but you know your wife better than anyone so go nuts.

Doesn't matter what your and my choices are. We are both gun nuts and love shooting. She isn't.

I don't think his comment was sexist at all. And your wife probably was terrified, or at least pumped up on adrenaline when that happened.

Adj. 1. terrified - thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation. BIG difference than being in fear of your life which is a legal requirement for justified use of deadly force.

Because we know that a 3" group at the range is probably a 9" group under stress.

Very subjective based on your opinion not on facts or real life events. Remember the single mother in Oklahoma that shot and killed a intruder while on the telephone with 911. The dispatcher told her to do what she had to do to protect herself and her child. Scared yes...terrified hardly. As I recall I think it only took one shot...not your 9" group.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/firstatfour/story?section=firstatfour&id=8490359

That 1 second reload under ideal conditions could be 3 seconds under stress and may be the difference between life or death. But if you and your wife are more concerned with a jam out of a semi-auto than fumbling with some shells trying to reload a 2-shooter, then stick with the double-barrel strategy.

First of all you need to move pass the semi-automatic issue. There are lots of other choices out there which are superior to the semiauto handgun.

You are applying your lack of training and skill in use of single and double barrel shotguns to her.

You will have your eyes opened if you ever get the opportunity to attend a SASS Cowboy Action Shooting Match.
 
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