Small Auto or Revolver Suggestions for Petite Wife

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hartzpad

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My wife needs a pistol for home defense. She has shot my 9mm autos a few times but doesn't really enjoy shooting...yet! As we have more kids, she increasingly wants something to defend herself and wants to try shooting again. Problem is she is very petite, 5'2" and about 105 lbs. She has trouble locking the slide back on any of my auto pistols like my Kahr Pm9, M&P compact 9mm, and CZ pistols. Is there any other auto that would be easier to use for her? Glocks have large slides and could be resprung to help her lock the slide back. But I'm not sure I trust her to become familiar with an auto if she doesn't like to shoot much. I guess a Glock 19 would be a good choice.

So...I don't know much about revolvers and don't own any. I was thinking a revolver in 9mm or .38 special would be perfect for her. I would prefer 9mm because it is something I already shoot a lot of and stock large quantities of quality self defense ammo in that caliber. Are there any 3"-4" barrel revolvers in 9mm? Any that have an 6 shot capacity? I figured a DA 9mm revolver with some laser grips would be perfect for her and add in some moon clips for reloads.

Open to suggestions. Taurus? Smith & Wesson? I plan to take her to try out some pistols to see what fits her hand and what is comfortable for her.
 
One of my daughters, similar to your wife, didn't really enjoy shooting or practicing with a weapon. She tried my medium autos, large autos, medium revolvers and small revolvers. Revolvers were her choice.

The lightweights (S&W model 60, S&W 442, Ruger SP101) were not so manageable for her. However, more substantial revolvers loaded with 38 Special (Colt King Cobra, S&W Model 19 and Model 66) were more comfortable to shoot, less recoil etc, and she has become very accustomed to these medium revolvers.

Maybe a S&W Model 10 in 38 Special, or one of the medium 357's with a 2.5 to 4 inch barrel would be a good place to start your search.
 
The Kel-tec 32, 380 and 9mm are all smaller and should be easier for her to handle. Their size increases w/ caliber but even the 9mm is pretty small. Then there is the Ruger LCP 380 which is almost identical in size to the Kel-tec.

Revolvers are simpler to use. Smith "J" frames are very popular with folks that have smaller hands. Taurus' Model 85 is another super popular "J" frame like revolver and it is not as expensive as the S&W's

My suggestion is that you find a range that has rentals in the models of interest and let her try them.

Don't go with a magnum, or use +P or +P+ loads as she will not be comfortable with them. Remember, if she can learn good shot placement with standard load level ammo she will be much more effective than some mega banger that she can hit nothing with.

Don't push her in any direction, let her decide.
 
Have you tried a Sig 230/232?
A girl I dated some time ago was very petite and had problems with the stuff I owned. We tried a Sig 230 and she didn't have any problem with it at all. This led to her buying it from me and then a Beretta 380. She was a damn good shot with them too. She eventually bought a GP100 and shot IDPA and whupped most people's butt. :what:
 
My wife is a former anti. She was converted to pro 2a after a failed burglary of our house (cops took 20min to arrive, and the BG looking down a 12ga barrel helped him make an informed decision to leave)

Her wanting to go to the range was HER idea. I started her with a 22 revolver. When SHE decided she wanted to try something bigger I had her take a class from an NRA certified instructor (we lucked out and got a lady). My wife ended up getting the Kahr p9. I never thought she'd go for something with that snap. The biggest issue she had was difficulty pulling the slide, she's stronger now though.

Had I made the decision for her, I would have picked a lady smith & wesson. If I had picked instead of HER, she would not have been happy. I'd highly recommend a class with an NRA instructor, preferably a lady. If this is done at a range that has several pistols and revolvers for her to try then she makes her own choice, without pressure.
 
My wife also has trouble racking the slide of nearly all autoloaders. However, I was delighted to see she racked the slide of a SIG P6 without a problem. I've insisted her choice of handgun for HD be one that she can cycle the slide as part of a tap-and-rack malfunction drill. The P6 is the former German police handgun issue. The civilian equivalent is the P225. It is a single stack 9mm that is accurate and reliable. The ramp angle was modified after 1984 to allow the use of JHP ammo without failure. There are a boatload of P6s in the US now at very attractive prices. Most have been carried a lot and shot little. You can find one that may not have been carried or shot.
 
A 4" rev S&W model 10 . or a 357 and use 38spl. Start her with 38 wad cutters for practice and HD at first 148gr wad cutter was a good SD round before HP took over. Still will do the job. We are talking SD not police shooting.
Later you can move her to a hotter 38 load. Keep her away from autos Their not a good beginner pistol.
All the KEL TEC 9 mm are to light and to muck recoil for a biginner.
 
My wife has 2 Colt Detective Specials in 38 special. A snub in her nightstand for self defense and a 4 inch barrell for shooting targets. She likes shooting my Bersa 380 but she is most comfortable with the revolvers.
 
Rent some guns for her to "test drive." One of our local gun stores here will rebate the cost of up to three gun rentals if you buy a gun from him that same day. I think most gun stores would be amenable to something similar.

My wife is also 5' 2". She can handle my Glock 19, but she prefers my Ruger SP101. Add the Hogue monogrip and it's a real pussycat with 38 specials. I keep it loaded for her with 38 +P's - nice compromise between 38 and 357.
 
For home defense I would suggest a 4" S&W Model 10 with a set of grips your wife would find comfortable. Inside your home a .38 Special is more than powerful enough for protection and is less likely to over penetrate than a .357 Magnum. Almost any K frame will serve her well and all the K frames are 6 shot revolvers. If you want something in Stainless the Model 64 is the Stainless model 10.

I'm suggesting a K frame because of the moderate weight and good balance of the revolver. Also, most K frames have very smooth triggers and a 4" barrel provides a good sight picture.

Any of the K frames or Ruger Six-Series revolvers will do a good job of home defense IMO.

S&W M10, M13, M15, M19, M64, M65, M66, M67
Ruger Speed-Six, Security-Six, Police Service-Six
 
My friend simply doesn't like to shoot my old S&W J-frame. She says it's too small and bites her hand.

Her favorite? My CZ Kadet and Sig 220. Go figure.
 
IMO a glock or any other auto without a dedicated external safety isn't a good idea for a new shooter that is uncomfortable shooting and has trouble locking the slide back.

An SP101 with 3" barrel loaded with standard .38's would be a good starter and she could progress up to higher pressure loads as she gets more comfortable. The weight of that gun should help her deal with recoil.
 
Sorry, I've never even checked this subforum since I joined years ago so I wouldn't have seen past threads.

After some more thought and research, I'm thinking a 2 1/8" barrel (would also allow CCW) DAO, hammerless revolver in .357 that I can load .38 special for her to use, .357 for me to shoot. I would really like to get her a 6 shot capacity instead of 5 shot. I'll take her to the range to try out some different guns and see what she likes.

Who makes a short barrel, .357 hammerless revolver that is a 6 shot? There are too many model numbers to keep track of with revolvers.
 
Ruger's SP101 comes in a 5-shot version of what you ask about. Nice thing about the Ruger is it's heavier than a j-frame, thus Sir Isaac Newton will be with your wife to help tame recoil. A SP101 (I have the 3" Magnum w/hammer version) would be my first choice if my wife ever miraculously asks me to go shooting.

Taurus makes several hammerless or shrouded hammer revolvers - not sure about capacity, tho. Folks badmouth Taurus, but generally they seem to be decent. For more info: www.taurusarmed.net

Keep an eye out and you can probably find some of the old Smith model 10s that have been bobbed with shorter barrels and rounded grips for $250 or so.

Q
 
I found that Taurus makes the model 617 with a concealed hammer, short barrel in .357 with a 7 Shot Capcity! Cool.
 
MY wife has had a slide cocking problem until I showed her to not pull the slide. I taught her to hold the slide in place and push the gun foward. Also for home defense a high mag ~17 rds. makes for more confidence.
 
Both you and your wife need to spend some time at Cornered Cat. Trust me. An hour or less by each of you on this web site will save you a LOT of problems down the road. It's a series of short essays written by a woman for both women and men on the topic of women defending themselves. The author is a member here, goes by the name of Pax. Believe me when I tell you that the web site is excellent. She'll explain how to find the right handgun for your wife better than any member here could.
 
20 posts before a link to Cornered Cat? We're slipping. Drop the preconceptions and get yourselves there.

I'll defer to the those more familiar with weapon selection by the ladies but I'd be willing to bet the slide issue is less important than you're thinking and the problems with a 9mm revolver are being underestimated.

Mooning tools for 9mm are scarce and I'm betting busted up nails are a given without the gizmos. Of course, there's the breathtakingly high priced S&W 547 of magic extractor.
 
When you're confused about a caliber choice find this Taurus: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/50_494/products_id/17248 and shoot almost anything you can pick up on the ground at the range



My "petite" wife is deadly with her S&W 442 loaded with 148 gr. full wadcutters and a load of 3.0 gr. of bullseye. (She's 5'3" and struggles to keep her weight over 100 lbs.)

She's good with all of my pistols though has some trouble racking a short barreled 1911 but prefers her revolver so there's nothing for her to forget if she finds herself under stress.

When she was new to all of this it was less about her not being able to handle a gun, it was more about her being afraid of me thinking less of her if she did something wrong, or if she did something that damaged a pistol. This was when we were new together - 14 years ago.

Once she was convinced that I wasn't the ogre that her ex had been she took to shooting like the proverbial duck takes to water.

I really believe that she might be Annie Oakley reincarnate. A natural shooter.

Also, because of an episode early in our relationship I have full trust in her taking my back if we're ever in a situation.
 
My wife is about 5'2" @ 105 lbs and she loves her Sig P239 in 9mm. I tossed some Hogue rubber grips on there and she shoots it like a champ.
 
+1 on the suggestion to find a place that rents guns so she can "try them on". Or if you have friends who have guns, perhaps a day at the range with them? That's how I picked my first one...one of Archerandshooter's buddies had more guns than the U.S. Army, and his dad more than HIM, and they took me to the range one day and let me at it.

That was a good day. :D

The only drawback to a revolver for a new shooter, or for a woman whose hands are too weak to rack the slide, is that the triggers can be formidable. Especially a new one...of course, if she wants a revolver, you could always pony up for a really well done trigger job for her (this gets you stars in your Good Husband crown). But a lot of women, me included, find that we rack the slide differently than men, using the "push, don't pull" technique of pushing the slide with the left hand while gripping the frame with the right. Might not work, but it's worth a try.

Also, you and she both go to www.corneredcat.com and do some reading on this topic. Always worthwhile for a new woman shooter. (And invite her to come on and join here herself! :))

Springmom
 
look at the Bersa .380

<$275, accurate, reliable little sucker. i love mine but i usually ahve to pry it out of my wife's hands.
 
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