Advise me oh wise ones... gun for wifey

[Deano]

Deano - is your wife looking for a CC pistol or will it be used primarily around the house? A house gun could be bigger which would likely be more comfortable for her to shoot and to shoot more accurately than a smaller pistol. Also, she might have had some issue shooting the larger gun with the instructor due to fatigue. If she's not used to shooting and went through 50 rounds of .22, she might have felt a little tired. Also, there can be a psychological impact due to shooting a larger, more powerful cartridge and that might have caused her to flinch. And there's also the possibility that the PPK simply didn't fit her well.

My wife went through a similar journey as your wife. We started out with a Beretta Neos (.22LR) and then she went on to get a S&W Bodyguard .380. Last year, she picked up a Glock 26. She couldn't handle a Glock when she got the S&W but she kept at it and has been able to shoot Glocks comfortably, even in .45 ACP.

Good questions. I don't see her wanting to CC, at least now. Maybe when she gets more comfortable with handling firearms. Right now she's learning for home defense, and I agree with the larger frame gun idea. I can see where she might progress like your wife did to bigger and better things. Right now it's about shooting, gaining confidence and enjoying the range.

[Bawanna]

Good questions. I don't see her wanting to CC, at least now. Maybe when she gets more comfortable with handling firearms. Right now she's learning for home defense, and I agree with the larger frame gun idea. I can see where she might progress like your wife did to bigger and better things. Right now it's about shooting, gaining confidence and enjoying the range.

Exactly as it should be. Let her set the pace and decide whats right and best for her. Us guys usually try to apply what works for us which isn't always right.

[SpecK]

Good questions. I don't see her wanting to CC, at least now. Maybe when she gets more comfortable with handling firearms. Right now she's learning for home defense, and I agree with the larger frame gun idea. I can see where she might progress like your wife did to bigger and better things. Right now it's about shooting, gaining confidence and enjoying the range.

The third gen Smiths might be an option if its not going in her purse. All steel "super 9's" from those years dont have much recoil at all and I have had a few ladies really enjoy mine. But with that lessened recoil comes with a price, especailly fully loaded magazine. (heavy)

[Deano]

OK fellas, thanks for all your help. I'm going with the start small and go at her pace school of thought. I just found a ruger sr22 and bought it. Never had a 22. What's some good ammo for this gun?

[SpecK]

OK fellas, thanks for all your help. I'm going with the start small and go at her pace school of thought. I just found a ruger sr22 and bought it. Never had a 22. What's some good ammo for this gun?

Fine choice Deano, congrats.

Just like any gun, you need to find what works best in yours. Almost all CCI ammo will be very reliable but a tad more expensive (in terms of 22 ammo) my plinking ammo is and always will be the 555 round brick from wal mart, remington or winchester (whichever is in stock/cheaper). I save the CCI and Yellow Jackets for game loads. Just dont do the sub sonic stuff as its pretty pointless in a pistol. Its way better trying different ammo than larger calibers, a box of 50 .22 rounds is like $3

[BEARDOG]

OK fellas, thanks for all your help. I'm going with the start small and go at her pace school of thought. I just found a ruger sr22 and bought it. Never had a 22. What's some good ammo for this gun?

NICE!... A man of action
I looked a little online for one for you after I posted this AM, but did not find any, I had some chainsaw work to do, and now I come back and you already got one. Congrats!

[chuckt]

For what it's worth, for defense for my wife I figured the simpler the better. A 5 shot .38 Taurus model 85 works great for her. NO problem with recoil on standard ammo and I handload even a little lighter for practice. she also loves our Ruger Mk III. she has no problem running a couple hundred through it. A place for everything.

[Barth]

22 rimfire for Self Defense???

I didn't read the rest of the posts.
Cause I'm dyslexic and lazy - LOL.

Personally I wouldn't go below a 9mm or 38 special for self defense.
See if she favors autos or revolvers.
Start with full size, full weight, guns that just draw, aim and squeeze (KISS).
With a good two hand grip, proper stance and some range time she should be fine.
Try a variety of different guns and see what she favors.
Have fun with it and make it fun for her.
Start with the target as close as possible.

Spanking new shooters often do well starting with dry fire drills.
Just getting used to squeezing the trigger and keeping the sights on target
without any anticipation of recoil.

[Deano]

Thanks to all for taking time to help out. Lotsa good suggestions that we will continue to chew on as she progresses. Fortunately, my brother has a bunch of handguns totally different than the ones I have, so we have lots for her to try in the future. He has a ruger 38 3" revolver, a ruger 357Mag 4" revolver an LCP and a glock 26. I've got a S&W 32-20 revolver, a .32 semi-auto, the cm9 and a glock 19. First we'll get her shooting the little 22 with confidence, then branch out.

[chrish]

OK fellas, thanks for all your help. I'm going with the start small and go at her pace school of thought. I just found a ruger sr22 and bought it. Never had a 22. What's some good ammo for this gun?

Dude, you work FAST. Nice!

I have been putting that new Winchester M22 stuff thru my P22 and it is pretty clean ammo for .22lr. I actually really like it, goofy as the packaging is. Its some kind of black copper coating. Leaves very little residue for a .22

Of course, the CCI mini-mags and stingers are always good choices as well, just a bit more expensive. But what's a couple bucks here and there when you are talking .22lr. You can spend $50 and shoot for weeks.

[Deano]

22 rimfire for Self Defense???...

No, we agree here.

...Spanking new shooters often do well starting with dry fire drills.
Just getting used to squeezing the trigger and keeping the sights on target
without any anticipation of recoil.

Exactly what the instructor wants her to practice at home.

My responses bolded above

[Popeye]

Something to think about after 50 or so rounds her arms and hands might have been getting tired from the weight of the pistol. I would take her out again and let her shoot the larger rounds first and see how she does. I know myself if I stay to long at the range my accuracy starts to suffer and I'm just wasting ammo. That's when I usually go to one of the rifles I always bring along. I'm one of those who believe she should shoot whatever she shoots the best and is the most comfortable shooting reguardless of caliber. If it's a .22 then that's what she should shoot. I know it might not be the perfect round for SD but a .22 caliber round has put many people underground. Todays .22 rounds aren't the same as your daddy used to shoot.

[SpecK]

Something to think about after 50 or so rounds her arms and hands might have been getting tired from the weight of the pistol. I would take her out again and let her shoot the larger rounds first and see how she does. I know myself if I stay to long at the range my accuracy starts to suffer and I'm just wasting ammo. That's when I usually go to one of the rifles I always bring along. I'm one of those who believe she should shoot whatever she shoots the best and is the most comfortable shooting reguardless of caliber. If it's a .22 then that's what she should shoot. I know it might not be the perfect round for SD but a .22 caliber round has put many people underground. Todays .22 rounds aren't the same as your daddy used to shoot.

I think the statictics support that .22s have put MORE people underground than any other caliber; accidental or not. I did some research after my cousin was killed by his .22 rifle, its pretty crazy to see what a .22 can really do to someone/thing

[mr surveyor]

for a "house gun" and range gun combo for the wife, I'd try a Kel-Tec PMR30 in a heartbeat....if one was to be found. Thirty rounds of controllable .22 magnum would be much better than missing with one round from a S&W .38 spl Airweight and not being able to recover from the recoil. Although my wife is a very good shot, slow fire-aimed, she is very recoil sensitive.

[Deano]

for a "house gun" and range gun combo for the wife, I'd try a Kel-Tec PMR30 in a heartbeat....if one was to be found. Thirty rounds of controllable .22 magnum would be much better than missing with one round from a S&W .38 spl Airweight and not being able to recover from the recoil. Although my wife is a very good shot, slow fire-aimed, she is very recoil sensitive.

This doesn't sound good:
pmr-30-production-suspended/