Wheelgun Recommendation for Wife?

[Harleyrider]

Please excuse the cross-post. My wife has gotten her CCW permit, and we are thinking about a new gun for her. She is 100% wheelgun only (don't ask) and has two older S&W J-frames that were her late father's. Their accuracy is off, so we are looking for a new gun for her. She will carry it in a purse/pocketbook designed for holding a CC firearm, so size and weight are considerations (but just part of the picture), and we are looking only at snubbies. Although she is tall (5'9"), she has small hands and is sensitive to recoil. We will probably put a Hogue grip on whatever we get.

We had been thinking about an Airweight, but it occurs to me that the decreased weight will only increase the felt recoil. So what do you all think she should look at (she will test fire whatever she is thinking about getting)? S&W 642/442? Other thoughts? I'm a pistol guy, so I don't know what's available as well as I would if she were willing to carry a semiauto. TIA.

[berettabone]

I don't know if this will help but..........................................ever since I found my stainless Ruger speed six in 9mm, 2 3/4 in. barrel, with Pau Ferro grips, my wife can't keep her hands off it. Says it fits her hand like a glove. She has shot other semis of mine, and her interest started to wain, until she saw the revolver. It's a safe dweller right now.......I may have to break down. These revolvers are out there, .357, .38, 9mm, sometimes for a premium, but I think that they're one of the best revolvers out there. Simple, but beautiful, and feel right...........good shooters.

[Barth]

Please excuse the cross-post. My wife has gotten her CCW permit, and we are thinking about a new gun for her. She is 100% wheelgun only (don't ask) and has two older S&W J-frames that were her late father's. Their accuracy is off, so we are looking for a new gun for her. She will carry it in a purse/pocketbook designed for holding a CC firearm, so size and weight are considerations (but just part of the picture), and we are looking only at snubbies. Although she is tall (5'9"), she has small hands and is sensitive to recoil. We will probably put a Hogue grip on whatever we get.

We had been thinking about an Airweight, but it occurs to me that the decreased weight will only increase the felt recoil. So what do you all think she should look at (she will test fire whatever she is thinking about getting)? S&W 642/442? Other thoughts? I'm a pistol guy, so I don't know what's available as well as I would if she were willing to carry a semiauto. TIA.

S&W 640 / Ruger SP101

[getsome]

Well since she likes S&W J frames I think a new one that shoots straight would be just the ticket...I have a S&W 642 no lock airweight that I will never sell and it would be the perfect purse gun for her...Loaded with some decent standard pressure.38 hollow points it would be a fine self defense revolver for someone that is recoil sensitive and not break the bank to purchase....I put Hogue Bantam grips on mine so I could use a speed loader...The standard Smith rubber grips felt fine but the cut out is too small to get a speed loader to work right....

See what the others have to say and good luck to you both with getting her something to CCW...

[b4uqzme]

Ruger sp101 if she's ok with the trigger pull. Triggers tend to be stiff. 14lbs in DA. But a great gun for the $$$. I ordered a spring kit and am taking mine to the smith for a trigger job. I'll post how it turns out.

[RevRay]

I put a similar to KT last week ... perhaps the results will be helpful to you.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=20326

[Bawanna]

If she's going purse or handbag designed for gun carry I would try to find a shrouded hammer version of the J frame.

My wife has a 638. The hammer can still be pulled for an accurate single action shot but it doesn't hang up coming out of the purse or garment which we need to remember is usually much more delicate than the stuff us guys wear.

The DA pull is not great and I think there's a spring kit for these as well. I'll look into it one of these days.

I think when the adrenaline flows due to the need for the gun, even a heavy pull will be manageable.

You'll pay premium for a 357 so I would not entertain that option as she won't like it one bit. I'm not fond of it myself.

[b4uqzme]

Yeah, shrouded hammer. Good thinkin'. And I agree that 38 special will probably be best. I'm not real fond of 357 in a snubbie either. I keep 38+p hp for defense. 38 regular for practice. Have her check the sights too. A valley rear sight is good for the purse but make sure she can see the front sight ok. One last thing. I might recommend something a little heavier than an airweight if she's truly recoil sensitive. A little extra weight might not be a problem in her purse if it makes shooting more comfortable. Hope that's helpful.

[wyntrout]

Something with shrouded hammer and LASER Grips??

Wynn

[Bawanna]

I find myself wondering why the inherited J frames don't shoot straight?

I've heard of this before though. A detective here has 2, one shoots well, the other not so much.

There are some pretty cool front sight upgrade options out there now days too. He sent his off and I'm racking my brain as to where.

Dawson Precision or ....??? I'm stuck. You can get XS Big Dots.

Might be worth looking into something like that to make the already in hand shooters real shooters.

[jocko]

shrouded or hammerless and airweight. she will realize it is not a range gun and a 25 round session is more than enough. #! thing though is lether DECIDE.

I see charter in the NRA TODAY HAS a 6 shoot 22 magnum wheelgun airweight, BG ain't gonna wanna maess with any woman who pulls out a gun. It aint a 38 but it ain't a 22 short either. It can do the job if needed, lert alone she might feel more comfortable with a gun that doesn't hurt her to shoot it. It is mind over matter with women when it comes to guns, calibers and recoil. Nuttin wrong with a laser on a wheelgun either,not sure in a SHTF situation a laser would make a hill of beans difference in a womans hands though, but it might give her some range type confidence if anything. U just gotta hope that if she needs it and is searching for that damn dot in daylight , that she might be dead from wasting time looking for something that ain't there. IMO teachher POA and be damn happy that she is even carryings.. Just sayin

[addictedhealer]

Wheelgun Recommendation for Wife?

I would say a LCR but recoil sensitive changes the game. I'd say a nice steel j frame, but my best recommendation would be the SP101!! SP101 is one of my all time favorite guns, great shooter.

[Bawanna]

The SP101 is a great gun. I got a 22 version for my wife. I intended to get the 38 version if/when she decided to carry. Cheap to practice gun with identical characteristics. The best laid plans.
The weight becomes a factor in a womans purse and also to TSA guys at Rodeo's and sporting events and such.
Her 638 goes unnoticed in it's own little pocket. I even looked for it a few days ago in her purse after I remember the rodeo TSA guys didn't see it.
I couldn't find the durn thing.

I fear a SP101 would be a might heavy.
I got my aunt a 638 as well and she's already asked if there's anything else lighter to carry, she has a ton of crap in her purse. I told her to get rid of the other junk or get lighter other junk.

[DeaconKC]

My wife is a brand new shooter and has a Charter Arms alloy .38. Heavy trigger pull, but accurate and is smoothing up. Good grips too. I had Taurus Ultralight 85 with a bobbed hammer for years and was an excellent little shooter. And as a long time S&W snob, I would recommend the Model 65 Ladysmith. Just use it as a .38, fantastic guns.

[muggsy]

Whatever wheel gun you purchase it is going to need a trigger job done on it before it is suitable for any woman less than an Amazon. In this litigious society the gun manufacturers just don't make them like they used to. Trigger pulls are heavy, full of creep and they stack badly just before let-off. This aside, a Lady S&W might be a good choice.