Need Recommendations On A Hand-Gun

[Long Mike]

My daughter is recently divorced and, living alone, has decided that she would like to have a hand-gun for protection.  She is completely ignorant on the use of pistols, so I want her to have a simple point and shoot capability.  She is on a very limited budget, so I am thinking of recommending a .38 revolver, loaded with hollow-point ammo.  I hunted extensively when I was a younger man, but that was 40 years ago.  Since then, I've done some plinking with my old .22, but that was 20 years ago.  My knowledge of weaponry these days is, to put it mildly, somewhat dated.  That's why I'm here.  What would you recommend for my daughter?

[tstone]

You're on the right track with a revolver. If a round doesn't fire for some reason there's no need to clear the malfunction, just pull the trigger again. If your local range rents guns, take her and let her shoot a few different sizes, some of the smaller guns can be a little snappy and hard to control for some women. Something like a S&W Bodyguard might be perfect if she's ok with the smaller size, and they include a laser as well if you think that might help her.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Smith and Wesson .357 magnum.

Mine shot .38s and .357 rounds. My at the time 95lb sister in law liked it a lot. The weight kept the recoil down when shooting .38 special rounds. You can buy them ported too. Which will also keep recoil down. You can find them used for around 450 to 500 bucks. Plus the size of the gun can intimidate as well.

.22 mag would be a good round. No recoil and easy to handle.

If she ain't looking for a carry gun. She would do best with a 20 gauge. Just rack it and go. Load it down with buckshot, point, click, boom, splatter.

[Long Mike]

Raider, you must be psychic.  The only weapons that I have in my home are that old .22 that I mentioned above and an old, bolt-action 20 gauge, permanently loaded with 00 buck.  I offered to give it to her, but she wants a hand-gun.  Come to think of it, I probably need to replace the shells in that shot-gun.  They're probably rusted in place.

[00 mod]

2 recommendations:

 

1- If using a shot gun, use something smaller than buckshot.  Something like a good duck shell.  It still has the penetrating power, and a better spread.  Plus it will not go through the wall into the next room

 

2- There are handguns(Taurus Judge was the first?) that shoot both handgun cartridges AND .410 shotgun shells!

 

Jeff

[nick76]

If she is completely new to handguns and just looking for a little defense weapon check out the Ruger LCR.  Comes in several chambers, but I would recommend the 38 special.  It is a nice firing gun, smooth trigger and a middle weight so the recoil isn't terrible.  You can also get it in .22 if you desire.  I would also recommend she take a class, either a personal protection class or a CPL class.  My wife took one with me and she was amazed at the amount of information she learned without needing a gun.  She said it was the best investment she has ever made in keeping her and the kids safe.  She still carries, but she said the other information was very helpful.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Mike,  if she does get a handgun/shotgun please get her some training on it.  I would hate to hear of an accident.

 

I would go with a shotgun.  Best home defense firearm out there.

[MarkH024]

.45 Long Slide with laser sighting.....Uzi 9 milimeter....<terminator voice> 

All seriousness:

I would say a 20 guage for her.  It can be hip shot without dismantling her body.  Plus you can get tactical kits or add a light, etc... without busting the bank doing it. I think a shotty is the best home defense as the likely hood of hitting or even grazing an intruder is best.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I echo the shotgun suggestions, especially if she does not intend to carry outside the home.

 

If she is stuck on the handgun idea......practice, practice, practice. I also like lasers, so long as they are not a replacement for proper technique or knowing how to properly handle a weapon.

 

Defense situations are tense and aiming is tough when your adrenaline is pumping. It's tough to simulate that in a practice setting, even for a LEO. Lasers take some of the guess work out of it but, I stress, they are not a replacement for proper practice and range time.

[bigbill]

The number one home protection is get a big dog the shelters are full of awesome dogs it's your first alarm that something is wrong. Then the backup is the "00" buck, there is nothing the "00" buck won't solve for up close and personal defense. The next choice would be to look for an older S&W K38 Combat Masterpiece in 38 Special with a 4" barrel. These are awesome revolvers built by the older S&W craftsman. It's quality is still unmatched today. It's still light for any woman to handle it. The 357magnum tend to be on the heavier side unless it's an older ruger police service six with a 2 3/4" barrel.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

.45 Long Slide with laser sighting.....Uzi 9 milimeter....<terminator voice> 

All seriousness:

I would say a 20 guage for her.  It can be hip shot without dismantling her body.  Plus you can get tactical kits or add a light, etc... without busting the bank doing it. I think a shotty is the best home defense as the likely hood of hitting or even grazing an intruder is best.

Naw. No one uses uzi's anymore.

Mac11 with 30rd mag. Gotta tie a bandanna to it and hold it sideways. They aren't accurate when held verticle.

[deadadrift89]

If she is completely new to handguns and just looking for a little defense weapon check out the Ruger LCR. Comes in several chambers, but I would recommend the 38 special. It is a nice firing gun, smooth trigger and a middle weight so the recoil isn't terrible. You

can also get it in .22 if you desire. I would also recommend she take a class, either a personal protection class or a CPL class.

X2 except no on the .22 and id suggest getting a concealed carry permit. Lots of trainers offer "women only" classes for this as well as handling

[Raider Nation Fisher]

X2 except no on the .22 and id suggest getting a concealed carry permit. Lots of trainers offer "women only" classes for this as well as handling

A .22 mag will mess you up if you place it right. Its all in shot placement. Plus a .22 can bounce around once it penetrates. It can also follow bones and what have you. As for revolvers I like .357 and larger. However, a .22 is a very viable option.

[Long Mike]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I've decided to point her in the direction of the 20 gauge.  At this point in time she simply can't afford a hand-gun.  Besides, she has two Dobermans to keep her company.  The dogs are sweethearts, but their bark is enough to keep all but the most drugged-out away.

[Brian Needham]

you could even get a 410 pump, small, easier to handle if you think she might have issues. about $150.

 

load it up with  4 shot, 4 shot, 4shot......then buckshot, buckshot.

 

I know I am going to get roasted cause the 410 aint "powerful" yadda yadda.........but if it will knock a bird down at 30 yards it will knock a man down across the room.

 

Good luck Mike, I hope it works out safely.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

you could even get a 410 pump, small, easier to handle if you think she might have issues. about $150.

 

load it up with  4 shot, 4 shot, 4shot......then buckshot, buckshot.

 

I know I am going to get roasted cause the 410 aint "powerful" yadda yadda.........but if it will knock a bird down at 30 yards it will knock a man down across the room.

 

Good luck Mike, I hope it works out safely.

Never thought about a .410 before. Very good suggestion.

[jbsoonerfan]

How old is she Mike? I'm divorced as well. I have guns, I could protect her. 

[EvanT123]

My daughter is recently divorced and, living alone, has decided that she would like to have a hand-gun for protection. She is completely ignorant on the use of pistols, so I want her to have a simple point and shoot capability. She is on a very limited budget, so I am thinking of recommending a .38 revolver, loaded with hollow-point ammo. I hunted extensively when I was a younger man, but that was 40 years ago. Since then, I've done some plinking with my old .22, but that was 20 years ago. My knowledge of weaponry these days is, to put it mildly, somewhat dated. That's why I'm here. What would you recommend for my daughter?

A .38 special will put a man in a hole.

[aquaholic]

My Grandfather is a retired OSI agent and swears by a .38 special.  Ive never shot a snubby but have a S&w with a normal barrel length and can say i am honestly surprised how smooth shooting it is, and accurate. Not to mention the simplicity of using one. I would recommend though you get a .357. That way you can shoot both .38 special and .357. With the way ammo is anymore you are able to broaden your range of finding it.

[aavery2]

I guess I am on the other side of shotguns being good home protection weapons.   The racking of a shotgun may be a very recognizable sound and elicit fear in an intruder, but it also has some negatives associated with it.   The sound may tip an intruder off to your location, it also may prompt an intruder to fire his weapon.  It takes much longer for a follow up shot, recoil is much greater and with the longer barrel it is not good in close quarters.  

 

Any weapon is better than none at all, but my house is protected with a glock handgun.  The only warning an intruder gets in my house is muzzle flash.

[Jerry in SC]

Definitely a revolver, no manual of arms. Pull, bang. Maybe an older S&W K frame if she can handle the grip size. If not, a steel frame S&W J frame like a Chief's Special. There are few hollow point rounds that actually expand at typical .38 Special velocities. Buffalo Bore SWCHC or Speer Gold Dots in particular seem to expand well, but they are a handful in a small frame gun. An alternative for a recoil shy person is a standard 148 grain wadcutter. The target wadcutter is at odds with older recommendations, but there's some recent thinking that it's not a bad round for self defense from a short barrel revolver.

[Jerry in SC]

I guess I am on the other side of shotguns being good home protection weapons. The racking of a shotgun may be a very recognizable sound and elicit fear in an intruder, but it also has some negatives associated with it. The sound may tip an intruder off to your location, it also may prompt an intruder to fire his weapon. It takes much longer for a follow up shot, recoil is much greater and with the longer barrel it is not good in close quarters.

Any weapon is better than none at all, but my house is protected with a glock handgun. The only warning an intruder gets in my house is muzzle flash.

I agree with your thinking. Shotguns are excellent weapons for self defense, but maneuvering around a house with a standard police type shotgun is pretty tough. A short barrel NFA shotgun is a different animal, but not for the inexperienced gun owner. Even then I wouldn't own a pump, only a semi auto.

[aquaholic]

I guess I am on the other side of shotguns being good home protection weapons.   The racking of a shotgun may be a very recognizable sound and elicit fear in an intruder, but it also has some negatives associated with it.   The sound may tip an intruder off to your location, it also may prompt an intruder to fire his weapon.  It takes much longer for a follow up shot, recoil is much greater and with the longer barrel it is not good in close quarters.  

 

Any weapon is better than none at all, but my house is protected with a glock handgun.  The only warning an intruder gets in my house is muzzle flash.

This is spot on correct. Shotguns can be great home defense weapons, but for all the reasons listed they can also suck. The racking of the slide can tip off the intruder to your location, and that you are armed. Recoil, and pump action is going to cause it to be tougher to get back on target. They still require aiming and aren't a magical shot let everyone claims them to be. And they are tough to wield around a house, without training. Not that id recommend a female who is alone to go out and confront the intruder/s but if you had to move it would be a disadvantage. 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I agree with your thinking. Shotguns are excellent weapons for self defense, but maneuvering around a house with a standard police type shotgun is pretty tough. A short barrel NFA shotgun is a different animal, but not for the inexperienced gun owner. Even then I wouldn't own a pump, only a semi auto.

A riot pump can do wanders. More natural feel than a regular horizontal pump.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I guess I am on the other side of shotguns being good home protection weapons.   The racking of a shotgun may be a very recognizable sound and elicit fear in an intruder, but it also has some negatives associated with it.   The sound may tip an intruder off to your location, it also may prompt an intruder to fire his weapon.  It takes much longer for a follow up shot, recoil is much greater and with the longer barrel it is not good in close quarters.  

 

Any weapon is better than none at all, but my house is protected with a glock handgun.  The only warning an intruder gets in my house is muzzle flash.

Score another one for the Glock! You sir have good taste in handguns.