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You didn't mention what the intended use for this revolver would be, or how frequent the intended use.
Competition? Home defense? Self defense to include a possible carry permit?
Once or twice a year just to do something with you that you like to do?
While I usually give the standard "Medium frame .38/.357" advice, there is considerable leeway in best fit for the intended use. For example, I've owned S&W revolvers of one type or tother since the '70's, but if someone is serious about using .357 loads, then I'd recommend a GP100.
If the gun is only going to be used for basic familiarization & infrequent practice for an acceptable level of competency, then I'd recommend either a J-Frame or a K-Frame, which ever is most comfortable for her to handle.
As to all the panicky talk about how weak women are and how they can't handle a J-Frame, it's not a real deal-breaker with .38 loads. When my 80+ year old, 100 lb arthritic mother asked me to get her something after my dad passed (he had a 1911 that she didn't like), I got her a Magna-Triggered 640.
I had her handle a few handguns, both revolvers and autos, and a .38 snubbie (Taurus 85), was the only one she felt comfortable with. My 625 was way too big and heavy for her, so a GP100 was out. A big heavy gun will recoil less, but it takes more effort to bring it to bear in a fight. A snub-nosed revolver is the single hardest gun to try and take out of somebody's hands, and with a concealed hammer, it's a lot easier to get a round off when there are two pairs of hands on the gun as well.
I'm also a big fan of lasers. My mom had hunted a few times in her youth with a 12 ga. and a .22 rifle, but she had never fired a handgun before. I started her off in the garage with a BB gun con RDS (in a rural area), then took her to an indoor range with the lasered 640. Her first cylinder went into ~3" at 7 yds, and my ego was a bit deflated cuz I didn't get to show off my masterful teaching methods.
Side note: After we were done shooting, she was concerned about how short a distance 7 yds was, and how she could barely see the bull's eye at 25. When we got to her house, I measured the distance from her bedroom door to the farthest point she could see in the house: almost exactly 21'. Big confidence boost.
Competition? Home defense? Self defense to include a possible carry permit?
Once or twice a year just to do something with you that you like to do?
While I usually give the standard "Medium frame .38/.357" advice, there is considerable leeway in best fit for the intended use. For example, I've owned S&W revolvers of one type or tother since the '70's, but if someone is serious about using .357 loads, then I'd recommend a GP100.
If the gun is only going to be used for basic familiarization & infrequent practice for an acceptable level of competency, then I'd recommend either a J-Frame or a K-Frame, which ever is most comfortable for her to handle.
As to all the panicky talk about how weak women are and how they can't handle a J-Frame, it's not a real deal-breaker with .38 loads. When my 80+ year old, 100 lb arthritic mother asked me to get her something after my dad passed (he had a 1911 that she didn't like), I got her a Magna-Triggered 640.
I had her handle a few handguns, both revolvers and autos, and a .38 snubbie (Taurus 85), was the only one she felt comfortable with. My 625 was way too big and heavy for her, so a GP100 was out. A big heavy gun will recoil less, but it takes more effort to bring it to bear in a fight. A snub-nosed revolver is the single hardest gun to try and take out of somebody's hands, and with a concealed hammer, it's a lot easier to get a round off when there are two pairs of hands on the gun as well.
I'm also a big fan of lasers. My mom had hunted a few times in her youth with a 12 ga. and a .22 rifle, but she had never fired a handgun before. I started her off in the garage with a BB gun con RDS (in a rural area), then took her to an indoor range with the lasered 640. Her first cylinder went into ~3" at 7 yds, and my ego was a bit deflated cuz I didn't get to show off my masterful teaching methods.
Side note: After we were done shooting, she was concerned about how short a distance 7 yds was, and how she could barely see the bull's eye at 25. When we got to her house, I measured the distance from her bedroom door to the farthest point she could see in the house: almost exactly 21'. Big confidence boost.
Why did I waste my time answering a question from OP, who's long gone.
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