....

[eaglemike]

See if you can find a Model 65 LadySmith 3". This gun is easy to shoot and handle. The original stocks were a little smaller than the typical K frame target version. It's a round butt gun, a lot easier for most ladies. Good quality .38 stuff works well. It's also easy to work up to +p.

ETA: you might find you enjoy shooting it too.

[Whiterabbit]

she loves my revolver but hates the 10lb double action trigger.

So when she picks her gun, have her get a trigger job done. A revolversmith can get it just about anywhere she wants it.

[shooting4life]

This would also work well, a s&w model 13 with a 3 inch barrel.

[dfletcher]

Just my suggestion but I think the J frame, 5" S & W Model 60 is a good choice for a woman, a Ruger SP101 in 4" is a good choice too. The long barrel and small grip work well for stability and smaller hands, the gun has adjustable sights and is in general a comfortable, good shooter that is easy to control.

[smattenson]

I would agree with the above suggestions about letting your friend go to the store and check out some guns and as well if you can take her to the range and let her shoot some of those to figure out what fit's her. The size of her hands/recoil sensitivity could come into play as well ( it does with my wife on the size). For example my wife used to shoot my S&W m&p 40 & 9mm with the small grip attachment and could use it (not love it), but at the same time I let her shoot a kimber 45 (o ya I'm in trouble now) and it fit's her like a glove. Revolver wise my wife really enjoyed the K frame Model 19 ( size and weight). I would suggest you don't get so caught up in smaller J frames though (just an observation from watching other women shoot) especially since this is an HD gun as the thought of handing a female one of those new s&w super metal J frames and a strip of 357 is not going to make her your best friend anymore . I would take a look at the S&W 686+'s myself (7 rd's vs 5 if she likes the size 4in), and if she really want's a smaller frame revolver do look at the ruger sp101 ( that extra metal really does a wonder to make shooting quite pleasant). Take it for what it's worth

[Twofer]

Why not stick with the Glock 26, or go with a larger and easier to handle model like the 19 or 17? More ammo, easier to reload, lighter trigger and lighter recoil. It'll take a little more training, but hey, that's just an excuse to go shooting more. (Although less training that speed reloading a revolver.)

And if you must go revolver, go for a mid-size. S&W and Ruger are fine. Snubbies are just unpleasant and difficult to shoot.

And as always, check out the stickyed thread: Choosing Your First CA Legal Semi-Automatic Hand Gun - A Comprehensive Guide

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=397489

Additionally: A site specifically for female shooters.

http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/semivsrevo.aspx

[redhemi]

My ex has a model 65 3" and I just gave my daughter a model 60 3" and they are both happy with those guns.

[Foriegn power]

The reason she wants to go revolver route instead of keeping the Glock 26 is the possible factor of the weapon jamming. I'm no operator but I know the basics on how to clear a jam. On the other hand my girlfriend is a liberal but she is atleast willing to take charge of her personal protection. So she's made leaps and bounds already and thought it out that a revolver would suit her best it won't jam under most situations, I'm not saying the Glock 26 will jam but it may more compared to a revolver. Most importantly she wants a fail safe firearm for a person who really does not care for firearms other than once a month range trips and having a tool to defend her life if it warrants.

[RedFord150]

The reason she wants to go revolver route ...is the possible factor of the weapon jamming. ...Most importantly she wants a fail safe firearm for a person who really does not care for firearms other than once a month range trips and having a tool to defend her life if it warrants.

My wife feels the same way.

She has fired several semi-autos, she simply does not care for them. Our revolver of choice is a Ruger Speed Six (same frame/size as a Security Six) backed up by a Ruger GP100.

I also recommend you avoid the small J-Frame 'Snubbies'. The recoil on those small revolvers takes some time to get used to. if a person does not CCW, the 'Snubbie' has no advantage over a larger frame.

As always, take her to the range and shoot her top choice before you put any $ down.

Good luck.

[eaglemike]

Lots of reason for a wheel gun.

Easier to load - some of the semi-auto magazine springs are difficult to compress w/o a tool.

Don't have to cycle the slide to load it - again, some recoil springs are a bit much for some people w/o strength.

A wheelgun will fire anything that properly fits the chamber. If .38/.357 very mild loads are great for training and building competency and confidence. The wheelgun won't stovepipe with a light load and/or limp wrist. Easy to reload and go as far as desired up to full-house .357 stuff.

Someone w/very weak hands can usually still shoot a DA wheelgun single-action. I've seen a few little old ladies thumb-cock and shoot the center from the target at 10 or so yards. That's all they were strong enough to do, but they did it very well. No way they could cycle a G26, or even a G17.

[Socalman]

I am not any sort of expert but would suggest you check out the Ruger GP 101 in .327. Small enough for most hands and the .327 apparently has excellent stopping power. The only down side is the cost of .327 ammo. As more people purchase it, we will see the cost come down.

[CJJohn]

Great thread. And interesting. I took my wife out the 4th to practice. She has a Ruger SP101, and it's generally loaded with 38 +P and she's very comfortable with that, and accurate, but this time I convinced her to shoot my CZ 75 compact 40.......... I think I lost a gun, or I'm ordering her a CZ. She will keep the SP101 in the "nightstand" for now though.

[Twofer]

Let me first say that I am a fan of wheel guns. I consider my 686 to be a trusted ally and .357 to be the gold standard of dropping badguys.

But I'm also a big fan of full size 9mm automatics. The long sight radius, light-ish trigger, mild recoil, great reliability, and a lot of bullets. I've been coaching a female acquaintance, who doesn't have a lot of arm and hand strength, and she's doing great with her CZ-75 9mm. (Does extremely well with her Ruger MK III.) With plenty of practice clearing stopages by slipping a few snapcaps in the mags.

Easier to load - some of the semi-auto magazine springs are difficult to compress w/o a tool.

Revolvers are easy to load, hard to re-load. Speed loaders take a lot of practice, dexterity, and time. I can slam in a new mag in less than a second.

And yeah mags can be hard to load. When I'm at the range I'll only load 7, 8, or 9 rounds. It's a good way to get used to feeling when the slide locks back, and knowing it's time to reload. And if you need to get that 10th round in, or just wanna save your thumbs, get a MagLuLa loader. Best s**t ever.

Don't have to cycle the slide to load it - again, some recoil springs are a bit much for some people w/o strength.

It's all about technique. Action starts at 1:30.

Someone w/very weak hands can usually still shoot a DA wheelgun single-action. I've seen a few little old ladies thumb-cock and shoot the center from the target at 10 or so yards. That's all they were strong enough to do, but they did it very well. No way they could cycle a G26, or even a G17.

Bad idea for a defensive situation. Cocking the hammer back is like asking for a negligent discharge. Double action is the only way to go, and that's a 10 to 12 pound, long, and possibly gritty pull. It's my opinion that the long, heavy, gritty trigger pull will kill any hope of accuracy for someone with weak hands.

Really the answer is a long gun. With a small amount of training you can have shooters doing pretty well at ranges out to 25+ yards. It kills me that (1) hardly anyone makes and (2) CA doesn't allow pistol caliber carbines. (Without a stupid bullet button.)

[Dreaded Claymore]

I think that the best way of all is to go to a gun store and handle some guns. I think this is one of those things that can't really be transmitted over the Internet. See also this stickied thread.

[eaglemike]

Let me first say that I am a fan of wheel guns. I consider my 686 to be a trusted ally and .357 to be the gold standard of dropping badguys.

But I'm also a big fan of full size 9mm automatics. The long sight radius, light-ish trigger, mild recoil, great reliability, and a lot of bullets. I've been coaching a female acquaintance, who doesn't have a lot of arm and hand strength, and she's doing great with her CZ-75 9mm. (Does extremely well with her Ruger MK III.) With plenty of practice clearing stopages by slipping a few snapcaps in the mags.



Revolvers are easy to load, hard to re-load. Speed loaders take a lot of practice, dexterity, and time. I can slam in a new mag in less than a second.

And yeah mags can be hard to load. When I'm at the range I'll only load 7, 8, or 9 rounds. It's a good way to get used to feeling when the slide locks back, and knowing it's time to reload. And if you need to get that 10th round in, or just wanna save your thumbs, get a MagLuLa loader. Best s**t ever.


Bad idea for a defensive situation. Cocking the hammer back is like asking for a negligent discharge. Double action is the only way to go, and that's a 10 to 12 pound, long, and possibly gritty pull. It's my opinion that the long, heavy, gritty trigger pull will kill any hope of accuracy for someone with weak hands.

Really the answer is a long gun. With a small amount of training you can have shooters doing pretty well at ranges out to 25+ yards. It kills me that (1) hardly anyone makes and (2) CA doesn't allow pistol caliber carbines. (Without a stupid bullet button.)

I've trained a LOT of ladies on handguns.I'm well aware of all the stuff you are saying, but some of it isn't applicable. Why even talk about a reload in a defensive situation? Using a CZ75??? Boy, the trigger change for that second round is going to be different than the first, right? Or are you starting cocked and locked - similar to the single action S&W.
I know YOU can reload in less than a second. Should I tell you about me shooting DG with an unfired and untried Sig prior to the course at Frontsight, using an untried holster my first time there? Or beating a lot of open class shooters when using a G24?

I provided advice I think is appropriate and shared a few of my experiences. I really don't think what either you or I can do matters much.

A decent 65 3" (as others noted above) is a nice handgun worthy of evaluation by the OP. (at least IMHO)