Suggestions please

[Squidward]

Ok, bending your rules some. If its a house gun, how about a shotgun? Its reliable and easy to learn.. You could probably get a nice .22 pistol as a Christmas bonus as well and stay on price.

[Justin87]

You'll have a hard time finding a more user friendly and durable sidearm than the Springfield XD
http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?version=78

agreed. Love mine the sub compact is great for smaller hands. I would get my wife the 9mm in a heart beat if I was going to get her a pistol.

[uhlan1]

Please take no offense but if its for your wife, do your preferences (stated above) really matter? If its really for her, take her to a range and rent some handguns. Then let her choose what she likes and wants.. This way you'll save yourself some grief and some money....

Well, if it's for the wife" but "wink-wink, nod-nod" really for you, go with the Glock 20. Put a f/o on mine and just love it. Ammo is pricey though.
If it is really for the wife, and she isn't very experienced, I would not start her on a 10mm or the .357 Sig unless your objective is to get her to not go shooting with you. Turn her right off, it's a lot of gun.
I started mine on a Mosquito, moved up to the Bersa and now she's loving the 9mm full sizes. if I started her on the G20, that would have been the last time she went out with me, and buy in from the wifey is really helpful
Think it through, brother..

[Firerescuebatt07]

M&P 40

[Jon0807]

reliable and easy to learn on for my wife

I tend to agree with the .22lr suggestions, especially since she's not all that excited about shooting. If you go straight to a 10mm, it'll turn her off to shooting all together

[Zedrek]

I wouldn't buy her something that you think she might like unless you like it too. Everyone is different and if she isn't comfortable with what you get her it might just put her off shooting even more. I have three 10mm's and there great but I won't let my wife shoot them yet because she is just starting out. She liked the .22 rental we got though. Also, like others had said, the 10mm and .357 Sig are not common rounds to find and can be pricey unless you want to get into reloading too.

[Virus55]

if your wife is going to use it i dont recommend a .357 or anything with such high recoil. IMO go with a Glock 22 .40 or a Glock 23 .40

[CSACANNONEER]

First, get a .22lr. Either a Ruger MKI, II or III or a Browning Buckmark. It will save both of you a ton on ammo. After just 10-15 range visits, it should have paided for itself in ammo savings and started offsetting the cost of a centerfire handgun too. Besides, she'll like shooting it a lot and you should too.

[ontmark]

First, get a .22lr. Either a Ruger MKI, II or III or a Browning Buckmark. It will save both of you a ton on ammo. After just 10-15 range visits, it should have paided for itself in ammo savings and started offsetting the cost of a centerfire handgun too. Besides, she'll like shooting it a lot and you should too.

Words of wisdom here.

Many new shooters, men and women alike, are scared away from the fine sport of handgun shooting due to recoil and noise. Star with control and practice in a 22. Then work your way up.

[Rorge Retson]

You do realise that .357 SIG and 10MM ammo is expensive relative to most other handgun ammunition?

He's right. You buy the gun once, but you get to keep buying the ammo.

From ammoseek.com:

CCI/Speer .357 Sig
Lawman (brass case)
$22.00/50 rds.
$440/1,000 rds.

CCI/Speer 10mm
Aluminum Case
$24.50/50 rds.
$490/1,000 rds.

CCI/Speer .45 ACP
Aluminum Case
$17.25/50 rds.
$345/1,000 rds.

[Ervb44]

Get a Glock 20 10mm