Need A S&W or Ruger .357

[smittty]

I agree with Zombie, let her make the selection.

You cannot tell how a gun feels from just holding it in the store. It needs to be shot to know what it feels like. I personally wouldn't recommend the SP101. If it's to be a house and range gun I recommend something heavier such as the GP100 or a S&W K/L frame.

Also, 38 sp is a good defense cartridge and fun to shoot so why suggest the gun be 357 mag? My wife found the 1911 easier to shoot than the SP101 that I had. She's 5'-6" 125 lbs. I think if she was to choose a gun for her it would prabably be of similar size and weight of the 1911.

My sister on the other hand prefers the dainty guns such as a 25 acp purse gun. I know she found the recoil on the S&W Airweight intimidating. Her previous gun was a H&K P7 and it was too heavy for daily carry and also large for her purse but she shot it very well.

Let her choose and ecourage her to try a lot of different guns.

[JTROKS]

For a house gun I learned you need two unless you find one that suits all your needs.

A house gun should be compact enough that makes it easy to tuck in your pants. It should have night sights so you're not just punching holes in the wall during a night encounter. It should be powerful enough, but not too much to where the blast is blinding/deafening you to the point that you're scared of firing the gun. You need to think if the round is too powerful in case you miss the target and go sailing through windows or walls. My current personal choice are a compact 380 pistol that I can easily tuck behind my back when answering the door, or just having it around covered by a magazine or a baseball cap when I'm in the garage with the doors wide open. At night time a Glock 9mm with night sights is in my defensive kit backed up by the 380. Let her fondle more handguns and consider the night sights and a good flashlight.

[movie zombie]

does she already have her handgun certificate? if not, that would be a first step.......

movie zombie

[RogueSniper]

If she's happy shooting the Ruger SP101, that's definitely the way to go. As for getting a .357 Mag now, not really necessary, but since the SP101 comes in both flavor, you might as well upgrade it for the future.

Five rounds vs. Six rounds - one shot is all you need to take down the bad guy. I put a light load in the first chamber, then the rest are Federal Hydrashocks.

I'm in agreement with going to the range and trying everything under the sun. Would you buy a car without test driving it? Same thing goes with purchasing a firearm.

Bring/buy a variety of ammo of different grain to see how she handles it. Include some 9mm, 380auto in case she likes the fit and function of a semi auto - it's her choice, but she has to be comfortable with it. My ex-girlfriend loved my Sig P226, because it fit her hand and was comfortable blasting away with it, therefore was more willing to practice with it.

Suggestion for her birthday - buy her a holster (a generic Uncle Mike's), stick some flowers in it. She'll get the hint. Then take her shooting, you might end up filling that holster sooner than you think.

[JTROKS]

MY wife loves my 8.5"
















S&W 586(no dash).

[5hundo]

she likes the sp101, get the sp101.

however, i'm old school and female: i believe its nice of you to want to pay for it and do some leg work re research. but eventually this is her gun to own and care for, right? i'd encourage you to take her to the range and shoot more rental guns. i'd encourage you to give her some websites to look at re info on different guns. i'd encourage you to encourage her to be more active in this process.

movie zombie

We shot just about every auto-loader they had and she didn't like any of them. Oddly enough, the autos that she did like were full sized frames like the 92FS and the Sig P226...

She didn't like the sensation of the recoil (I think because of the return of the slide) and much preferred the .357, shooting .38 Speacials...

I would really like to get her a 92FS, or something but she just didn't like it and felt much more comfortable with the wheel gun...

That being said, she didn't shoot any S&Ws.... Just the Ruger...

Maybe I will take her shooting again...

[movie zombie]

i shot all kinds of revolvers: mostly smiths [airweights included OUCH] and the ruger sp101 as well. for me trying them all out and then doing it again at a different range really made a difference in my choice. i endedup favoring the smith and wesson model 60 j-frame .357 snubbie. that was the first one! since then i've moved up to k-frames and i love each and everyone of them. there are some good buys to be had in the used market....especially from other calgunners.

glad you're going to take her shooting again. perhaps a call to the range to make sure they have a variety for her to try?

and i know you want her to have a larger calibre pistol. a really good one to start with though is a .22 revolver stainless revolver. she won't notice the kick, will get practice shooting and be eager to move on to the larger calibre which is better for defense. having said that, more people are killed with .22's every year and its better to have a gun she's familiar with and willing to shoot than one she is afraid of and unwilling to use.

i also have a beretta pistol that i love but the calibre just isn't that good. but i do love shooting it and its really i think a great pistol for a woman....but its a .25 calibre. also comes in .22 and .32......

good luck at the range!

movie zombie

ps i LOVE the idea of the empty holster with flowers in it! might also add a card saying IOU one pistol/revolver.....and an invite for dinner, too.

[RogueSniper]

Yeah, I'm a romantic.

A picnic by the outdoor range. The sun in the sky, the birds chirping in the trees, the sweet sweet sounds of "POW! POW!" ... "PANG! PANG!" of steel popper getting a double tap by a M1911 .45ACP!

Oui! L'Amour! <3

[movie zombie]

the grounds at the Los Altos Rod and Gun range aren't too bad for that picnic........picnic tables nestled in the trees far enough away to take off the ear gear yet near enough to hear those sweet sounds!

movie zombie

[Knauga]

If it is for the house, a nice 4" GP100 would do the job very well. Inexpensive and reliable. Heavy enough to absorb the recoil of a 357 round. An SP101 will probably hurt her hands to fire 357, it is a great carry gun, but a GP100 is better for the house.

[Trendkill]

If it is for the house, a nice 4" GP100 would do the job very well. Inexpensive and reliable. Heavy enough to absorb the recoil of a 357 round. An SP101 will probably hurt her hands to fire 357, it is a great carry gun, but a GP100 is better for the house.

After a bit of practice and adjusting to the gun....the 357 kick in the 101 is easily managed. However....initially....this same kick could come as quite a suprise to a new shooter...and likewise turn them into a shooter no more.

+100 on the GP100 idea.....a bit more weight to absorb recoil....longer sight radius...more multi-purpose.....+ indestructable.