Wife wants a bedside firearm

czman · Dec 22, 2020

My wife is interested in having a firearm on the nightstand on her side of the bed. We don't have any kids. She is totally inexperienced with firearms. I'm going to take her to the range to shoot a couple of my firearms under strict supervision and she will enroll and take a firearms safety and handling class.

The question is, what firearm to get her? And what style? I'm thinking one of the small Ruger revolvers, like an LCR in 9 mm or 38 special, because they are simple and go bang every time but I also wonder if she'd want to mess with a semi-auto of about the same size and in .380 or 9 mm. My feeling is the revolver is a better choice for an inexperienced shooter.

Suggestions?

joppaj · Dec 22, 2020

This is one of those answers that never changes. If you're going to let her shoot different types of guns at the range, wait until she's done that and then ask her which one she liked best. If it's a viable defensive gun, go with that one.

Michigander08 · Dec 22, 2020

czman said:
My wife is interested in having a firearm on the nightstand on her side of the bed. We don't have any kids. She is totally inexperienced with firearms. I'm going to take her to the range to shoot a couple of my firearms under strict supervision and she will enroll and take a firearms safety and handling class.

The question is, what firearm to get her? And what style? I'm thinking one of the small Ruger revolvers, like an LCR in 9 mm or 38 special, because they are simple and go bang every time but I also wonder if she'd want to mess with a semi-auto of about the same size and in .380 or 9 mm. My feeling is the revolver is a better choice for an inexperienced shoot.

Suggestions?

M&P M2.0 9 mm, 40 sw, 45 acp, or she should be a faster runner than you.

28Shooter · Dec 22, 2020

.38 Special revolver - a good used S&W, Colt or Ruger will do nicely.

Uncle Duke · Dec 22, 2020

The one she wants.

jr355 · Dec 22, 2020

Here are several links that may help.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/8/21/the-american-rifleman-ladies-pistol-project/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...es-pistol-project-ii-concealed-carry-pistols/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2019/4/8/right-for-you-ladies-pistol-project-3-results/

Good luck.

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Dec 22, 2020

28Shooter said:
.38 Special revolver - a good used S&W, Colt or Ruger will do nicely.

This! Available...reliable...excellent defensive rounds available...reasonably easy to learn to handle and shoot well.

Norton · Dec 22, 2020

I have an LCR in .38spl.

It is not, IMHO, a gun for a casual shooter. It takes a lot of practice to shoot it well, and the recoil and flash are substantial.

If you decide on a smallish revolver, the Ruger SP101 is a very nice compromise between a pocket revolver and a full-size. Just use .38spl in it rather than .357.

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Dec 22, 2020

If you can find one of the new Colt Cobras or King Cobras...they would be ideal in many ways. High quality and superb triggers. The front sights are user replaceable and tritium sights are available.

Michigander08 · Dec 22, 2020

He said "bedside". It shouldn't have to be small.

JRazgaitis · Dec 22, 2020

Walther PPS M2? I have one brand new if interested?

delaware_export · Dec 22, 2020

So many choices, and a lot depends on your mrs.

Do at least consider one of the easy rack models. And let her try them as much as/if possible before purchase.

Wife had problems with my first attempt. Px4SC. Very difficult Racking. And she didn’t like my later choice, sig938. Said too small and snappy. Didn’t complain about racking though. She likes her g19.

The EZ models weren’t out at that point. I’ve asked her to check them out. But she’s content and would rather buy other stuff.

Whatever you do, just try to have her there before purchase to try to work things. You can’t tell recoil in most stores, but the slide effort can be evaluated. Maybe some you know has a model that felt good at the store, and can let you try? Or maybe a range with demos? (Just suggesting to try to avoid the buy/try/sell/repeat loop)

Good luck!

steves1911 · Dec 22, 2020

If possible take her somewhere that has range rentals and have her try as many as possible. Chances are if its something that she picks out because it feels good in her hands and she likes it then she is more likely to practice with it and become proficient with it. I did this with my wife several years ago...she ended up with a pink glock 43 that she now carries everyday.

Docster · Dec 22, 2020

joppaj said:
This is one of those answers that never changes. If you're going to let her shoot different types of guns at the range, wait until she's done that and then ask her which one she liked best. If it's a viable defensive gun, go with that one.

^^THIS. The best answer is the same every time it's asked but you'll still get dozens of opinions based on everyone but your wife

Sundazes · Dec 22, 2020

joppaj said:
This is one of those answers that never changes. If you're going to let her shoot different types of guns at the range, wait until she's done that and then ask her which one she liked best. If it's a viable defensive gun, go with that one.

Docster said:
^^THIS. The best answer is the same every time it's asked but you'll still get dozens of opinions based on everyone but your wife

+1, this...Cant say that enough.

daggo66 · Dec 22, 2020

delaware_export said:
So many choices, and a lot depends on your mrs.

Do at least consider one of the easy rack models. And let her try them as much as/if possible before purchase.

Wife had problems with my first attempt. Px4SC. Very difficult Racking. And she didn’t like my later choice, sig938. Said too small and snappy. Didn’t complain about racking though. She likes her g19.

The EZ models weren’t out at that point. I’ve asked her to check them out. But she’s content and would rather buy other stuff.

Whatever you do, just try to have her there before purchase to try to work things. You can’t tell recoil in most stores, but the slide effort can be evaluated. Maybe some you know has a model that felt good at the store, and can let you try? Or maybe a range with demos? (Just suggesting to try to avoid the buy/try/sell/repeat loop)

Good luck!

Every gun is easy to rack when you learn to push instead of pull.

Jake4U · Dec 22, 2020

Michigander08 said:
He said "bedside". It shouldn't have to be small.

This. If you can find one these days, .410 or 20 guage birdshead grip equipped 18.5" shotgun.

Mine is a Tac-13.

Michigander08 · Dec 22, 2020

Jake4U said:
This. If you can find one these days, .410 or 20 guage birdshead grip equipped 18.5" shotgun.

Mine is a Tac-13.

Tac-13 is nice!

willtill · Dec 22, 2020

daggo66 said:
Every gun is easy to rack when you learn to push instead of pull.

This is legit.

Michigander08 · Dec 22, 2020

Jake4U said:
This. If you can find one these days, .410 or 20 guage birdshead grip equipped 18.5" shotgun.

Mine is a Tac-13.

Not cheap (around 1K) and not available.

Wife wants a bedside firearm

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