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SewTexas wrote:Guys, y'al need to understand something, or maybe a few somethings, about women....
if it's too heavy, it won't be carried....
if it's too bulky, it won't be carried...
Now, there are women that will break those rules, but that's pretty much the way it is.
I practice with my little guns, yes, the recoil is not pleasant, esp with my weak right hand, but these are the guns I know I will carry. After practicing with the lighter guns, I practice with heavier guns, I might work on precision, I'll go back and forth a few times.

I agree Tracy, but in this case the lady has an advantage that she is purse carrying and that helps negate a small difference in weight. I would not suggest a 4" steel framed .357, but a lighter steel framed revolver or even semi-auto will be much more comfortable to shoot than a really lightweight polymer framed semi.

Bottom line, it is up to the individual lady and her preferences. Best to rent and let her shoot various models and she make the decision vs. letting anyone else decide what is right for her.

JALLEN wrote:

Jaguar wrote:Yep, as soon as she got home from "girls night out" it came out of the purse. I am hoping we can spend some of the tax refund on a new, lightweight revolver.

If you haven't tried some of the lightweights, it might be a good idea to do so. Some years ago I got my hands on a lightweight hammer-less S&W and it was so unpleasant to shoot I'd rather throw it at someone than have to shoot it. It was a .357 IIRC, so shooting .38's might be less painful. Some of the old style .38's might be a better choice all around, and less expensive, too.

Just a thought....

Lightweight handguns are great 99.99% of the time because they are easier to carry with less weight. However, that <.01% of the time when you are at the range they are rough due to the harsh perceived recoil and can cause a person to not want to become proficient with it.

I had a friend who was a retired airline flight attendant get her license. I tried to talk her out of following a long time friends suggestion that she needed a KelTec P3AT because of arthritis in her hands and wrist. I advised her to buy a steel framed snub nosed revolver or similar heavier gun. I told her before she bought a P3AT to at least rent one and shoot it. She didn't listen, and she and another lady friend each bought one. They both ran 2 magazines of .380 through them and their wrists and hands were hurting so bad they put them up and never shot them again. They then took my advice and rented a couple of different guns and ended up buying some heavier revolvers.

As for your wife, hopefully she will never have to use that <.00000001% of the time where a carry gun is used in self defense, but if she does she needs to be proficient with her carry weapon and feel comfortable shooting it. She won't do that if she won't practice with it.