Wives, friends, peers must be familiar w/ your guns.

[Oldgringo]

2 questions:

1 - did she help pick the pistol out? (if not, are you sure it will fit her hand comfortably enough that she won't hate practicing with it?)

2 - would she be interested in talking with (or going shooting with) another woman either with/without the menfolk along? (I ain't the world's best shot, but I've had my CHL since 2004 & can use any excuse to hit the range to practice...)

Hi quidni,

No, she did not help pick the Ruger, it is a surprise. I kinda wanted to just tell her she was getting a gun and let her pick it out, but she is really new to the whole world of shooting. She had never even seen a gun in real life until her sister started dating a police officer. She is still scared of them, but she is starting to get better.
I would love for her to make some shooting friends! She is a painfully shy person and I think it would be healthy for her to join some clubs, and if shooting is involved, all the better.
I find out if I did a good job on Christmas morning I suppose!

Hang onto the receipt.

[TheBrit]

I've just been having this discussion with my wife. She was the one that actually got me interested in guns. Her father has given her a number of guns in the past, but she is just not in to shooting them. Her favorite gun is her Springfield XD 9, but due to her infrequent range visits and her general disinterest in shooting we are looking at getting her a more suitable carry weapon. Each time we go to the range she needs reminding about at least one aspect.
I'm thinking of getting her a Taurus Judge (or the Public Defender), chambered in .45 Long Colt and .410 buckshot shotgun shells, alternating (3 Long Colt and 2 buckshot rounds) - thoughts?

[Oldgringo]

I've just been having this discussion with my wife. She was the one that actually got me interested in guns. Her father has given her a number of guns in the past, but she is just not in to shooting them. Her favorite gun is her Springfield XD 9, but due to her infrequent range visits and her general disinterest in shooting we are looking at getting her a more suitable carry weapon. Each time we go to the range she needs reminding about at least one aspect.
I'm thinking of getting her a Taurus Judge (or the Public Defender), chambered in .45 Long Colt and .410 buckshot shotgun shells, alternating (3 Long Colt and 2 buckshot rounds) - thoughts?

That's a mighty big carry piece; however, if it's for the nightstand, well...

[CompVest]

I've just been having this discussion with my wife. She was the one that actually got me interested in guns. Her father has given her a number of guns in the past, but she is just not in to shooting them. Her favorite gun is her Springfield XD 9, but due to her infrequent range visits and her general disinterest in shooting we are looking at getting her a more suitable carry weapon. Each time we go to the range she needs reminding about at least one aspect.
I'm thinking of getting her a Taurus Judge (or the Public Defender), chambered in .45 Long Colt and .410 buckshot shotgun shells, alternating (3 Long Colt and 2 buckshot rounds) - thoughts?

I think that is a wonderful idea. After she shoots it, please send her to me so I can get her back in to shooting.

[TheBrit]

If Coach made a handgun I'm sure the wife would carry it every day

[surprise_i'm_armed]

TheBrit:

You don't state what size her XD9 is, but I'm surprised
that you would consider a Taurus Judge a more suitable carry gun.

IMHO, if her carry piece choice is the XD9 or the Judge, I'd go with the
XD for the increased number of rounds, as well as a somewhat
smaller profile.

By the way, if you want to thin the herd (sell some of those pistolas
she's not using), post them here on the board for your forum friends
to buy.

SIA

[TxDrifter]

If Coach made a handgun I'm sure the wife would carry it every day

Coach, Prada, Chanel, Gucci. Fortunately my fiance is into camo. LOL. Heck, most of those bags cost more than some of our hand guns. How about a set of 1911 grips with their logos on them.

[TheBrit]

You don't state what size her XD9 is, but I'm surprised
that you would consider a Taurus Judge a more suitable carry gun.

She has the service model. She does not carry the XD9, its sat gathering dust in her night stand. She doesn't shoot enough to feel comfortable with it, I think it intimidates her. She is a very smart woman (a veterinarian), but has zero patience for anything she is not interested in. On the rare occasions I get her to come to the range she enjoys shooting the XD after we have gone through countless safety instructions, and reminders on how a SA works. In contrast she can pick up my SW .357 revolver and pull the trigger without having to think about how it works.
Knowing my wife, she will never be 'in to' guns. She works late and can be extremely tired when traveling alone. I think a revolver is a good fit for her, it is more forgiving to those unwilling to train. The Judge (actually leaning towards the smaller Public Defender) also has the advantage of chambering shotgun buckshot rounds. The thing is almost idiot proof! Or in her case, suited for someone who will not devote the time she ought to. She almost doesn't even need to obtain a sight picture with the shotgun rounds.
The alternative is she carries something she renders useless (through fear, panic etc.) when she actually needs it, or not carrying at all.

[TheBrit]

By the way, if you want to thin the herd (sell some of those pistolas
she's not using), post them here on the board for your forum friends

LOL. Never sold a gun yet, and don't intend to. I have some shameful purchases I made when I first moved here and didn't know s..t from Shinola, but they are all family.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

TheBrit:

Amusing replies, sir.

Well hey if you can get your bride to carry the .357 revolver,
or the Taurus Public Defender, by all means do it.

Rule #1 for a gunfight - bring a gun!

Anything she WILL carry is better than something you THINK
she should carry.

Stay calm. Carry on. (Instructions from a WWII British poster).

SIA

[Oldgringo]

karder wrote:

This Christmas she is getting her own gun. I went down and picked up a Ruger LCR with laser grips to be her bedside gun.

Well, how did this work out for...y'all?

[asleepatthereel]

I read the same article. Good advise, and some scenarios to back it up as well. I think the magazine was 'Weapons of Law Enforcement' or something like that.

[flynbenny]

I've just been having this discussion with my wife. She was the one that actually got me interested in guns. Her father has given her a number of guns in the past, but she is just not in to shooting them. Her favorite gun is her Springfield XD 9, but due to her infrequent range visits and her general disinterest in shooting we are looking at getting her a more suitable carry weapon. Each time we go to the range she needs reminding about at least one aspect.
I'm thinking of getting her a Taurus Judge (or the Public Defender), chambered in .45 Long Colt and .410 buckshot shotgun shells, alternating (3 Long Colt and 2 buckshot rounds) - thoughts?

I think that is a wonderful idea. After she shoots it, please send her to me so I can get her back in to shooting.

CompVest knows what she's talking about. The Judge has considerable recoil, greater than my model 60 shooting full zoot 357 magnum or my Glock 33. Not to mention the Judge is huge, I don't know anyone who carries one on body, and it would take up a ton of room in a purse. I have bought numerous firearms that a well meaning spouse purchased for their s/o, who didn't like the gun in question. For some excellent information, please read Kathy Jackson's The Cornered Cat webpage. http://www.corneredcat.com

She almost doesn't even need to obtain a sight picture with the shotgun rounds.

Even though the most frequent complaint aside from recoil is the lack of accuracy, even at close range you will miss entirely if you do not obtain proper hold and sight picture. This is true even with a full size 12 ga at close range, buck, bird, or slug.

[Lonegun1894]

Had an ex-girlfriend threaten to do that--once.... She couldnt understand why I left VERY shortly after. I told her the guns were there before she was, and would be there after she was gone. I guess she didnt think I meant it til I broke things off.