I’m looking to buy my first revolver, and it needs to be something I can carry because I had to “sell” my Ruger EC9S to my daughter. This is going to be a “just in case” gun, and since my wife has trouble racking a semi auto pistol, and I don’t want to buy the new but sort of gay MP9 EZ for myself, I want something that my wife can fire in a pinch.
Let me start by saying I know there are some good reasons to buy other brands and calibers, but where I am at right now is deciding between a small frame S&W 38 special and a Ruger SP101 9mm revolver. I understand that recoil is actually a little bit nasty with the 38 because there isn’t much mass to the gun, but I like that its small and kind of a classic snubby, and I like Ruger products and the idea of not having to expand to a new caliber bullet because I already own 9mms. Some might say the best move is to get a S&W 357 since it can shoot 38 as well, but my rationale is that its a lot more expensive than a regular 38 and about the same price as the Ruger 9mm, so for the same money Id rather keep it simple with the 9mm. I’d rather pay the $400 for the small frame 38 than $600 for a 357, and rather pay the $600 for a 9mm revolver than $600 for the 357.
I would try and teach your wife better methods to rack the slide on a semi auto. Most momen cant grab the frame and pull the slide which is their natural instinct, but they can easiliy grab the slide and push the frame.
I would try and teach your wife better methods to rack the slide on a semi auto. Most momen cant grab the frame and pull the slide which is their natural instinct, but they can easiliy grab the slide and push the frame.
We’ve tried this route, she is undermotivated by “the gun thingy” atm. Until I can get her to a range a few times, its going to be hopeless. My daughter is fine with a semi and has her CCW.
This is mostly going to be for me, but I do like to know its something she can pick up and shoot in an emergency and possibly reload.
I would try and teach your wife better methods to rack the slide on a semi auto. Most momen cant grab the frame and pull the slide which is their natural instinct, but they can easiliy grab the slide and push the frame.
You can also add a Crimson Trace laser grip with the button so that when you squeeze the grip it activates the laser. It’s very small and adds basically zero bulk or snags to the gun. That was the setup I had for my wife when she was very green to pistols. Grip pistol, put red dot on bad thing, keep pulling trigger until it only clicks.
I live in the south and in the summer time we rock shorts and flip flops. So during the hotter months I Usually carry the Smith & Wesson MP 340. It’s a J-frame revolver that runs both .38 special and .357. I like it bc it’s tiny. I can carry it inside a soft holster that is inside my front pocket and forget about.
It’s a little expensive. You can probably find one for about $600 but it’s S&W so you know it’s Quality.
I have the 3 inch SP101 but it is my bear country hiking gun and backup while hunting gun. I load it with maximum power bear loads. Pretty much the lightest 357 that will handle those full power loads.
It conceals inside the pants well or carries well on a hip holster but is too heavy for a pocket gun at 27 ounces.
I have a Smith and Wesson Airweight 637. It is the hammer version of the hammerless 642. It's 38 special +p, 16 ounces. It is light inside the pants or pocket. The j frame S&W is or the Ruger LCR are your best bet for lightweight snubs.
If she can't rack the slide I'd take a long look at the 380 S&W EZ as another option. Surely she could rack that slide.
Some nice guns and good suggestions here, the OG knows, as usual.
The Colt is a really nice gun, as are some of the more upscale S&Ws.
S&W now makes the EZ in a 9mm, and if I was going to buy this specifically and only for my wife, I would buy that, as the reviews on it have been great and its apparently really…EZ to rack.
This time around Im looking for a metal frame revolver that I will feel can be a bit more fun to own and look at. If money wasn’t a factor I would prob buy that Colt.
