Which do you think would be the best option for her a 6" 686 (7 round) or 4" 686 (6 round)? I currently have both, and she has shot and likes both.
My nightstand/Hd guns are a 686 2.5" and a 642 as a back-up.
Thanks

7 rounds, no contest.

Which one does she shoot the best? I'd go with the one she is the most accurate with. BUT, what I'd really do is let her choose.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

if round count is whats important...get a semi with 19+or so...if not..i would go with the 4"

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I'd lean toward the 4" gun because I like the way a shorter gun balances in my hand. I agree with those who say she should decide. How about setting up a little two or three target course and have her shoot it with an eye to which gun produces the fastest and most accurate run. Besides it would be fun.

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I like Ike.

Presuming you do not intend to purchase another gun for this role, I would probably give her (if she were my wife) the 2.5" 686 and I would opt for the 6" with 7 rounds for myself.

In your situation I would go with the advice that 7shooter offered.

Thanks for the feedback. At the range she prefered the 6" and 4" over the 2.5". I'll take her to the range again, and have her shoot both again, and see what she thinks.
Its a though choice, they both have their merits.
I'll let you know what she chooses and why.

Two issues to consider if using the 6" gun:

1. Gun retention is more difficult.

2. Holding someone at gunpoint is more difficult.

Not very likely that either situation would arise, but it is something to consider.

What ammo was she shooting in the snub?

At the range, practice shooting silhouette targets instead of bullseye targets (if that is the case).

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Centennial Every Day

Photoman44,
Thanks for your imput about the gun retention issue.
Everyone here has logical suggestions for each firearm, that's what makes deciding so difficult.

Unless she has a strong preference for the 6 inch, I'd go with the 4 inch 686. While you give up one round, weapon retention is easier with the shorter tube, as has been noted previously.

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

IMHO, it may be dark if she needs to use a nightstand gun. Building up to quick, double-tap, point shooting at the range may be an option. That said, in my somewhat medium-sized hands, round-butt K-frames (65-5, 3-inch!) fit the bill for HD and sometimes, CC. Given many women's hand sizes, the RB, 2.5-inch 686 may be the way to go for her.

P.S. My wife has grown very fond of my 640-1! Try as I have to get her used to a K-frame, that J-frame always wins out for her!

I don't think I'd worry too much about weapon retention. If she's like my wife the only gun he could possibly take from her would be an empty one. And that would be after she tried to beat him to death with it.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Well, for me personally I prefer the six-shot. My hands run medium-small and I didn’t much care for the larger frame of the ‘plus’ version together with the additional weight. I ordered the 2.5-inch model and got lucky as it arrived five days later. It’s pretty stout looking' with the shorter barrel so I nicknamed it… ‘Fat *******’.

I plan on pulling the cylinder and having it cut for moonclips. Once it returns, it’s off to Bowen Classic for honing, sights, tuning, etc. For what its worth, I just received my Model-640 back from having the same work-up and I'm satisfied. Of course, it's not easy on the budget and I still can't believe I spent that much on mods, but I have no life or wife.

Regards,

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Dan Ortego ~

Thank you for all the good points you brought up.

The gun is only half the equation, what are you going to load it with? Are you going to give your wife a 686 with magnum rounds or .38's?

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- Change it back -

If I may throw some food for thought out here.

I recently attended a firearm conference given by State Troopers that are trainers in firearms. One point they brought out was the danager in having a firearm in reach of the bed.

During sleep someone may be effected by any of several issues such as nightmares, sudden noises (here it is limbs falling on the roof), and movements. They discussed how many accidental shootings there are each year where some person was half a sleep and woke with movement in the darkened room, thinking it was an intruder they grab the gun and fire. Had they had to get up and walk a couple steps to get their gun, they would have found the person was a family member getting a drink from the kitchen, making a trip to the bathroom or other such things.

I timed it when I relocated my night stand guns. Just moving them from a night stand to a dresser only took 2.7 seconds longer (with me wide awake). Not much difference. Yet the act of getting out of bed gives one enough time to determine the need for the gun.

The gun is placed on the top of the dresser when I remove it from my side and ready for bed. Two steps away from my bedside. A spare gun is in the dresser drawer.

My typical response: Whichever she is most comfortable with.

Since she likes both, I'd go with the 4 inch. As mentioned, it improves retention but IMO improves maneuverability. Two inches isn't that much, but I find the shorter the barrel the easier it is to get around in a house.

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- The Federalist #46 -

Photoman makes a good point, although I might suggest that holding someone at gunpoint is MORE likely for her. She might be 'detaining' the first perp (wounded or surrendered) with a phone in her hand while you are retrieving children or clearing the rest of the house (not recommended), or meeting the cops at the door, or whatever (getting your shotgun). Anyway, this can seem like 'forever'.

Also, the gun retention issue is something to consider with the 6", as well as swinging from target to target (slower) versus the longer sight radius and recoil-dampening weight. I think the 4" might be more practical, but the range drill suggested above is a great idea for many reasons. Anything that gets her to shoot more is a good thing (I know that's hard sometimes).

I agree very strongly. Everyone is different, but in my case, I can be very aggressive when startled while sleeping. Also like many on this forum, I live a life where I handle guns constantly, so even not fully awake, I can get a gun into action extremely fast. In fact, too fast to be safe. I keep a shotgun leaning against the side of my safe about 10 feet from where I'm sleeping and I have to rack it to chamber a round. Sleep walkers might not be safe even with my system and would perhaps need to do more to ensure that they can't start shooting until they have their wits about them. Sorry for the thread drift, but I feel this is very important and shouldn't go unsaid.

As for a 6" barrel being easier to wrest from the lady than a 4"er, my guess is that a man of average strength would likely get the 4" gun about as easily as the longer tube from an average woman.

Another vote for the 4".. Maneuverability and retention should be easier with a shorter barrel. I also would suggest .38's over .357 magnums for quicker follow up shots and less muzzle blast.

I can tell you from experience, that snub nose .357 magnum is just plain nasty in a dark room.

I took my concealed carry class at Smith & Range Training center in Springfield, MA.

They recommend not having a gun within reach of your bed.

They illustrate this with a real case where a woman woke up in the midst of an asthma attack and, let's just say it wasn't her inhaler she grabbed, with tragic results.

They recommend having it in the room, but where you have to go to it, giving that extra time to become fully awake.

stmry,

As has been suggested this will be best answered by your wife.

It is what she is most comfortable with that is the key.

You have also seen there are many alternatives for your home defense that goes beyond your handgun question.

I am a firm believer in the 12 or 20 gauge shotgun as the prime home defense gun.

But again, what is your wife most happy with?

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Ever fire a .357 magnum at night or in low light, without ear protection, and indoors? Muzzle blast and flash can be a problem. If I had to use one of those guns, I'd opt for the 6" and ammo with flash suppressed powder. I'd also keep ear plugs handy.

Keep a light and cell phone with the gun, as well as your armor if you have it.