Background:
All my firearms experience over the course of the last 4 decades has been predominantly open carry. Since taking off my uniform, I've tended to either avoid places where I'm likely to need deadly force or plan accordingly such that concealed carry was not neccessary.
Now-a-days, other than home defense, my firearms focus has been primarily recreational, and that includes my wife's participation occasionally as well.

She has started a new job doing social work stuff, that takes her into rural, off the beaten path areas (talking no cell coverage) where I feel she is at risk of being assaulted or worse. I've began the steps towards moving her from shooting rimfire small arms, and shotguns, towards safely using centerfire handguns. She still has a ways to go, but has a positive mental attitude about it, so I'm confident she will do just fine in that department. As part of this process I went back and took another CCW class, bringing her along to attend as well. She easily qualified for her CC permit.

Get to the point
While I'm compfortable working with her to gain greater proficiency in safely and effectively handling a pistol, I am not too proud to say that I lack satisfactory knowledge in the realm of CC tactics and equipment. Specifically, I need help eliminating what's dangerous but common, and focus on what really works for CC on a woman's person.

Because I know my wife, I've decided to start her out with a DAO J frame .38 spl +p revolver to carry. What would be solid no BS options other than keeping it in her purse or a bag? Her clothes will usually be a medical skrubs type outfit of loose top and elastic waistband pants. She's not particularly athletic, so getting to an awkward spot like an ankle holster, would not be smoothly accomplished for her. I also do not want her messing around with any rig that might have her covering herself while trying to draw the weapon.
I'm not looking to gain 20 year's real world experience from this thread, but just maybe some advice from those who really know what's what. Thanks

Well, my first remark would be to ensure that you don't load +P ammo into that J-frame. use quality defensive ammunition in .38 Special hollow points but not +P. She doesn't need the added recoil and the gain in stopping power is insufficient in J-frames, anyway. Recovery for a second shot is more important.

There is a company out there called Kangaroo that sells holsters that can be worn - supposedly very comfortably - under a shirt, and under scrubs it sounds easy. You can find a link to that company if you do a search for "Kangaroo" up above. That will keep the gun on her person. Wait.....here's the link:

Kangaroo Carry

There is another company that sells holsters that clip to bras. There are various links:

https://www.google.com/search?site=&....0.jXjyUkEgSSk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8r6CY5UZyw

She'll be well served keeping the weapon on her body, not in a purse.

***GRJ***

First mistake. You don't pick your wife's carry gun she does. She's the one that's (hopefully never) going to have to use it under stress.

Take her to the range and let her pick the gun that she's comfortable with and go from there

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Retired Career Security Guard

Although it wouldn't be for me, a .38 snubby is probably a good choice for your wife. There's no simpler manual of arms. I suggest you get one with a steel frame. The ultra-lightweights are no fun for me to shoot, and I'm used to recoil.

For an holster, you might consider a cross draw style. That fits a woman's anatomy better than a strong side holster, and holds weight more easily than a bandeau or bra holster.

Another option might be a belly band that would fit under her scrubs. The bra holster worked for the woman in the video b/c she is pretty curvy, and that might not work as well for everyone.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Just completed my CCW with my wife. As a nurse, she said her scrub tops are not "stretchy" and make a bra or armpit draw difficult. Scrub pants don't have a belt so an IWB holster won't work either. She is considering a "belly band". Will let you know how it works.
Happy retirement!

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

you're spot on with the off body not being good.to easy to snatch. conceald carry is so personal, i'm not sure anyone but your wife could answer what works for her. like the rest of us, she'll end up with several holsters in the graveyard... trial and error is the best. appendix carry is super popular these days, but its not for everyone. good luck.

I strongly recommend AGAINST off-body carry. A belly band might work. Also, if she doesn't mind loose scrubs, a shoulder holster worn under the top might do the job.

When I wore scrubs at work I just wore suspenders with them and a clip on holster it actually worked well.

There are also scrub pants that have a belt with them

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Retired Career Security Guard

J frames are NOT handguns for beginners, and your wife is one.

Depending on their weight and ammo chosen, their recoil will be anywhere from unpleasant to fierce.

Their extremely short sight radius magnifies every single sight alignment mistake. And guess who has the worst sight alingment? That's right, new inexperienced shooters.

It takes more skill to reload a revolver efficiently, compared to a magazine-fed pistol. There can be no argument about this.

Let HER decide what she wants to carry after she has had the chance to handle AND shoot whatever she wants. Bite your tongue hard if you disagree with her choice. Later on you can be right, but not now.

I second the various types of bellyband/undergarment type holsters worn under her loose fitting clothes. If she can wear jeans or slacks with a proper gunbelt and the top of the scrubs for a cover garment, her concealment options improve dramatically.

I was going to say Flash Bang too. Being aware of your surroundings is #1 and I think she would do well with it if she had the slightest inkling of a problem.

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I'm Proud To Be An American!

+1

J frames are not a beginners handgun, although revolvers are reliable and easy to operate. A Ruger SP101 or Smith K frame might be a good option.

I also agree that you should go to a range with rental guns and let your wife try a bunch to help determine what she feels comfortable shooting.

I bet she ends up liking something like a Glock 19 over a snub if she test fires them all.

I gave CCW instruction including advice on actually concealing handguns for longer that I care to remember. IMHO, a J frame with the right grips and the RIGHT ammo is the perfect gun for a beginner. One of the concealed hammer versions would be best. Start her with a belly band elastic concealment holster and VERY light loads. Let her tell you when she is ready to move up to heavier loads. Remember, practice perfectly. And practice is not anything close to an actual shooting situation. Give her a little shot of adrenalin and she would be able to shoot +Ps with ease. She just won't do that in practice. Don't make her shoot at a target much more than 7 yds. away. Get her a J frame 22LR model to practice with. Most of her practice should be done from concealment. Get the concept of 'point shooting' across to her since the distances she would have to work at don't need precise aiming and point shooting is much much faster.

A self-defense shooting is an exercise in extreme time management. Every move you make must minimize the time the bad guy has to shoot and maximize the time you have to shoot accurately.

Teach her the concept of Cover vs. Concealment. She should always be aware of where good cover is. Make sure she knows how to shoot after being knocked down to the ground. .............. Big Cholla

Peaches Uniforms Women's Denim Style Scrub Pants | allheart.com

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Retired Career Security Guard

AS: AS and Atonal said the DAO j-frame is the worst choice for a beginner. Great for carry the worst to learn how to shoot. Many well known instructors warn against j frames for a new shooter, I have bought more DAO j frames on trades for 4" K frames than I care to remember. I know the "encounters are close, do not aim point, etc" it sounds good but rarely works that way. What is close? 10 yds, 7 yds, 10 feet? I have been shooting revolvers DA for 49+ yrs, trained by my brother for competition ( one hand, the other behind your back, DA ), I try to get at least 50-100 rds through the snub per month to remain reasonably proficient. Small gun, bad triggers, no sights generally equal bad habits and poor accuracy. As for carry I used to tuck a Walther PPK/s into my scrubs at 4:00, very unstable, very uncomfortable, but comforting for those 2 1/2 yrs in Chicago. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Women's Gun Holsters for Hip, Thigh and Waist concealed carry
My wife uses the hip hugger from can can concealment. It is basically a wide piece of elastic with four places to hold the gun, two in front and two in back. It doesn't rely on a belt so I think it would be perfect under scrubs. My wife is able to use it with shorts while going on the evening run. I showed her the flashbang and some of the armpit carry as well as those stretchy shirts with gun pockets in them, she said no way.

Hi:
My Wife Daughter CCW a S&W Model 642 with Barama (sic) clip grips.
Loads are standard velocity ammo. With these grips a holster is not necessary and is carried on their body

Thanks to all for your advise, it will be well considered. I'll just add that my wife is compfortable with the 38's recoil, she can even handle my 1911 Commander .45 ACP. This 38 is mostly a "get off me" gun, which I intend for us to practice with often. I plan to expose her to other platforms once she's become compfortable with this one. Don't want to overload her with gear chioces just yet.

FWIW, I heard a retire women LEO tell another woman that purse carry wasn't always a good idea.

When women go to someone's house for dinner or a party, they typically put there purses and coats in a spare room on the bed or couch so they don't have to worry about them all evening.

Well, with a fire arm in the purse, what happens if a young kid gets into the room where the purses and coats are stashed? And even if you know the people you are visiting don't have kids, they could have grandkids or guests over.

Her suggestion was to keep the gun on your person -- or be sure to leave it in the car.

I think the alloy hammerless .38sp is a great choice, since the recoil isn't too much for her. Sure, a nice steel K-frame would be much better but that's a lot more difficult to incorporate into a lightweight nursing scrub wardrobe. If you can get her some regular practice she should have the skill and confidence to hit what she aims at within a reasonable distance.

Of your points the only one I agree with is number 3. It does take time to learn how to load a revolver reasonably fast. But as a beginner the all steel J-Frame in 357 is a perfect starter gun. DAO means it's going to work and I dont' have a safety on mine and would never carry a gun with a safety. Safety is in how I handle it not some mechanical thing that I might not properly use in an emergency.

I started shooting 38 sp, and now can go up to about 30 rounds in an IDPA match of 357 before I drop back to 38 Recoil is not bad. Short sight radius isn't a problem in my experience, I am far more accurate with my snubby at 10-20 yards than I am at 5 but I am working on it.

As to carrying, having tried a bunch of things for me at least a revolver is a lot easier to conceal than the M&P. I've tried varying places and I ended up liking strong side OWB best so have to wear a jacket or cover shirt. I tuck in my shirts and I just can't find an IWB holster that works. I am short and curvy. I've looked at the flashbang but haven't tried that. I do have a couple of carry purses but they are not my ideal. I'm much more comfortable with on-body vs off. At least I know and have control of my firearm all the time that way.

OTOH some of us can't hold and fire a K frame, I can't even reach the trigger on them without rotating my had so I am not in alignment with the barrel but a J frame fits perfectly.

The all stainless steel DAO 357 J frame is indeed the one she has. Weighs @ 22 onces, which makes it fairly tame with 38 spl. but a little heavier for carry. She just will not be shooting 357 rnds in it for a while yet.

I carry my cell phone, wallet and notepad in a belt pouch on my opposite side. Added a good gun belt and the weight is both distributed and easy to handle. Now I feel naked without my revolver on.