I've carried a J-frame .38 Special daily for twenty years myself. The caliber has gotten the job done for over a hundred years, and with newer ammo is more effective than ever.

If Buffalo Bore claims 1000 fps for that load you will likely find that it clocks 1000 fps. But they also make a standard pressure 158 grain LSWCHP that almost exactly duplicates the good older Remington FBI load I've carried for years, the one before they watered it down recently. I carry it now. They advertise that it is safe to use in any S&W revolver, and their advertising is generally truthful.

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Oh well, what the hell.

You might want to look at the ammunition those old Brits were using. Including .38/200.

The old Special has come a long way.

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Oh well, what the hell.

You WILL notice a difference between the BB and other factory ammo. Maybe not so much in a British Victory but in a RP you can tell you are shooting a stouter load.

[QUOTE=walnutred;139939659]My daughter is buying her first house and asked for a firearm as a house warming gift. I tried to steer her towards a shotgun but she insisted she wanted a revolver.

Think the 38 is a good start over the shotgun .. its more portable and if she gets her Conceal Carry Licenses it would be a good one to carry .. money will be tight for her for a few years so not having to buy a pistol later is win win situation !!

Good Luck to her !!

I'd also let her start shooting standard ammo and move up to the hotter defense rounds to +P and on to the Buffalo Bore stuff if she can handle it and likes it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

OK, to wrap this thread up after trying a couple handguns she ended up taking home an old police trade in 4" 10-5. She was looking for a house gun, not a CCW gun and she shoots this revolver well. What was I gonna say? Model 10s aren't reliable enough? 38 Special isn't powerful enough? Ammo is hard to find? They are hard to reload accurately?

I have to admit one of my favorite handguns to shoot is an old NYPD 10-6 I picked up when you could still get police trade in M10s for $125. I can't help looking at the worn grips and wonder how many times Officer Patrick J Cassidy subconsciously touched those grips looking for a little reassurance on a dark night.

Except a RN solid, not my choice in any caliber for a fight.
A M10-4" is a really good house gun. If you can find some 158gr+P LSWCHP, still a fine SD round.
As good as a 12ga is for HD, requires quite a bit of getting used to & harder to manipulate in confined space, harder to lock up & keep ready, easier to wrestle away from an unskilled user.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I gave my daughter a.38 spl+p when moved into her first apartment.I took her to the LGS,and let her pick the one she wanted.She shoot her's better then I shoot mine.

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Life is short,live it fully.

Looks to me she made a very solid/sound choice. The Mdl 10 should serve her well. Maybe add a couple of speed loaders to go in the night stand with the gun and she would be set. I keep a couple in mine next to my Mdl 19.

Congratulations on not forcing a shotgun upon her. I trained female Deputy Sheriff's in a rural county and learned that 12 gauge and average female don't mix. Opted for a 357 Marlin 1894 long gun for duty for them and others. As others have said you've made a good handgun choice, for her.
Practice, Practice, Practice with firearm and reloading. She needs to do some classroom work on "situational awareness" and the nature of criminal intent, disparity of size and use of force. Distances traveled by attacker and tactics used. They all attend similar graduate schools. Usually a 3 to 5 year stretch. Being well trained will help her avoid "bad situations" as a person and a homeowner.

A number of years ago I gave both of my daughters a Model 10 with a 2" barrel, along with several boxes of Federal 125gr Nyclad. I wanted them to have a quality firearm with good ammunition. I chose the revolver because of it's simplicity and moderate recoil. I offered them a j frame or a dao Model 3953, they each chose the Model 10.

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police651

BB is pretty good about listing OK guns - as well as guns to avoid on their website.

They have also been good about replying to E-mail inquiries.....

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Merle, retired
western PA

Didn't think about the speed loaders, thanks. One thing about K frames, there are enough grips out there you can find SOMETHING to fit about any hand.

First of all - congratulations on having a daughter that understands the need to take care of herself. Sounds like you did something right

I'm not s big fan of shotguns, for home defense ESPECIALLY if we're talking about a female who (I don't know her background) isn't very trained in the use of a shotgun. Kinda hard to carry it AND a flashlight (doubt she wants to get into manipulating weapon mounted lights) and shotties are easier to take away from their user (unless she has really good weapon retention techniques). I think her choice makes total sense. I would take her to a few gun stores and let her find a revolver that jumped out at her and then I'd pay the extra money, to buy it right then an there (regardless of how cheap I could get it online).

Think she made a good decision .. will make a good house gun and as you said she shoots it well so also a plus !!

Good Luck to her on becoming a home owner !!