For those whose wives conceal carry (pocketbook carry), what are they shooting. I'm not new to this game but having taken my wife (who is a novice at this) out to the range, she is a bit different in her likes and dislikes. It's getting close to the time of getting her her own carry piece. I've considered a S&W 36, (That'd be my choice) but she doesn't like it as well as my 3" S&W 65 shooting 38's +P (which would be too heavy to carry in her purse maybe). The shield in 9mm, hard for her to rack (maybe the EZ version), Ruger ECP in 9mm, (recoil may be an issue in such a light 9?) Also leaning to a 380 at this point but all I have is a PPK and it's tough to rack...plus 380 would be a very minimum cartridge... I do realize that much practice would be paramount in all this but..... What do your ladies like and why?

The Preacher

You could look at a Ruger Lc9s, small and fairly decent in regards to racking the slide and weight.

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You have already mentioned the key to a decision - let her decide. Too big/heavy, not enough power for you may be exactly what she wants, and will carry. End of sermon.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Yes, it will be hers, she will make the decision. Just looking for suggestions to try.

The Preacher

I don't recall ever having a female student that didn't love the S&W 642.
However, they do need to practice with low recoil ammo. Carry the more
potent for business.

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In Omnia Paratus

Good advice here. In many years of firearms instruction I have noticed that simple is better. Easy to get inexperience shooter to understand, learn basic operation without levers, slides, mags, safeties, etc. Once you get the gun figured out then you concentrate on sight picture, trigger pull and accuracy. Start with ammo that is easy to control recoil and work your way up. Confidence rises and you can go on to more complex platforms if the student is interested.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

For a light carry revolver, a 638 or 642 would be good. For slightly bigger and heavier a 2.75" model 66 with .38 + P?

For a semi-auto, the Shield 9EZ sounds like it would be an option. A .380 version would be OK if she gets along better with it; as you probably know, a gun you can shoot and will carry is better than the one left at home.

All sorts of options for used guns and other brands. Good luck in your decision.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I agree, let her decide.

If she doesn't like the 36 but does like the 65, maybe a 3" 60 with oversize grips would split the difference? Stainless, longer tube and a little more weight to help with recoil, but smaller/lighter than the 65 to fit the purse?

A Ruger SP101 would meet this too.

I have a 60 with Pachmayrs that is a dream to shoot, compared to my Airweights.

That suggestion made me think of the Kimber K6S. It might be worth checking out to see if the balance of size and weight would work for her.

What was it about the 36 she didn't like? I see posters mentioning the 642 or 638, but they're just lightweight versions of the 36 (minus the hammer spur, of course). Depending on what she didn't like about the 36, the same may apply to the 642 or 638.

That might be do-able, depending on the purse and how much weight she's used to carrying in her purse. A purse designed for carrying a concealed gun might make it more practical.

Alternatively, a 2" 64 might work. Still a steel K-frame so shooting .38 Special +P wouldn't be a problem, and the slightly shorter barrel might make it easier to carry. I used to have both a 3" 65 and a 2" 64 and they were both easy to shoot with .38 Special +P loads.

for my Mrs. G42
6+1
.380

That caliber doesnt get much love or approval, but she likes it , she shoots it well and most importantly, she handles it w confidence

Good idea...Now to find a 3" J or SP101 to let her handle.

It was the size if I remember. Have boot grips on it.. 2" bbl. and too small a frame for her liking. .

A few years back, a Nurse that was a Friend and Co-worker of my Wife asked me about a Gun.

Her and her Husband were Retiring out of State and She felt She needed Protection while traveling alone, especially @ the Rest areas.

The only prior experience She had was with a Colt Woodsman as a youngster.

I, along with my Wife, took her to the Outdoor Range I’m a member at , and after going over Safety and Firearms Statutes, I showed her proper grip and sight picture and fitted with Hearing protectors and Safety glasses, had her Shoot my Ruger Mark 1 Bull Barrel .22.

I had her close, @ 15 ft. to build confidence..and that 5 inch Ruger made it easy to focus on the Front sight and make good hits.

She was happy and after about 3 Range trips, She was proficient and I had her engaging up to 3, B24 Targets, moving and firing.

She asked me what gun should she buy? I told her She needed to go where there was a large number of guns and SHE had to pick what SHE liked and felt good to her...

There was a large regional gun show at a County Fairgrounds and She asked me to go with her and her Husband.... we went and at the end of the day,after handling a lot of Handguns,she picked.a NIB 642... We got a couple boxes of practice ammo and a box of carry ammo, Bonded ammo..

Back to the Range with the new S&W and two targets in the stands..,.Did fine, focusing on the FS...,COM hits... signed her off for her State CCW.

I talked to her a couple months ago, She proudly told me She’s on her Church Security team.. She’s well over 70.

The Property they built on is 120 acres, so She has plenty of space to practice and keep up her Skills.

You have to let them pick what they like and are happy with.

I'm the hobbyist, who got hubby into carrying, but there is not one answer for me.
I have four choices in my rotation. P238, 9mm Shield, PCR, and 3" 686. Have IWB and OWB holsters, plus a variety of holster hand bags. I've even put my lever rifle in my golf bag when a family of bears were seen on the course .
I enjoy the hobby so the extra effort needed to carry a firearm, like adjustments to wardrobe, means little.

The dedicated holster handbags are by nesescity very sturdy which adds some weight, but they are worth the effort because of the speed and safety advantages they bring. My mid-sized bags will fit my largest carry, the 3" 686. The holster compartment is a giveaway though. When I posted this picture on the forum, a member saw the zippered side compartment.



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Slava Ukraini!

My wife carries her 4" 66-3 loaded with 158 grain .357 magnums. She's a very good shot with it and has had it since before we even met. We've modified her purse to carry it.
She has no problem shooting my carry snubby but prefers her K frame.
She named it "Betsy".

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Keep on Chooglin'

Not a Smith but check out the Ruger LCRx, .38, is available in a 3 inch.

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Super Snooper

At the moment my SO has an SR9C iwb and an SR9 in her purse. Her purse is designed for CC. She’s never been interested in revolvers.


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My perspective is that shooting and self-defense are two very different things. Just like karate or any martial art isn’t synonymous with self-defense despite often being presented as such, the same applies to firearms.

Is your wife actually capable of making an informed decision? Like or dislike shouldn’t really be a primary deciding point IMO if someone doesn’t have any knowledge on the subject, although a willingness to carry would be something to think about since a gun too big or heavy will be left behind. Safety is also a big consideration.

My wife and mother both carry 642’s/442’s in their purses. They seldom practice, but when they do, it’s with standard pressure ammunition. Even then, a few cylinders and they are done, but that’s OK as far as I’m concerned.

Consider why the gun is being carried. Neither one of my girls are realistically going to be involved in any type of shootout(that really applies to pretty much any civilian), but they are concerned about physical assaults, rape attempts, car-jackings mugging and the like which occur at contact or arms length. In those situations, there’s a lot to be said for the snub revolver. It’s simple, safe, reliable, doesn’t need much maintenance, offers excellent weapon retention and will almost assuredly remain operational in a contact distance fight. They’ll never practice much nor are capable of much marksmanship, but they really don’t need it.

Just my take on the subject, YMMV.

My wife loved the S&W Model 60 Ladysmith 357 mag with wooden grips.
At 21oz you can comfortably shoot 38+p ammo all day long!
She also liked having the exposed hammer for longer/accurate shooting.

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

If you want her to carry it and develop proficiency with it, LET HER CHOOSE HER OWN GUN!

Take her to a range that rents a wide variety of guns, introduce her to the owner or other knowledgeable staff member and then go get a long lunch by yourself while she stays at the range trying the guns that interest her.

Have her call you once she’s made her selection.

THEN you return to the range to see what she bought!

Ask her to carry the S&W model 65 3" around in her purse for a few days so she can experience the weight first hand.

Other than that, it will be her gun, let her choose what best fits.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

Just so you know, not all women like J-frames! I EDC a 49 no dash and have bought her a 30, a 36, and a 438. She hated them all even with an assortment of grips!

Her CCW class was geared towards women and the main instructor was a woman (NRA Director Linda Walker). Because of Linda's industry connections, there were multiple copies of over 75 handguns available for the class and mostly unlimited ammo for the ladies to try out what ever caught their eye. My wife likes a Glock 17, she also took a fancy to my S&W model 17-3, but instead practices with my 4" 422 (I thought I was going to lose the model 17, but distracted her with the semi auto "For Continuity!") and she sometimes plays with a High Standard 22 revolver.

Hers is the only Glock in the house, or even in the extended family! But it is a gun she likes, and that is what matters!

Ivan

I won't be offended if you ignore this post, but I really have a major problem with encouraging (or presuming) that women carry their self-defense firearms off body! I think that we can all agree that a woman carrying a handbag is a prime target for purse-snatchers! I think that we can all agree that the last thing any of us would want to see is a woman loss her handbag while carrying off-body.

Personally, I would rather see a lady carrying a smaller handgun on body than a slightly larger handgun off-body! Utilizing a small concealed 32 or 380 may contribute to the element of surprise when a predator makes an aggressive move.

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Judge control not gun control!

Not offended at all rifleman. We're going to consider all options of carry as I do agree with your assessment of purse carry. I myself carry on my ankle which is the last place I want to carry, but in my profession I have certain limitations of carry and have gone through a multitude of holsters and carry options/positions trying to see what is comfortable and which works best for me. I've learned that wardrobe is fundamental in CC. For me ankle carry simply means I always have it regardless of dress. Admittedly not the best, but it's there everyday.

The Preacher

My wife carried a S&W Bodyguard in .380 for quite awhile. She saw me come home with a S&W M60. She looked it over and claimed it for herself. The Bodyguard was getting harder for her to rack, and a revolver is simple. She enjoys shooting it and I got another at the next gun show.

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Kevin in Oregon

If the J-frame is too light and she likes the 4" K-frame better, maybe a M10 or M64 snub nose would be a good option to split the difference. Smaller, lighter, and more compact than the 4" M65, but a bit more weight than the J-frame to reduce recoil. Plus a 6th round as a bonus.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

In a way, I'm a bit lucky in this regard. My better third won a SASS world championship within her class for a couple of years, and is quite accomplished with a handgun. Besides her SA Rugers, she owns a SIG 1911 and shoots/handles it well, but her EDC is a 642.....Her call, and I was very polite about letting her make it.

Especially for someone not very familiar with handguns, I have always felt a revolver is preferable. If their life depends on using the handgun, I want them to have a gun that they can pull out and it works. A revolver can fail, but in my opinion is a lot more reliable and more likely to work with a little fuzz or something in the works. I would be trying to steer your wife towards a revolver that she likes.

I would suggest she do some research online to narrow the field, then go to a range that rents firearms or a gun store and handle the ones she has narrowed her choice to. My $0.02 for what it is worth .

This is the first time I have used this forum, and I haven't figured out how to quote a previous post. somorris said:

"Especially for someone not very familiar with handguns, I have always felt a revolver is preferable. If their life depends on using the handgun, I want them to have a gun that they can pull out and it works. A revolver can fail, but in my opinion is a lot more reliable and more likely to work with a little fuzz or something in the works. I would be trying to steer your wife towards a revolver that she likes."

Amen, Brother! That's the philosophy I followed 50 years ago when my wife and I picked out a nickel-plated snub-nose S&W. We have been married 55 years now, and we both still like that gun. She has never had to use it, but several times it made her feel a lot better, knowing she had it if she needed it. It could lay in her purse untouched for a decade and still work perfectly if she needed it. That would not be true of ANY semi-automatic.

Unless your wife is really into guns and shooting, you probably should go with a light snub-nose double or single/double revolver in .38 Spl or .357 Mag and load it with standard-velocity .38's.

My wife can't shoot any more (stroke) but she still loves "her" gun. I'm thinking about borrowing it and using it for my own concealed carry, with heavier loads than she ever used. My S&W 6" N-frame "Highway Patrolman" .357 is a bit much to conceal.