Hi guys. Let me set this up.

I'm trying to get my lady to own/carry a more gutsy gun than her nice little Beretta 21A Bobcat. Sure, the .25 acp is a good nosegun but I want her to have more.

Been coaxing her, talking about the .32 Special revolvers. Like, "Hey honey, it's hardly more than that lil ol' .25.

Teal hates loud noises. It's more than "hates", it's like some people can't handle heights. I fired my .380 one day in my then gunsmith's workshop, (he had a range set up) and it blew Teal's mind. She ran from there and she was crying. It's the noise thing, sudden noise. When we have a thunder storm I put my shooting ear protectors on her.

Can't get her to have a .38. I'm looking at the .32 magnum revolvers and I have no idea how much noise and recoil there is with them. I've been searching the internet and I keep coming up with Harrington & Richardson ammo for the .32 magnum. What is it with this stuff? It's almost like it has a radiant light like around the head of a saint. Is it powerful? Is it my only choice?

I am searching and I am getting info like I always do but I'd love to get some anecdotal posts from any of you guys who are actually shooting it. Is it too scary for my girl?

All responses gratefully accepted; love to hear some good stories. Don't be shy...

If you get a 32mag revolver you can start her on the 32 s&W, then try the 32 long after that. If she tolerates those two, then she might be able to try the 32mag.

I don't know if you are going to be able to pull this off without scaring the bejesus out of her, from what you have described. I kept my wife on the 22lr revolver for a few years before she was willing to try the Kahr PM9 that she presently has. In any event, the decision to go for a bigger bang was hers. I did not push her, as she started out an anti, and I was just happy to see her coming around.

You folks are using hearing protection aren't you?

Drake, I honestly think a .38 spl. would be a better choice in a case like this. This is why; For a defensive cartridge to be effective something must be big; either the bullet or the energy and they must work in harmony. A 148 gr. .38 wadcutter loaded to 750 fps. or so should penetrate well, yet be a fairly low pressure (quieter) load. The weight of the bullet will give it the momentum to go deep, and although it won't expand, it will leave a full caliber hole. My wife HATES the muzzle blast of my .357s, but shoots wadcutters out of her 3" model 60 and likes them. Teal might be more comfortable if you put foam plugs in her ears, then put muffs on over those. Slower, heavier bullets tend to push when they recoil as opposed to a more disconcerting sharp snap such as light fast bullets give.

A .32 mag is louder than a standard .38 Special.
It's about muzzle pressure.

My suggestion is to get her into an NRA Basic Pistol course so she can shoot several different guns. You stay home.

If she can find a female instructor or mentor, even better.

I second the .38 wadcutter approach. They are nice light recoiling and quiet loads.

quote:

Originally posted by pps:
If you get a 32mag revolver you can start her on the 32 s&W, then try the 32 long after that. If she tolerates those two, then she might be able to try the 32mag.

That's a good point, pps, we have three stages and gradual is good.

quote:

I don't know if you are going to be able to pull this off without scaring the bejesus out of her, from what you have described. I kept my wife on the 22lr revolver for a few years before she was willing to try the Kahr PM9 that she presently has. In any event, the decision to go for a bigger bang was hers. I did not push her, as she started out an anti, and I was just happy to see her coming around.

You were very patient and that's what matters. You gave good advice and I thank you for that and I am going to consider it carefully.

quote:

Originally posted by RON in PA:
You folks are using hearing protection aren't you?

Ron, on the day I fired the .380 none of us including my gunsmith were wearing protection. I guess this exasperated the condition. I'd had problems myself with my .357, messed up my left ear some, but to me this was a popgun by comparison. I wish now I had given her some protection.

quote:

Originally posted by flop-shank:
Drake, I honestly think a .38 spl. would be a better choice in a case like this. This is why; For a defensive cartridge to be effective something must be big; either the bullet or the energy and they must work in harmony. A 148 gr. .38 wadcutter loaded to 750 fps. or so should penetrate well, yet be a fairly low pressure (quieter) load. The weight of the bullet will give it the momentum to go deep, and although it won't expand, it will leave a full caliber hole. My wife HATES the muzzle blast of my .357s, but shoots wadcutters out of her 3" model 60 and likes them.

I would love her to have a .38 Special, Flop, more than anything else. Been scratching around for alternaties. Teal has been on the outdoor range when I've been firing .38 Specials from my Model 66-3 and even though she was a sensible distance from me the sound still gave her distress. I think though, she was trying at the time. Trying to adjust, that is. Among other loads I used the 148 gr wadcutter a whole lot, still do for range stuff. I can't remember what I was firing that day, might have been a hotter load. It's always different.

I still have 50 or 60 of those 148 gr wadcutters here and they're reloads, not +P. I am going to think heavy on this. I want to get her out there again. Too cold for a picnic, have to put the thinking cap on. Thanks for the good advice, this is really a big deal for us ever since that bastard grabbed her around her throat and brought her down. She didn't get seriously hurt, she screamed so damn loud he panicked and ran but I fear for a next time. She's a cute babe, and for cute babe read, target.

quote:

Teal might be more comfortable if you put foam plugs in her ears, then put muffs on over those. Slower, heavier bullets tend to push when they recoil as opposed to a more disconcerting sharp snap such as light fast bullets give.

I'll consider that too, Flop. I've got good ear protectors but the added protection is a good idea. And I guess the recoil thing is an added hurdle for a lot of women. It's the way of it.

quote:

Originally posted by OKFC05:
A .32 mag is louder than a standard .38 Special.
It's about muzzle pressure.

I didn't know that, OKFC05, thanls for the heads up.

quote:

My suggestion is to get her into an NRA Basic Pistol course so she can shoot several different guns. You stay home.

I know her well enough to know she would not go to a course. I can teach her everything she needs to know and she feels secure with me. As for the, "You stay home" comment, I can't think of any reason for you saying that. I sure don't push her into things, I coax and I suggest and I protect her. I'm always there for her and she trusts me and she expects that.

quote:

If she can find a female instructor or mentor, even better.

Maybe it's just me but I think that's the worst idea I could think of.

quote:

Originally posted by SmithNH:
I second the .38 wadcutter approach. They are nice light recoiling and quiet loads.

I know you're right, SmithNH, both you and Flop have suggested the same. But, bon chance, I do have enough of those loads to try this out. I need to go into the planning mode again.

PS: I don't speak French, I just do that crap sometimes.

Remember also, Drake that shooting can be tiring if recoil and report are at the upper limit of a shooter's tolerance, so starting at fifteen to eighteen rounds can be better for a newer shooter.

OKF's advice about a female instructor is not bad. My wife is more comfortable at the range when there are other females there. Women also think different than us and the area of guns is no exception. An experienced female shooter will also sometimes know what another female is thinking more so than a spouse, have encountered the same problems and have solutions. Trust me, he gave you good info. This website might be of interest www.corneredcat.com .

quote:

Originally posted by flop-shank:
Remember also, Drake that shooting can be tiring if recoil and report are at the upper limit of a shooter's tolerance, so starting at fifteen to eighteen rounds can be better for a newer shooter.

OKF's advice about a female instructor is not bad. My wife is more comfortable at the range when there are other females there. Women also think different than us and the area of guns is no exception. An experienced female shooter will also sometimes know what another female is thinking more so than a spouse, have encountered the same problems and have solutions. Trust me, he gave you good info. This website might be of interest www.corneredcat.com .

Thank you for the link, Flop, I'll look into it. But I am a little locked into my ways.

See if you can borrow some long barreled .38 or .357 revolvers. The greater weight will help reduce recoil and the longer barrel will give less muzzle blast than a short barreled one, especially during acclimation.

Final point: While a mouse gun wouldn't be my first choice, any gun is better than none and nobody wants to get shot, even with a little gun. Many years ago I had occasion to look down the bore of a .25 auto under tense circumstances. I would have sworn you could have parked a truck in there!!!

quote:

Originally posted by 44forever:
See if you can borrow some long barreled .38 or .357 revolvers. The greater weight will help reduce recoil and the longer barrel will give less muzzle blast than a short barreled one, especially during acclimation.

Final point: While a mouse gun wouldn't be my first choice, any gun is better than none and nobody wants to get shot, even with a little gun. Many years ago I had occasion to look down the bore of a .25 auto under tense circumstances. I would have sworn you could have parked a truck in there!!!

I don't know drakes significant other, but mine wouldn't even consider the longer barrel (at first) for two reasons. First, the gun feels heavy to my wife...even my 4" security six, and second there was something in her head that had her convinced a big gun always means big recoil.

She shoots the 22, and her Kahr (which is more snappy than my ruger with mouse fart 38's) so I'm happy. She enjoys the 22 the most, and she feels confident with the Kahr as a sd weapon even though she shoots it the least.