1.) You do need to practice, but you don't need to shoot a lot. Practice is good, but you don't have to do a lot of rounds to stay competent. Shooting all afternoon (or morning, or day), is stressful and tiring to the body. If you feel that you must be there all day, then rest & relax some. My range charges for 3 hours, but if they are not crowded they will let you stay as long as you want.

2.) You do not need to shoot your carry gun a lot. To do so on a light weight revolver will possibly lead to damage and excessive wear. I don't have the money to replace a carry piece every few year. Shoot as much or as little as you please, but only after you can hit what you are aiming at. You see guys at the range that come out once every 10 years and think they are Wyatt Earp and put holes in the overhead, uprights, the target carriages and even the loading bench.....please don't be one of these. Practice and practice is practice no matter what gun you use. Trigger time is what you want, there is no replacement for that.

3.) I Agree as I have already said let your wife pick out what she want to shoot. Some guidance from you and a knowledge individual at your trusted gunstore may be helpful. Remember grips can be changed if needed for comfort. A .22LR handgun also can go a long ways in helping a novice in learning how to shoot. Besides they are fun and cheap to shoot compared to a centerfire.

4.) Classifieds can be good. However, I prefer to have my hands on somethings that I buy and a gun is one of them.

5.) Reloading is a good thing for some. I reload and will be doing so after I finish this. It can be expensive to do so. I have four different presses (and just gave the fifth to a friend who wants to get into reloading). Get your guns and shoot. Then if shooting enough to warrant the expense of reloading equipment and components, then purchase what you need and find a knowledgeable individual to help you out in the learning process. Reloads are another story, find a trusted source for them. Do not just buy some from someone at the local gun show, you DO NOT know the quality of the product. Reloads done improperly can damage/destroy your gun and do the same to you or your wife.

6.) Do not shoot until it hurts......it stops being fun that way and this is supposed to be fun. Besides you make your wife shoot until it hurts and she will quit............

AJ

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Hi everyone, called all the stores around me and found another 342, this one TI even though I prefer PD. I tried to work with them on price, but they wouldn't budge past $450+7% tax which I thought was on the higher side given the finish condition and I was going to be paying cash. Overall the gun is night and day better shape than the previous one. This one comes with the original box too.

Let me know what you think! We ended up not buying it as we are going to a gun show tomorrow and I would like to see what's out there.

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If it was my decision I would look for another one that one has the lock & there are plenty without the lock.

You miss the point. It's not about session length--it's about how often you honestly practice shooting it. If the gun is uncomfortable or simply not entertaining to shoot, you're not going to practice with it.

As for the rest--you absolutely must practice regularly with your carry gun, or at least a facsimile. How else can you expect to be able to shoot it in sub-standard conditions, under stress, at uncertain ranges, at a target trying to do you harm?

If you're worried about premature wear on a lightweight revolver (I never have been)--then that's a cost of the exotic frame you selected.

The counter guy is doing his job. His job is to make a sale. Thus, what he has on hand--ideally at the highest margin--is what's best, in his opinion. This does not make him a bad person, this makes him a good employee.

I used to harbor ill will towards a certain gun "store" (not a "shop"--there's a difference), that specialized in markups and selling dopey stuff to idiots. Now I say, fleece the rubes, if they want to pay 30% more to buy guns, ammo, and targets like they buy TP at the Wal Mart, too bad for them.

At the other end of the spectrum, counter guys will literally work for free, or in exchange for at-cost guns. Their expertise, in my experience, ranges from "okay" to "nonexistent".

What a way to misunderstand and misrepresent a common saying.

Aren't the "no lock" ones more desirable? Is there a safety risk of it going off in your pocket/person accidentally?

Yes, Matt the no lock models are preferred. Properly holstered it is hard for the trigger to be accessed. If you stay with the 342/442 style revolver there isn't the hammer to catch on anything (the whole idea behind the design).

AJ

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

1 & 2.) How many folks have you trained in the use of firearms and the application of deadly force? I spent quite a few years teaching Marines and local law enforcement in both. I further was a member of a F.A.S.T. Company(use Google).

3.) I try not to abuse my firearms. I paid good money for them and would like for them to last until I pass them on to others, preferably to my Grandchildren.

4 & 5.) I wrote someone you trust, this indicates that you know the individual well enough to realize he wants to make a sale, but also is truthful enough that he wants to have you as return business. The salesman at whatever the local big box store probably has a hard time spelling "guns", let alone shooting one.

6.) All shooting is a learning experience. People learn by practice. Practice need not be painful. I have trained to that point in the Corps. We fired so much handgun that our hands were raw from having the skin wore off (almost 2000 rounds of .45 ACP in five days of training), shoulders so sore and bruised that it was hard to raise our arms (350 rounds of 12 ga. 00 Buck and slug in three days). If you want to discuss hurt we can make it hurt. If it fun? NO! To teach a lady to shoot make it fun, not painful.

Matt and his Wife have a standing invitation to come up and shoot at our range. Will be happy to bring any handgun they want to the range to shoot. Any one reading this is welcome to shoot with us.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

To AJ and WiseA: You have both contributed some good food for thought.

Your opinions differ, but that's the great thing about this forum and our
country. We are all free to form our own opinions. I don't think either
of you are entirely wrong, nor are either of you entirely right. But you
do have your own opinions and I can respect that. I suggest you agree
to disagree and move on.

I thought I was wrong once, a long time ago, but I was mistaken.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I agree 100%.
I would never carry a gun I wasn't willing to practice with regularly. It's not just about whether or not the gun shoots to point of aim. How fast can you shoot follow-up shoots to the level of accuracy determined by the target? Without practice and training you simply have no idea.

I've also never worried about wearing out a revolver with target loads. How many Smiths have you heard of breaking from standard pressure .38s? I bet it would take so many rounds that the cost of ammunition would be many times the cost of the gun.

Yeah your resume is impressive. But how many of those years involved training with lightweight 5 shot revolvers? I'm just a regular guy, but it sounds like I've shot my carry gun more this weekend than you have in your lifetime.

May you have and hopefully you can hit the target.......

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Depends how fast I'm shooting and the size/distance to the target(s). If I never pushed myself to the point of missing I'd have no idea of my limits with that particular gun.

I ended up purchasing a brand new 442 at the gunshow with hard case for $370+tax which was the best price I saw there and pretty comparable to what I am seeing them go for on gunbroker after I have to pay to ship it and broker transfer. I am excited to go to the range soon and shoot it. Anyone have suggestions on a holster, cleaning kit and where to buy ammo (should I get anything+P)? Thank you all again for your assistance!

Congratulations on your new revolver.

For holsters, how do you intend to carry it? Airweight J-frames are practically designed for pocket carry, there are a variety of pocket holsters available depending on the size/shape of your pockets.

For defensive ammo I like Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P, for practice it really doesn't matter just find something that shoots to point of aim. 158 gr LRN ammo is cheap and accurate in my snubbies.

I would just use CLP to clean it.

I own a 442 and a couple of 642's. The 442 was relegated to a training gun as I experienced rust issues with it, especially when in your part of the country and since prefer the all stainless steel 642 for carry.

My 642 usually rides in a Mika pocket holster and my preferred ammo is Corbon DPX .38 special +P.

Go get a 637 on sale at Davidson's Gallery of Guns, gun shops in my area are selling them for $390 brand new. Guess I'am a little late to the show, congrats on your new Smith & Wesson.

Thank you for the recommendations. It will be concealed carry, I usually am dressed in a t-shirt and shorts year round unless I am with clients.

You might also find it easy to conceal with an IWB holster or a belly band. The great thing about a J-frame is that you have so many options.