I know, I know... but I have learned to listen to her and not enforce my beliefs.

My wife doesn't mind so much .38 Special in the K and L frame, and can do a respectable job on the paper, though accuracy is something that still needs work.

However, my Model 649 is a huge NO for the pain factor, and looking at her target I agree.

She saw a .32 that a local shooter was nice enough to let her handle. Assume it was a Model 30 or 31... she (and I) really liked it. It was a family heirloom carried in WW2 by his father (I frame?)

Her quote... "It's dainty... I like it."

She likes .22 of course...

So I have narrowed down the future CCW selection to...

8 shot/ 3 inch ...Model 63 or 317?
6 shot/3 inch... Model 31 in .32 Long? (I'm pushing for a Model 632, but no luck thus far.)

Opinions?

Does a Sig 232 have a sharp recoil?

A Sig P230/232 pistol will recoil a bit as it is a blowback design. That is also a large handgun, there are several models available in 9mm & .40 that are comparable in size and weight.

I own a snubbie #317, a #30-1, two#31-1's and they are neat guns, though I have never thought the snubbie .22's were greatly accurate. My #63 is a 4" and does shoot well. I bought my daughter a #331TI which is light accurate for her. These are all very good guns, however, you will pay big for a snubbie #63 or any #631.

As you know, the .32 is pretty puny. Also pretty pricey. I'd go for the .22. Practice a bunch with bricks from Walmart. Keep it loaded for business with the good stuff like CCI Stinger, Quik-Shok or Velocitor, or one of the other hot loads from Rem., Win., or Federal. Experiment and find the one she and her gun likes the best. One or two well-placed .22 rounds beat the heck out of a very loud near miss. If you think a .22LR isn't tough enough, shoot a 2X4. The 317 holds 8 and is the way to go!

I have never had a miss fire with a centerfire but have had a lot with a 22. If my life depended on it for self defence I would go with the 32

The 32s are good shooting little revolvers. My wife prefers the 32 over a 22.

As mentioned, a center fire round is less likely than a rim fire to have a primer failure.

note: A local woman was attacked in her home by an intruder one morning several weeks ago. She got to her gun (a .22) and shot and killed the attacker.

The best gun for SD is the one you can shoot well, and is there when you need it.

Getting my girfriend the 3" 63. Good for learning and for hiking. Bud

As far as a light shooting, easy to rack slide, a Walther PK380 has much less recoil than the P230/232. Although it's not a pocket gun, the grip and handling are loved by ladies who are recoil sensitive.

I have both and only use the .22. Get her a nice 34 or 63.

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Have you thought of a 632 in .327? It gives a lot of versatility, being able to shoot any rimmed .32 you want (except 32-20 of course!).

Between the two I would go with the .32. The bullet is a little bigger (not by much) and you have the fact that it is a centerfire. On the other hand, the .22 will be a much cheaper.

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Vaya con Dios

.32 over .22

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

This is the one I'm pushing for...

Definatly will have to breakdown and start reloading.

The incident m1gunner mentioned happened here in Gwinnett county. I called our local police and offered to give them a gun to give to the poor lady, as her .22 went to the crime lab. She made an impression on her attacker that lasted the rest of his life.

To the OP, if you are near Atlanta or NE Georgia I will be happy to let your wife shoot my handguns, can add a Walther PP .32 and a S&W .22 magnum to the list as well.

I recently bought a NAA Wasp, pocket revolver. It's kinda a BUG to a BUG. It's a 22/22 mag combo.

I bought the new Hornady 30 gr rounds to try out. Stated velocity is 2,000+ FPS.

I set up my chrono to see what they got out of the little 1-5/8 bbl. I was hoping for 1,000 FPS. They avg. 1375. I shot a steel 55 drum. The little bullet punched a entry and exit hole.

I'm thinking a 8 shot 351PD, at 10 oz. would be a awesome little package. Little to no recoil.

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USPSA CRO
Patriot Guard rider

Cut to the chase:
Get her what She likes-the .32.
Also a more dependable round (Centerfire).

I'd go with the 32 however since you've admitted you may handload for it don't overlook an I frame in 38 S&W.

I agree. If you don't get what she wants you will regret it.

+ another 1.

That's good advice, right there.

Currently nestled in my right front pocket is a post-War I-frame 32 Hand Ejector with 2" snub nose barrel. It is my personal favorite at present for CCW and IMHO could only be improved upon by moving up to a .38 S&W Terrier. I'm a "petite" 5' 11" male who tips the scales at a feathery 230#, but I want something that is concealable with enough authority to speak for me if needed.

Would it be my choice in a shootout situation? No, I would rather have my 14 shot Para Ord .45, with a couple of spare mags, but that doesn't conceal worth a hoot!

My advice for the OP is to get her what she will be willing to carry, and what she is comfortable shooting... the .45 would be the most authoritative, but useless if it's at home (like mine usually is.) That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

There's a 3-inch Model 31-1 for sale on Guns America right now for $498.00. I couldn't really tell from the photos, but it looks like it has your wife's name on it.

I will say the 32 revolver is the way to go! I could be biased, I only own 12 of them!! Pick up one of the new 632's, With the 632 you can go really mild to wild!!
PM me for a place that has a smokin deal on them.

I'm a great fan of the .32 round. It is more certainly more potent than the .22lr without nasty recoil.
Consider the S&W 432/431 models in .32 H&R Magnum. You can fire .32 S&W long in them without incident, but have the option of the .32 H&R mag for defense.
Also, although this is a Smith & Wesson forum, there is the wonderful, alloy-frame Colt Cobra in .32 long (Colt calls it .32 New Police/NP). There is one on GB for around $500. The light weight is nice for carry without the well-known kick of bigger caliber alloy snubbies.
Cheers,
Cockerpoodle (Buzz)

True. Also if you consider a Colt, don't overlook a "Pocket positive". They are about the same size as a S&W "I frame" (maybe a hair smaller) and weigh about the same as a "Cobra" or "Airweight" Smith) but are much smaller then either. Same cal. .32 Police/S&W Long. They don't seem to be a hot item collecter wise, so can be picked up pretty reasonably.

I have one in my pocket now. Like the name implys they fit a pocket perfectly. I know .32Long is looked at as "wimpy" by some, but at one time that cal. was carried by quite a few police forces. I just gotta think a few 98gr .32 slugs would take the fight out of most BG's.

How about a 317 22 Mag??

More power than a standard 22 and much lower ammo cost than a 32.

As it happens, I own a S&W 317 which I love. It is a .22lr though. Maybe I am confused. I am always happy to learn something new.
Cockerpoodle

My wife is very recoil sensitive being a relatively new shooter (2.5 years). After shooting through many handguns I relented and got her a Ruger MkIII. I'd rather she used a centerfire but high end .22's like Stingers and similar are reliable. She is very good with it.

If you wife likes revolvers I'd get her a .32 over a .22 anyday. A full wadcutter is a decent bullet to load for defense in the lower powered .32's.

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Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas

I have a 3" 31-1. The square profile butt makes for fewer grip options than a round butt J frame would.

A gun from WW2 vintage would definitely be a pre model number gun and could have been made decades before the war even. I'd have a preference for one of the later model numbered guns. Adventurous handloader and have been known to fire loads approaching the .32 HR mag in these.

While jacketed hollow points actually are available in .32 SW Long, your best bet is probably the 98gr (or so) lead round nose bullets. They move a bit faster than the wadcutters and at least poke a decently deep hole. Recoil is minimal and accuracy very good.

If you want a minimal recoil auto with a slide that is fairly easy to pull back, look for a Beretta Model 84F in .380. The one I had seemed to almost recoil free and was quite well made and reliable. The F models have,if memory serves, a magazine disconnect safety.

700....I went down the same road with my wife. I have a snubbie 327 MAG and she can soot the 32 long wadcutters pretty well, but even the 32 98 grain LRN gave her a bit of trouble. I think it's more of a fear thing than the actual act of firing it. She gets all bound-up waiting for the noise and fear that the gun will kick too hard, even though the 32 out of the SS 327 will not kick a bit more than a 22 and the TP is much sweeter.

Anyway....I put a 317 in her hand and....utopia...she found heaven. The TP on the 317 is a little harder than the 327 with reduced pull springs, but she doesn't mind it. Wolff sells a reduced pull kit for the 317 and that's what's in the gun.

With any 32 I had her try...she could occasionally hit a 12" x 12" target. With the 317...you can cover all of her hits with your hand at 25-feet and a few of them will be in the bullseye. It was a miracle.

I hope that after she gets some time in with the 317, I can graduate her to larger calibers, but it will be impossible to find one that weights around 10.5 ounces like the 317 does. I suppose I have her spoiled now. I do reload and had down-loaded a 32 long to a ridiculous level...she still did not like it.

Another thing for new shooters is a set of good earplugs and get the target up close. I recommend 5 to 10 feet, I call it minute of arm reach. Having gotten the 317 experiment with the different ammo choices, find the most reliable and have her shoot a bunch to get used to it!!

Agreed....start them up close so they can hit something that will provide encouragement and a sense of accomplishment. I started the wife out with 22 shorts and worked her up to long rifle. When she started hitting that target anywhere, I kept telling her that was was well within the size of a bad guy at 10-feet.

I think we will stay on the .22 path for now... either a 317 or Model 63

She has shot all .22's very nicely and accurately. Having a gun, being comfortable with the gun, and shooting it accurately trumps most short comings.

Going the .32 route would involve reloading to defray the cost, and since I have never reloaded, I don't think she would like being the guinea pig.

One positive, she shoots the 581 and the Model 19 without any real complaint. There is a lot of flinching going on. With some more practice in general and with the .38 caliber, I think a Model 64/Model 10 could be the eventual CCW solution.

Heck, get 'em both.
I carry a Model 64 snubby and my wife can't keep her hands off of it. Although it is considered heavy by those who prefer polymer, it is well balanced and even +P ammo doesn't make the recoil painful.
And when you take her to the opera, the M30 she can carry in her evening bag.

Whatever choice you make in a revolver, get some soft grips on it. Yeah, they're ugly and blah-blah-blah, but they will make her a better shooter.

Don't overlook the 327 MAG/32 H&R. Those rounds can be a bit expensive, but he 32 long and wadcutters can be had pretty close to commercial 38 special prices. She can have the 32 longs and wadcutters....you can have a few 32/327 MAGS for any serious work you want to do with it.

I only say this because I never could get the 38-special down-loaded to a round she could shoot and still make it very practical. The long case on the 38 special limits the light loads. You can use a light slug and around 2-2.5 grains of powder, but it won't burn very well and shoots pretty dirty. I am thinking about your comment on eventually getting her up to a 38 special. Even the 38 special wadcutters may be a bit too strong for her.

Let me tell you now...if you ever get her in a 317...it will be very hard to make her let go. My wife likes hers because it is very light and "cute".

Ladies.....no disrespect intended (and some of us men are just as bad), but the mind and will of a woman can be a very mysterious and hard thing to change. Once I put the 317 in her hand....that was it. She shoots the 32's well now, but she hands the gun back to me to put away afterwards. The 317....she keeps within arms-reach at all times.

I'd say go with the .32. She likes it and I think it's a bit better than a .22. I haven't found the rounds too expensive at my local gun shop.

I have a S&W .32 that my dad won in a poker game way back when. Was my mom's favorite gun. Then he sold it, which caused quite an argument. Years later he had the opportunity to buy it back and he did. Now it's mine. Besides, if it worked for Charles Bronson in Death Wish, it can't be all bad!

Finding .32 caliber handguns is easier than finding ammo.

I was able to trade for a Model 317.

The master plan is to keep her shooting .38 Special in the L frame, carry the .22 Jframe, and hopefully in time step up to a K frame snub

My wife is not a "gun person" and I got her a Mdl 31 (.32 S&W Long) 3"(4"?) as car gun, and a 351PD (Airweight .22 WMR) snubby purse gun. Both have trigger jobs down to around 8 lbs & 10 lbs DA pull, respectively, for her frail hands and she operates both well, and likes them both a lot, and likes to shoot them - a big plus. Recoil and report are big ticket items for women. Plenty of ammo around for both at cheap for practice (MagTech 32 SWL JHP works for practice & self-defense). I am comfortable that there are not many working parts between her and getting multiple shots off quickly.

Ditto post #35. When I put the 317 in her hand....that was it. She carries it and shots it very well. You're not going to gain very much between the 32 and a good high-velocity 22....if anything. She can shoot the 38-special in lighter loads, but loves the 317.

S&W 351C is a 7 shot .22 mag.. I found one LNIB recently for $450. They are amazingly light due to alloy frame and cyl.. It is also really loud and bullet weight is marginal. I had a 432 I traded off after ammo (in .32 HR) was unavailable here for almost 2 years during the ammo shortage. The .32 DS can be reamed safely to 32 HR. .327 has some heavy duty recoil. I'd prefer she stay with .38 spec. using a steel j frame.

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SOS USA

If she doesn't mind a .38 Special, why switch to something else less effective?

What kind of ammunition has she shot in the .38? If you're shooting +P JHPs, +P LSWC-HPs or even standard velocity LRNs or FMJs and recoil is an issue, why not try 148gr. LWC target loads? The full wadcutter cuts a clean, round hole that improves blood loss.

I'd rather carry .38 Special wadcutters than .22s or .32s any day and they're very pleasant to shoot out of virtually anything bigger than a derringer.

I double like this idea.

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SOS USA

Obviously....some of you people have never pissed-off a 95-pound lady with an 8-shot 22LR in her hand. I sure as he!! don't want to.

Even a wadcutter can be abusive to a small recoil-shy person, especially in an AirLite, or Airweight. The noise and muzzle-blast has as much to do with it as recoil. I'd rather have my wife dump 8-rounds of 22LR into somebody as opposed to having her shoot with her eyes closed regretting every trigger-pull. Yes....BG may get to her and do bad things, but the LEO can follow the blood-trail to the hospital or the body.

My wife has a 32 auto and a 32 long revlvr- she prefers to shoot the 32 longs, but carries the 32 auto- it's smaller is the only reason. Gotta admit, I prefer shooting the 32 longs wayyy more than the teeny little auto- the 32 longs are actually fun, like my 9mms. The little KT 32 auto hurts my hand after a magazine or 2.

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No work? No eat. 2 Thes

The point was that it had ALREADY been stipulated that the person in question didn't mind shooting a .38 Special. That being the case, the question was, what kind of ammunition had she shot?

I don't know about where you live, but around here, you have to go looking, HARD, for 148gr. .38 Special target wadcutter ammunition. Just about the only stuff you see around here is either hot JHPs or cheap 130gr. G.I. ball equivalent. Neither is anywhere near as pleasant to shoot as bullseye loads.

If she'd shot 130gr. FMJs or 158gr. LRN standard velocity and found that tolerable, the wadcutter loads will probably be very comfortable for her to shoot.

Wadcutters are not exactly plentiful around here either. I usually order them from one of the internet sites if I need them. I load my wife with a cast 105-grain LSWC over around 2.5 grains of bullseye...and she can tolerate that. The light slug really reduces the recoil in a Model 38 Airweight. I just can't pry that 10.5-ounce compact-sized 317 away from her.

One advantage of the Terrier is its lack of muzzle blast. I occasionally carry one out rambling in the woods when some plinking is in order. Not as painful as a .22 or .32 on the ears.


Regards,

Pat

Have her look at the Berreta Tomcat .32 you can flip up the barrel to load the first round then the rest load same as any semi-auto. This way you never have to rack the slide. Nice little pocket gun.

For .22 vs .32, I say go with the .32. .32 Long and Magnum are very easy cartridges to reload. You can dramatically improve .32 Long performance over factory ammo without getting into undue muzzle blast.

That said, if you are already prepared to start handloading, you might try loading some very light .38 spl loads for use in a snubby. I have recently been working up some loads around 125 and 135 gr LRN bullets in .38 spl using light charges of Unique and Red Dot. They run anywhere from 600 - 700 fps (depending on the loads) and just don't kick, even out of Airweights or a friend of mine's little Charter Arms. Something like that (possibly with a wadcutter or SWC bullet for improved impact) would probably be a better option than .22 or .32.

Given OP's options, I join many in preferring .32 over .22, while acknowledging the advantages in hi-volume practice with a .22. I also agree with the "get her what she likes" school of thought!!!

In my family, we found the .38 S&W to be a wonderful compromise for my wife and daughters, matching up a 33-1 4" bbl house gun with a 32-1 2" bbl carry/car gun for each of them & for me :-) Report & recoil similar to a .32SWL Mod 30-1 they had liked, but drills a larger hole.

Mild factory ammo available at my LGS, Cabela's, Bass Pro, and usually several on-line sites. Of course, much easier, cheaper & more versatile if you handload. For my girls, I've decided on a .358 hard cast 148g wadcutter, at factory duplicate .38S&W vel of about 700.

I won't tell you what I load mine with, as it might cause a riot on the forum. Hint: Ken Waters's "Pet Loads" article some years back lays out some loads that would really surprise you, e.g. 140g JHP at 984 fps in a 4" solid-frame gun. Now, look at factory ballistics on a 2" .38 SPL +P Speer 135g GDHP-SB, and guess what's in my 33-1? (This bullet expands fully at 860, according to Speer.)

Loading the 38S&W "long"--to lengths approximating 38 SPL COL's--I use Lee 2nd Ed. data to move a 148g LWC at 800 in 2" and 900 in 4". As always, YMMV with such hot loads, and I use them sparingly in modern steel solid-frame guns--NOT NOW & NEVER, EVER in old top-breaks!!! Work up, be careful, etc etc before adopting my approach.

Even published data in Speer 13, Lyman 49, and Lee 2nd gives safe, pressure-tested loads with standard 158g lead bullets that approximate 38SPL standard-pressure ammo, and recipes for 200g bullets at low 600's are plentiful, duplicating the old Super Police and British Mk. I service ammo. The 38S&W cartridge can do a LOT in the right gun, while offering much more sedate options for the recoil-sensitive that are more effective than smaller calibers. Hand loading is a snap, and .358 component bullets work fine in my S&W's, which have a groove diameter of .359.

Finally, these guns weigh 17-18 ozs. and are much easier to handle than modern 10-12 oz. guns in 38SPL.

My wife developed arthritis in her hands and shooting her Detecive Special got to be a bit hard on her. We considered a .22 as a replacement, however she wasn't completely comfortable with a .22 as a defensive weapon.
Not long after, we ran across a nice 2" Model 30 at a gun show. For her it was love at first sight. I slicked the action up and replaced the rebound spring to bring the trigger as light as I could while maintaining total reliability. Added a comfortable set of boot grips to fit her hand.
She was completely happy, could shoot it well and it didn't hurt her hands.
I have since added three more .32s to the safe.

I can only say what I would pick for myself.

Between a 32 and a 22LR...

I would pick the 22LR.

Just receintly I have been expermenting, and testing my Mod 34 2".
I have been suprised at how well it shoots out to 25 yards, even on the 6" plates at my range.
Most self defense shootings will be much closer. It is very accurate up close.

My reason for carry of this 22LR, is mostly centered on Woods carry, as a No2, where I can carry 50 to 100 extra rounds of ammo, in my pockets and not notice it, when on an ATV, that might break down a long way from the cabin/tent, when hiking/backpacking, etc.
I feel comfort in having a lot of ammo for protection, signaling, food gathering, etc.

Also...
Its main advantage is that I can shoot 500 rounds in a single day with out breaking the budget...

However I have been using a S&W 38 Special Bodyguard, for a No2, carried most every day since 1972. On the days I did not carry it I was carrying something bigger, as a No2.

SO, what I would recommend is to get a 2" 22LR, AND a 2" 38 Special.

Have the wife, AND YOU, practice extensively with the 2" 22, and then Both of you carry a 38 Special, for serious use. She might carry it as a No1, and you might carry it as a No2, and or a No1 some of the time...

The 22LR S&W will pay for itself in practice...

The 38 Special S&W's will PAY for themselves, if you ever need them in Harms way...

All the above, IMHO of course.