Any small revolvers being made?

[Daniel Howe]

My neighbor has never handled a handgun before and would like me to introduce her to them and show her how to fire and safely handle them. Problem is she is a little bitty thing with small hands. Only thing I have that she can hang onto is a US Revolver in .32 caliber.

There are no decent gun shops within an hours drive so I don't get to see much of a selection. Is there any thing newer on the market that is about the same size that I can get to show Carolyn pistol safety and how to shoot? Thanks for our help and advice.

 

[Kurusu]

The smallest usable revolver I know is the Ranger from North American Arms.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Maybe a Ruger Bearcat for single action.

The S&W model 34 in double action with the small grips, is about the best there is. My 34-1 4" was like new in the box when I bought it last year for $500.

For a cheap SA 22, the Rough Rider is available in Round Butt or Square Butt around $125 I think.

How much do you want to do this?

If you reload, nothing wrong with the gun you have!

Ivan

 

[OLDSTER]

Maybe a Ruger Bearcat for single action.

The S&W model 34 in double action with the small grips, is about the best there is. My 34-1 4" was like new in the box when I bought it last year for $500.

For a cheap SA 22, the Rough Rider is available in Round Butt or Square Butt around $125 I think.

How much do you want to do this?

If you reload, nothing wrong with the gun you have!

Ivan

I would agree with the neat little Ruger Bearcat and the safety and simplicity of single action.

 

[Daniel Howe]

I failed to mention that once she gets comfy she will want to keep the gun for concealed carry. With that in mind I would like to stay a little bigger than .22 caliber. The .32 is ok but I don't think I could trust a 100 year old gun for personal protection. I plan to give it to her when we are done so I don't want to spend anymore than I have to. Maybe a couple hundred or so.

 

[WC145]

Any RB J frame with small grips like magnas.

 

[RoninPhx]

not sure if it's appropriate given the forum, but those beretta model 81's are coming into the country. daughter who has always had a problem racking the slide on a semiauto, was able to work it properly, also liked the way it fit her hand. Around the price range you are talking about.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I'd look for a 4" I frame in .32 but in all honesty I think a .22 magnum in a revolver would make a suitable self defense weapon given the parameters of the shooter.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Don’t know anything about the quality but Charter Arms makes revolvers in 22LR, 22 mag, 32 H&R mag, and 38spl for under $400.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Smith & Wesson has made many J-frames that might fit her hand and be manageable. This Model 317 AirLite in .22 LR might be a possibility. I should mention that they are very lightweight...

John

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...North American Arms is making swing out cylinder models now...

 

[wetdog1911]

Maybe a Ruger Bearcat for single action.

The S&W model 34 in double action with the small grips, is about the best there is. My 34-1 4" was like new in the box when I bought it last year for $500.

For a cheap SA 22, the Rough Rider is available in Round Butt or Square Butt around $125 I think.

How much do you want to do this?

If you reload, nothing wrong with the gun you have!

Ivan

I agree, the M34-1 is tops (mine is a 2"), but figure $500 at a minimum and pre locks and earlier go for even more. That might be more $$ than you're willing to go, but I love mine.

The Ruger Bearcat is also excellent. Not as small as the M34-1, but smaller than the Single Six, another Ruger .22. Not as spendy as the M34-1, but not cheap either. But it is perfectly sized for lady sized hands. The single action is also great for new shooters.

The cheaper you go the more rough the machining and finish is going to be. That's the trade-off for the lower cost and the balance you'll have to decide.

*I* would NOT reccommend a North American Arms to any new shooter, or even experienced ones for that matter. Just way too small and difficult to manipulate safely IMO. I had one for a very short time, years ago and quickly sold it.

Rob

 

[mikerjf]

Probably out on price or availability, but:
Rossi Princess?
Taurus View?

The View would need careful ammo selection - even with target loads it is painful.

I'm also in the camp of thinking the NAA is not for a beginner.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Look for a 3" 36 or 60 ...... add Pachmayr "Professional" grips or a set of S&W Target grips (aka Banana Grips) and load with light target loads or wadcutters......

I have 34s and a 63; DA rimfire's tend to have a heavier double action trigger and a higher likely hood of a misfire. (depending on ammo)

 

[mikerjf]

Another idea - the Rock Island M206?

6 shot 38 snubby, available in DAO, all-steel to help with recoil, seems well-liked online, $225 from Buds. Maybe you could sand the wood grips down some to help with the size thing.

 

[Krogen]

My neighbor has never handled a handgun before and would like me to introduce her to them and show her how to fire and safely handle them. Problem is she is a little bitty thing with small hands.

Others have mentioned small or lightweight guns, and suitable calibers. She has never handled, let alone fired a handgun, so you probably should consider recoil. Even a 22 in a tiny gun may be too snappy for a newbie. I suggest you scare up a J-frame in 22 or a k-frame with Magna grips to introduce her to handguns.

A tale to illustrate my point:

Some time ago, I helped a newbie with her first handgun shoot. She was at the range with her boyfriend and he wanted her to try his 1911. She was entranced, but terrified. That with a 1911 would have been a bad combination.

I talked her into trying my Model 17. First I showed her how small the rounds were. Then I showed her how the pistol acted when dry-fired. "Click. That's it!" She tried that and gained some comfort. Then I asked her to put her hand over mine when I fired a round. She saw it wasn't a big deal and was ready to try it on her own. She wound up telling Mr. 1911 that she wanted to go to Cabelas and buy a 22.

Mission accomplished!

 

[glenwolde]

The Taurus .380 Mini Revolver is a tad smaller than even the J-frames, but it'll need a spring kit as the trigger pull on every one I've seen is rather heavy.

 

[kscharlie]

I have no personal experience with one, but based on the research I have done in the past, I think she would be a wonderful candidate for a Charter Arms Undercoverette in .32 H&R Mag. She can start out with standard .32 S&W Long (either wadcutter or round nose) and once comfortable with them, move up to the .32 Mag round. I have a good lady friend who has a .38 snub, all steel, and she is a little bitty woman with small hands too. She does NOT like shooting that gun. I believe the CA .32 is smaller than a S&W J frame and can be found in many places for under $350 out the door.

 

[Wise_A]

Ugh.

(1) Your "learn to shoot" gun is not your "concealed carry" gun.

(2) Just because you think she's small, doesn't mean she needs a small gun.

(3) Just because you want to CCW, doesn't mean you need to learn to be a shooting ace. Can you reliably load it? Can you handle it safely? Are you confident operating it? Okay then.

My picks:

Learner
Standard-frame 9mm semiautomatic--Glock 17, S&W M&P, 1911
--or--
S&W Model 14 in .38 Spl, with small-ish grips.

Carry
Some damn thing she can operate and likes.

"Picking out someone else's carry gun is like picking out some else's underwear: Unless it's being done for a performative reason pre-agreed upon by both parties, it's weird and maybe creepy."

Although I have to laugh at the bandying-about of garbage .380s and .32s for a woman none of us have ever met, with an unspecified budget. Literally, making recommendations based on "she has lady parts" and "I think she has small hands".

Take her to a store. Ask her, not us.

 

[Justin T]

^^^^^^Excellent response.