Can we discuss rimfire revolvers for getting your wife into more shooting?

[ABPOS]

I went into a gun store the other day with my wife. She wanted me to buy her some earmuffs for when we all go as a family, we were short one pair. Now she's got a matching pink set that we had gotten for my daughter.

So anyways.... She tells me she has the desire to shoot something and have something around for defense, but it has always been a challenge getting her to actually shoot.

I was a dolt and did everything backwards with her. I have no clue why I did this and feel dumb about it. I always desired she know how to defend herself if I wasn't around and I'd have her hold all the guns I have. Rifles seem too, well probably heavy and unwieldy. So we have always stuck with handguns. Well that's not true, last summer she shot the 10/22 and it was really the first time she didn't look scared or overwhelmed from the experience. And I'm kicking myself that I had not tried her out on a .22 pistol first. She had shot my Colt Detective special with wadcutters a couple of years ago and it hurt her hands.

The reason she shot the DS that time was because out of all my centerfire handguns, it seems the most intuitive for her. She can't rack the slide on any of the autos, and they seem like they overwhelm her in function. She actually hit the target center mass at 3 yards with the DS but was done shooting after 5 rounds or so. And it did actually leave a little mark on her shooting hand from recoil. I have no clue how wadcutters in 24 ounce revolver did that, but it did. So she was not excited about the pain.

So, the next time I take her to the range I'll have her shoot my Colt Huntsman. But I still think a revolver is a better deal for her. More intuitive. So I've been thinking I might want to pick up a rimfire revolver.

If you had to decide between getting a .22 mag revolver or just a .22 lr revolver in this situation, which way would you go. I do have a stash of .22 lr. Not tons but enough that I'm OK. But then there is the option of going up to a .22 mag and using some hornady critical defense, and maybe load some FMJ in the cylinder with it. I don't know. I know it's not optimal. But she doesn't have ANYTHING right now.

Or do you stay with a .22 until she learns to shoot better and then move her up to a more potent caliber? I suppose I could try some rubber grips on the DS and see if that helps. But I don't know if you can get any lighter loading than wadcutters. And to be honest, I'm not sure what it is but that DS has more felt recoil than my 442. But I have Hogue Tamer grips on my 442. The other issue is that the DS is out of time and I need to get it fixed. So do I take the money I'd spend on that and get a different rimfire revolver for now?

I feel like I should do something to get the ball moving for her, but I'm stymied. I still don't think she'd shoot a lot, but something is better than nothing and there are some other gals at church that want to shoot too. And I think she likes the aspect of wanting to be part of what some of the other lady's are doing. Plus there is just so much **** going on in the world I think my wife is thinking about it more.

I suppose I could have her try the 442 with wadcutters and see if it's any better experience for her. But I really think she needs to just shoot a .22 of some sort the next time to get her more acclimated.


What you all think?

 

[bagga]

we have a S&W 43c that's 11oz with an 8 shot wheel. mrs. bagga likes it and really shoots it well.

 

[g27racing]

I am a Colt guy... But being this is a Smith forum, try and fine a snub Model 66 for her or even maybe a model 36. I know I don't want to get shot with any gun including a 22LR but if I ever had defend myself, or my family I would just as soon have something with a bit more pop than a 22. Again, a 22LR is a LOT better than nothing. My wife is a lousy shot although she does like to shoot. She really likes the Model 66.

See if you can borrow or rent one of those guns and let the wife try it. Rubber grips help a lot as you already know.

 

[Absalom]

Charter Arms Pathfinder in .22 Magnum. Feels good, shoots well, gives you the bang of a round bigger than a .22lr without much more recoil, and you can get Gold Dot or Critical Defense loads for it.

Obviously won't knock a grizzly out of its flip-flops, but it's a great confidence builder. The gun is relatively inexpensive; practice ammo costs significantly more than .22lr, but you're not going to put thousands of rounds through it, so that shouldn't be a big factor.

I used one for years transitioning newbie shooters from .22 to .38 Spl.

 

[wolverine]

Afternoon ABPOS;

I haven't had great experiences using .22 revolvers with my wife.

They seem to work OK in single action but most .22 ammo takes a real hard hit to get ignition so my .22 (revolvers) have fairly high double action trigger pulls.

I really want my wife to understand, & intuitively use, double action for defense so my choice is a .38 or a .327.

I have a sweet little 4" SP 101 (.38) that I did a slick trigger job on. Single action is a little low at 2.4# but double action is just a tad under 7#. Always sets off even CCI primers.

She loves that gun & thinks she is Anne Oakly with it.

I mostly load it with mouse fart hand loads so she doesn't know what REAL recoil feels like but she isn't afraid of the gun & recoil either (I haven't ever allowed her to shoot heavy grain powerful loads.)

As she gets better with it I'm going to transition her to a 3" .327 with more powerful loads.

 

[rjm6120]

I'm having the same problem with my wife. She was so anxious to go with me to the range when I went there to fire my first 100 through my M&P .380 months ago. She shot one mag through it and was done---wanted nothing to do with the recoil. I have been trying to get her to go to the range with me to shoot my Ruger Standard and she has declined the last 3 times. However, she did express interest in one of those nice pink new Ruger 22's.
Sorry about that---what I'm getting at is I would start your wife out on a .22LR (revolver if you are concerned about her handling the potential complexities of a semi-auto) and then graduate from there when her confidence builds. If she just wants to stick with the .22LR so be it, it's better than nothing. Good luck!

 

[PatriotX]

Have you looked at the Hornady "breast cancer awareness" reduced-recoil loads in .38spl ?

The box has a bunch of pink printing, and the rounds are loaded with a 90gr FTX bullet.

I picked up a couple of boxes for the wife to shoot in her M36, but haven't hit the range with them yet. I can't imagine there's much recoil.

 

[AveragEd]

After 43 years of marital bliss, my wife mentioned a few months ago that we ought to do more things together. I suggested shooting and to my amazement, she agreed!

I started her out with a bolt-action Remington 541-T 22LR and she liked it enough that I bought her a Savage for herself. She also liked shooting my S&W 22A but struggled with the whole iron sight alignment thing so for now, she's using scopes.

My next step is to get her shooting a bolt-action .223REM so we can spend our time on the same 100-yard range. She is afraid of recoil so I had her shoot my 12-pound bench gun in .223REM and she didn't mind the recoil so I'll have her try a lighter rifle next. If you work into things gradually, the chances of her sticking with the shooting sports are improved.

Ed

 

[Valmet]

I've had a S&W K-22 since I was a kid and love it but these days with them being so collectible I don't take it out to the woods/camping as much. The Ruger SP101 has taken its place as a true "field piece" and I like it (and I'm far from a Ruger fan). Kind-of heavy but well built and accurate.

 

[hoc9sw]

When I take anyone to the range for the first time, we start with my Ruger Single Six / .22lr cylinder. Sometimes we more up to the .22WMR cylinder, then adjust based on the feedback.

I wish I had a S&W .22 revolver, I like the ejection scheme better than the Ruger, but the scope of use is limited, so can't justify the $$$.

 

[eveled]

Either light 38's in a full size .357, or if it needs to be a .22, try her on a Ruger MKII, or MKIII. Double action .22's aren't the easiest to shoot, and forget the .22mag all together. Too loud from hand gun and not enough benefit over .22lr in a short barrel.

With that said, my wife's defense gun is a 617, ten shots, and heavy enough to use as a club, if she needs to. I hope to transition her to a 627, but no luck so far.

 

[ameridaddy]

How about .380? My Sig P238 is not a revolver, but all the women who have tried mine liked it. Very mild recoil, especially with the pinky grip magazine, very easy slide rack (I can do it with just thumb and forefinger even with my arthritic hands, and after some drill work, the manipulation of the weapon is simple.
Only down side might be that she would have to use the safety..

 

[Murdock]

Sounds like she needs a Colt Diamondback .22LR "for something to shoot" and the DS for self defense.

My uncle's wife loved my S&W M63, but they went with a Taurus .22 Mag knock off because the Smith was expensive. Sigh.

 

[PMRet]

Nothing turns off a newbie more than heavy recoil. My formula has always been to start new shooters out with a .22LR revolver because it's simple to operate, has little recoil, and is therefore easy to learn with. Once they have developed good fundamentals, I move them up to .32 long and then .32 magnum before tackling the larger calibers.

 

[MaxS]

My opinion (for what it's worth) is to start a newbie who's recoil-shy with a Ruger SR22. There's NO recoil, and anyone can rack that slide. It's super accurate at 10 yards and it's a lot less $$ than a S&W 22lr revolver.

 

[raljr1]

I've been down this road. When we were younger my wife shot most any handgun. now that she's older she's recoil sensitive. Bought a 642, too light and recoil is too heavy. she shot my 38 s&w, not special, in a colt police positive and liked that okay. We Re now looking at the 380 shield with the laser. she can rack the slide on that one. you might look for 32 HE, or any of the 22s recommended here would certainly work. just tell her to keep pulling the trigger.

 

[bwelch47]

My deceased wife was different. Her first love was a 44 Super Blackhawk. I believe that a 22 revolver would be best for a beginner. However, I would let your wife test fire different handguns and let her make her decision. There are indoor ranges were she can rent different handguns and make a choice.

PS I know my wife was the exception to the rule. She loved the big bores. Her CCW was a 2 1/2" SW 629. She could clear the x and 10 rings of 25 yd target at 50 yds.

 

[eddiewhiteshoes]

"But I still think a revolver is a better deal for her." I couldn't agree more. If a 22 is going to be a possible defense weapon, it has to go bang every time. With a revolver and you have a FTF, you pull the trigger again. No such joy with a 22 autoloader. As we all know, there has probably been more written and discussed about how a 22 is not a viable defense round than just about any subject I can think of. I personally think that's BS. CCI mini mags and stingers are vicious little rounds and any gun is better than no gun. You know there's an intruder downstairs and you fire off a couple rounds into the ceiling, they're going to think twice about heading your way. Bottom line in my book is, the best gun or round for defense is one that you are not afraid of, can consistently hit center mass with ease and have extensive practice with. If that's a 38 than that's great, but better to have the wife deadly proficient in at least something. I'm currently in the same boat and looking at model 34's.

 

[roscoepc]

I am surprised no one's mentioned the S&W Model 48 .22 magnum! My Grandfather had one of these in the 6" barrel configuration and it was a very sweet shooting gun! Not too heavy a pull DA and very smooth SA.

It comes in a 4" barrel also so it would depend on whether she's gonna target or use it mainly for self defense as to the barrel length you'd get.

Product: Model 48

Good luck and have fun with it!!

 

[Macinaw]

I found this model 63 at my LGS for $550.