I can always count on lots of info / opinions from my forum family.
Okay, as the title states, she does want if for carry, but home also. I did explain to her she would be better off with two, one for home and one for carry. She will understand this once she has to remember to always take her gun out of her purse to put in her nightstand. Personally, I have a 642 in my purse (if I carry on my person, I carry my Model 60 IWB), The Judge in the junk drawer in the kitchen, a riot style shotgun in the hallway and a shotgun and .357 in the bedroom. When I sit and watch TV in the living room, my .45 is on the end table next to my iced tea. But, that is just me. My husband is in Afghanistan now, but this is normal procedure when he is here too.
So, until she gets excited about this hobby too, we will just have to start her with a CCW. At dinner last nigh she asked me if I had ever shot someone. I said, heck no, nor do I ever want to; I would never be able to get that experience out of my head. She seems to think, and I am sure this is a common thought for some people, not just women, that if you own a gun, much less a lot of guns, you want to shoot someone. She actually said, “Why are you so blood thirsty?” I never saw combat in the Army (not likely a woman would while I was in) and I, thankfully, have not had to defend myself. For me, that is not what owning a gun and shooting is all about (I don’t have to explain that to you guys.) I hope she will see this when we go to the range. Yes, I will let her shoot various things so she can decide. As far as recoil, IMHO any small gun has not-so-desirable recoil. I don’t “love” to shoot my 642 like I live to shoot my 1911, 28-2 or 25-2 (I know weight is my friend when it comes to recoil.) But, I am not going to carry any of those three around. And the recoil on the 642 is not that bad, and the double action makes me more confident that it will not go off until I pull the trigger.
Barb, I am in southern Alabama right now. We have a couple places that rent guns, but they are mostly Tupperware (that is what Army guys like my husband seem to like and don’t get me started on that.) I will try to push my revolver obsession on to my friend, but she may want a compact semi-auto. My husband has a Taurus Millennium I will let her try. I will start her on my 28-2 to give her an idea of noise / recoil. I think starting with a .22 is not a good idea, because then that is what they want to shoot, not so great for defense.
Again, thanks for the info on the four S&Ws (438 Bodyguard, 442, 638 and the 642) I asked about.
