House Pistol Whatcha Think

[DanWales]

Looking to get a nightstand only at home revolver.
My wife has never liked guns but once in a while I travel. We live in a good neighborhood but she does get concerned that someone could break in on her. I have a Beretta 21A not a bad pistol a 380 AMT, a 686, 617. She does not handle the little automatis well. The 686 and 617 are big and heavy for her. An air weight would work but it's a snappy little gun with +p. I would like to stay with a revolver and stay hammerless. I'm sure I'm going to put Crimso Trace grips it for some help and probably some confidence she could make them work and be able to defend herself. She won't spend a lot of range time I need something that a couple trips I could show here the basic's and she could get them down quickly that I would feel confident she could pull it and defend herself. SW 66 snub comes to mind heavy enough to shot practice and not throw her all over the place. We won't carry this gun it will be in the nightstand for home use only.

Am I on the right trail.

Dan

 

[DanWales]

Looking to get a nightstand only at home revolver.
My wife has never liked guns but once in a while I travel. We live in a good neighborhood but she does get concerned that someone could break in on her. I have a Beretta 21A not a bad pistol a 380 AMT, a 686, 617. She does not handle the little automatis well. The 686 and 617 are big and heavy for her. An air weight would work but it's a snappy little gun with +p. I would like to stay with a revolver and stay hammerless. I'm sure I'm going to put Crimso Trace grips it for some help and probably some confidence she could make them work and be able to defend herself. She won't spend a lot of range time I need something that a couple trips I could show here the basic's and she could get them down quickly that I would feel confident she could pull it and defend herself. SW 66 snub comes to mind heavy enough to shot practice and not throw her all over the place. We won't carry this gun it will be in the nightstand for home use only.

Am I on the right trail.

Dan

 

[Spotteddog]

You didn't say what barrel length your 686 was? A four inch tube in a 66 or 686 would be first choice. Too short a barrel= too much muzzle blast for most casual shooters. Too long, and it's like trying to maneuver an 8' 2 X 4. .38 Special 148 grain full wadcutters for range work. I know what I'd run as a .38+P H/D load (note NOT .357's, but .38+P's!) but I don't want to prejudice you one way or the other. The C/T laser grips are fine, but she should know how to use the sights just in case. If it can be afforded, a set of night sights in addition to the laser. But at the very least, the night sights.
And those opinions are worth every penny you paid for them? 'Cause that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

 

[Wayne M]

Spot on...dog(pun intended!)

 

[Andy Taylor]

K frame 4". Use a good +P .38 load for defense. Have her fire a few (1-2 cylinders) of these, but a standard load with the same weight bullet for most of the practice.
Why the desire for the concealed hammer? Concealed hammers are good for concealed carry, but as you say, this gun will not be concealed. It will be difficult if not impossible to find a concealed hammer in anything larger than a J frame, which, IMHO, is to small a gun for the proposed use, and will be more difficult to shoot. K frame hammers can be bobbed and the guns can be had, or converted by a gunssmith to DAO. That is if you don't want her to have the option of cocking the hammer for liability reasons.

 

[NKJ nut]

A plain jane model 10 with a 4 inch bbl. is an ideal house gun.

 

[Sgt Neutron]

Originally posted by NKJ nut:
A plain jane model 10 with a 4 inch bbl. is an ideal house gun.

+1
With some 158 gr. LSWCHP's and a set of Pachmayr "Gripper" grips, make for a solid, simple, and comfortable platform.

 

[cmort666]

Originally posted by NKJ nut:
A plain jane model 10 with a 4 inch bbl. is an ideal house gun.

+10,000.

Summit Gun Broker has Model 67s (stainless Model 15) for sale at good prices these days. An even better choice, since you can adjust the sights to your ammunition instead of your point of aim.

Either would be perfectly adequate.

 

[epj]

Originally posted by cmort666:

Originally posted by NKJ nut:
A plain jane model 10 with a 4 inch bbl. is an ideal house gun.

+10,000.

Summit Gun Broker has Model 67s (stainless Model 15) for sale at good prices these days. An even better choice, since you can adjust the sights to your ammunition instead of your point of aim.

Either would be perfectly adequate.

Probably the best suggestion yet.

 

[G-ManBart]

Expecting someone who is not a shooter, and who isn't going to practice with the gun on a regular basis, to be able to defend themselves with a handgun (especially a small one) isn't a recipe for success. It's likely that they might get it to go bang, but it's very unlikely that they'll hit anything with it.

While it's possible that an intruder might be smart and take off at the sight of an armed person, or at the first shot in their direction, they also might be hoped up on some sort of chemical and not act like a normal person at all.

20ga youth shotgun with heavy birdshot or light buck is way more likely to get the job done. Almost nobody argues in the face of a shotgun and if she needs to use it, she'll have a much better chance of stopping the bad guy. R,

 

[cmort666]

Originally posted by G-ManBart:
Expecting someone who is not a shooter, and who isn't going to practice with the gun on a regular basis, to be able to defend themselves with a handgun (especially a small one) isn't a recipe for success. It's likely that they might get it to go bang, but it's very unlikely that they'll hit anything with it.

While it's possible that an intruder might be smart and take off at the sight of an armed person, or at the first shot in their direction, they also might be hoped up on some sort of chemical and not act like a normal person at all.

20ga youth shotgun with heavy birdshot or light buck is way more likely to get the job done. Almost nobody argues in the face of a shotgun and if she needs to use it, she'll have a much better chance of stopping the bad guy. R,

That depends ENTIRELY upon your environment. I live in an apartment where a non-NFA long gun of any kind is about as useless as a scythe or a longbow. Don't assume that a shotgun, rifle or carbine is going to work for somebody when you've never seen their home.

 

[DanWales]

The reason for the bobbed hammer may not be the best.... but my thought there was/is she doesn't have to think do I have to cock it. She has been and will go to the range enough to know I need to fire DA if I don't pull trigger it won;t go bang.
MY 686 has a 4 inch barrel she says it's just too heavy.
Oh I would love to get a cheap 12 ga double barrel saw it off to legal length and put single ought buck in it. She just won't go for that I'm doing good to have a few pistols for a little recreational shooting if you know what I mean.
Good thing is I've had her to the range a few times and at 5 yards she can stsy on the silhoutte, so her confidence level there is good and the CT's woulds enhance that further.

Just have to find a pistol she's comfortable with..... mucho thanks for the tips I'll take lok at those.

Dan

 

[Andy Taylor]

Yes, a 4" 686 (L frame)is a heavy gun. That is the reason most are suggesting a 4" K frame. Slightly smaller frame and cylinder, and most (if not all) in .38 or .357, do not have a full lug barrel. Some even have a lightweight tappered barrel. Some versions of the M10/M64 and M15/M67 feature this. With .38's there is still enough weight that recoil is kept down, yet the gun doesn't feel nearly as heavy as a full lug L frame.

 

[smousefam5]

AMEN to the plain-jane K frame revolvers. You can pick up a serviceable used one for a song and a half. Probably not a better gun for your purposes (and MANY others!)

 

[robertrwalsh]

A very basic service revolver, medium frame, with a 3" or 4" barrel. Keep a light with it or on it. S&W or Ruger would be fine.

 

[devilfrog1911]

Gotta go with a Model 10.

 

[justbob]

Been there and done that.

TEST:

Take an EMPTY revolver and a cylinder's worth of snap caps and put them on the table--I used two: an M642 for its lack of exposed hammer and "push button" and a Colt Detective Special for its exposed hammer and "pull button"--and a semi auto with an empty magazine--again, I used two: a P239 DA/SA and an HK USPc.

"Watch and learn."

Check weapon, load snap caps, pull trigger ONCE, "empty" cylinder or decock, engage safety, and remove magazine as applicable. Repeat process with each gun.

"OK? Now it's your turn." You do not get to coach, encourage, or help. No sighing, eye-rolling, nodding, wincing--probably a VERY good idea to leave the safe queens in the safe for this--laughing or growling. Just watch and learn. Most importantly of all, do not lose sight of who this person is, what she means to you, and why you are doing this.

The answer to your question will reveal itself to the both of you in very short order.

HINT: "Less is more."

 

[G-ManBart]

Originally posted by cmort666:

Originally posted by G-ManBart:
Expecting someone who is not a shooter, and who isn't going to practice with the gun on a regular basis, to be able to defend themselves with a handgun (especially a small one) isn't a recipe for success. It's likely that they might get it to go bang, but it's very unlikely that they'll hit anything with it.

While it's possible that an intruder might be smart and take off at the sight of an armed person, or at the first shot in their direction, they also might be hoped up on some sort of chemical and not act like a normal person at all.

20ga youth shotgun with heavy birdshot or light buck is way more likely to get the job done. Almost nobody argues in the face of a shotgun and if she needs to use it, she'll have a much better chance of stopping the bad guy. R,

That depends ENTIRELY upon your environment. I live in an apartment where a non-NFA long gun of any kind is about as useless as a scythe or a longbow. Don't assume that a shotgun, rifle or carbine is going to work for somebody when you've never seen their home.

If that's the case I guess you should have given more details when you decided to seek advice

Actually, it's not really dependant on the environment at all. Just because someone's house/apartment is small doesn't make it any more likely for them to be able to effectively employ a handgun that they aren't truly proficient with and practice with regularly.

Giving someone a gun, taking them to the range a couple of times and expecting them to not hurt themselves and actually get the gun to go bang in the general direction of the bad guy(s) is hoping for Divine intervention.

I only commented because you said you want to be able to be confident that she could defend herself. The scenario you're describing doesn't fit well with that...at least not in the eyes of someone who spends a lot of time teaching people to shoot/shoot better.

Your comment that you'd love to get a double and shorten the barrels to legal length tells me that the suggestion of a small shotgun isn't entirely off the mark....

 

[flop-shank]

Originally posted by NKJ nut:
A plain jane model 10 with a 4 inch bbl. is an ideal house gun.

Count me in on this. A 2 1/2" through 4" K frame .357 or .38 sounds ideal. It could have fixed or adjustable sights, and be stainless, nickel or blued. My wife is very tiny (4'8"/85 lbs.), so a 3" model model 60 proved ideal for her. I load her gun with target wadcutters. That's where I would start your wife. They penetrate deeply, leave a full caliber hole and recoil so little that my wife can fire them from my 360 PD. If your wife's not a dedicated student, I would definately stay away from slide action shotguns. They are much more complex to operate than revolvers. Shotguns are great from a static, barricaded defensive position. I prefer handguns when investigating things in another part of the house. If you did go with a side by side coach gun like Stoeger offers, or a cut down double, check out those Aguila 1 3/4" (I think that's the right length) 12 ga. slugs. They have very mild recoil.

 

[cmort666]

Originally posted by G-ManBart:
If that's the case I guess you should have given more details when you decided to seek advice

Actually, it's not really dependant on the environment at all. Just because someone's house/apartment is small doesn't make it any more likely for them to be able to effectively employ a handgun that they aren't truly proficient with and practice with regularly.

Giving someone a gun, taking them to the range a couple of times and expecting them to not hurt themselves and actually get the gun to go bang in the general direction of the bad guy(s) is hoping for Divine intervention.

I only commented because you said you want to be able to be confident that she could defend herself. The scenario you're describing doesn't fit well with that...at least not in the eyes of someone who spends a lot of time teaching people to shoot/shoot better.

Your comment that you'd love to get a double and shorten the barrels to legal length tells me that the suggestion of a small shotgun isn't entirely off the mark....

You're confusing me with the original poster. I didn't ask for any advice.

Someone with poor skills and a long gun they can't effectively employ for environmental reasons isn't going to do any better than someone with poor skills and a handgun they can employ without knocking it into walls, furniture, etc.