New Lady Shooter

[BobR1]

My youngest son works away from home quite a bit. He and the wife decided that she should have a handgun for around the house SD.
They came down from the City for Thanks Giving. Today we had a Range Day to try out some different handguns. We set up a couple IDPA Silhouettes. I gave her some instruction, and let her dryfire my S&W 64-2 a little. I then moved her to my 617 4" for a few cylinders full of 22LR ammo. She was shooting the center out of the target at about 5 Yards. Next we moved to the 64-2 for a few cylinders full. After that we tryed out a 3" GP100, a 3" 625, a 2.75" 310 Night Guard, a 4" 610 with 40 S&W ammo, a 637, an XDm Full size 40 S&W, and a 5" 1911.
She was a real Trooper, and did a great job shooting every gun. She had issues with the slide on the 1911 and XDm. Way to hard for her to rack.
The 637, and 310 Night Guard both kicked to hard. The GP100 pinched her trigger finger. No idea why. Might be a trigger reach issue, or to heavy a DA pull. The 625 and 610 both had a little more recoil than she enjoyed.
At the end of the Range Day she decided that she liked the 64 S&W 4" HB the best. Her last group of the day was about 1" wide X 3" Vertical Dead in the Center.

We lucked out and found her a 4" HB 64-1 in almost new condition. I will get an action job done to it, and some better grips. A little Green Sight Paint, and a couple Safariland Comp III speed loaders. Probably better have the chambers chamfered also, so it is exactly like mine.
I had her try loading with 3 different speedloaders. She liked the Safariland Comp III's best.

I really thought she would like the 3" GP100 best to start with, and might have if I had done a little action work on it before she shot it. We have the springs, just had not gotten around to doing the work on it.
My old 64 is my SSR Match Gun, and is smooth as silk. She really liked it. I guess I better get hers in the same shape before she takes it home.

Bob

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Bob,

I think you did right by her. I will always let the shooter pick but try to steer them away from self loaders (which I use and like) but due to many things too numerous to mention here. My sister made the exact same choice; 64 HB. Even my top choice is a revolver, a 296.

 

[TACC1]

Hi Bob,
Nice going! I think I'd rather listen to a .38 than a 22Mag, which
some people like for recoil. Seems like she's well on the way towards
a safer life with the help she's getting. Just for grins, how about
an update, down the road a-ways? This is a good-news story!
TACC1

 

[BobR1]

To be totally honest, I really thought she would prefer either the 3" GP100 or the 64 to start with. Over the years I have let several Lady Shooters try a gun or two at the range. Almost everyone of them prefered a 4" K Frame 38 for a House Gun.

I have a Lady shooter at the Range who owns a couple 9mm semi auto's. A while back I was putting the Plate Rack up when she arrived at the range. I asked her if she wanted to shoot the plates while I had them out. She did and shot them a few times with her 9mm. I let her shoot my 64. She did much better with it. No I did not convert her to revolvers, but I will guarantee she would shoot a 3" K Frame more accurately than she does her 9mm's. She could also conceal it just fine.

I was totally amazed at finding her an as new 64-1 as quickley as I did. Must have been fate. I have been seeing an endless string of pretty beat up Police/Guard trade-ins lately. A super clean gun is pretty hard to find.

They will be back for Christmas. I plan to have it completed and ready to go by then.

Action Job
Chamfered Chambers
Ball Loc
Green Sight Bright Sight Paint on the front sight.
Grips
I will have Ron Power look it over while I have him chamfering the chambers and doing the Ball Loc modification. Just to make sure it is all that it can be.

I will also get her a:
Pistol Case
Cleaning Equipment
2 Safariland Comp III Speed Loaders

I may even find time to load some practice ammo for her.

She is Special you know. The youngest son is into keepers, and she is one for sure. Great cook, spotless house, great mom, easy to get along with, and not bad looking to put icing on the cake. Pretty rare combination in 2011.

Bob