I know there are quite a few folks on here that are packin' and mouths start watering when the topic is guns. Looking for something decent under $400 (if such a thing exists). Cabella's has a selection of used guns, so, if I need to look more in the $400-$500 range (new), I might be able to find something gently used that would be in my price range. Just looking for something of decent quality to go plinking with that packs and field strips pretty easily. The wife will be shooting it, too, so, don't want something that will kick her ass with recoil.
Howdy Randy,
Just came across this thread today so forgive me if you have already made your decision and purchase. I would like to add my .02. I worked at a gun store for eight years and have sold many firearms to men and ladies over the years.
First off, I noticed your wife will be shooting the firearm too.
You will get many members telling you to get this firearm or that one. If I may be so bold, throw all that well intentioned advice in the circular file.
Take a long look at your wife's hands and your hands, and I'll bet dollars to doughnuts there is a huge difference in size. What fit's your hands and is comfortable will not necessarily fit hers and be optimum for her.
I'll also bet the posts sent to you are from members that have hands that are different sized then the both of yours.
God made us all with different size hands and hand strength, what works for one person will not necessarily be the "magic bullet" for the next person.
I can't tell you how many men brought their wives and girlfriends into the store intent on buying the latest and greatest semi-auto with all the bells and whistles because it made the firearm desirable and "cool" to him "and by the way she will be using it too".
There is one major problem, and this isn't meant to be a sexist comment. Most females (80-85%) do not have the hand strength to operate the slide on a semi-auto, using either one of the two most conventional ways to operate the slide.
Some will say that she would be carrying the semi-auto with one in the chamber. Great, what happens if she gets the one in a million round from the manufacturer that misfire's or the first shot stove-pipes and she has to clear the round....and she doesn't have the hand strength to do that?
That semi-auto with all the bells and whistles just became a useless paper weight that may now be used against her by the perp when he wrestles it away from her.
I subscribe to the K.I.S.S. principal (Keep It Simple Stupid!)
Revolvers are the optimum carry gun for most females.
They might not be the sexiest thing, but they are dependable and just flat out work.
Studies have found that in stressful situations such as a gunfight, fine manual dexterity agility is degraded by quite a bit. You don't want to have to worry about you wife having to wick off a safety or mistakenly push the magazine release button (another sad mistake made in some gunfights by people who don't train consistently).
With a revolver, if you get the perverbial one in a million round that misfires, all you do is pull the trigger again, the cylinder advances to and fires the next round...K.I.S.S., no safety, no magazing release button, pull the trigger and it goes bang.
Some will say: "well the semi-auto has a 14 round capacity magazine." If you can't hit the target in the first two shots, what makes you think you will with the next twelve...or for that matter have the time to shoot off another twelve rounds?
According to F.B.I. statistics most shootings are well within 7 yards and the average number of shots is 1.7 shots fired.
There literally is no substitute for accuracy, caliber and speed are important, but accuracy is paramount. (I will save you from the disertation on bullet design, mechanisms of collapse, relative stopping power, velocity, wound channels, crush channels, penetration, over penetration and energy dump.)
All those stories you hear about the perp being hit in the finger by the "magic bullet" and it taking off his arm are exactly that; "stories".
One of the main reasons law enforcement went to semi-autos is they operate under a different scenario and that is one of "multiple assailant" scenarios (i.e., a bunch of gang-bangers). If you and your wife are trained in and keep your situational awareness radar on, you should avoid getting into that kind of situation.
So what does this all mean?
Go out with your wife to stores and gun shows and handle as many handguns as you can. Find out what works for you both, what fits your hands, does the trigger fit into the first joint of your index finger, what balances properly and aims well and naturally when you bring it up, is the trigger pull smooth and breaks well? The handgun that fits and works for you and your wife is the right one.
As far as price, what is your and your wife's life worth?
