Coyote Hunter
Single-Sixer
Would like your opinions on a home defense handgun for my wife.
She is a leukemia survivor and the meds that cured the leukemia wreaked havoc on her body. (She has had a hip and two shoulder replacements as a result of dead bone caused by the meds, and needs a knee replacement.) Her arm and hand strength is low - after her shoulder surgeries she couldn't open a water bottle. Although much better now, she still lacks upper body strength.
We were at a gun show yesterday trying to find a good handgun for her to keep around the house. (NOT for concealed carry.) She is recoil shy but has shot my Browning BDM (9mm Luger), Walther PPK/S .380, her Ruger Super Single Six with .22 WMR and my Browning Buckmark .22LR. Not sure if she has shot my Kimber .45, but I think so.
The problem with many semi-autos is that she has a lot of trouble operating the slide and simply cannot do it on many either because the spring is too strong or she cannot get a good grip on the slide. After looking at many auto-loaders we both decided a revolver might be a better choice. She prefers an exposed hammer and since this is not for carry I do, too.
I had thought a Beretta .32 Tomcat (tip-up barrel) would be a good idea but she tried one yesterday and didn't care for the ergos – didn't feel good in her hand. Sig has a very small .380 that she liked and could operate easily but the (possible) problem with it is its advantages - it is very small and lightweight, which add up to a very short sight radius and more recoil. We looked at the Ruger LCP and LC9 semi's but she was having difficulty with the slides. She likes the laser version a lot, as do I.
Two that have our attention are the Ruger SP101 and GP100. I reload so I could download a .357 Mag to comfortable levels, probably .38 or .38+P velocities with a 125g bullet. The size and ergos are comfortable for her and there is enough weight to help absorb recoil, especially with the heavier GP. Another option, which I am strongly considering, is a .327 Federal, with which I have no experience. One thing I like about the .327 Federal is it can push a 100g bullet fast with significantly lower recoil than a .357 Mag and a bullet of similar Sectional Density.
She can't operate the slide on my Walther PPKS .380 or Kimber .45 and these are my primary carry weapons so they are out. Nor can she operate the slide on my Browning Buckmark .22, so that is out. (Can't get a good grip on the slide and I'm not a big fan of rimfire .22 autoloaders for defense, especially for someone who isn't practiced in clearing jams/rounds that didn't fire. With a DA revolver you just pull the trigger again. )
If we don't purchase another handgun we have the following options:
1. Ruger Super Single Six with .22 WMR cylinder, 6.5" barrel
2. Ruger stainless Blackhawk .357 Mag with 4.62" barrel (can be downloaded)
3. Browning BDM 9mm Luger with 4-1/2" barrel, two 15-round mags (I keep them loaded with 13)
All thoughts are welcome. TIA.
She is a leukemia survivor and the meds that cured the leukemia wreaked havoc on her body. (She has had a hip and two shoulder replacements as a result of dead bone caused by the meds, and needs a knee replacement.) Her arm and hand strength is low - after her shoulder surgeries she couldn't open a water bottle. Although much better now, she still lacks upper body strength.
We were at a gun show yesterday trying to find a good handgun for her to keep around the house. (NOT for concealed carry.) She is recoil shy but has shot my Browning BDM (9mm Luger), Walther PPK/S .380, her Ruger Super Single Six with .22 WMR and my Browning Buckmark .22LR. Not sure if she has shot my Kimber .45, but I think so.
The problem with many semi-autos is that she has a lot of trouble operating the slide and simply cannot do it on many either because the spring is too strong or she cannot get a good grip on the slide. After looking at many auto-loaders we both decided a revolver might be a better choice. She prefers an exposed hammer and since this is not for carry I do, too.
I had thought a Beretta .32 Tomcat (tip-up barrel) would be a good idea but she tried one yesterday and didn't care for the ergos – didn't feel good in her hand. Sig has a very small .380 that she liked and could operate easily but the (possible) problem with it is its advantages - it is very small and lightweight, which add up to a very short sight radius and more recoil. We looked at the Ruger LCP and LC9 semi's but she was having difficulty with the slides. She likes the laser version a lot, as do I.
Two that have our attention are the Ruger SP101 and GP100. I reload so I could download a .357 Mag to comfortable levels, probably .38 or .38+P velocities with a 125g bullet. The size and ergos are comfortable for her and there is enough weight to help absorb recoil, especially with the heavier GP. Another option, which I am strongly considering, is a .327 Federal, with which I have no experience. One thing I like about the .327 Federal is it can push a 100g bullet fast with significantly lower recoil than a .357 Mag and a bullet of similar Sectional Density.
She can't operate the slide on my Walther PPKS .380 or Kimber .45 and these are my primary carry weapons so they are out. Nor can she operate the slide on my Browning Buckmark .22, so that is out. (Can't get a good grip on the slide and I'm not a big fan of rimfire .22 autoloaders for defense, especially for someone who isn't practiced in clearing jams/rounds that didn't fire. With a DA revolver you just pull the trigger again. )
If we don't purchase another handgun we have the following options:
1. Ruger Super Single Six with .22 WMR cylinder, 6.5" barrel
2. Ruger stainless Blackhawk .357 Mag with 4.62" barrel (can be downloaded)
3. Browning BDM 9mm Luger with 4-1/2" barrel, two 15-round mags (I keep them loaded with 13)
All thoughts are welcome. TIA.