Handgun debate...

[Brownie Nash]

Bob

Whatever you choose you want it to be someting the user is familier with ( shoots frequently) as when in a emergency you must rely on what is called muscle memeory and not be tying to remember how does this thing work.

Brownie

[Bob McDowell]

Yeah, that's why I'd advise against anything that makes her flinch. She needs to take it to the range, and enjoy it when she does, IMO.

[Caprock]

Don't overlook the 22 Magnum either. Winchester has some personal defense ammo out especially for short barrels and makes the round pretty dang salty.

[Rick Mulhern]

Bob

When I went to a class to get a carry permit a lawyer and a deputy came to talk to us. Both agreed you are likely to end up in court after a shooting. If the intruder is still alive it is one more person to incriminate you. As all of the dirt bags relatives will be there to swear he was a peace loving person. If you wound a attacker with a 22 he probably will not stop the attack. This all sounds pretty grizley but it may be your life or theirs.

Brownie

"Both agreed you are likely to end up in court after a shooting"

Dead folks can't lie!! As for a home invasion....the very act itself as far as I'm concerned is prima facie evidence of a violent act and intent to do possible bodily harm and south of the Mason-Dixon Line I don't think there's a court that would convict anyone for defending their life/lives!

With that being said most women....and a whole helluva lot of men...unless they have had some high intensity training with lots of shooting do not know how to handle or 'run the gun' using a semi-auto type pistol. IMO most women would be more efficient with a revolver therefore than a slide-type pistol. If adequate training is undertaken with plenty of practice some individuals can effectively use a pistol over a revolver and the .380 cartridge with a good HP cartridge would be a good round to use. I have shot quite a few rounds through a KelTec .380; the recoil isn't bad and I have some ladies that I have trained the past few years that have CCP that are shooting it quite well. In a revolver class, my wife Angie has a S&W .38 Special she has available and with some hot HP ammo....well...I wouldn't want her shooting at me!!

What's highly important to remember for anyone involved in a shooting incident is that the ONLY THING they have to say to any LEO if asked for a statement is...."I feared for my life".....PERIOD!!

[Lumpy Grits]

Bob, have them look real hard at the S&W mod 317 Airlite
It's a "J" frame 8 shot .22LR
http://tacticalgunreview.com/blog/2011/1...lr-review/
Gary

[Dave Roelle]

A ppk in 380 is my wifes choice

[Dave Roelle]

A PPK in 380 is my wifes choice

[Old Jim]

I don't know about your state laws, but in mine, I cannot use a handload'd cartridge to defend my self or family. That makes the round a "purposely crafted cartridge" to stop the intruder.

So I keep my 4 5/8" Ruger .45LC loaded with 250 gr. factory loads, 'nuff said!

[Kurt]

My Daughter handles the Judge quite well as well as all of my hand guns including the Colt Anaconda.
When it comes to Woman shooting I would not put them in a seperate class, they shoot just as good as a Man and they can handle the recoil just as well and hit what they are aiming at mostly better then I can.
Just take them with you when you go out to shoot, they learn fast.

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

I don't know about your state laws, but in mine, I cannot use a handload'd cartridge to defend my self or family. That makes the round a "purposely crafted cartridge" to stop the intruder.

So I keep my 4 5/8" Ruger .45LC loaded with 250 gr. factory loads, 'nuff said!

Jim maybe some of those blackpowder 45 colt loads would be the thing. They used to have alot of trouble with the upclose fights the bp loads set the other guy on fire. Now that was in the day of pure cotton and wool. Fast forward to today with all the synthetic materials, and the choroner may have trouble deciding if the cause of death was gunshot or smoke inhalation...