An introductory course is great to learn firearms safety and shooting fundamentals. I also, agree with Robert A, that a .22LR is a good caliber to learn on. Ammo is so cheap! Smith & Wesson’s M&P22 is a full frame just like the 9mm version. The barrel is 4.1" and the gun comes with an adjustable rear sight. There’s a 12 round version and a 10 round. I’ve shot my friends 9mm M&P and i think it’s the most comfortable grip out of the polymer handguns. However, I really think you and your wife should go to local gunshops and let her hold as many models as possible to see whats most comfortable for her. When she learns the fundamentals you should find a range with steel targets. Hearing the round hit steel or seeing a plate fall is fun and rewarding. Also, all that talk about S&W 686’s my dad is gifting me his service revolver when he retires this month. It’s an 80’s 686 without the lock and he has the original box. Good Luck! sen say
I have a number of firearms, and at present my personal favorite handguns to use are:
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the Browning Buckmark .22lr, which is an absolute pleasure to fire, extremely accurate, though not a defensive weapon at all.
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CZ-75 Compact. This is my current CCW weapon and first choice to carry out and about (of the weapons I currently own). I’m actually in love with all the CZ handguns, they’re not expensive, incredibly reliable, extremely solid, and accurate. They’re very similar to the Browning Hi-Power series, at about half the cost.
Some other handguns I own include a couple of .357 Troopers, a Beretta .380, vintage Walther PPK in some atrocious tiny round (comparable to a .32, but it needs really specific ammo or else it jams), a few black powder weapons (a flintlock pistol and a couple of civil war era replicas), and a .38 special snub nose Colt.
Regarding the .38 special, someone mentioned it above, and I want to say unequivocally that it pretty much sucks to fire. It’s inaccurate, clumsy, has a really unpleasant kick that just feels WRONG (i.e., you don’t have that deep desire to fire it again like I do with most other weapons), and has a mediocre too-heavy (even somewhat jerky) double-action pull. It’s only useful as a backup weapon for an ankle holster that isn’t a totally wimpy round – but frankly there are SO many good compact handguns and derringers these days that I’m surprised they even sell any of these any longer.
For your (sen say’s) wife – the gift certificate idea is absolutely golden. Actually, first, give a gift of a full day at the range where she can try out a wide array of weapons.
The truth is, a woman who enjoys shooting is capable of handling pretty much any hangdun round that exists. The idea of a ‘woman’s weapon’ or a ‘woman’s round’ is really only for a woman who basically doesn’t like shooting but really wants SOMETHING for self-defense.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Ummmm…GL, the man said his wife wanted a handgun. Why do you waltz in from 8 million interwebz away and tell him she probably really doesn’t want one?
Maybe she got a corset last Christmas and wants something different this year. You s’pose it’s possible?[/quote]
Anything is possible. I don’t know him or his family. But when I read that OP, I immediately thought of Homer buying Marge the bowling ball…
[quote]sen say wrote:
- She’s never shot a gun
[/quote]
Re-read number two along with number three. Like I said, it’s just my 2 cents, but I’d get her into a hunters safety course or at least onto a range before buying her a gun. Completely inexperienced person plus a gun can equal a lot of problems.
Plus if someone is interested in something, they normally do it. She hasn’t ever shot a gun.
Anyway, he asked for suggestions. I guess mine is a simple question, “does she really want a gun, or do you?” And “Wouldn’t some hunters safety courses or time at the range be a better first step?”
I don’t know him or his family, but these are questions I’d ask anyone who posed this question in real life.
[quote]Bill Roberts wrote:
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Yep, we’ll go after coyotes and/or go shooting from the boat.[/quote]
Excellent! Very much looking forward!!!
[/quote]
Would about June be good?
To get in touch privately I set up a one-time e-mail, billrtnation1@gmail.com . The 1 is because it’s the first time I’ve tried this 
Thank you so much!
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Maybe she got a corset last Christmas and wants something different this year. You s’pose it’s possible?[/quote]
Who says she’s not also getting a corset!?!?
[quote]pushharder wrote:
June would be great. Email sent.[/quote]
Does this mean you’re back in the Lifestyle?
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Your advice to get her gun training IS spot-on, of course. I wholeheartedly agree. [/quote]
Thanks man, I figured you would.
^^^ except don’t do a hunter’s safety course unless she has the intent of being a hunter.
If she isn’t interested in hunting or in long arms in general, hunter’s safety courses can be dull as dust, near guaranteeing a loss of enthusiasm if she was anywhere near the fence.
If she’s getting a handgun, take a real handgun safety & shooting course, something with a defensive and/or shooting hobbyist emphasis.
Even the weekend course that folks take for their CCW certification (in many states) is an excellent course that gives you a deep appreciation of your new sidearm.
Just about any range that I’ve ever seen will have this sort of thing, or will tell you where you can find it.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]sen say wrote:
[quote]pushharder wrote:
June would be great. Email sent.[/quote]
Does this mean you’re back in the Lifestyle?[/quote]
That’s a loaded question.[/quote]
Way to dodge that bullet.
[quote]farmerson12 wrote:
Get her an apron so she stays clean while making sammiches.
[/quote]
Like the one he has on?
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]farmerson12 wrote:
Get her an apron so she stays clean while making sammiches.
[/quote]
Like the one he has on?[/quote]
11 Shopping days left what did/are you buying?
[quote]shibboleth wrote:
11 Shopping days left what did/are you buying?[/quote]
I’m going to get the gift certificate for the beginner’package on Saturday…meant to go yesterday, but got caught up.
just get her a gun that you like. That way if she doesn’t like it, you have yourself a shiny new gun.