Gerry, I agree with most of your thoughts on a shotgun, a full size "hunting" gun is not what I meant. Specifically, I was refering to something like a Winchester Defender, it is much shorter and makes a great "night stick" if in close quarters.

I do agree on the revolver vs semi-auto. If it is going to be kept in a drawer.

If you are going to carry, IMHO, you need get some training on the gun you choose. And not from your third cousin who used to be a part time security guard, 13 years ago at Wal Mart.

 

Not trying to get to far off topic.......

I real life, many Bad Guys have taken several rounds to the body and still kept coming.
This goes double when dealing with someone who is "Self Medicating", especially with Meth or PCP.

You do not "shoot to kill", or "shoot to wound".
You are using a defensive tool to stop someone/something that poses a deadly threat to your life or the lives of your loved ones.
Fire at COM until the threat no longer exists, or until you have expended your available ammunition, then reload and repeat.

 

Having some experience in this area, there has been some good advice given here. But for practicality, we must first envision the situation. This is a very high stress situation. Instincts take over. Even the easiest task becomes monumental to the untrained/undertrained. For MOST (not all) women, autos tend to be too complicated for them. Even just to rack the slide takes effort they are not used to. Add a safety in there and they are done. My experience has shown most women do better with a small double action revolver. Use no stronger than regular .38 loads. Women in general become scared/startled by excessive blast. This is not conducive to good shooting technique. Neither is recoil, which should be at a minimum. Remember there are more people dead from a properly placed .22 than a miss from a .44 mag. The idea is to first be able to hit what you mean to. Don't put a price on the weapon... how much is her life worth to you? Get a good quality weapon that she can shoot comfortably and accurately and practice, practice, practice.

I recommend something like a lady smith using .38 wadcutters. Personally, I like my 10mm Delta Elite!! (I don't like revolvers for me).

 

I would recommend the "Taurus Judge" which is a revolver that shoots 38's and 410 shotgun rounds. It looks like a great weapon for home or vehicle defense and also would be good for hiking around the woods... Just my opinion...

 

Like Shovelhead said you do not shoot to kill, you do not shoot to wound, you shoot to STOP THE AGGRESSION.
Also you can not just point a shotgun in the general direction and expect to hit anything. In the ranges we seem to be talking about (less than 15 feet) the shot pattern will only have opened up to a couple or three inches.
I would also advise a small to medium frame revolver in .38 Special or .357 for your wife. Several reasons, ease of operation. Pull triger = gun goes bang. Safety, no confusing safety or slide to operate. Lady Smith would be an exelent revolver. Go to a gun shop and look and ask questions. If the dealer seems a lot more interested in selling than helping you learn, go to another gunshop.

 

Another thing that has not been mentioned is do not put buckshot or a slug in your Shotgun. I personally have #8 loaded in my Mossberg 500, with the slide racked back. That way all either of us have to do is rack it forward and at least the first shot is instinctive. The smaller shot will induce more trauma and penetrate walls less than buckshot.

I happen to like my Mossberg, I have the 18" barrel for inside, and both a choked 28" and a Hastings rifled barrel for Deer.

For either someone who does not train extensively or for the average woman, I would also go with a revolver.

I run a 1911A1 with HydraShocks, but then I am also a Cooper disciple.

 

I was wondering how he got a custom caliber for only $400...

 

A good 20 Gauge pump shotgun with a pistol grip.......

A real Hallway Hunter......Home defence at its best.....

 

My favorite ex-wife has a mod. 36 S&W. with a short barrel. The first shot
out is a.38 shot shell. The second shot is a hollow point. The theory:
You will get hit and no one wants to get shot twice. I think she still knows
how to use the pistol.
"Strange question on a truck forum."
Bill Davis

 

I've always believed that a 9-shot .22 is a comfortable weapon for a woman to handle. Load 3 rat-shot loads set to fire first and then the rest solids. Put 3 in their face and while they're scratching get closer and put the other 6 in their ear. Like someone said earlier, keep firing 'til they quit moving.

 

What he said, S&W 686, 4", and buy 500 rds of 38 special and go have fun.

Take a CCW or safety class

Legally you shoot to stop, they'll stop when they're dead.

And I'm really **** bout this part:

1. All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. (For those who insist that this particular gun is unloaded, see Rule 1.)
3. Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. This is the Golden Rule. Its violation is directly responsible for about 60 percent of inadvertent discharges.
4. Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you have not positively identified.

 

"Cooper disciple"... have not heard that one in a long while...It is how I ended up with 10mm.

I have a Bren Ten...one of the first 100 made. A real "Cooper disciple" can fill in the rest of the story.

May Col. Jeff Cooper rest in peace.

 

Amen, and may his spirit and logic infest a million men.

 

I was recently at the gun shop looking for a para-ord, but the owner talked me into a Kimber Eclipse. I'm glad he did because the quality of this gun is absolutely incredible!I would recommend it to anyone. It is in .45 auto.

 

I love my Kimbers, I have a Custom Target and a Gold Match. They have treated me very well. I just got done shooting a bowling pin match with the Custom Target.