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.357 kick?

MrsPickle

MIT- Manatee In Training
Contributor
She was 150 when we got married. Last known weight was 317 about 2 weeks before we divorced.
Oh holy hell! Nevermind... Not even close... I am about 40 pounds heavier than I was when Pickle and I met (8 years ago), but I've also had 2 kids... that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

As far as the 9mm vs. "something bigger" debate. Pickle tends to side with you all, in that we need something with more "stopping power" than a 9. I'm still of the mindset that:
a) if I am intimidated, then I won't feel comfortable using it, and won't use it.
b) in surburbia hell (i.e. Oakleaf Plantation/Argyle/Watermill), I think a 6'0" chick walking out with a handgun (any handgun) and screaming for them to get the ^&%# of her property, will probably be a deterrant.

The jury is still out on this one. Luckily for me, we spent Pickle's "firearm money" on a beautiful Thoroughbred mare. I feel more comfortable with her, than with a handgun. Can't save my life worth shit, but she sure is a lot more fun! :D
 

exhelodrvr

Well-Known Member
pilot
I'm definitely not petite. (6'0" and probably weigh more than you) But, that's good info. That's what I was looking for...

We have a shotgun. Someone on here (dunno where, Pickle just gave me the jist of the thread) recommended putting it up high, on the wall, in the closet. Very smart idea.

He wants a handgun as well. I want to be able to fire it. Something about a lockbox... etc... I stopped listening 45 min into the brief about why he "needs" a handgun.

Thanks guys.

My daughters have both fired my .357, but using .38 special rounds, and didn't have any problems with recoil. I don't think they would have had issues with .357 rounds, so I doubt you would.
 

FlyinRock

Registered User
Well hell, let me toss in my .02. Former wife was 5' tall and weighed about 110-115. She could shoot any pistol you handed her better than the vast majority of men. She proved it time and again by winning many pistol matches with the .45acp against all comers. Included shooting against the Marines in their annual division matches with 1911A1 and hardball where she placed in the top 10% three years straight.
As for the shotgun in the home, its OK and so is a baseball bat or samurai sword. Besides being weapons all, the commonality is proper training. The mere fact of a gun can frequently disuade intruders but when push comes to shove and you have to actually shoot, you need some good training beforehand. I emphasize good training. Just because someone qualified as an expert does not make them a well qualified instructor and especially for home defense. Huge difference in shooting on paper targets at the range as opposed to shooting against a poorly lit target in the middle of the night with your adreneline flowing. After the first shot your night vision will be destroyed and you'll be deaf! Very few of the instructors out there have been under real conditions such as that so how in the world can they train anyone for it? (one of my favorite rants)
Do as some have suggested and try several different guns and calibers to see what fits you best. Then do dligent practice until you are comfortable with whatever you pick. If you have kids in the house the equation changes a little for safety reasons. That is an ongoing discussion with a lot of possibilities to consider. No matter where you put the weapon, if YOU can reach it, so can your kids. I've got a 2 1/2 yr old boy who has found ways to climb up to a high wall shelf and does so just so he can grin when I catch him at it prior to paddling his little ass - AGAIN. He is not strong enough to rack the slide of most semi-autos YET, and too small to rack the slide of our pump shotguns - YET so we're OK for the moment. Won't be long though and we'll have to do something else to prevent any AD's (accidental discharge).
Good luck with your selection. PM me if you want more specific info and I'll be glad to offer what I can. I've been a small arms instructor for 50 years and a highly ranked competitor with rifle and pistol.
Semper Fi
 

poprlj

New Member
Mrs. Pickle, one of my daughters 5'7" 130 lbs, and two of my grandsons (11 and 14) shoot my 1911's very well. An added benifit to the 1911 is that a small child would have a hard time "racking" a round into the chamber. My wife likes her S&W model
#19 in 357.
 

biograd06

Princess of the Pulpmill
I'm 5'0, 110 pounds (soaking wet, wearing steel toe boots) and just took the concealed carry permit class the past Saturday. Part of it was to shoot 50 rounds to demonstrate that we were capable of loading/unloading/reloading the gun, and that we could actually hit something.

I shot the center out of the target about 45 out of 50 shots (at 25 yds) with a Glock 19 9mm. And my shoulder was killing me from the recoil.

I also took a marksmanship course my freshman year at LSU, where we had to qualify at 50 yds with a .22...let's just say my daddy never knew his baby girl could shoot so well. :)

Anyway, back to the original point...I personally don't like Glocks. They're too light (thus the recoil issue). The only reason I shot it at the CCP class was because my boyfriend and I couldn't find ammo for my Bersa .380 (which I absolutely adore!). And finding 9mm ammo was hard enough...you know how expensive it is to shoot at a piece of paper with hollow points? Unfortunately, it was all we could find.

Just my 2 cents...
 

busdriver

Well-Known Member
None
With your build a normal automatic caliber (.380-.45) will be no problem. Go to the range and try out a bunch of stuff, like was suggested earlier and buy what you know you like. Once you get it, shoot it a lot. ALL handgun calibers are inherently lack luster in power. If you look around the internet you'll find a report the FBI did that basically says the largest factor in handgun wounding is bullet diameter. This report has been used to validate .45 lovers, however if you look at the difference between a 9mm and a .45 (for the life of me, I can't find the picture I'm thinking about) there isn't much. The take away from that report as I see it is that you need to select a caliber you can reliably shoot fast and reasonably accurately, because you'll have to shoot a bad guy repeatedly to reliably stop them.

Once you make your choice, go to the range and shoot it, often.
 

Stearmann4

I'm here for the Jeeehawd!
None
Mrs. Pickle,

No matter what hand gun you end up buying, home defense is all about shot placement, shot placement, and shot placement. The caliber doesn't matter nearly as much as selecting a gun you know you're going to be able to comfortably handle and afford to shoot often. Bigger isn't neccesarily better. I know a bunch a women who sling a compact 9mm with far more accuracy and effectiveness than the ones who pull out a big frame semi-auto or hand cannon. Did I mention shot placement?

That said, I've got some experience with a variety of weapons and I defend my own castle with a Sig Sauer P226/P245 and a Mosssberg 500 with a pistol grip and etended tube (back pack concealable).
 

TheBubba

I Can Has Leadership!
None
Bubba's 2 cents...

If I were to buy a handgun for home protection, I'd go with the Sig P226 in 9mm. I'm a pretty big guy.... 6 even, 220. I can handle pretty much any weapon I've fired. However, like Stearmann said, its all about shot placement. I can whip out the 226 and put a decent group almost anywhere I like. So that's what I'd go with. That, and its comfortable to shoot. After about 2 years not having fired the Sig, I was still able to draw to almost a perfect aim point.

As for the home invasion protection my roommates and I had in P-Cola: Remmington .22LR, Sig P226, AK47, Shotgun (can't remember the make or gauge), M1 Garand (sp?), 2 K-Bars, throwing stars, a machete and a 220lbs Cuban. Unfortunately, none of the weapons were mine. Makes me sad.
 

devil_dog_wife

Proud wife and mama!
Just thought I would throw in a girls perspective. The husband has a 1911 that I can easily shoot and handle. I have a S&W 38 sp. airweight, it's lighter and easier for me to handle, plus very easy to conceal/carry.

smith_642.jpg
 

dsevo

Registered User
If its truly for home defense a shotgun is really the best choice.

I own a .45 and my girlfriend shoots it all the time. 9mm are nice to shoot, but are weak imo. If I were going to buy a gun for both of us I would buy a .40. Plenty of power but still tolerable for the ladies.
 

dsevo

Registered User
Just thought I would throw in a girls perspective. The husband has a 1911 that I can easily shoot and handle. I have a S&W 38 sp. airweight, it's lighter and easier for me to handle, plus very easy to conceal/carry.

smith_642.jpg

very nice gun. I would like to buy a revolver when funds permit.
 

MrsPickle

MIT- Manatee In Training
Contributor
Just thought I would throw in a girls perspective. The husband has a 1911 that I can easily shoot and handle. I have a S&W 38 sp. airweight, it's lighter and easier for me to handle, plus very easy to conceal/carry.

smith_642.jpg
I like that one. I think part of my "issue" with handling a firearm is the intimidation factor. I like the snub nose on that one. I also like the idea of it being concealable.

We need to go to the range. At this point, taking the little Pickles isn't an option, so we probably need to invest in a babysitter before we invest in a new firearm.

I agree with all of you that said it's about shot placement. A well placed steak knife can be deadly as well. I think it's just going to take time and practice (kind of like sex!).

BulletBob said:
The two Pistols You see here made quite a few Circuits around WestPac in the 60's and 70'. They are (Nickel) 38 Cal. S&W Special CTG. The Blue is a S&W 357 Mag.
Pickle is in LOVE with your .357 :)

I still think that 38 airweight is pretty f'in cool. What's the kick on that one, for you, dd wife?
 

biograd06

Princess of the Pulpmill
While I agree that the Airweight looks cool, I like a gun with a longer grip. That's why I like the Bersa. If my whole hand can't fit on the grip, it's uncomfortable. And I have pretty tiny hands. Like elf hands.
 

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
Just thought I would throw in a girls perspective..... it's lighter and easier for me to handle, plus very easy to conceal/carry.

smith_642.jpg
Nothing "girlie" about it :) -- the Smith bobbed/concealed hammer models are functional & eminently reliable -- and 5 rounds of .38 Special is always a very respectable insurance policy. Trophy Wife carries one as her primary for the very same reasons you mentioned -- I carry one when the need arises for something smaller than my "normal" semi-auto. Mine's in blue -- :)

350px-SWBodyguard.jpg
 
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