ATTENTION WOMEN (and guys as well). As an FFL Ive been asked for a recommendation for a self defense firearm for a single mom with very little firearm experience and very little money to spend. As Ive been asked this more than once, I wanted to share. Heres my recommendation: someone with little experience and little money will need something simple, cheap to buy and cheap to own. At the same time it needs to be concealable and powerful enough to stop a bad guy with one or two shots. It also needs to be easy to clean and maintain. A revolver is preferable in this case. Its design is simple, its use is simple, cleaning is simple, and has zero jamming potential as with semi-autos. Also, no issues buying one in all but the most stupid of states, as even libtards dont consider a revolver an assault weapon. Now, on to caliber. Without going through all the good, bad and so-so choices, I recommend a .357 Magnum. When revolvers were king with police departments, the .357 jacketed hollow point was a favored round. Not only is the .357 still the best one-shot-stop round made, but it also allows you to use the smaller and cheaper .38 Special round in the same gun. Effectiveness and the price you can find .357 revolvers at make it my recommendation here. Shoot the .38Sp target rounds for practice at a range, and shoot only a few of the more expensive .357 every time you go so that you feel the higher recoil and can get over the fear of it. Almost every woman with normal female physique can shoot a .357, and the few that cant can certainly shoot a .38Sp (which my 12 year old can shoot), which is still a fine self defense round. This makes a .357 revolver not only simple and powerful, but also versatile. Regarding barrel length, for concealability and short range use, go with a 2 barrel, or perhaps a 4 if you have a large enough purse. This 2 barrel means you will never get good distance accuracy, but you are not purchasing a rifle here. Now, there are many brands and models available. Some are nothing less than a work of gunsmithing art, but their price tag shows it. Were looking for something as affordable as possible. Even at this low end of pricing there are many models to choose from. If you see one that feels good and is affordable get one. One of the lowest cost one is the EAA Windicator. It is a no-frills 6 round .357. It is blued metal (looks black), has rubber grips, fixed sights, the 2 barrel model is 6.5 total length, 26 oz, and a MSRP sticker (sucker) price of $343. You should be able to buy it much cheaper, probably $275-$300. Add to that about a $20 processing fee and local sales tax. Why did I not recommend the much-recommended Taurus Judge? It does have more kick which some women may be uncomfortable with, but most importantly is cost, as this is an as-cheap-as-possible recommendation. The cheapest Judge model, the Public Defender, is 27oz, 7.65 long, and an MSRP of $515. It can be found priced in the $450-$500 range plus fees & tax. It shoots a 410 shotgun shell or a .45 Long Colt. The .45LC is a little harder to find and more expensive than .38S or .357 rounds. .410 shotgun shells are also a little tougher to find, but .45LC and .410 rounds can certainly be found at larger gun stores and on the internet. A good friend loves her Judge and the spread pattern of .410 buckshot. So if you have the money, this is also a good choice. Certainly, semi-autos in .40 and .45 auto calibers are shot many women, and the 9mm NATO caliber round which has been used by our military for their side arms is my 12 year old daughters favorite round. So any of these are valid choices. I will stand by my recommendation, however, of a .38S/.357 revolver as an excellent choice for a simple to learn, easy to shoot, low maintenance, easy to clean, no-jam, multi-caliber option for both women and men as well. My personal .357 is one of my favorite guns, and is the first one I reach for if I hear a strange noise outside my home; my semi-auto is my backup for if I ever emptied the 6 .357 rounds and still needed more rounds. Note that $20 speed loaders for .357 revolvers are also available. I would strongly advise purchasing at least one speed loader as well, and practice speed reloading at home.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 00:37:55 +0000
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