Comparable to a S&W airweight

[SgtJoyce]

I am looking for opinions on a carry/nightstand gun. I have decided to go with a light weight revolver, for simplicity and so my wife can handle it comfortably. She doesn't like my 1911 because the grip is wide and it's kind of heavy. She is a Marine and she started shooting at 12, so I'm not worried about her aim.

I am leaning towards the S&W airweight .38 with internal hammer and Crimson Trace. I expect to pay around $600-700.

Does anyone have an opinion on something similar? Maybe a different manufacturer with similar quality? Any opinions on the Ruger with composite frame?

 

[Becka]

I was looking at S&W airweights and the guy at Basspro turned me on to the Ruger LCR.
It's a bit scary to shoot at first (I would only shoot 5-10 rounds the first few times I brought it to the range), but I love it now.

If you check out this page, it shows it comes with Crimson Trace grips.
I got mine (no laser grips) for $385 at Mike's Gun Shop (GOAL).

 

[fbirdquik6]

Buy the gun and add the grips, you'll save a bunch of money.

 

[Jose]

Before you buy an Airweight, rent or borrow one loaded with +P ammo. Make sure your wife tries it too.

Then consider if you are willing to shoot such a light gun frequently enough to remain proficient with ammo of comparable power to what you will load it with for real.

This issue is not idle speculation. Back in the early 70s the California Highway Patrol lost four troopers in a shootout. A significant reason why they lost their lives was the fact that all of their training and qualification was done with light-kicking .38 Special target ammo and then went into battle shooting hard kicking .357 Magnums. The difference in recoil was significant enough to screw their aim up good.

The four California troopers scored very, very few hits in that gunfight and all of them ended up dead.

The S&W .38 Special Airweights loaded with +P ammo recoil about as bad as a steel medium frame revolver loaded with .357 Magnums. They are pretty vicious.

I strongly suggest that you and your wife try something other than an all-steel 1911. A Glock 19 would be ideal for both the roles you have outlined and it is significantly lighter than an all-steel gun.

 

[Jose]

..

 

[Youradolt]

Before you buy an Airweight, rent or borrow one loaded with +P ammo. Make sure your wife tries it too.

Then consider if you are willing to shoot such a light gun frequently enough to remain proficient with ammo of comparable power to what you will load it with for real.

This issue is not idle speculation. Back in the early 70s the California Highway Patrol lost four troopers in a shootout. A significant reason why they lost their lives was the fact that all of their training and qualification was done with light-kicking .38 Special target ammo and then went into battle shooting hard kicking .357 Magnums. The difference in recoil was significant enough to screw their aim up good.

The four California troopers scored very, very few hits in that gunfight and all of them ended up dead.

The S&W .38 Special Airweights loaded with +P ammo recoil about as bad as a steel medium frame revolver loaded with .357 Magnums. They are pretty vicious.

I strongly suggest that you and your wife try something other than an all-steel 1911. A Glock 19 would be ideal for both the roles you have outlined and it is significantly lighter than an all-steel gun.

Agree glock 19 would be good