[358 winchester]

Mrs John's wife,
I have been around some and have helped lots of older ladies and smaller young ladies as well as some handicapped folks find what is right for them.
Now only you and no one else can pick your gun.
I tried at least fifty different handguns with my wife before she made her pick.
She went with a Smith & Wesson model 317 air lite with a three inch barrel and high visible sights in 22 Long Rifle. It was her decision.

Now many people will; tell you that that is to small a caliber or that you shouldn't shoot anything smaller then this or that caliber, I agree with them in most cases! I love a 1911 45 or a revolver in 357 mag. 44 mag or 45 ACP
I own and shoot them all.

Just remember one thing the smaller the caliber the more important shot placement is. A 22 caliber is what I call a doctor gun, it should be placed in the ear - eye - nose -throat before the trigger is pulled. The wife has her custom 20 gauge pump 18 1/2 barrel as well as her M1 Carbine close at hand when she is home alone, nothing beats a pump shotgun!!

Last thing I would strongly recommend a revolver over a semi-auto to start with. The revolver is simple pick it up, point it at what you want to shoot and pull the trigger. With a semi-auto the slide will need to be racked or the hammer cocked back then the safeties checked then you are ready to point and shoot ( takes lots of learning to do all this in a dark room from a dead sleep). The other option is a DAO and the trigger on most is very hard for a smaller lady to pull.
NO ONE CAN PICK OUT THE RIGHT GUN FOR YOU BUT YOU!