Picking out a gun for mom...

Mr_Shamrock · 06-27-2012, 03:45 PM

My mom came into town this past week and during one of our conversations she said she would like to get a firearm to keep at home for protection. She lives 800 miles away in a large house and has, at times, felt a little uneasy being there alone. So as you can imagine I was eager to talk guns with mom. I showed her a large S&W .357 that I had as well as my Ruger LCP that I always have on me. She instantly thought the LCP was the gun for her. I suggested a trip to our local range that has an open rental program. Basically for $25 you can try any of there rental weapons. On the way there I told her I would like to see her with a revolver and .38 was probably the calber I could see her getting comfortable with. She is a small framed woman at about 5'6" and roughly 120 pounds. I know there is a huge debate on defense calibers and semi auto's vs. revolvers, but my personal preference for someone who will not spend a lot of range time and just wants a defense weapon is a revolver. I don't want to start a debate, but that is just my opinion.

We arrive at the range and she has to watch the safety video. After the video I take her over to the rental cabinets and pick out a Ruger LCR. I had never shot one and had actually been wanting to check one out for my wife. We pick up a box of .38 and .380 (I brought my LCP as well), a few targets, and in we go. After a 10 minute crash course on both weapons she shoots the LCP first. She did NOT like it at all. For her weaker grip she did not feel comfortable at all with how snappy it was with not a lot to hold on to. She also didn't like how small the sights were. 7 rounds later she puts it down and says "This is definitely not the one!" I then walk her through the loading process of the revolver and she instantly tells me she likes how easy it is to load. She then begins to shoot it. I watch as she falls in love with this little revolver. She loved the sights, there was more to hold onto compared to the LCP, and it was still small enough to stick into a purse if she decides to go CWP later. She went through about 40 rounds out of the 50 round box. She didn't want to put it down. I was also surprised to see her get a few sub 2" groups @ 7 yards. I know that isn't a great distance, but figured would be somewhat accurate for a defensive situation. At one point she pushed the target back to around the 12 yard mark and still had a very nice grouping of around 5". Not bad for a woman who has only shot a couple times in her life! She definitely got comfortable with it quickly.

She made a comment on the 5 round capacity of the LCR so just for comparison sake I go back out and get a S&W Bodyguard .380 thinking it looked to have a little more to hold on to vs. the LCP while still having the 6+1 capacity. It does slightly have more to hold, but in both of our opinions has the absolute worst trigger. I have shot many different guns in my time and have to say that it was a HUGE disapointment. To get the trigger to move initially is very hard and once it starts moving you swear it will never fire. It feels like it has to actually press against the rear of the trigger guard to fire. For her hand size/strength it was very difficult to get it to that point and she only fired it twice before putting it down. The built in laser was cool and hopefully with some trigger work it will make a decent weapon, but as is it is not a fun gun to shoot - and this is coming from someone who can have fun with just about any gun. It was interesting to see how much the laser moved to get the trigger going. Even when I shot it, it was extremely hard to keep the laser on target during the initial movement of the trigger.

So all in all it was a great day at the range with mom and she returned to Florida today and will be purchasing an LCR in the next couple weeks. I plan on taking the wife to the range to shoot one as well, but am fairly certain it will be added to our arsenal pretty soon.

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully this will shed some light on a couple different pistols.

BlackEagle · 06-27-2012, 03:55 PM

Sounds like you had a great time with your mom, and got some good experiences with different guns into the bargain.

Thanks for the post.

BETH · 06-27-2012, 03:59 PM

did she get the 22 or 357

Double D · 06-27-2012, 04:24 PM

If you want her to try a 380 that she will actually like, try the bersa 380. Women seem to like the feel of them. I know you have said she already chose the revolver, but just a suggestion.

pickenup · 06-27-2012, 04:40 PM

Sounds like a good day spent with mom.

BETH · 06-27-2012, 04:42 PM

we want pictures of mom shootin

Mr_Shamrock · 06-27-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BETH

did she get the 22 or 357

She is going with the .38 Ruger LCR.

Mr_Shamrock · 06-27-2012, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BETH

we want pictures of mom shootin

I totally forgot she did ask me to take a picture of her shooting. For some reason it was with a Ruger 9mm that I had her shoot as well, but it ended up being too large for potential purse concealment. It is a phone pic so it is not the greatest. Funny story about this gun...Between the 2 of us we shot a 50 round box through it. We were both consistantly about an inch or so left of the target. After a couple mags I finally looked at the sights and whoever had rented it previously had knocked the front sight way right almost to point of hanging off the gun. I was seriously doubting my shooting skills for a minute! Anyway here she is...

TheGunClinger · 06-27-2012, 06:23 PM

Maybe you cold suggest the LCR .357 as you can use .38's and .357's. I have both and I like the .357 and my wife likes the .38's. Good times for both of us at the range.

jedwil · 06-27-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Shamrock

She is going with the .38 Ruger LCR.

Great choice. I have 2 daughters and the wife. Each has a .38--S&W 638, S&W Bodyguard .38, and the LCR. I like them all. Daughters did not like semiautos.

Mr_Shamrock · 06-27-2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGunClinger

Maybe you cold suggest the LCR .357 as you can use .38's and .357's. I have both and I like the .357 and my wife likes the .38's. Good times for both of us at the range.

Thanks, I wasn't aware they made it in a .357.

BETH · 06-27-2012, 08:19 PM

does a .38 have the same kick as a 9mm

BETH · 06-27-2012, 08:19 PM

i mean .380

Mr_Shamrock · 06-27-2012, 08:28 PM

In the same size/weight gun a 9mm is going to "kick" harder. .380 in a lightweight gun like the LCP is going to kick harder than a full size 9mm though. Weight of the gun has a lot to do with it.

06-27-2012, 03:45 PM	#1
Mr_Shamrock V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 138	Picking out a gun for mom... My mom came into town this past week and during one of our conversations she said she would like to get a firearm to keep at home for protection. She lives 800 miles away in a large house and has, at times, felt a little uneasy being there alone. So as you can imagine I was eager to talk guns with mom. I showed her a large S&W .357 that I had as well as my Ruger LCP that I always have on me. She instantly thought the LCP was the gun for her. I suggested a trip to our local range that has an open rental program. Basically for $25 you can try any of there rental weapons. On the way there I told her I would like to see her with a revolver and .38 was probably the calber I could see her getting comfortable with. She is a small framed woman at about 5'6" and roughly 120 pounds. I know there is a huge debate on defense calibers and semi auto's vs. revolvers, but my personal preference for someone who will not spend a lot of range time and just wants a defense weapon is a revolver. I don't want to start a debate, but that is just my opinion. We arrive at the range and she has to watch the safety video. After the video I take her over to the rental cabinets and pick out a Ruger LCR. I had never shot one and had actually been wanting to check one out for my wife. We pick up a box of .38 and .380 (I brought my LCP as well), a few targets, and in we go. After a 10 minute crash course on both weapons she shoots the LCP first. She did NOT like it at all. For her weaker grip she did not feel comfortable at all with how snappy it was with not a lot to hold on to. She also didn't like how small the sights were. 7 rounds later she puts it down and says "This is definitely not the one!" I then walk her through the loading process of the revolver and she instantly tells me she likes how easy it is to load. She then begins to shoot it. I watch as she falls in love with this little revolver. She loved the sights, there was more to hold onto compared to the LCP, and it was still small enough to stick into a purse if she decides to go CWP later. She went through about 40 rounds out of the 50 round box. She didn't want to put it down. I was also surprised to see her get a few sub 2" groups @ 7 yards. I know that isn't a great distance, but figured would be somewhat accurate for a defensive situation. At one point she pushed the target back to around the 12 yard mark and still had a very nice grouping of around 5". Not bad for a woman who has only shot a couple times in her life! She definitely got comfortable with it quickly. She made a comment on the 5 round capacity of the LCR so just for comparison sake I go back out and get a S&W Bodyguard .380 thinking it looked to have a little more to hold on to vs. the LCP while still having the 6+1 capacity. It does slightly have more to hold, but in both of our opinions has the absolute worst trigger. I have shot many different guns in my time and have to say that it was a HUGE disapointment. To get the trigger to move initially is very hard and once it starts moving you swear it will never fire. It feels like it has to actually press against the rear of the trigger guard to fire. For her hand size/strength it was very difficult to get it to that point and she only fired it twice before putting it down. The built in laser was cool and hopefully with some trigger work it will make a decent weapon, but as is it is not a fun gun to shoot - and this is coming from someone who can have fun with just about any gun. It was interesting to see how much the laser moved to get the trigger going. Even when I shot it, it was extremely hard to keep the laser on target during the initial movement of the trigger. So all in all it was a great day at the range with mom and she returned to Florida today and will be purchasing an LCR in the next couple weeks. I plan on taking the wife to the range to shoot one as well, but am fairly certain it will be added to our arsenal pretty soon. Sorry for the long post. Hopefully this will shed some light on a couple different pistols. --> Last edited by Mr_Shamrock; 06-27-2012 at 03:49 PM..

06-27-2012, 03:55 PM	#2
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,152	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... Sounds like you had a great time with your mom, and got some good experiences with different guns into the bargain. Thanks for the post.

06-27-2012, 03:59 PM	#3
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... did she get the 22 or 357

06-27-2012, 04:24 PM	#4
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,054	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... If you want her to try a 380 that she will actually like, try the bersa 380. Women seem to like the feel of them. I know you have said she already chose the revolver, but just a suggestion. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

06-27-2012, 04:40 PM	#5
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,837	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... Sounds like a good day spent with mom. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

06-27-2012, 04:42 PM	#6
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... we want pictures of mom shootin

06-27-2012, 06:23 PM	#9
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,378	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... Maybe you cold suggest the LCR .357 as you can use .38's and .357's. I have both and I like the .357 and my wife likes the .38's. Good times for both of us at the range. __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

06-27-2012, 08:19 PM	#12
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... does a .38 have the same kick as a 9mm

06-27-2012, 08:19 PM	#13
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... i mean .380

06-27-2012, 08:28 PM	#14
Mr_Shamrock V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 138	Re: Picking out a gun for mom... In the same size/weight gun a 9mm is going to "kick" harder. .380 in a lightweight gun like the LCP is going to kick harder than a full size 9mm though. Weight of the gun has a lot to do with it.