Wife wants an LTC/My story

[Alte Schule]

Wife surprised the hell out of me last year when she asked me to help her get a license to carry.
This from a woman that has expressed no interest in firearms for the past 40 plus years we've been married so for the past few months we have been going over the the basics. I started her on the .22 mag PMR 30 and worked her way up through the several calibers. She told me she wanted to carry a small J frame type revolver like I usually do so lately we have been concentrating on those in .32, .32 H&R, .327 Fed Magnum and .38 special. As all my snubs are D/A only I went out last week and bought a NIB S&W Model 637 just so she could try single action.
To make a long story short since last summer, after firing hundreds of rounds through five different pistols she is only accurate with the LCR using .32 S&W Longs and OK with the Critical Defense .32 H&R mags. Everything else is pretty much off the table now.  A .32 is a pretty anemic self defense round but better than a rock I guess and I could tell she was disappointed. I told her we weren't giving up yet as there were plenty of pistols and calibers out there we will find something.
Before we left I wanted to shoot the new smith and a couple of small autos I brought a Glock 33 and A Bersa .380. Wife wanted to shoot one of them so I let her fire away with the Bersa. 1 shot at 20 feet in the 7 ring. Ok do that again. Next shot in the 8 ring low and right. She ended up with a 2" pattern low and right in the eight and nine rings. Had her reload the magazine with Winchester 85gr Self Defense & Training loads, rack the slide, and do it again. At 15 feet a nice tight group all low and right in the 9 ring and one round in the seven. One more try same result except one was high and right. YO! We have a winner. Her smile was worth all the effort and her confidence was over the top. Not perfect but nothing a little practice won't help. Next time I'm going to bring my grandsons Glock 43 and rent a Glock 42 and see how she does with those.
 
 

 

[Ceejmo]

I don't know how strong your wife's hands are but the trigger pull on the double action revolver probably killed accuracy. She will probably love the Glock 43.

[Tango]

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good story - she'll find her groove

my Wife and I got our CHLs at the same time - I had originally intended to qualify using her Bersa 83 (now sold) or my E.G. Makarov but I opted to use her G34

she qualified with her G19 but now she carries a Sig 238 - yep the double action trigger on the LCR (her .357mag) is troublesome, even for me - single action on her 686+ is mo betta (she also has the G42 but prefers the Sig)

[Alte Schule]

 She was getting the hang of the 442's trigger, I've had it awhile and have ran a good 500 rds or more through it, so there's  little catch halfway through the trigger pull but at 15 feet she was still all over the target. Single action on the new 637 was a lot better but she was uncomfortable with it. Tried light load .38 Sp SWC's but it was a no go. Just happy the way it worked out
One small problem is now her sister wants her LTC so I've got to start all over again. I did get a Model 637 SA/DA out of it that goes into my EDC rotation so I'm not complaining.     

[Tango]

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are ya still rotating with the .327 fed mag ?  gotta find one and give it a try

[Alte Schule]

^^^Oh yeah still my main EDC though I thought I was going to lose it to the wife. Have been running Jamison 78 gr .327's through it lately. Great ammo, IMO, for that pistol. Trying out the SW 637 also. Found a Bianchi OWB at the bottom of a file drawer that I keep my used accessories in. Fits the 637 perfectly.

[Countryside]

Problem is...once they learn to shoot and like it....they can out-shoot US!

[Gilgondorin]

If you're looking for .380 level stuff, has she considered the CZ-82 or CZ-83? The 82 is in makarov, the 83 is in .380. My sister has smaller hands than I and very much liked the fit in her hand; she didn't have much trouble working the slide either.

[TXAZ]

Congrats.  My wife keeps thinking about it but no action.  I think it's a great class even if you don't carry, just to know the rules and issues.

I know there are many here that are big supporter of constitutional carry, but what scares me about constitutional carry is it allows people to proceed without knowing the rules and issues. I knew a few people with that in Arizona that had no clue of the issue if they pull a gun, which is considered felony assault in AZ if 'you guess wrong'.

[satx78247]

Alte Schule,

You really should show your wife a "D-Frame" COLT, imo. = My lady is partially paralyzed & she shoots a COLT's COBRA quite well.
(She recently slayed a very likely rabid raccoon with hers & shooting from her wheelchair. - One shot at about 20M = 1 dead "Rocky Raccoon".)

There are LOTS of "as new" D-frame Colt's out there for sale used, if you "look about" at most any gun-show.

yours, satx

[Alte Schule]

Back to the range today. Brought the Glock 33 .357 Sig, Glock 43 9 mm, Ruger LCRx "3 .38 Sp, Bersa .380 and I rented a Glock 42 .380.
Glock 33 was way to much for her. It can be a stout SOB if your not use to it.
We ran 3 magazines each through the 42 & 43. She shot them fairly well but didn't care for the striker action so those are out for now.
She liked the Ruger LCRx 38 Special as do I. Fully loaded it weighs 20 oz. and with SWC target loads there is minimal recoil. She put 25 rds through it and did real well so that one was a maybe.
In the end she again settled on the Bersa. Consistent low and right 2" groups in the 8 & 9 ring. It's her grip so we will work on that. I've probably put 5-6 hundred rounds through it over the years so I'm confident it will work when needed but not my first choice. She's comfortable and becoming confident with it so that's what counts for now.
Next time I'm renting a SIG P 238 and a Colt Mustang. I'm also looking for a gently used CZ 83. I've been thinking about buying one of those anyway so if she doesn't like it I know who will.

[DCD327]

My wife had recoil and slide racking issues. We ended up with a CZ RAMI 2075 D.  She loves it.  It one of the softest shooting 9mm's in a compact Ive ever seen. She has no trouble racking the slide. She also loves my EDC, a  CZ 75 D compact, but its too big for her to conceal, and she liked the Rami since it not only conceals very easy, it fits in a purse or pocket really nice. She actually shoots it better than I can.
The Rami in a "D" model ( decocker), comes with combat night sights, as does a PCR.
The slide design really tames the recoil.
The Rami has kind of a mini 1911 feel to the grip. Feels just like a SIG 938, but a tick thicker.  The 75 compact  with rubber grips has awesome ergonomics.

ALL my CZ's have a few things in common. They are accurate as hell, reliable as hell, have great triggers. They run like champs on any ammo. My 75 D compact PCR has about 1500 rounds fired and not a hickup.

What I REALLY like about the CZ decocker for the wife, and myself  for that matter. . Once you decock it,, there is NO WAY that thing is going bang unless you pull the trigger. SO they are VERY safe to carry.

My daughter in law has the SIG 938 black widow. If you like a cocked and locked. Its also high on my list. Very soft shooting, great night sights, and accurate as hell.

GOOD LUCK. 

[JohnnyDollar]

My wife is a Sig girl,
she has a P232, P238, P938, P290 and SP2022   ----   and she currently has her eye on a Sig 1911 

For carry she seems to always choose the P238 or P938.

She loves the P232, but does not carry it.
if it ever has to be used, she does not want to take a chance that gun is taken by the police.