Perhaps the main purpose (like any combat handgun) is short range, but I always plink at relatively small targets at 25 m and beyond, no problem even with the small sights.
Seriously?
While revolver shooting may be becoming a lost art, let me assure you, a 2" J frame is capable of far more than being a “belly gun” in moderately trained hands. We used to have to qualify at the 25, and once a year at the 50 with our 2" guns we wanted to carry in plain clothes. Most of us passed. And yes, we needed our sights.
When I was teaching, I often shot at a 100 with a 2", just to show the recruits it could be done.
Here’s the late Bob Munden shooting a 2" model 60 “belly gun” at 200 yards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tied-t1fFsk
I’ve seen him do the same at 300.
I’m not saying that type of performance is not possible, just not what the gun was primarily designed for.
All I’m saying is don’t sweat it if you aren’t very accurate beyond a few yards, since that’s what the gun was intended to be.
EDITED TO ADD:
I do have a question, though.
I know a lot of people will only buy “pre-lock” Smiths. Is this just gun snobbery or are there valid reasons for this?
dupe.
Although I have a J frame S&W 442 with crimson trace grips.
My favorite revolver has always been the S&W 586 with a slicked up action and good grips. Its nice to carry and does most things well. Like a G19
No, you’re wrong.
The J frame Chief’s Special was designed for law enforcement use in plain clothes. It was carried as a backup and as a primary weapon by several generations of cops, who were expected to be able to use it effectively at further than a “few yards”. It is quite capable of combat accuracy at reasonable handgun distances.
It only became a “belly gun” to those who didn’t bother to learn to shoot it well. It’s not that hard. I’ve taught 15 year old girls, and 70 year old ladies to do so.
I still hear guys say AR’s are inaccurate beyond 100 yards. They’re wrong too.
Different guys have different opinions. I’ve seen and heard enough that I wouldn’t carry one for serious purposes that hadn’t been removed.
I disagree with people advising that one who is inexperienced buy a revolver, unless they lack the grip strength to run an auto.
The advantages of the revolver over the auto are like those of the shotgun over the carbine: They exist, but they are few and mostly exaggerated.
The revolver is harder to shoot well than the auto.
The revolver is actually more manipulation intensive than the auto (your auto probably won’t jam every 5-6 shots, and with the revolver you have to open the cylinder, eject the spent brass, and then reload it. God help you if you have to do it one-handed).
The revolver holds fewer rounds and typically of less potency than an auto (and I would think that the recent shooting in GA and LAV’s and m4c’s response would amply demonstrate this).
This is on top of the lightweight revolvers, which draw the inexperienced like flames draw moths, being absolutely brutal to shoot.
That’s not to say that I believe that revolvers are useless or anything of the sort. Merely that their utility for the inexperienced is grossly over-exaggerated. Simply put, they need more training to use well than the auto, not less.
Having said that, I agree with everyone’s advice on which models to look at: Steel frame .38s and .357s of small- or medium-frame size with 2-4 inch barrels, manufactured by Smith & Wesson or Ruger. (Add Colt, if we’re looking at used.)
The OP asked for advice on which revolver to recommend for his sister who wants to buy one. It wasn’t a revolver vs auto thread.
True. But that did not stop people from saying, “I recommend revolvers (over autos) for people who aren’t serious shooters.”
Wow, in the revolver forum?
Whoda thunk?
And btw, for some people, that advice is spot on.
In my experience with a steel 2-inch Model 36, it’s in no way unpleasant to shoot. Mine has an oversize Hogue grip, which is a big factor in that, but I have taught several women to shoot it and none of them have complained or been turned off by the recoil. For a compact, light, convenient carry gun, I think it’s a top choice. It’s impossible to predict every SD scenario that might occur, but I would rather have a 5-shot J frame in my pocket than something else in the glovebox because it’s too heavy and bulky to carry.
…
That might be the thread title, but did you actually read the OP’s question? He specifically asked about recommendations for a J-frame or other compact revolver.
My fiance carries my airweight jframe due to the size and weight of it. She much prefers my g19 but wont carry it and cant manipulate my pm9’s slide.
It took her a good bit of practice to become proficient with the jframe vs. the glock. She can clear any malfunction and shoots the g19 great it’s just to big and bulky for her to actually carry.
For everyone saying a revolver is for people that dont want to practice and get good with there carry gun is really short sighting it. It took her a few hundred rounds to be really proficient with the g19 and learn how to clear malfunctions, with the jframe about the same amount of rounds but a whole lot more dry firing. Shes accurate out to 25yds and pretty small so it is definatly not a belly gun for her.
With everyone talking about a 3in option I would say I’m all for it or at least a steal jframe and not a airweight mainly due to the practice factor. I can get her to shoot the g19 with out question, actually she loves shooting it but the jframe she will shoot 30-40 rounds max and be tired of it. If it was heavier or a 3in barrel with a boot grip she would treat it the same as the g19.
Autos are far more manipulation intensive due to the different malfunction clearing drills, speed reloads, tac reloads etc. With a revolver its simply point and pull and when it goes click reload. I much prefer autos for a fighting gun but revolvers are far simpler for the inexperienced.
A double action revolver is a bad idea for many women IMO. My sister cannot even pull the trigger to fire it in DA mode.
Long heavy trigger + usually harder recoil with defense rounds + low capacity = bad idea for beginners, especially ones with limited grip strength.
That said, the Ruger sp101 or GP100 is probably the closest you’ll get to a g19 in terms of durability, ruggedness IMO.
If they can’t pull the trigger on a revolver how in the heck are they going to rack the slide on an auto. Very weak argument considering a good DA revolver can be tuned to 8 pounds or so. Recoil with .38 +p ammo is negligible and comparable to the 9mm. Lower capacity yes but capacity while important does not trump reliability for a new shooter who are more prone to limp wristing and other user induced malfunctions with autos. I prefer autos for carry but for new shooters who are not willing to spend much time training I think revolvers are the best choice.
Pat
my wife is in the same boat. She’s small. It’s very frustrating to see her fumble with a slide on some pistols. The revolver is much easier for her to manage. She carries an LCR.
I just took out a new shooter - 23 year old girl - the other day. She had shot some before but almost none with handguns. I ran her through some warm-ups with a .22 pistol before we moved onto my 9mm glocks (19, 17, 26) and my revolver + a friend’s revolver (my 442, his competition 686). Also gave her a mag’s worth of .45 (the only .45 I had really) through my 1911. Of all of these guns, she preferred the 442. She managed to keep all of her shots on 8.5x11" sheet of paper at 15yds after the 2nd cylinder’s worth. She did equally well with the Glocks but I do not think it is fair to relegate revolvers to those with some mystical know-how.
They’re guns. You can learn to shoot them if you try and have good training. How well practiced you have to be to be satisfied with your skill with them is between you and your maker but from casual observation I think even a relatively novice shooter can be brought up to speed on a wheelgun at the same rate as the could on a semi auto. Sure reloads and stuff are harder with a wheelgun, but do you think Joe Blow practices his reloads…ever???
In every day carry with a proper carry system the few ounces added weight for a steel j frame is not noticed but the difference on the range when shooting is significant. Go steel frame. I prefer the k for general use if possible for the extra shot. Fwiw my wife’s favorite gun to shoot is a 1911! She doesn’t shoot much but is 3 inch group accurate to 15 yards with a 1911 but the heavy revolver triggers are tough for her to manage