Sure, my wife carries one...it does have a kick, more than my old .45 Public Defender did, but certainly manageable.
If not, the most important thing is what feels good to her and what she feels CONFIDENT with, not anyone else.
You could get a trigger job- polish the gun parts to get a smoother trigger pull. It’s great you have the ability to fire plus p ammo but you can always shoot standard velocity hollowpoints. S&w is a good brand. Good choice I say.
First gun I’d say an all steel .38 or 357 revolver, stainless preferably, with a 4” barrel.
My wife likes hers. No exposed hammer, so you’ll always have double-action type trigger pull.
It will not be a pleasant gun to practice with enough to gain proficiency. I have shot them, and even with non +P ammo, they become uncomfortable quickly. Many ladies have trouble with the J-frame double action triggers, as they are stiffer than the K and N frames, due to the more compact geometry. If she in not carrying it, but using it as a car and home gun, a steel one would have less recoil.
For a small revolver, IMO (and I am a Smith fan) I would consider the Ruger LCR in .38 (although they are coming out with one in 9mm). It has a smoother trigger, a bit more heft, and the grip soaks up more recoil. Also less expensive.
I had a pair of Colt Detective Specials [2nd model] that were quite nice, held 6 rounds, fired +P and looked sharp. You may have to dig about at gun shows to find one, though.
Back in the late 80s and early 90s a huge number of 4 inch barrel .38 revolvers were traded in by police depts. There were both S&W and Colts.
For a while you could find an excellent one for $100. Probably not anymore but I think one of those used guns if in top shape would be about perfect for her.
You could do worse than the 642 but I can think of several things which would make me choose a larger one for her first gun.
My wife started with a 642. She carried IWB (inside the waistband) and thought it was too bulky. She now carries a Glock 42 in 380 which is about half the thickness of the 642 and is more comfortable.
Just be sure not to take it out onto the lake in a canoe.
I think it’s a fine choice. As far as becoming proficient, that shouldn’t take much practice. In the real world almost all self defense situations occur within 10 feet, so you basically just point and pull the trigger. I like that there is no safety to forget. Which model of revolver is mostly what fits and feels good in your hand. You want to have it naturally point to the target without having to aim. Someone suggested the Ruger LCR, which is fine if you like it. Personally I like a longer, thinner grip. In fact I’m partial to the old Charter Arms Undercover with thin wooden grips. But that’s an individual choice according to what feels good in her hand. Try having her look at a “target”, close her eyes and point at it, then open her eyes. Which one feels most comfortable and naturally points best to the target? What works best for me or you may not be what works best for her.
hickok45 on the 642 S&W .38 Special (Airweight J frame)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgl8VuX0LuY
good video
The best advice you'll receive all night. My wife is an instructor at a local Ladies League. The stories of how much women hate the guns bought FOR them are numerous and modestly vitriolic.
Let her pick what she likes, even if it's just a .22.
And btw - good on 'ya for taking care of your mama...
First Gun? +P ammo? Unless she is an Amazon woman with strong man hands she will not like that gun. The trigger is hard, the gun is light and the load in a .38 is stout.
I load a reduced load for my wife to practice with and that is the only way she will shoot it. She only has it because it fits her situation to carry. With good hollow points she would only be good for maybe 5 shots and that would be it and she does have strong hands and shoots regularly.
I do not personally like any of the composite guns but I would highly recommend you spend some time doing hands on research before you buy especially for a new shooter with a self defense purpose gun.
I would lean towards a gun with no bells and whistles. No safety’s just point and pull.
That 642 is a hand full. Light guns send energy through your hand.
My .44 Desert Eagle is more comfortable to shoot because the slide and the springs adsorb most of the energy.
Find some place or some one who will either rent you some guns to try out if that s possible. Ask any friends that have guns. Do not buy until you know for sure. If you do buy and the gun is not usable for her, sell it and buy another until you get one that is right.
I carry a Kimber Super Carry Custom cocked and locked. I would not recommend that gun to her because of the operating procedure. Some guns have a different grip angle and do not fit some peoples hands. A Glock’s grip angle does not fit my hand. I shoot way high every time with one.
Point being she needs to try it out. Much more important than buying shoes and you would not buy them unless you knew they fit.
Get her a PT-85 Blowback Socom air pistol. Why?
Because it uses compressed air to give a recoil to simulate a live firearm.
Yes, it shoots a pellet reasonably fast (for a pistol), which means that she doesn't have to go to “the range” (which newbies seldom do) for practice.
Even if she lives in a tiny efficiency apartment in the middle of urbania, she can practice firing it all night long indoors.
It's about $90 at CheaperThanDirt.com.
Get it for her *and* setup a little target stand for her at home.
Once she shows good gun safety and firing control, **THEN** move her up to her first gunpowder weapon.
Four days ago:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3331043/posts
“I am thinking of buying my first firearm. I want it for concealed carry, for self-defense, so I want it small. I have done some research and the Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight Model 642 looks good to me. “
You can find a good discussion of the handgun you’re looking at earlier this week on FR. There are a lot of opinions, some suitable for your mother and others more directed to a different shooter or just personal bias, but it’s well worth reading. My vote - give her the opportunity to shoot lots of guns and see what she likes.
Good gun. Nothing wrong with it, but probably not a best “first gun.” JMO
Get her a Lady Smith. .38 6 shot revolver.
I carry a Glock 23 because I prefer.40 cal. With one spare mag, I have 27 rounds. With two spare mags, I have 40 rounds. And you can change out mags in a second, something you won't be able to do with a wheel gun. If you carry, you need to be prepared for all kinds of threats. Drug crazed assailants are not that uncommon. Neither are multiple perps. You need to be prepared for all kinds of threats. There is a reason law enforcement use semi-autos. You won't see them carrying wheel guns.
Wow, I leave for an hour and change and come back to a wealth of data.
Y’all have given me so good food for thought ;)