Perfect for a ccw. No . springs to.wear out. Tops in reliability. Ruger LCR is lighter. It’s not a trainer or fun gun. A ruger gp100 or SW 66 in 4” is an ideal practice gun.
A family friend was sold a Ruger LCR as a "first gun," and they found it to be a difficult gun to get good results with when compared to larger handguns with more useful sights. The "helpful" clerk even recommended some FMJ ammunition to go with it as self-defense rounds! Madness. (I avoid that particular shop, myself.)
Even as a self-defense gun, a 4" Ruger SP101 or a Smith & Wesson Model 67 loaded with LWC Target loads would have been far more useable for this individual.
Mr. niteowl77
First gun.
Revolver is a good idea.
I’d go with a Charter.
And spend time at the range.
The S_W 642 Airweight is not bad for first handgun, if she spends time at the range.
It is not bad as a first handgun, because when loaded with 148 grain full, flat top of cartridge wadcutters, it is accurate, with low flash, enough bang, and not much recoil, for that second shot, and was a load of big-city plainclothesmen, from the 1950’s, forward.
She will need to acquaint herself with “the manual of arms”, which is the loading and unloading process, and with the various speedloaders, to decide which she prefers to use.
IF, she cannot get to the range often, you can buy her some A-Zoom snapcaps, to practice at home, the loading and unloading process. She CAN access YouTube, i hope? If yes, then she can look up the videos by “Michael deBethencourt”, the Snubbie guru, and watch his explanations of things snubby.
For a first handgun, and first time exposure to the world of firearms, i would NOT load her snubnose with Plus P ammunition. It was designed, in the last millenium, to handle standard pressure 158 grain ammunition. Believe me, wadcutters and semi-wadcutters - without the hollow point - can do a great job, and will have enough energy for the 10 yards and less of today’s world.
Lastly, for a first handgun, a double action hammerless snubnose revolver, is a very safe handgun. It was also the choice of the C.I.A., over the Browning Hi Power, which says a lot.
And yes, i own both!
I have some nice weapons and opted to carry a little .380 pocket gun for everyday use because of its size and ease of concealing it - crappy for target shooting but fine for someone who can shoot as far as self defense goes.
Give her range time!
I carry and shoot a 642 all the time.
I don’t know about others, but I had to work my way up to being comfortable with the recoil.
For me, it would not have been a good starter.
First gun to be a revolver: good.
If she will carry in her purse a heavier gun would be good. A longer barrel, and a heavier frame is way easier to use at the range.
It will only be her first gun. Her needs will change over the years and she will be buying other guns.
Rent a few revolvers at a range and find out what she likes best. You might be surprised.
A gun like that is a close range weapon 99% of the time unless you’re Bill Hickock
My wife has the 642PD
Hard to beat weight wise