Wife (petite with thin wrists), carries a Ruger .22 revolver - this caliber is the extent of what she seems able to control.
Not optimal, but better than nothing (and frankly, it LOOKS like a .38 Sp - you have to look close before you realize it's only a .22).
A friend of mine with a dubious past says: “Hit someone in the eye with any .22 and they will decided to do something else.”
We even practice that strategy at the range.
“Wife (petite with thin wrists), carries a Ruger .22 revolver - this caliber is the extent of what she seems able to control.”
Tell her to be like Thor, and go for the head.
Your revolver seems similar to the little Beretta 21a. The CCI velocitor and stinger rounds are the nominal standard for defense. The newish Federal Punch proved 1-shot effective vs a very thick woodchuck and gets my thumbs up.
Test of course… advantage being even “premium” 22 isn’t costly.
If a 22LR is the largest caliber she can control, I would argue that that IS her “optimal” round.
Just some unsolicited advice:
I’d suggest having her try a low power .38. Especially if you have, or can borrow, a revolver similar to hers in .38.
“Matt’s Bullets Comfort Plinker .38 Special Ammo” has a ridiculously low advertised recoil.
I really like my Ruger LCP .380 mostly for its ability to fit in my front pants pocket.