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HOW GOOD IS YOU WIFES HEARING? DOES SHE NEED HEARING AIDS NOW? YES, I AM SHOUTING. If she fires a .357 inside a car with the windows rolled up, I guarantee that she will need hearing aids from that moment on. .357's make a lot of noise. Without a doubt! Even with ear protection you can always pick out the .357's.

Personally, I wouldn't choose a self defense weapon by how quiet it was. I want a couple of things from a self-defense (handgun) weapon:

1. Effective
2. Goes bang every time I pull the trigger

Number 2 pretty much rules out semi-automatic weapons. I don't want to bet my life on the remote possibility of a stovepipe jam or a bad primer. For women and some men, the possibility of a "limp wrist" jam is also very real. A revolver is on the top of my list for reliability and ease of use.

Number 1 pretty much rules out pistol rounds smaller or weaker than .357. The 38 special +p is a realistic choice, but it's pretty noisy too.

That leaves revolvers of 38 special +p and up on my list. A .45ACP with a half-moon clip is a good alternative. The availability of good self-defense rounds for the .357 make it my choice.

"Number 1 pretty much rules out pistol rounds smaller or weaker than .357."

You are searching for the ultimate weapon. A one shot and the attacker collapses to the ground, everytime. You can use a .22, deliver a shot directly into the brain and yes, the attacker will collapse to the ground, everytime.

domenad stated, " About an hour ago, my wife calls me to tell me that someone behind her in traffic got out of the car, slammed his fist on her window and threatened her for not blowing through a "Yield" sign fast enough."

If he feels that the most substantial threat will occur while his wife is stopped at an intersection then that places his wife inside the car,, in Florida, where most of the time people drive with the air-conditioner on and the windows up.

The attackers chest is going to be, at a maximum, four feet from the barrel. I'm assuming the drivers window will be up, possibly cracked from a blow by the attacker. Therefore his wife will shoot through the cracked glass and keep firing until the attacker collapses. The barrel of the weapon will remain inside the vehicle. The noise level will be tremendous.

No, she is not going to put on her ear protection before firing the weapon. There is no reason why she should suffer permanent hearing loss while defending herself.

Therefore I cannot recommend one of the most noisy handguns ever made. A .38 with standard loads will be able to handle the job and it will be noisy enough.

I know his wife won't be aware of the noise while the attack is occurring, but she will be wondering why she cannot hear the radio or the car engine afterwards.

Without ear protection-have you ever fired a .22 inside a room? Try it sometime. Then use a 12 guage shotgun, then use a .357 and you will learn that the .357 is the only one that cause you physical pain to the head.