Ladyhay

I am always so overwhelmed at the kindness here. :) thanks everyone. The .380 is concerning because of the hype surrounding the caliber of coarse. I see fun made of the 9mm round much less the .380. But...and there is always a but... There is a lot to consider. I have read about people being shot with a .380 and not noticing it until hours later. And I have read if you use a hollow point it is less likely to exit and makes more damage in a person. My how I wish I had paid attention during my trauma nurse days. I wish I knew what most of those patients were shot with. All the details were in those reports, I just never looked. The only one I recall was a 10mm because I didn't know it existed. Anyway, after about 25-30 rounds with the Glock (17, I believe) my hands are crampy and tired. I can't load that magazine without the reloader on a good day, but I can rack it (now) with the two hand method. I take my time with that gun and have good shot placement. So I don't know if I can say that I can handle that gun, since I take my time with it. Definitely not a real life situation drill. More like a show my husband whose boss with beating his target placement :) But maybe that will give a bit of comparison on where I am with capability. (Low, I know :)) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh and thank you. Thank you to everyone for taking time out to reply. I appreciate the varied opinions so much. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I didn't put this in there. But I do have rheumatoid arthritis. I've had it since I was 18 (31 now :)) A hard firing gun with a lot recoil (like my .38 snub nose) and a good practice session will kick start a flare, and once flared grip and hand strength are reduced. I don't really like discussing it, and I sure shudder at the thought of being limited by it. I'm not sure if that changes anything. But that is a huge consideration, for me. I will not carry anything around the children (2 littles) without a manual safety. Maybe later in life, but I know me and I know it will wind up in the safe. But if guns on my "to research later" list do not have safeties, I would mark them off the list once discovered. I am quite new to this world. I don't know which ones do or do not have safeties without digging into "research." :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quote name="Djay3" post="1144708" timestamp="1398912608"]You might want to check out the firing range demo and review by our area's own Hickok45 on youtube. He discusses the 938 versus a double action only Kahr. Seeing his fine handling of the diminutive 938 is fun to watch. http://youtu.be/w6Js4acN46k Thundersnow (above) nailed the serial number issue. Good luck on your search![/quote] I love watching Hickok. I will watch videos I am not remotely interested just to see what he is going to say next! He is so hilarious. Meeting with the local range today to join, but they don't do rentals etc, it's just a get a key, come and go deal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quote name="Djay3" post="1143934" timestamp="1398732967"]The Sig 938 is an excellent choice! As long as one is comfortable with a single action firearm (I am) it is a superb choice. When surfing the web for information you may run across some early negative early release reviews. Those with serial numbers >9000 should be good to go. It is important to read the manual for proper reassembly.[/quote] I am considering used. But the serial numbers are of course 52AO then a five digit number . For example: 52AO42478 This link confirmed your advice to stick to greater than 9000: [url="http://centermassgroup.com/2013/05/sig-sauer-p938-review/"]http://centermassgroup.com/2013/05/sig-sauer-p938-review/[/url] Forgive my silly question but what would a "bad" serial number be? B2AO06778? I can't help but be clear. Buying without my husband (he is a glock guy ;)) TIA Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good point itchy. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is a very interesting topic to me, as I have two small children. I am currently looking for the "safest" hot weapon with a safety. I don't carry my revolver often for this reason. My children are constantly climbing on me, etc. Balls being thrown, airplanes, spills- you never really know :) I want to find the weapon through research and then train w it. But during that time of training- I may not carry chambered. Or I may only carried chambered away from the children or when I am in a situation that is quite uncomfortable. We travel a lot with the children and I carry hot in and out of restrooms and travel stop areas. But I am a nervous wreck the entire time. In the car it stays next to me in a gun vault and then unloaded when we are back w the husband or feel safe. I keep an unloaded shot gun near the bed as well when the husband is out of town. I wish I had the right answer and open to the right answer but it's like the threat that is apparent is the risk of my babies getting harmed...by me. Btw- I am taking opinions on a handgun that can safely be carried hot- with a safety, by a smaller framed female with smallish hands that can train to quickly disarm said safety, that wears tight clothes, runs, and has rheumatoid arthritis w a bit reduced grip strength that can't handle much recoil in a caliber that will drop a meth head and be enjoyable enough to practice with (lots) without flinching. :). Y'all know of one of those? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Jonnin. Very kind offer. And thanks for all of the info. I <3 this place. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quote name="thundersnow" post="1143364" timestamp="1398628271"]Be very careful if you decide to carry without a round chambered... If you do a press check to make sure there's no round it WILL effect the feeding on the next round in your mag. I've tried this at the range a couple of times. It did repeatedly fail to chamber a round after a press check. Had to drop the mag and let the round fall out.[/quote] And are all these little nuisances worth continuing the search? This video is concerning. Maybe the Sig is not the best for a newbie ? http://youtu.be/ECdkcbZQsK8 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quote name="thundersnow" post="1143364" timestamp="1398628271"]Be very careful if you decide to carry without a round chambered... If you do a press check to make sure there's no round it WILL effect the feeding on the next round in your mag. I've tried this at the range a couple of times. It did repeatedly fail to chamber a round after a press check. Had to drop the mag and let the round fall out.[/quote] Wow thank you. Very valuable information. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Before I saw your replay Walton I found this video: it says it won't fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUl6PcBfOtM&sns=em I'm not sure it's a deal breaker but now I am sure curious. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Now isn't that something Patton. Almost perfect!!! That is certainly a consideration, the half cocked thing... And I would prefer to rack the slide with the safety on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just need a final push or okay from everyone. I have been using my inherited J-Frame as my CCW and practice weapon... For oh 4 months or so- so still very new here. Shoot the husbands Glock some but try to train with what I I carry. I don't love shooting the JFrame as it stings pretty well immediately and I don't love carrying it loaded around the children. Just don't. Lots of things went into wanting a SA vs a revolver for CCW but mainly the children. Just wanted an extra layer of safety with a manual safety, and the possibility of not keeping one in the chamber. I don't carry everywhere loaded now- because of this. I carry IWB and am a framed person plus clothing is fitted that even the Jframe shows on occasion. So all that to ask this: I've pretty well settled on a Sig 938 as the front runner currently. The short list was: Shield 9mm: crossed off bc of the manual safety positioning and related issues I had read about. Ruger SR9c: seems a bit too big, "slide bite," and frame mounted safety had poor reviews. Ruger LC9: Magazine disconnect- seemed okay to me but reading what experts say- makes it seem like the gun could fail more easily, long pull and "terrible" frame mounted safety. I didn't look closely at any .380's but the Walther PPK, and Sig 238 were once considerations. Others: The XDS series seemed to always be below the Shield in reviews and a bit larger than I want. These are on the list to research if I should continue to look: Khar MK9 CM9 Kel-Tec PF 9 Really on the short list is the Khar PM9. Any advice, thoughts, where to buy, or warnings :) Thanks all! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It seems like such common sense, to me, to teach your children.    We do drills here, like "You are at friends house, and you see a gun, quick what do you do?" The four year old does well.  Maybe a little too well, because she told me that she can go to her little friends house, but her little friends mommy said she (little friend) can't come here bc not all mommies have guns.  I have no idea what she told the child (or perhaps the mommy ?), but no little visitors at my house evidently :)

      Y'all must have met some folks for this to be brought up, but my first thought was, seriously?    Guns are not something I am going to wait and see if my teaching has been effective, kwim? When you find out teaching in this area is ineffective, it could be a bit too late.     I like back up plans, fail safes, and extra security measures with little hands.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-94DSPT-Resettable-Combination/dp/B00448KLP8/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A27BUQSY3E84IP   Main use would be on shot guns/rifles that are stored without ammunition.  The point would be peace of mind with the children.  We do have a speed vault for the Glock.     I just saw it and thought for the price it would be good to have with the number of guns to safes that we have in the house, until we get a large safe. Any thoughts?     Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Does it matter if it is TVA water or if one is locking? I was told I couldn't carry (when/if start) while running through TVA land, but oK if in camper.  Just curious, mostly, I do not do a great deal of boating. 

  Rose bushes for sure, but that will happen in the spring, I suppose.  Not much of a green thumb here.  I do sod and call it a day. :)         Does anyone have a recommendation for an alarm system?     I spoke with my husband in a nice heart to heart. Now, he knows this more than I gave (give) him credit for, and he is teaching me.  Target shooting really isn't the biggest issue.  I shoot well at the targets.  I shoot a .22LR mostly, and the Glock recently and today.  He humors me.  His take is not that I would miss, or shoot myself, or the wrong person. He thinks I will freeze and give someone a nice weapon to use on me. I fear he may be right.  Of course, one can never know, right?      You get to a point in all the reading and research, that you find how much power and responsibility one holds in their hands. The weight of considering the aftermath...  I am sure you have all been there.  And at this point I am stuck.  All I am doing is working with him target shooting (at home again, the neighbor lady should be over soon to complain) and continuing to read, hopefully something will change my mind.  The guns are still here, should something occur.    I would like a recommendation if anyone has one on the alarm system.  We basically have one small house down stairs and one small house upstairs.  No one lives down stairs, it is a garage w a living quarters. LOTS of floor to ceiling windows, and then the upstairs.     I have considered and he has offered to buy me a Taser for when away from home.  Is this anyway an alternative?    We are not ready for a full time dog, I was hoping to wait until the kids were older. But I may borrow one for his trip!

I just wanted to let you all know that I am reading long, just busy with the children the last couple of days.   Thank you all very much for your kindness and knowledge. 

Don't worry guys, I know. And I am quite an over --some word that is failing me--- in regards to things of any serious nature. I will annoy myself with all aspects of this before I ever load a weapon. I realize it's backwards but I really read the owners manual to a new car before driving it. It's as insane as it comes, and nursing school was sometimes a riot, but I *have* to know about things before I proceed. It is how my brain works. And at this point in the knowledge undertaking I may never carry, various reasons, but a lot of fear involved. I will post more later, long day, and no help with the one on one from the gun shops, although they were very kind.

I am off to the gun shop now.    Hopefully they will recommend someone who can give lessons or gives classes. 

My children are three and four.  I have thought about how to do this effectively, and I do not see how.  I think we could escape to the roof and down the ladder but not barricade in anywhere on the main level.  We have one room in the basement that has no windows, and a steel door.   I am glad to know that I am not the only one that has had these concerns.    I have lots of shotguns :) I thought they would be worse for some reason.  But I have a few 12g's and a few 20g's, that I inherited from my grandfather.  I just laughed out loud, like literally, everyone leaves us their firearms.  I just realized that! 

So, I am very very new to all this, and in researching ammo for a SW Mod 38 that was given to me (revolver 5 shot, J frame, .38 SPL) I have come up with even more questions.   So mama's (and whomever) just hang with me, as I am overwhelmed, and all over the place, I know.  We all leave after Christmas to travel with my husband on business, but when I come home, I am coming home alone.  He will be back here or there for a week or two at a time until June. So I feel like I need to figure this all out, practice my butt off and be ready- if nothing else just to sleep better.    So issue numero uno on my radar:     Assuming someone broke into our home, and was in my children's joint bedroom, I am afraid I would not fire for fear of hitting a child.  I don't mean for poor aim, not that, but the way the room is configured it would be door, them, a bed (one of two). If I shot intruder, is there a way to ensure the bullet would remain in them, and not travel any further?  I don't want it going through them and hitting my child. I could move their beds, I could, but it really disturbs sleep.  But that may be the only option and I am open to that so as to not worry.   I am going to the gun shop today, was supposed to go earlier, but got a bit delayed.     Going in with issue number one, I am (trying) to develop criteria for my weapon+ammo:  If my Mod 38 fits it, great, if not- as much as I really love so much about this family gun (have not fired it yet) I would move on, and dear granny would be okay with that ;)     Ammo available that won't travel through a person. Recoil limited to allow me to shoot for practice with enjoyment and again if needed. It will stop a crackhead/meth head/heroine etc. I can fire it accurately with practice.  Concealable, I am not that small framed but my clothes fit well, I run, the J frame conceals almost completely but *I* can see it. May or may not add to this list a laser. I have rheumatoid arthritis. I cannot rack my husbands Glock 17, 9mm(well mine, idk, he bought it for me, I disliked it), I couldn't even load the magazine with the helper piece fully.  My hands are not incapacitated during a flare, but they are very stiff and do not move in certain ways on occasion. I wanted a revolver for this reason. It has to meet all of these criteria at the same time.   If y'all got this far,  THANKS!    

I hear ya, Red333, I may just because I really like your Avi.

I am keeping the weapon on me.    Still going to look at those purses in case I cannot wear my weapon, though, for whatever reason. But I know me, and I know when it counted, I wouldn't be able to find my purse.    I am off to find where classes are announced.  I took the concealed class already, I was hoping to find one with more range instruction, especially for women.     The SW folks were great.   The gun is a model 38, steel cylinder like you said, and made around 1976.  They gave me some different recommendations on ammo, and some said it was going to be painful, or at least make hands sore, and others said no big deal.  They overwhelmingly recommended standard pressure 148-158 wadcutter ammo.    I am going to a couple of gun shops today, kids in tow. Headed out to the farm this Monday if no range time before then.    I am sure I will come home today wanting one of each of what I see :)  Poor husband, he may not be 100% on board but he humors me and I know it bothered him when I did not like his gift (Glock).