4) Revolver: Probably not. Not a horrible idea, but it has taken me forever to get her to consider a gun, and I think I need to get her the one that she will keep rather than a stop-gap learning gun. This comment might also apply to the .22.
More later. Thanks for all the advice so far!
Had the same with my wife a few years ago. She said I want a pistol.
Took her to the outside range on a weekday morning. Nice only one other shooter. When over the four rules. Showed her the ruger mark 2 target. On with the glasses and ear pro. She rocked that targets and many more. Got her a class at Highsmith and we started the permit process. We when to the farm and shot 10-22's and a 357 6 inch with 38's. She used several guns at Highsmith on range time. Did the beginners class. Shot some more range guns at bullseye in Anderson.
Then we went to dad's and I brought all mine and a few friends brought theirs. Must have been a good fifty around. Was like goldielocks. To hot to cold to big to small. Narrowed it down to about 15 without shooting. Of those fifteen the winner for her came up around number 9. Bang bullseye bang bullseye bang bullseye. Much better groups than any others and a smile on her face.
My 1980 interarms import Walter PPK/s. She said it pointed well and kept on target easy. I had some work done on it long ago. Some feed ramp polish a spring change and a little trigger work. Loaded it with some 380 critical defense and it eat them up. O problem. She also liked the 5906 smith near mint that dad had but it was very stiff for and older gun and the slide did. It rack back well. She liked the look of an HK 9mm. It did not fit her hand. The 380 PPK/s just called to her. I think the extra weight helped the small package and the reduced spring made the slide easy for her. She shot it better than I do.
Well that was her. She liked the 5906. The PpK's a colt cobra and a browning BdA about the best. The PPK/s has bitten her with the slide once or twice. Smith's non import version has an extended beaver tale but she said the PPK's mine. So who am I to tell her no.
They do lots better with a heavier long barreled gun than with a "cute" little gun. No matter the caliber. Revolvers seem to make sense to a new shooter. Less intimidating than the internal workings of a semi auto.
Recoil, muzzle flip, and muzzle blast are pretty scary to a new shooter.
I picked up an Interarms PPK/S .380 about 1980 and never cared for it that much. It was the first gun my youngest daughter shot when she was 5-7 yrs old and she loved it.
It sat unused for decades until this past year, when she asked me to bring it to the range. She still enjoyed shooting it so it is her's now.
I think it is fascinating that the revolver is considered a stop-gap learning gun and that the .380 semi auto is considered a viable SD choice.
How times change..