.17 HMR 8-shot revolver for Self Defense?

I'm never a fan of a rimfire cartridge for self defense. I know it's an unpopular opinion to have but I think it's quite valid

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Makes me think this could be a decent woman's SD weapon. What are your thoughts?

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Full size 9mm is a much better option.

my wife has shot all the handguns we have.

she is the most accurate and deadly with the full size ruger SR9, followed closely by my Remington 1911 45ACP.

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she is the most accurate and deadly with the full size ruger SR9, followed closely by my Remington 1911 45ACP.

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Most men think women need a low-recoil cartridge or a tiny gun for a woman to be adequately armed. Neither is true in my mind. Tiny guns are hard to control and rimfire is anemic in the grand scheme of things.

A full sized 9mm is the best place to be for them (or for anyone). 9mm, 40, and 45 all do about the same thing, except for differences in felt recoil (with 40 having the sharpest recoil). The rest is personal preference.

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Most men think women need a low-recoil cartridge or a tiny gun for a woman to be adequately armed

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Agreed. My 4'10" wife fired my son's 1911 last month. She thought it recoiled less than a 9mm, however she couldn't see confidently using it due to size & weight.

A heavy chunk of steel with heavy chunks of lead in it is sometimes incompatible with a small-framed lady.

Stick to rounds we know work. No need to experiment with your life.

And comparing it to a 1911's capacity is an awful argument because the 1911 is seriously deficient.

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Most men think women need a low-recoil cartridge or a tiny gun for a woman to be adequately armed. Neither is true in my mind. Tiny guns are hard to control and rimfire is anemic in the grand scheme of things.

A full sized 9mm is the best place to be for them (or for anyone). 9mm, 40, and 45 all do about the same thing, except for differences in felt recoil (with 40 having the sharpest recoil). The rest is personal preference

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My wife (no pics) has a .38 Ultra Lite Taurus 5 shot snub-nosed revolver. I used to travel a good bit for work, and she would be home alone all week. Her Dad got it for her, and took us shooting. I (unfortunately) didn't grow up around guns, and it was the first time I'd been shooting since my Uncle took us all out when I was like 12. She didn't like the snappy recoil from the short barrel and light weight. So I, being a good responsible husband, go buy another gun. Any reason to buy a gun is a good reason, I've learned. I got a Ruger P95 9mm. I thought the heavier weight and longer barrel would be perfect for her. She hates the way a semi-auto "jumps" in her hand when the slide cycles. We went shooting a few more times, and she got really, really good with that .38. Shot them both side by side over and over again. She at first hated the little .38 but compared to several others, she liked it the best in the end. We shot the Ruger, the .38, her dad's 1911, his Glock, and his .380, which I think was a Kel Tec.

I ended up keeping the Ruger for myself for a few years before trading it at a gun show for a SA-XD .40. She's shot it, and still prefers the .38 over it.

get a real gun not a toy.

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TU Rob

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I will surely say it isn't an absolute certainty that a person will prefer a larger handgun, but it certainly is a majority of people that do.

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didn't you and i have this exact conversation a few weeks ago?
you see a business opportunity here?

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Yes we did but I don't necessarily see the business opportunity. I'm just trying my best to pass on useful information that can benefit the next husband who thinks it's a good idea to choose his wife's next handgun when she should be the one choosing it.

Taurus and ruger are the only two companies that make a production .17 revolver and the ruger is single action only.

S&W makes a $1400 one with a 10+inch barrel.

I'm guessing the neighbors was a Taurus.