[AnaxImperator]

And it's a Rossi Model 972. She was originally considering a S&W 686P, 627 Pro, or Model 27. It had to be a .357, DA, at least 4" barrel, at least a 6 round capacity, and had to be shiny, not blued or satin-finished.

Well, the day came when it was time to stop looking and buy, and she was juggling between the 686 & Model 27, when she saw a 6" stainless steel full-lug revolver tucked all the way in the bottom corner of the display case. "Can I see that one?"

She picked it up, and instantly fell in love with the weight, balance, trigger-pull, and how well it fit her small hands. Sure, it didn't have 7 or 8 rounds in reserve, but it met all her other desires. It will also serve as her self-defense handgun, even though it's a bit longer than I'd like for a SD gun. However, she's using a Gould & Goodrich open belt holster w/ thumb-break & FBI cant, and she's gotten very quick in drawing and getting into her retention-ready posture.

We bought a couple boxes of .38 Special & .357 JHPs for her first time shooting her first very-own handgun (she'd shot my AK before, and her Dad's Beretta). She had a helluva good time with it, and we stayed well after dark.

Here she just got it home, and then pics from the range session.







(I potentially sacrificed my crappy camera for this shot, set on a timer and well away from me. )

[Cyrano]

Gawdalmighty, she looks like Dirty Harriet with that thing! I'd have thought it would be too much gun for her, but if it suits her and she can hit with it, more power to her!

[shinerjohn]

Dang, she makes that revolver look good!!!

[AnaxImperator]

Yeh, I kinda thought so too.... but she wrangled that full-lug beast like a champ. Since it's her carry piece, I'd pay money to see the look on some dips**t's face as he's looking down the muzzle of it, if one ever tries to threaten/hurt her.

I made sure when she decided to invest in a .357 Mag insurance policy that she wasn't buying a piece to "just scare 'em away", as many people do when buying a handgun for self-defense. By her response, I should've known better.

[shinerjohn]

I sure wouldn't want to have the business end of that gun aimed at me!

I gave my daughter my Ruger Security Six 357 magnum 6" barrel. She shoots it better than I do! She's only 5'3" but she loves that gun! I figure it's an equalizer. Winchester 145gr Silvertip JHP. Full load! I don't worry about my daughter now....

What holster does your wife use?

[AnaxImperator]

For now she's using an old Gould & Goodrich that I bought used for $10. It's a belt-slide, open bottom (almost a "Yaqui" style), w/ thumb-break. I originally bought it to carry my 1895 Nagant in for fun, but it turns out that her 972 fits perfectly.

When our funds build back up to a nominal level, she's been looking at a "Cowboy" style for open-carry, and a shoulder rig for concealed-carry.

[shinerjohn]

Well, your wife made a wise decision. I have 2 Rossi revolvers and they are solid and reliable. I have the R851 38sp 4" and the R462 357 mag 2". Both guns are well balanced and accurate. Rossi is one of the best kept secrets in revolvers!

[AnaxImperator]

Quote:       Originally Posted by shinerjohn

Well, your wife made a wise decision. I have 2 Rossi revolvers and they are solid and reliable. I have the R851 38sp 4" and the R462 357 mag 2". Both guns are well balanced and accurate. Rossi is one of the best kept secrets in revolvers!

While very close to the Taurus Model 66, she said that the Tauruses just didn't feel right, kinda cheap....
The Ruger GP100s were too heavy and thick, and the aesthetics of them didn't agree with her tastes in revolvers (yes, that was a sizable consideration :P ).
The Smith & Wessons were just right.... but kinda pricey, and we started finding lots of reports involving the internal lock jamming them up with alarming frequency.
While the Rossi has an internal lock too, from what I could see when inspecting the guts of her 972, it seems like it should be a lot less prone to malfunction.

All in all though, just on the basis of what I've experienced with her Rossi, I'd very much consider one for myself.... I just wish they followed Taurus's lead and make them in 7-shot versions.

[GlockMeister]

Whatever you do, don't piss her off. lol

Very nice first gun...