Ruger .380 or S&W .45?
 

Researching my next gun, and deciding between a Ruger .380 or S&W .45. I have a concealed weapons permit, and looking for a gun that my wife can shoot with ease. We currently have a 22 and a Mossberg 500 12 gauge that she can shoot relatively well, but want something that is quicker to get to and easier for her to shoot. Any input is appreciated.

Take that money and move to a safer neighborhood

seriously though, nfc about guns never needed to use one for anything.
lots of firearm aficionado's here that can direct you.

Both are good choices but I would not choose either. The ruger is an excellent compact pistol, which is excellent for concealed carry, but if I can only hold 6+1 rounds, i would rather have something with 6 rounds and more stopping power like a 38 special revolver with a hidden hammer.

the 45 is a nice weapon for concealed carry if you get the right model/mods so that it doesn't have sharp pointy parts that will give out the conceal. the 45 will obs have a lot more kick then the 22 so your wife might tire from repeated fire.

in my CC weapons, i go for high stopping power and high capacity. my favorite so far has been BDA .380 and S&W 38 special model 49 aka the bodyguard

--edit--
gsorry, didnt really answer your question. if i had to choose one of those, would choose the 45 over the 380. more bullets, more power, more better

Thanks for the advice, I was leaning more towards the 45

If you want something your wife will be able to easily shoot, .45 is probably not your best option. If you are set on .45, I'd suggest some sort of 1911 - just something inherently right about that design.

Why only those two rounds? I'd suggest looking at something in 40 S&W as a middle ground personally (buddy of mine has a 226 in .40 that has always been a joy to shoot). Also, if concealment is your goal, don't discount wheel guns. I know a lot of people don't like revolvers because they don't look tacti-cool, but as far as the ability to conceal and reliability, they're hard to beat. And if you can't get it done with 6, you shouldn't be carrying anyway.

agree 100%. i love revolvers. i wouldnt concealed carry a 1911 though even though i love them. too big

my s&w 38 special revolver. no sharp edges, hammer concealed, sights are smooth

http://i.imgur.com/4OoCE5r.jpg?3

What for you may be the best decision for a CHL weapon is probably not going to be a great decision for your wife as a shooter...

I personally carry a Ruger SP101 .357 mag revolver. It is absolutely accurate and reliable and that means everything to me in a concealed. I can't imagine any situation where I would need to lay out multiple rounds in self defense. I like revolvers as well for women in that they seem to be more intuitive to a very casual shooter.

I'll add that I do not enjoy shooting "compact" pistols. So a revolver that I can just keep loaded and tucked away for a specific purpose is ideal. I know for sure I will never jam up even if it hasn't been touched in months.

For a weapon you will shoot regularly, and will be in the home or car(in some states) I would go with a full size for sure, but that is another topic entirely.

If you already have the 12ga at home, depending on how much your wife likes shooting, I think that should cover what she should use for defense if needed. My mom has a 20ga, and should it become necessary, I think her chances of taking someone out with the shotgun is a vastly better than her chances with any pistol.

Yea, 1911s are a little bulky, but even as a skinny guy I could conceal mine under a jacket or baggy hoodie reasonably well. I honestly don't think I'd ever carry a 1911 just because I wouldn't know how to carry it. Being single action only, having a round in chamber with hammer down doesn't make much sense or seem that safe, and even with the multiple safeties, carrying it with hammer cocked seems kind of sketchy. Maybe that is just me being paranoid, but if I'm not carrying in a holster I think I'd want a wheel gun that is SA/DA with the hammer down over an unloaded chamber. I personally like exposed hammers (which is honestly my only gripe with Glocks) - I think it is a control thing, but really that is just a matter of preference. I can totally see how a concealed hammer would be advantageous for carry.

I don't think I've ever fired a revolver with a concealed hammer, are all rounds double action? My only real gripe with most 1911s is they're mostly single action only. I think if I were going to carry something I'd definitely want something that was double action for the first round and single action for all subsequent rounds. Might be something to consider when making your selection Itap.

Edit just to clarify, the reason I suggested a 1911 before was just because I feel like it is the pinnacle of .45s. Might not be great for conceal carry, but god damn is it a perfect design! If you're in the market for a .45, can't do much better than something that was designed over 100 years ago and is still arguably the best thing on the market.

this:

http://www.enemyforces.net/firearms/glock17.htm/