AboutGCH Expertise I CAN answer questions related to defensive use of firearms, tactics, prudent modifications of firearms, utility of certain types of firearms. My greatest knowledge is in the area of handguns.
PLEASE READ BEFORE SENDING QUESTIONS:
I CAN NOT identify antique guns or those that are old and out-of-production. I CAN NOT tell you the value of your firearms. I CAN NOT tell you the history of your guns. I CAN NOT supply information about cheap, inherently unsafe firearms (e.g. Jimenez, Jennings, Lorcin).
Experience Primary Instructor, F2v (armed and unarmed self-defense); NRA Certified Instructor; NRA Distinguished Expert, Handgun; International Defensive Pistol Association certified Safety Officer; IDPA classified Expert, Stock Service Pistol Division; Multiple graduate, Practical Firearms Training, Tactical Carbine and Advanced Defensive Handgun; Blackwater Training Center, Advanced Skills Handgun; Insights Training Center, Defensive Folding Knife; Integrated Defensive Fighting Systems, Unarmed Defense and Fixed Blade Knife; Range qualified with local police department, handgun and shotgun; Kukkiwon Ildan Black Belt, ETS certified Self-Defense Instructor
Organizations National Rifle Association, International Defensive Pistol Association, Virginia Citizens' Defense League; Integrated Defensive Fighting Systems; Personal Defense Group
Publications Tactical Journal
Education/Credentials Bachelor's and Master's degrees; Graduate Practical Firearms Training, Handgun levels 1, 2, and 3, and Tactical Carbine; Kukiwan certified Ildan black belt.
Awards and Honors Multiple trophies from various tactical pistol competitions.
Question I would like a recommendation on a light, safe hand gun for a lady. I like the Charter Arms pink lady (12oz) but do not want to buy it only for the color. 38sp and bigger - revolver and pistol ok. minimal recoil. Loved my Beretta 9mm but too heavy to lug around.
Answer Current production revolvers leave a great deal to be desired.
Charter Arms has been and continues to be a descent choice for an inexpensive and fairly reliable handgun, but I wouldn't put a lot of rounds through it.
The Taurus revolvers have been very accurate, but have been prone to parts breakage. If they are not used heavily they are probably fine. Taurus has a life-time warranty, but if the gun breaks a that critical moment it won't be of much comfort. Also, it can take weeks for the gun to come back and that means you are without the gun for that length of time.
The S&W revolvers are probably still the best for quality, but they are expensive, and the recent versions I have seen in 2" guns have been horribly regulated (the last Smith revolver I had in a class shot 10" high and 6" to the left at 20 ft).
Small light guns have a trade off and that is recoil, so whatever you get, you should practice with it quite a lot before entrusting yourself to your ability with it in a self-defense situation.
Given what you're looking for, I'd recommend taking a hard look at the Kahr PM9. It is smaller than a revolver, carries more ammunition, has a more potent cartridge (9mm compared to .38 Spec.), and carries 40% more ammunition (= 2 more cartridges). and weighs only 2 oz more than the gun you specified. The sights are better than any revolver sights. The trade off? It's pricey, but you get what you pay for.
