The j frame will have a smoother lighter trigger.
"They absolutely suck to shoot"
huh, what.. been shooting 50 years .. about equal .. and that confuses me.. i've never met that revolver.. had a blackhawik in 30 carbine once that wasn't "fun".. but even in didn't suck..
have a couple revolvers that are both inside 5 years of 100 one on the "other side" of the mark.. their both great fun shooting handguns that will print with modern what ever's..
i normally take 1911's and a couple revolvers to the range.. and see no difference in shooting either one..
remember also that with an auto a round has to be put into battery (less you carry condition one, most wont) before an engagement, that revolver just has to have it's trigger pulled.. i agree with the SA/DA choice of the 60, or airweight..
with the exception of the comment (still shaking my head.. sigh) SIG's advice on her picking it out is really the best on the page.. No doubt it will work out better if she's comfortable with the piece from the start..
The 442/642 S&W revolvers are excellent carry pieces. Small, very light (15 oz unloaded), with a good punch if you load the right ammo. Tough to shoot well at distance, but she won't be shooting a bullseye match at 50 yds. The key is to put some decent stocks on it; it'll give up a slight bit of concealability, but the comfort goes way up. Shoot wadcutters in it for practice; she won't notice the recoil of a Plus P if she uses it for real. She'll be fine; at the range she might use it (2-3 feet out to 15 feet) it'll work great.
Bob