RE: Handgun caliner for wife?
The 45s really aren't bad at all, at least in a full size steel gun with a 5" barrel. It will torque yoru hand more than the lighter cals, but that can be dealt with. It's when you get into smaller, lighter guns (like women usually pick out) that the 45 becomes a bit less friendly. Not only does it push them around somewhat, but the recoil spring has to be stiffer to make up for less mass in the slide. It can make the gun hard to operate even if they are capable of shooting it. The 9mms don't suffer from this.