In most states auto-loaders are illegal for hunting. I also would recommend the GP100. For home defense and practice you can load 38's for in the field I like the Federal 180 gr magnum loads. Being for your wife I would suggest getting her to the gunshop and let her handle different models, I would also suggest a different grip to compensate for smaller hands. I would also consider a 44 magnum and use 44 special for home defense and magnum loads in the field.

just remember with the revolver you only have 6 shots.the most versitle gun is a auto that has very few probs and is easy to fix in the field.for that i would go with a glock 22,40 cal. the 45 is a little too much kick for a lady.the 40 will give you a total of 11 shots/ one in the chamber and 10 in the magazine.i have now fired several thousand rounds thru my glock and never had any probs. very easy to clean also

Like all guns you can get good or bad within the same model. I picked up a Tarus 6" 696 for cheap and it wound up being the most accurate 357 I've ever had. I pack it hunting and use it for home defense. Sometimes you just get lucky.