Best Handgun for a rank novice?

[Leveraction44]

I have a friend who wants a handgun for protection - he has to visit bad sections of town at night sometimes for his job.

His mechanical aptitude peaked the day he learned how to operate a manual screwdriver.

I can imagine the gun getting ZERO attention for many years and then being brought in to action in an emergency.

The handgun would need to be ultra-reliable with next to no maintenance.

What should he get?

 

[JBWJr]

Stainless 4" revolver in .357/.38. Ruger 100 on the high end; Taurus 608 on the low.
JMHO.
Glock 19 for 2nd choice.*



*-- I'm always wrong, so, wait for more accurate replies.

 

[Lionheart]

This^

 

[Asbestos]

As always, I agree with JBWJr

He’s always right

 

[Stampede]

Revolver popped in my mind as well.

 

[Control for Smilers]

yup 6 gun in .357mag.

 

[Just Plain Bill]

Another vote for the .38/.357 revolver. My preference would be DAO since I am aware of an instance where the homeowner cocked his revolver to single action and then was too nervous to try and decock it.

 

[eightnsand]

No guns. The police will protect him.

 

[Just Plain Bill]

No guns. The police will protect him.

Know you are being ironic but...
When seconds count the police are only minutes away!

 

[rockyfatcat]

Stainless 4" revolver in .357/.38. Ruger 100 on the high end; Taurus 608 on the low.
JMHO.
Glock 19 for 2nd choice.*



*-- I'm always wrong, so, wait for more accurate replies.

This^^^ a heavy revolver. Not much to jam. No failure to feed or failure to fire, or a safety. Pretty much foolproof.