Personal Pistol Question?

sounds like a commander sized 1911 is what your looking for.
or maybe a old S&W 5960, 5904 or something along those lines???? but then your looking at old unsupported stuff.
id stick with a CMD 1911 though.
ill also parrot what has been said above about looking into the S&W M&P range kit.
i, like you, prefer the smaller sized grips and i love my CMD 1911 and my M&P's.

also, if i can make a recommendation, specially if your wife is looking to use it.
the Ruger SR9 is super nice and nice for smaller hands.
its also got a lot more metal on top then most new striker fired pistols and is inexpensive specially if you shop used.
of course the bommom of the gun is plastic like all new striker fired ones are.
 
And now for something completely different. Perhaps a 1970's vintage Walther P-1 ( aluminum frame version of the WW2 German army handgun). 9mm eight round single stack magazine and has a similar feel to the Beretta 71, I have both. Trigger pull on my P-1 is 4 lbs 10 oz. and on the Beretta 71 it is 4 lb 13 oz. A couple of the Ontario-based site sponsors carry them, as well as replacement magazines. I changed the grips to WW2 ribbed P38 ones to make a larger grip, stock checkered ones were a bit small for my hands.
I think the Beretta 71 is brilliant, by the way.
 
I'd suggest a Commander-style (4.25" barrel) 1911 handgun in 9mm.

There's plenty of ammo choices out there for, ahem, "defence", as well as plain round nose for paper punching.

There's so much variety in the 1911 platform that it takes a book to describe all the various models, parts, and what you can do to improve/upgrade, or just make it your own one-of-a-kind handgun. Don't think that can be done with a "plastic fantastic".
 
I,d go with the Tokerev, its a solid pistol in a smaller frame size as my first choice. It has some power in it, the Beretta Model 70 is an excellent pistol in .22 if that is enough for you.

Yes, but, with the muzzle jump and the fact that it will shoot clean through a house, not the best choice. I had one and I could not hit a bull in the ass with a scoop-shovel with it. Zastave makes a "Tokarev" in 9mm; small gun; manageable recoil; very manageable to shoot. Any 1911 in 9mm will be comfortable for you as well; if you can find one, a Star. These are low cost and surprisingly good ww2 pistols as well.
 
P239 or P225. All metal, single stack, typical SIG reliability. If you can live with DA/SA you won’t find a smaller, all-metal, Canada legal firearm short of an HK P7. I still dislike Pinocchio barrels but the P225 I fondled was one awesome feeling firearm and almost had me convinced to buy one.

If you’re willing to pay the price a P210 is a very nice pistol with a reasonably small grip. All metal, single stack, military pedigree. The controls are lacking for fast-action however. Maybe the new US made P210 with the updated controls?
 
Last edited:
"If you can live with DA/SA you won’t find a smaller, all-metal, Canada legal firearm short of an HK P7."

I thought that the HK P7 had a 105mm barrel which would make it 12 (6). Am I mistaken?
 
"If you can live with DA/SA you won’t find a smaller, all-metal, Canada legal firearm short of an HK P7."

I thought that the HK P7 had a 105mm barrel which would make it 12 (6). Am I mistaken?

The P7 can be re-verified as restricted. The barrel measured from end to breechface is greater than 106mm. Mine was a 12(6) registered gun until some nice folks on here told me otherwise. I submitted photos to the Firearms Lab and they re-verified my P7M8 within a month.

Apparently there are about 3 FRT numbers for the P7 series and some of them are restricted.

Oh yeah, the P7 is not a DA/SA firearm. It’s striker fired.
 
You should check out the Beretta 92S. You can find police surplus at frontier. I think it be right down your ally.

By the way the 74 shoots great. Thanks. 😉
 
Oh yeah, the P7 is not a DA/SA firearm. It’s striker fired.

Re-read my post, can see the confusion. I was referring to the Sigs for DA/SA. That P7 squeeze-cocker striker thing, while interesting from a design standpoint, I find to be awful. As usual YMMV, some guys love it and shoot P7's very well.
 
Re-read my post, can see the confusion. I was referring to the Sigs for DA/SA. That P7 squeeze-cocker striker thing, while interesting from a design standpoint, I find to be awful. As usual YMMV, some guys love it and shoot P7's very well.

I have the same feeling about the P7 as you. I love the design, the concept and the workmanship. Not so much a fan of shooting it. I still wish I kept mine though.
 
Thank you gentlemen for your input! I looked into the 1911's as I am not really familiar with them. I noticed you all offered the suggestion of a commander size 1911. However I understand there is an officer size that is smaller and more compact. What about that one?

Also I will look into the other firearms. What about a star made 1911 in 9mm? One other thing that I might mention is one thing that attracted me about the Tokarev initially is the fact that the barrel is flush with the slide. I am not much of a fan of the long barrel and got the Beretta 71 that I have simply for plinking. I wouldn't mind a gun that was compact with small grips in 45 ACP. I don't mind 9 mm so please do not hate on me however I have family who served overseas during the Iraqi Freedom and said that while the recoil and handleability of the 9mm is ok, it was generally "ineffective" except at close quarters and many wished the .45 could be carried instead. That said all of those members have huge hands LOL
 
The Officers ACP, which is the small sized 1911,is a prohib in Canada. Unless you have 12(6) licensing, you can’t get one.

Since we are only shooting paper in Canada, the 9mm vs .45 (vs .40) debate is moot. The .45 is more expensive to feed. Has a different recoil impulse than a 9mm. More pleasant IMO. The Star 1911 in 9mm is a surplus clone of the real thing. Spanish made, not as quality as a US made gun. It does have a slim build though.

If you’ve never shot a .45, it’s best to try one before you buy any gun. It’s a very nice caliber and if you reload, or $ isn’t an issue for you, then get it. The 1911 was meant to be in .45 anyways!
 
If you’re leaning towards a small 1911 a CCO is a possibility. It’s the commander top end on an officers frame.
 
I got a chance to see an NP-29 recently. I may consider it, or a Star 1911. Thanks

The Stars IIRC are not exact copies of the 1911 and I am reasonably sure parts do not always interchange. It has been awhile since I have seen much of anything about them.

Take Care

Bob
 
Prophet river can order in Colt. Wanstalls or Armseast may be able to get the Dan Wesson CCO, although it has been discontinued.

Another option to consider is a bobtail commander; take a look at the Dan Wesson Guardian. Prophet river may be willing to cut you a sweet deal as they’ve had one listed for years that’s still there but it’s .38 Super.
 
Hey Nabs: As far as a cco is concerned it will be difficult to find in canada and will be expensive (1k up). I have also heard that they do not balance very well.

I had an idea when reading through your posts that with small hands you want something not too long and not too wide in the grips....you also said you liked the sig 226. Well there may be an answer for you....np34. It is a clone of the sig model 228 not the 226. It has a shorter slightly thinner frame than the sig 226....sorta a little brother. Tenda canada has these on sale right now for $339..with free shipping.

I have the np22 which is the sig226 clone and it fits my smaller hands but the 228 is even smaller. This is in 9mm of course. On the bright side almost all the norinco clone guns take sig parts should you ever need them. They also take upgrade parts like srt trigger kits and grips etc. I have put several thousand rounds through mine with NO issues. (I have 4 norinco pistols) You would be surprised at the quality of these compared to the brand name sigs at 3 times the price.

The best part is: You can get these for less than 400 delivered to your door and if you don't like it you can sell it on the ee and you might be out 50 bux at most.

If you live in the okanagan you are more than welcome to drop by and handle any of my pistol collection to get an idea of what you like I own sig, norinco, girsan, and tangfoglio so far in my growing addiction. I am semi retired now at 58 but i am an avid shooter and i love to tinker with firearms in general.

best regards,
Drew
 
Back
Top Bottom