9mm for wife, with very small hands

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curtmg

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Just curious, the Wife made an off-hand comment about shooting the other day. The first time she's shown the SLIGHTEST interest in actually handling a firearm. I've got 22's to do introductions with, but I was thinking, her question involved kind of a "What if" scenario. We all know "What if" scenarios require centrefire pistols as a minimum ;). My only centrefires are my Glock21sf, which in no way would be appropriate for her, and my 10.5 inch Super Blackhawk, same story.
I'm thinking the S&W M&P9, would be a good first centrefire for her. Especially as it comes with interchangeable grips (i.e. we could both use it). She has silly small hands, anyone in a similar situation? I'd want defintely a full sized pistol in 9mm, to mitigate recoil, with very small grip option. Simple as possible to operate. I'm also thinking of the CZ75b. Of course the Glock 17 needs consideration. The biggest problem being, we were just in Virden (Wolverine) a month ago, there's no way she's gonna go for another trip out there just for that, and we aren't due to visit her Dad in Regina for a little while now. So I'll most likely have to make a purchase without letting her try out a bunch first (if she even would hold a bunch of guns in the store).

This all might end up as an academic pipe dream, as I gotta get her to the range shooting a couple 22's, and she's gotta not absolutely hate that, before I lay out more $$$. Just wondering what the liliputian folk among us find to be appropriately sized grips on pistols?
 
small hands are a common issue with big guns...LOL
look for SW MP9, SIG 2022 or anything that have removeable grip inserts or find an old restricted SW3906 (single stack)
 
I'd go with a CZ. Every woman I've ever brought to the range has liked the CZ a lot more than the M&P9, mostly because it absorbes recoil a lot more.
 
I found that people with small hands liked the new 1911's in 9mm. The recoil is low, the safeties are handy. My wife wasn't fond of my CZ75b. It was shelved when I bought her a STI Trojan SS in 9mm. 1 year of practicing and she shot in her first IDPA match this year.
She enjoys just going shooting with me. Happy me!
 
I have small man hands, , smaller than some women's. Go for a single stack mag/handgun. Change the grips to smaller, or in my case, got some old wodden grips and sanded them down to fit. I shoot a 1911. I have a Toc also, and its a bit big for me in the grip area, so thats how small my hands are.
 
Another one is the Browning Hi Power. My daughters find it very easy to hold. They also like the Baby Eagle and Steyr M9 A1.

The Baby Eagle is one of their favourites because of the extra weight up front it does wonders at dampening muzzle flip. Slightly reduced loads also help a lot.
 
Are you guys serious. If her hands are really small then the only way to go is a ruger sr9. Smallest grips on a fullsize pistol hands down. It feels great in your hand and has an adjustable backstrap. Go to a gunstore and ask to handle a few guns but I can guarantee the sr9 will win for ergonomics.
 
If you don't mind laying out some big bucks the Walther p99 has the nicest grip I've ever laid my hands on and might be excellent for someone looking for a smaller grip. It's just a shame they're nearly twice the price here as they are in the states.
 
Why 9mm?

Remember, the smaller the gun, the greater the recoil.

Think outside the box:

Round-butt S&W J-frame or Colt D frame in .38spec. They are fairly easy to find, then install a 4.25" barrel...

1911s can be customized with a short trigger and backstrap, you might find an officers model and install a commander slide, or just a commander barrel with compensator.

Find a Walther PP/PPK (or other pocket pistol) and install a longer .380 barrel, maybe compensated...

Mas Ayoob used to write about the compensated Colt Mustang (mini 1911) .380 that he had built for his daughter. He (and others) claimed that the Browning Hi-Power was a (surprisingly) excellent choice for most people with small hands...
 
I'm thinking $800 would probably be the ceiling on this. Lots of good ideas here. Given that it probably will be an ongoing thing, I'll probably be heading back through Virden (wish there was a real gunshop closer), before we actually buy one. I love the look of their pistol cabinet, more selection than some of the stores down south. Most of these pistols have manual safeties, I'm used to my Glock, is it cumbersome to be releasing a safety everytime you want to shoot. Suppose you were storing a pistol legally, yet want it to be quickly as legally prudent to be pressed into action (electronic combo safe), would you store it (unloaded, of course :rolleyes:) with the safety on, or just ready to load, rack and go?

Maybe Wolverine can pack 10 guns into a box, mail it to me, I'll keep the one I want, and mail the rest back :p

The cz75b seems to be a good selection so far. A 9mm 1911, might not fit into my price bracket. I suppose if I could find a used one. HK's are pretty much out of the equation, it's a running joke in my family, that everything we touch ends up broken, so lack of service and replacement parts is an issue (also $$$$).

I've heard too many negatives about the Tok's to even consider that for her. What with the slide that doesn't rack easily with the hammer down, and triggers that sound heavier than even a monster like me would be comfortable with.

The SR9, I hadn't even thought of. Good reliable pistol? I'm not averse to Rugers at all, they make up almost half of my current collection (all of my rimfires + the SBH).

Ideally when the day finally comes where she wants to hit the range with me, there will be a few people there with some neat toys, perhaps who want to try a magazine with the Glock21sf or SBH. It'll be the first time ever where I'm not hoping to be the only person there.
 
My daughter has very small hands and a Norinco P-28 with slim grips seem to fit her well. Even though it is a double stack, with those grips it is smaller than my Browning HP.
 
Lee Enfield said:
Why 9mm?

Remember, the smaller the gun, the greater the recoil.

Think outside the box:

Round-butt S&W J-frame or Colt D frame in .38spec. They are fairly easy to find, then install a 4.25" barrel...

1911s can be customized with a short trigger and backstrap, you might find an officers model and install a commander slide, or just a commander barrel with compensator.

Find a Walther PP/PPK (or other pocket pistol) and install a longer .380 barrel, maybe compensated...

Mas Ayoob used to write about the compensated Colt Mustang (mini 1911) .380 that he had built for his daughter. He (and others) claimed that the Browning Hi-Power was a (surprisingly) excellent choice for most people with small hands...
Click to expand...

9mm, as it's a generally accepted floor for 2 legged varmints :nest: If she were going to be carrying it, then I'd consider smaller calibre purse/pocket guns, like .380, but being as the government protects us from protecting ourselves :rolleyes:

If I had Massad Ayoob's money, I'd buy matching Colt Mustangs :p

A revolver takes a lot more practice than a pistol, to load quickly and reliably, even with a speedloader, it's a lot of fine motor skills. Remember this came up as her asking about a "What if..." scenario. The BHP is getting a few votes as well, definitely something to consider. A good steel gun, that will soak up recoil well, combat proven.
 
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