Handguns for small hands

[Juster]

I took a newbie friend with small hands to the range:

She is shooting 2" groups at 6m with target loads, but the 1911 looks as though it is going to jump out of her hands with target load recoil. The Tokatev TT fits a little better. I suppose the weak hand grip could be improved in retrospect.
It there a centerfire autoloader handgun that works particularly well with small hands? Lighter than an 1911 if possible.
I'm sure this as been asked before, humour me .

 

[Six Star]

First off....get her to lose the TV 'cup and saucer' grip. A proper grip on either a 1911 or a Tok is easy even with very small hands.

 

[Tron]

XD or Walther P99

 

[richardoldfield]

First off....get her to lose the TV 'cup and saucer' grip. A proper grip on either a 1911 or a Tok is easy even with very small hands.

I agree, teach her the thumb on thumb method and to push out with the shooting hand and pull back with the supporting hand. Regards, Richard

PS teaching people how to shoot handguns is great fun!

 

[IM_Lugger]

Steyr M-A1 has a very egronomic and small grip...

 

[Juster]

Thanks, the cup and saucer was to deal with the weight, I couldn't get a normal grip to work. I'll work on the grip then, the Tokarev is fairly petite really.
Thamks!

 

[seth]

The P22 is tiny...

I handled one the other day at a local gun shop... it's something like 3/4 the size of a p99....

Nice looking pistol, however I hear there are alot of duds.

.22 lr should help her tighten up her groups and grip.

 

[capp325]

I agree with Six Star. The problem is not the size of the groups but rather the incorrect grip. Most people with small hands find the 1911 grip comfortable and you can make it even more so by getting slimmer grips. Browning Hi-Power and CZ-75 are also good choices.

 

[Gundoggy]

Hk P7m8

 

[Grove]

Well since nobody has said it.

Beretta 92SB! Damn accurate and fits small hands really well!

 

[leadfoot]

My wife with small hands uses a 9mm Walther P99 and it is light and very comfortable in her hands. Grip is amazingly comfortable and also comes with three palm swell sizes for interchangeability.

 

[leadfoot]

Hk P7m8

Very nice, expensive though (around $2000) and hard to find.

 

[Grove]

OH one more to add to that list of handguns that fit small hands well.

Steyr M's.

 

[Garand]

I have small hands and have no problem with either a Browning 9mm or a 1911 with a flat mainspring housing.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

BHP with plastic or wood (not the pachmyr ) grips, pretty small, the XD is light and has a small grip size then the glock. The Styer is a good choice as is the P99, I've held both but not shot them....

Get her a ruger MkII or III, let her shoot a bit without having to deal with the recoil, alternatively, find a .38 spl revolver without the heavy lugged barrel, a K frame, say a M-16 or such....

 

[Miraclejoe]

Another vote for P99.

The girlfirend like it a lot, probably will have to buy one on the short term.
(thanks Roy)

 

[Winz]

A 1911 or the Tokarev is pretty well catered for small hands...the Steyr M9 A1 is another great choice(so SLIM!)

As all others have said, proper and consistent grip is the key to shooting. Learning to have the gun lined up like an extension of the arm and really using the support hand to get a grip on the pistol rather than just acting as a bum rest will make all the difference.

Having said that, a comfortable grip is key...case in point: I tried a Hogue finger groove grip on my P226 and it just made the grip fat and round, splayed my fingers preventing me from getting a tight high grip and my groups ended up inconsistent(very good once in awhile, looking like shotgunned blast other times). I felt the Hogue on a P220 and Ruger 94 without the same issues(but they have thinner grips to begin with)