IPSC pistol for smaller hands

toxic

toxic

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Looks like I'll be taking black badge this spring - perfect opporunity for a new pistol :)

My hands are a little on the smaller side and although I love shooting 1911's the slide catch sure feels far away when I reach for it. Does anyone have any suggetions for a more ergonomic pistol?
 
Hi Toxic,

You may want to look into the Springfield XD series, I have the 40 and the grip is very small for the size of the gun. It is very easy to reach the mag release and of course the safety is not an issue. I also like the Glock 17 even though the grip is a little bigger, and the gun is a little smaller it all works out. I know you can buy after market mag release extensions for the Glock, I heard of them for the XD as well but can't seem to track one down!!

Steve
 
you can get different width grip panels for 1911 style handguns, or you can have them worked down I am sure. Not too sure who does this but I am sure a quick "google" will find something your looking for.
 
Toxic said:
My hands are a little on the smaller side and although I love shooting 1911's the slide catch sure feels far away when I reach for it.
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fastshuter1 said:
you can get different width grip panels for 1911 style handguns, or you can have them worked down I am sure. Not too sure who does this but I am sure a quick "google" will find something your looking for.
Click to expand...

I thought Toxic said he want another style other than 1911 because the slide catch feels far away when he reaches for it. ;) :D :D :D
 
I shoot 1911 and 2011 in IPSC. I can't say I have ever used the slide lock while competeing. IDPA would be different but for IPSC you can probably use your support hand thumb as mentioned before for the few times you'd use it.

As for slim frames the STI Trojan has a slim frame and grip compared to a Kimber or most 1911s.
 
I always figured it would be quicker to slide in a mag with my left hand and release the slide with my right. It sounds like maybe I shouldn't be running the gun empty in IPSC?
 
Hi Toxic,

You are right, it is the quickest way, provided you are ditching the empty mag i.e. no retention required. In IDPA you can not abandon a partially filled mag or even an empty mag if you have not achieved slide lock. The only way your leaving ammo behind is during a catostrophic stoppage!! I have been out of the IPSC scene so long that I am afraid that I no longer am able to keep up with the rules. However, getting a gun that fits your hand is very important. Again at least hold a XD to see if it feels right. I have all the guns that have been mentioned on this thread so far and none mentioned even modified will afford you a smaller grip!

Steve
 
toxic said:
I always figured it would be quicker to slide in a mag with my left hand and release the slide with my right.
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Not necessarily. (and not according to Ernest Langdon -IDPA CDP National Champion) If shooting 'freestyle' (both hands), you have to re-establish your grip with your support hand and re-acquire the target. This can be done concurrently with activating the slide lock lever with your support hand thumb.

toxic said:
It sounds like maybe I shouldn't be running the gun empty in IPSC?
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Not if you can help it.......
 
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Hi Dragoon,

I read your string 20 times, and still cant figure out where the fresh mag is comming from if you don't have to remove your weak hand! Got some kind of Laura Croft loading thing going on out there;) :confused:
LOL

Steve
 
If your hands find the GLOCK comfy, extended slide release and mag release parts can be had very inexpensively. Police Ordnance in Markham, ON has very good pricing and fast shipping.

My hands are a bit small too, so I opted for the extended mag release (slide release wasn't a problem).

Enjoy the sport!
 
SteveS said:
Hi Toxic,

You may want to look into the Springfield XD series, I have the 40 and the grip is very small for the size of the gun. It is very easy to reach the mag release and of course the safety is not an issue. Steve
Click to expand...

My wife is 5'3", she shoots a Springfield XD40 for the same reason. If that isn't an endorsement I don't know what is :rockOn:
 
I'll make an assumtion here since you say you like the 1911 format so that means you are not looking at shooting Production Division. Therefore I would assume it's Standard Division since Open is a pretty expensive way to start.

First: The S*I's format guns can be thinned a LOT. You might find that if you get the grips properly profiled it will fit you fine. also, Tanfoglio's have a nice compact contour on the grip frame and wood or aluminum grip panels that can be shaped or thinned to your needs. Trigger reach can be adjusted quite a bit when you do the trigger job on them as well, so these guns can work well for smaller mitts as well. I have small-ish hands, and the Tanfo' works great for me.
Second: For competiton you don't want your gun to lock open on the last round, so your slide stop doesn't need to be extended. Don't shoot the gun dry and you won't have a problem, but note that if the gun can lock open it will lock open at some point when you don't want it to. That is a rule of nature. Learn to activate your mag release with your strong hand as you reach for your fresh magazine. Doing it with the weak hand just adds time unnecessarily on the clock.

FWIW: In 20+ years of shooting IPSC, I have never once used the slide stop. One of my guns doesn't even have one; it just has a pin and it isn't missed.
 
toxic said:
....My hands are a little on the smaller side and although I love shooting 1911's the slide catch sure feels far away when I reach for it...
Click to expand...

If the slide catch is the only thing holding you back from shooting your 1911... don't worry about it. As Rob said, you won't be using it anyway.
 
"Only people with super long thumbs can operate an extended slide release without changing thier grip and no one has a big enough hand to hold the trigger back and operate an extended slide release the way it's supposed to be done. What possible use could the thing be? They usually do nothing but cause problems....You'll definately never see one on a top competitor's gun and that just about says it all." Bill Wilson, The Combat Auto - Page 85.

"Extended Slide Release - If you must have one, the Wilson, Pachmayr and Cylinder and Slide are probably the best. None of them is worth the purchase price, in my opinion." Bill Wilson, The Combat Auto - Page 171.

The same Bill Wilson that founded / controls IDPA to this day...

Thin grip guns - Tanfoglio Force line, Tanfoglio Stock & Limited Custom with aluminum grips, STI Trojans with thin grips...
 
I use my slide release more often than I should have to (I like shooting lots of rounds at targets when I shouldn't:redface: ), I don't find it (the action of pressing the slide release ) slows me down any if I have some distance between ports or shooting positions; what slows me down is firing 3 extra rounds that facilitated my gun running dry:p It can cost time when the shooting positions are very close.
 
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