Looking for info before I go to the range or gun shop.

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niterdr

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Looking through the handgun forums I have noticed a trend, seems the people with large hands don't have any issues with what is on the market, but the guys with smaller hands have a real problem getting the right grips or guns. I am hesitant to purchase without at least trying the model of gun I am interested in, but gun shops are few and far between and showing up at the club and asking to try someones gun is not my idea of being friendly. I have a S&W model 41, a S&W model 19 (K Frame) and a P38 all 3 of which fit my hand just fine, yes I have small hands. The P38 is pre WWII and is more of a collector piece, I would like to get a semi auto center-fire in either 9mm or 38/357 if possible, any suggestions? I do love competitive target shooting so I would like to get something more accurate than I am at throwing lead.

Also in my 30 years absence from the range my eyes decided to change and now I need reading glasses, what do guys that are reading challenged do? Do they wear their readers and saftey's over top or an iris on their saftey's and no readers? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Thanks guys sorry for the long post,

Alex
From Niagara
 
I have used and had other people use my firearms at the range many times. If you are friendly and show an interest in others guns, they often ask if you want to try, so don't discount that approach. For smaller hands in a competitive like 9mm, I would try the CZ SP 01 Shadowline. It has the aluminum slim grips and feels like a 1911 to me. Extremely accurate pistols, I have over a dozen handguns and it is by far the most accurate for me.
I am eyesight challenged and wear glasses so I use safety glasses that cover my regular glasses, not perfect but fine for me until I get prescription range glasses.
 
If you are fine with the P38 and M41 then you won't have much trouble finding something you like.
Try the BHP , 1911 with a short trigger and the CZ75 - 85 .
 
If you are concerned with grip profile, either be sure by handling the gun first or order a gun that has interchangeable grips...... My p30l came with 3 sets of grins and will fit a shooter with any hand profile....
 
Hi niterdr,
If I shoot formal bulls eye competition, like ISSF or NRA I just wear regular reading glasses. I'm aiming with my right eye so I'm taping of my left lens with painters tape.
To shoot IDPA I had my eye doctor make me up some prescription safety glasses.
 
niterdr said:
Also in my 30 years absence from the range my eyes decided to change and now I need reading glasses, what do guys that are reading challenged do? Do they wear their readers and saftey's over top or an iris on their saftey's and no readers? Inquiring minds wanna know.
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You can get safety glasses that include magnification to eliminate the need to wear reading glasses under your safety glasses. Not that expensive either.
 
Been a couple of threads regarding small hands. I suggest the SIG 320. It has three different lowers in small , medium and large. The trigger pack pops out and you use the lower that fit your hands the best. Put the trigger group back , pop on the slide and your are good to go.
 
In 9mm....from my personal collection I would say that my Steyr M9A1 and Glock 19 are most friendly to small handed shooters that have tried them.
 
Try a Sig-Sauer 226 , if you are comfortable with a K frame this may suit you fine. This is my favorite and has outstanding quality,handling and accuracy. Also they regularly come up on the equipment exchange for a very reasonable price used.
 
I only recently got a S&W Model 41. If your 41 has the same stock wood grips that mine does and you like the feel of it then your hands are not all that small. And a P-38 isn't all that small either so here again I'm thinking you're more of a medium glove hand.

For serious target shooting the only semi auto gun that shoots the revolver specific .38 is the S&W Model 51. And it's specific enough that it needs to use full wadcutter rounds. It won't fit rounds with bullets that stick out past the mouth of the casing. Oh, there's a Coonan that shoots .357Mag but that's a power gun that ONLY shoots .357Mag and needs full power rounds to recoil correctly. And I think there was a Desert Eagle in .357 for a while.... But that's about it. And only the 51 is aimed at the target shooter. And both the Coonan and that possible Desert Eagle have longer front to back hand grips to hold the mags with the longer cartridges.

So all in all you're looking at proper short ammo for semi auto guns like 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP.

Most of the guns that shoot that sort of ammo are duty or service style guns. They may or may not shoot very tight groups if a really top notch bullseye shooter or Ransom rest is using these guns.

There are a few notable exceptions. And, no surprise here, they come with a healthy price tag. By all accounts the Sig P210 is a seriously tight shooter. And I've shot some STI upper end priced 1911's that made me look better than I am. And then I saw the same STI in one case shot by a fellow that made my group look like a shotgun pattern. So those things can sure deliver. This particular one was an STI Rangemaster if it matters.

But if you want to buy a CZ, Glock or other "service" grade gun then I would suggest that it's fair to say that they are pretty good but vary from gun to gun. Some will be excellent but the one made right after it may have some little bind or burr or something that prevents it from seating the exact same way every time so it shoots a little more of an open group. Something that is still fine and "accurate enough" for what the gun is intended to do. But not as tight as what a match target shooter may wish for.

So it comes down to how much do you want to spend and how much are you willing to gamble with the need to adjust and tinker? You already know that a good trigger is a big help for accuracy. And truly good triggers don't show up on "service" grade guns right out of the box. So some additional money and time may be needed on such guns. Or you jump in the deep end with a higher level STI or similar upper range gun to get what you want out of the box with little or no tuning required.
 
Lanz @silverdale got 3 shipments in today

niterdr said:
There are 2 ranges near me, My choice is the Silverdale Gun Club in West Lincoln\
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I was at Silverdale today, Lanz has a H+K 9mm brand new. It's a bit spendy but I have largish hands and when Dave handed it to me I thought "really nice gun, the grip is a bit small though". its unlikely that they will let you shoot it but pick it up handle it in the shop. They may also know someone who has one that would let you shoot it.

Good luck

http://lanzshootingsupplies.com/shop/index.php/heckler-koch-9mm-sfp9-sf.html

says there out of stock but they were unpacking tons of new kit today!
 
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niterdr said:
There are 2 ranges near me, My choice is the Silverdale Gun Club in West Lincoln\
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Silverdale is a good range (I'm a member). The only criticism is that because it's a public range, on weekends it can become a bit of a sh1t show. People who may or may not have a command of the english language shooting across lanes at other shooters targets, fiddle farting around on the line when the flag is green, muzzle sweeping when the range is hot...it gets to be a bit much to be honest. The Range officers are excellent in their deportment and are dedicated to safety, but it is the public and 10% of the public should just be sorted by natural selection imho...'stupid' is being too kind!
Recently the club changed the action range into a members only close action range, this helps with all the above, but trying to sight in a rifle on a weekend where the weather is nice can become very frustrating in this public pool of shooters.YMMV

*Edit* Oldblue brings up a very important plus to Silverdale and that is Lanz gun shop being on site. Out of ammo...no problem, Dave at Lanz will sort you out. Something goes boing at the range...no problem Lanz will sort you out. Forgot a tool at home?...no problem, pay the dumb guy tax at Lanz 'cause you know Dave's got what you need for sale! :) All jokes aside, this is the main reason why I haven't switched clubs.
 
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Thanks for all the feedback, once the weather gets a little better I will be going to Silverdale to check it out. Not likely to go on the weekends as I am retired and I like to stay away from crowds. As for the recommendation on pistols you have given me lots to think about, I want accuracy, reliability and quality so I am going to have to do some research.
Thanks again
 
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