Pistols for Smaller Hands

[60 Deluxe]

I would imagine anything of a smaller design is going to have some bounce I probably couldn't tell you which is more between the models that have been mentioned. Pretty much any of the more popular polymer pistols if they are a little too bouncy take $200 or less for a better competition trigger and recoil spring that will make a BIG difference. The semi-auto pistols can be a little more difficult to operate compared to a revolver also. But over all with the actions on the now days and how their designs allow higher grips recoil can be pretty easily managed with proper grip and form as well as a little range time.

If you are accurate with the model 66 and are comfortable with it, it may not be a bad idea if the snub nose is more comfortable to shoot you may look for something similar with a longer barrel.

Bottom line over any caliber or load the most important thing in a self defense situation is your ability to quickly make accurate shots. So something you are comfortable shooting and good with is the main thing. 2 or 3 quickly made accurately placed shots with a 22 in the forehead is a lot better than a full mag of spray and pray with a 45.

There are some pretty sweet 9mm revolvers being made these days but I think they are a little pricey. Ruger makes an SR9C and an SR40C that are supposed to be pretty good guns. those and the M&P shield all have grips and ext mags that allow a full handed grip. I have a weak grip as well pinky and ring finer either broke jammed etc to many times so I like the being able to have the full handed grip.

Here are a couple of good articles.

http://www.usacarry.com/best-handgun-caliber-concealed-carry-weapon/

http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/16/de...apacitation/2/

Good article. It makes me more comfortable with 9mm. I really didn't want to drop down in size.

The thought of going with a 38 or 357 is starting to have more appeal. I have three or four thousand empty cartridges between the two and probably fifteen hundred or more loaded and ready to go. It all depends on fit and comfort while concealed on whether or not a revolver will work for me. I am not all that worried about total conceilment, I just don't want the old ladies in church getting upset when I am packing. I am an elder and we are already getting questions about what we intend to do to keep guns out of our church. The answer that we would like to give is that several men have been packing heat for years and there hasn't been a problem. I cannot see us voting to post a 30:07 sign as that is a open invitation for any wannabe jihadist. If I wanted to go open carry I wouldn't be asking these questions.

Thanks for the help everyone. I have list of seven makes and models to go try on.

[MisterB]

Beyond a doubt, IMO, the Sig P238 and I have owned them all. My wife had a tough time pulling back the slide on everything but the 238. It is a little more expensive but very well worth it. It is accurate, very well made and just a hoot to shoot.

[DRT]

I'm a single stack fan as well as a small revolver fan. I guess hc mags are great if you are in an extended gun fight. But honestly, my experience hasn't been that. I think the ability to draw, get on target and fire accurately quickly is paramount to having more rounds to throw down range. Now I do carry a spare mag but between the two I have as many rounds as a full size ds pistol does in one mag. A gun whose grip fits your hand, whose trigger control is quick and easy and lines up automatically with your sight line will most often trump more fire power.

[catslayer]

go look at the cz's

dont get a lot of love but they are GREAT

[hot_rod_eddie]

Only read about half the comments.
My wife and I have been looking at the striker fired, single stack 9s.
Guns and Ammo had a good article on comparing them.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/handguns/compacts/single-stack-9mm-shootout/

Hicock45 on youtube looks at many of them.

https://www.youtube.com/user/hickok45

You have to get your (and wife's) hands on them to really know the answer.

[Bowhuntin_Toona]

Looking for my wife as well. She tried the M&P Shield, a couple of the Glocks (don't remember which ones), the Springfield XDS and the XDMod2. She really liked the XDMod2, and so did I.

[60 Deluxe]

Well, I laid hands on Sig, Springfield, S&W, Keltec, Kahr, and Glock. Most of them fit good with the Sig being best but it would have been close to $750 out the door. Most of the guns were around $450 to $470. I got a phone call and while I was talking my buddy kept looking and walked over and stuck a Taurus 709 Slim in my hand. It felt almost as good as the Sig, not quite, but at $270 less a 10% discount I went ahead and signed the adoption papers. I have had good luck with Taurus rifles so I figured it was worth a try. Fixin to step out back and see if I can shoot a tennis ball at about ten paces.

[DuramaxDude]

Well, I laid hands on Sig, Springfield, S&W, Keltec, Kahr, and Glock. Most of them fit good with the Sig being best but it would have been close to $750 out the door. Most of the guns were around $450 to $470. I got a phone call and while I was talking my buddy kept looking and walked over and stuck a Taurus 709 Slim in my hand. It felt almost as good as the Sig, not quite, but at $270 less a 10% discount I went ahead and signed the adoption papers. I have had good luck with Taurus rifles so I figured it was worth a try. Fixin to step out back and see if I can shoot a tennis ball at about ten paces.

Well how did it go?

[60 Deluxe]

Well how did it go?

I like the pistol. It has some things about it that time and wear will take care of, for example, the serrations on the slide are sharp edged to the point of feeling like they could cut my old brittle skin. It is a trick to break it down for cleaning. The little bar on the inside that rises up to catch the slide on the forward stroke is probably a couple of thousandths of an inch too tall. Holding the tiny release buttons downward with enough force to let the slide go past it is next to impossible. I see no reason why they could not be enlarged slightly to offer a better grip to pull them down. I watched a couple of videos to make sure that I was doing it correctly and it still took about twenty minutes of tinkering to figure out this particular gun's quirks and get the slide off. I may dismantle the gun and do a little polishing on the catch bar. It shouldn't be that way but it is. For $242 I did not expect a Sig Sauer or Berretta quality gun. I can fix it to the point that I can live with it.

Shooting...just like any short gun, there is no room for error. Unfortunately, I have a rather pronounced essential tremor that gets worse when I am excited. My muscles get to twitching and that hurts accuracy with pistols. I always get excited when I shoot guns for the first time. I was able to keep all shots within an eight inch circle at fifteen yards. That is terrible by some people's standards but I expect that to improve for me with practice. I never noticed any jumpiness to the gun. The grip angle is such that recoil pushes the gun back into the hand instead of trying to jump up and out.

I did have my wife play with it a bit just to see how her hand fit on it and whether she could cycle the slide. The fit is fine but she struggled a little when she racked the slide. Again, this could be a confidence issue that goes away with familiarity and practice. She intends to shoot it enough to see if she wants this gun or perhaps a different make and model.

[DuramaxDude]

I like the pistol. It has some things about it that time and wear will take care of, for example, the serrations on the slide are sharp edged to the point of feeling like they could cut my old brittle skin. It is a trick to break it down for cleaning. The little bar on the inside that rises up to catch the slide on the forward stroke is probably a couple of thousandths of an inch too tall. Holding the tiny release buttons downward with enough force to let the slide go past it is next to impossible. I see no reason why they could not be enlarged slightly to offer a better grip to pull them down. I watched a couple of videos to make sure that I was doing it correctly and it still took about twenty minutes of tinkering to figure out this particular gun's quirks and get the slide off. I may dismantle the gun and do a little polishing on the catch bar. It shouldn't be that way but it is. For $242 I did not expect a Sig Sauer or Berretta quality gun. I can fix it to the point that I can live with it.

Shooting...just like any short gun, there is no room for error. Unfortunately, I have a rather pronounced essential tremor that gets worse when I am excited. My muscles get to twitching and that hurts accuracy with pistols. I always get excited when I shoot guns for the first time. I was able to keep all shots within an eight inch circle at fifteen yards. That is terrible by some people's standards but I expect that to improve for me with practice. I never noticed any jumpiness to the gun. The grip angle is such that recoil pushes the gun back into the hand instead of trying to jump up and out.

I did have my wife play with it a bit just to see how her hand fit on it and whether she could cycle the slide. The fit is fine but she struggled a little when she racked the slide. Again, this could be a confidence issue that goes away with familiarity and practice. She intends to shoot it enough to see if she wants this gun or perhaps a different make and model.

Cool deal! Hey an 8" circle at 15yds is definitely a well dealt with terrorist jihadist. I have been dealing with my mom and little sister on CC pistols they both have had some issue racking slides. After showing them the proper way to grab the slide with the stronger meatier portions of the hand/finger/thumb and then push pull it got better but will take practice for sure.

[az2tx]

I'm an old school guy and if i'm going to carry it will be a 45 or a Sig 226, but for a novice who doesn't have a lot of experience with weapons or has small hands a S&W airweight 38spl is hard to beat.
It fits a small hand, conceals easily, no slide or safety to mess with, just point and pull the trigger. Notice I said point and not aim. Loaded with target loads for practice it is a pleasure to shoot