[Boiler_G]

Ok, Here is the deal. A friend of mine is ready to buy her first gun. I have a .22 she can shoot, and she insist upon getting a larger caliber (9mm). She seems to be infatuated with Glocks, particularly the 26. She shot her cousins 26 and loved the feel and even sight radius (compared to her brothers 23). She did comment that she got a few jams from 'limp wristing'. I have a Colt 1991A1 that she hasn't shot, but has held and commented on the size ("that's a big gun!").

Anway, I am trying to get her to consider some other guns. In the area were she lives, there aren't too many places that rent out guns. Incase we can't make it to one of those places, or the rental/gun shop doesn't have too many guns to rent, she might end up making her decision based on feel and fit in the hand.

Do you guys/gals have any suggestions for the female shooters with small hands? Remember she limp wristed the 26, so maybe somthing a little less 'snappy', but not as heavy has my Colt. I want her to at least hold the Kahr line. Any other suggestions (Sig 239, S&W 3913 possibly)?

She doesn't intend to carry and shooting sessions may be few and far between depending on what season it is during the year. I like the idea of something with a consistant trigger pull too, i.e. SA only or DA (aka 'safe') only so she can practice consistant trigger pulls.

Thanks.

[MacPelto]

BHP - my small handed wife likes the Kahrs, but loves the Hi-Power. Mild recoil, cheap ammo, excellent value. Don't skimp, buy quality and keep it forever.

[arinvolvo]

only one choice....Steyr M9:D

If she likes the glock, and wants 9mm, she will love the way the steyr fits in her hands much better, and the pellet gun like recoil will help too!

110 lb fiance with steyr

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=272956

13 year old sister with steyr.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=301135

[George Hill]

SIG P239.

[Skunkabilly]

USP9C if the budget allows, she can shoot it in SA if her fingers aren't strong enough to do the DA all the time.

I like the beretta but the slide mounted safety is too much for people when manipulating the slide sometimes. Poor ergonomics is quite the discouragement for someone moving up.

[Jim Watson]

Second the BHP.
Consider CZ75, very similar size to Browning if used SA.
Glock 17 or 19. I think, repeat THINK, the standard springs will be less subject to limp-wristing than the Seecamp system on the 26.

Exercise and training.
Arin's ladies have pretty good grips.

But what is it FOR?
You say she isn't going to carry a pistol. Is it for serious home defense or just "a gun around the house?" Or a range gun to be taken out for regular shooting? Not that it matters a whole lot in this case, if she has indicated a preference for a 9mm service pistol, then that is what she should get.

[fatboyclone]

i would think any Sig in 9mm would do the job, maybe the 229. or if she has real small hands the 232, but its a .380. there are a lot of guns in the 'small hands category' you just have to go to a good shop and get her to try a bunch of 'em.

[Boiler_G]

Thanks for the replies! Those are the guns I figured everyone would suggest, I just wanted to hear some first hand accounts on the subjective 'snap' of each gun.

She indicated that she liked the size of the Glock 26 better than the 23 (or 19), but I wonder if that was because the 23 was in .40 S&W and she just liked the lesser recoil of the 26.

As far as uses for the gun, it would be strictly a range gun and maybe the 1 in a BILLION chance that there was a home intruder, for self defense. I have known her family for over 20 years now and I don't think they have ever locked their door in there fairly rural location. She is not the type of person that expects 50 BG's to bust down the door and start shooting up the place. But that is a whole other debate.

Thanks for the Steyr suggestion. I have seen those pics on here before and forgot. I think she is kind of cought up in the whole Glock hype since she is 22 and her brother and cousin both have Glocks. After learning on a Ruger MK II and S&W 41, I decided on a 1911 for the pure beauty and historical nastalgia (sp?), not to mention fit, finish, and ergonomics. So I survived the Glock bandwaggon.

[Jim Watson]

When somebody "likes the size" of a gun, you may need to help with the important dimensions. As far as I know, all 9mm and .40 Glocks have the same width and depth of grip, which gives the circumference to grasp and the reach to the trigger. The butt (and barrel) is shorter on the G26, but that should not be important for a 'shooter' as opposed to a hideout gun. As she gained experience, it would hamper her with short sight radius and skimpy grip.

But what do I know, I am just a rational guy. Worse, an engineer. She knows what she likes. Have her work on her grip and stance. Some stouter ammo might help, too. Lightly loaded econo-ball would accent limp-wristing.

As far as "snap" goes, I think my CZ is a mild mannered gun, softer shoting than even a BHP. But my IDPA ESP gun is a 1991 Colt 9mm that is a real pussycat. But it does weigh 40 ounces, which would make it no better in that respect than any other 1911. So she can lift weights. I have only shot a M9 on one occasion and it was not a hard kicker, but I didn't like the trapezoidal sights. I really didn't like its failure to feed a factory roundnose.

Sig Sauers are well made guns but tend toward a tough DA first shot. I have had one worked by Teddy J. and he will get the other one as soon as I can work up my nerve to deal with the shippers.

[only1asterisk]

I'd be willing to bet if the absolute truth be known, the real issue is WEIGHT. Out of the dozen or so females that I have helped learn to shoot a pistol or shot with while they were just starting out, this was the issue. I tried to explain that weight was a good thing that took the "snap" out of recoil, but they wanted what they wanted. My own dear wife, when handed a 32oz revolver said "Too heavy!" as was my 28 oz USP or 24 oz Glock. Only when handed a friends S&W 296 did she say "Better."! Lightweight seems to rule supreme. In your case, I'd let her shoot everything I could get my hands on, and let her decide. I think the only point I would push would be getting a full size gun first.

Dave

[Rich357]

I've found the G19 more prone to limp wristing than the G26 and G17. She can learn to not limp wrist. The G26 is one of the few small handguns that is accurate enough to be really fun to shoot at the range.

The SIG P239 9mm is virtually limp wrist proof. I've tried and had to really work at at to get it to fail. A female friend had some limp wristing problems with my G19 but no problem with my P239. She loved shooting the P239 9mm.

She likes the G26 why not support her in going with it? It is a fine pistol. If she wants to she can always switch to a different pistol in the future.

Rich

[sig970]

Sig P239 in 9mm

[10-Ring]

WOW, another chance for me to recommend the USPc 9 :D But honestly, if she's already infatuated w/ the Glock 26, you may be fighting an uphill battle ;)

[Waitone]

If she's willing to step sideways, consider a .380. It is slightly less zippy than a 9mm.

My daughter just went through a selection process and eventually purchased a Grock 17 (9mm) and a Bersa (actually a Firestorm) .380. She likes to shoot both but her always piece is the .380. Both work well with small hands.

The Bersa .380 NIB can be had for $225. while the ammo runs $14.00 / box.

Grock 17 was used for $400 while ammo runs $6.00 / box.

[Mikel]

My vote goes to the Sig P239. Small enough to fit her hands (While not female, I'm not the biggest guy, and have relatively small hands, it fits me great). It's light enough to be manageable, but kinda heavy for the size, so the recoil is less than you would expect. Dead reliable (at least mine is) and simple to field strip for cleaning. Just for range time, she could always just manually cock the gun and shoot it SAO.

[JohnKSa]

Second on the H&K USP 9mm.

My wife loves to shoot hers and can operate all the controls in spite of the fact that she has a medical condition resulting in low hand strength and sensitivity to recoil. See if you can find one in a store to verify that it's a decent fit for her hand.

Unless she plans to carry it, I'd encourage her to get the full size. It's going to be easier to shoot (longer sight radius), and easier on the hands (more weight = less recoil).

BTW, Lisa won't shoot my Glock 9mms. She says they recoil too much! I can't tell the difference...

[pax]

Anway, I am trying to get her to consider some other guns.
Why?

Only because you don't like them?

Or what???

If she doesn't shoot it well yet, take her to the range more often, or get her into a class, or better yet, offer to take a class with her. Limp wristing is fixable with just a little work.

If you don't think she's going to practice enough, I guarantee that she'll be more likely to practice, and enjoy shooting a lot more if she doesn't feel railroaded and unhappy every time she looks at her gun. She'll shoot more if she likes her gun -- and she'll like her gun more if she got to pick it out.

Of course, I'm biased. I'm another woman who was a novice shooter when first introduced to the G26. I fell in love with one the first time I held it. I confess I don't understand the religious nature of the brand wars (nor of the caliber or stance wars, for that matter), though I understand some people do think of Glocks as Evil Incarnate and that others think of them as if they were another coming of Christ Himself. Me, I think of the G26 as a nifty little tool that grabbed me by the heart the first time I picked it up ... but no more than that.

If you hate Glocks, don't get one for yourself. But it seems a little silly to steer another person away from a gun that suits her just because you aren't fond of the brand.

pax

[Shootin' Buddy]

I'd get kicked off the board if I said what I actually felt about your posts.

So I'll just say, think about how you would feel if instead of that nice 1911 that you really enjoy, you'd been forced to buy another gun because your girlfriend didn't think the 1911 was right for you -- if after you told her what you liked, she went online and asked all her buddies what they thought, and then got you a Glock.

[only1asterisk]

Dear offended feminists,

This person is trying to help, he/she doesn't seem like he's trying to force his will on anyone. I think most experienced shooters would rather see someone new start off on the right foot. I wouldn't advise anyone male or female to choose the baby Glock as their first handgun. It would be like learning to pole vault with diving weights on. It might be possible, but there is no possible benefit. Lots of girls marry their first husbands because they "fell in love". They find out what a miserable SOB he is in the first year. They ask their friends, "Why didn't you stop me?". This guy is just trying to help, so let him him some slack. Please? If he/she turns out to be anything less nobel than a concerned friend, I'll help you string him up, that is of course if you will take assistance from a mere man.

Dave

[Combat-wombat]

USP 9 compact. Great gun

[duckfoot]

again

HK uspc 9

[Trisha]

If she likes the G26, then encourage her (and facilitate) her to shoot as much as she can with nary a care about the cases of ammunition she may well go through!

If she continues to shoot and really gets hooked, she'll beat the occasional jam - and probably start doing push-ups and some free weights!

Keeping her happy, and keeping her burning lots of gunpowder in hours and hours of range time - she'll figure it out, and you may get to enjoy the process!

Trisha

[Rich357]

Dave (only1asterisk).

The baby Glocks are surprisingly easy to shoot well. Even with your little finger curled under the magazine. Shooting my G26 and G27 helped me to learn to shoot all Glocks better. The G26 is not like a lot of other small handguns. It is *not* like learning to pole vault with diving weights on.

If she wants she can always get a different handgun later. How many of us have stopped at our first handgun? Later, if she gets another handgun I'll bet she keeps the G26.

Rich

[only1asterisk]

Rich,

Nothing against Glocks, it's just difficult to understand people get a little miffed when someone wants to help a friend make a informed choice. Would you recommend a 26 or 27 to a new shooter buying a first gun? If they liked the mini-glock, would it be out of line to suggest a Model 19? Say, those mini glocks are nice, but this one might be a little easier to shoot well. If they still want a a mini, it's their choice, but if it were me buying a first gun I'd want someone to give me this helpful advice. Like I said above, give the lady as many guns as you can to try, and let her pick the one she wants. Be sure to suggest she get a gun that allows a full grip.

Dave

[makdaddy03]

My exgirlfriend likes her 38spl.S&W snub.

[Rich357]

Hi Dave,

I'm all for a friend helping another friend make an informed decision. In this case she has tried a few pistols and likes the G26. If there's a rental range in the area and she wanted to try several handguns that's fine. Since she likes the G26 she might want to try a G19 and G17. A SIG P239 9mm is also well worth trying. The P239 is a real pleasure to take to the range.

If she isn't all that interested in trying other pistols then going with a G26 isn't, IMHO, a bad choice. Just holding a pistol in a gun store is not necessarily a great way to pick a pistol. I recently bought a Walther P99 9mm. It feels good in the hand but is quite snappy when shooting it.

Since she has tried the G26 and likes it, I wouldn't try and talk her out of it. It's not as if she is stuck with this first handgun. It's not like getting a tattoo.

Would I recommend a G26 or G27 to a first time shooter? If they have tried one or the other and like them, why not? There is nothing wrong with them. It would be different if the subcompact Glocks were poorly made, likely to break down, inaccurate pistols. But they aren't. The small Glocks are simply smaller. They are still the basic Glock system.

I shoot my G26 virtually as well as my G19. She might shoot a G17 better than a G26 but it sounds as if she likes the idea of a small handgun. If she is also considering in the back of her mind on carrying the G26, she should get a good holster that covers the trigger. It would also be a good idea if she took a class in defensive shooting, if she wants to carry.

Rich

[only1asterisk]

Rich, et al

Didn't mean to sound defensive, I think most of us agree on the basics. Training, holster (even if CC isn't on the agenda), good ear protection, and lots of encouragement.
I learned to shoot the hard way. The first handgun I shot was a S&W Model 29, talk about the wrong gun for a newbie. Then nobody stopped me from buying my own. I had to learn to handload just so I could stand to shoot my own gun more than a few rounds at a time. I never very good with a handgun until I bought my 686. The first time I shot it, I found what I was missing. As soon as I could I went out and bought a .22 and started over. I'm still not the world's best pistol shot, but I hate to think back on the frustration of that .44 and the great secrets of trigger control and follow through I learned much later.

I only wish there had been someone to talk me into a lesser gun in the begining.

Dave

[Ian11]

Female or Male it makes no difference. A gun needs to fits one's hands and it should be in a caliber and gun combo they can handle.

For most first time gunowners a .38 SPL revolver (K frame) or a 9mm compact or full size are the best choices. These aren't "beginner rounds". There are many many people who have shot guns for many years who still enjoy and rely on these calibers for defense. Women's hands tend to be smaller than men so here are what I think are the best choices:

Autos:
Sig Sauer P225/P228/P229/P239
Glock 19/26
H&K P7/M8 or USP/C
Colt 1911 9mm
Browning HP

Revolvers:
S&W K frame .38 or .357 Magnum
Ruger SP101 3" .357 Magnum
Colt Detective Special

[Pumpkinheaver]

Single stack SIG.

[stevelyn]

Take her gunshop hopping and have her handle as many different pistols and revolvers in the caliber(s) she limits herself to and let her decide.

[Combat-wombat]

Maybe a taurus PT 111?

[Boiler_G]

:what: Wow, just reading the latest replies and I feel like I just got my head bit off!

only1asterisk, thanks for backing me up here. I am not trying to convince my friend not to get the Glock. I personally have no problem with Glocks and think that they are nice, reliable weapons. I just know (which you all don't) that my friend has limited time, experience, and exposure to guns, and thought that it wouldn't hurt for her to see what else is out there.

Geez! I thought you women were shoppers, but apparently you like the first thing you see. Sometimes, the next window over may have something you like better and maybe even for a better price or better fit! ;)

I am new in this business myself and while I bought my gun (with out shooting it first) and liked it, I have shot others since then and I shot a little better or with quicker follow up shots than my 1911 .45. (CZ 75 PCR 9mm, by the way)

I wasn't trying to make anyone mad here or force my preferences on my friend. We have been friends our whole lives (over 23 years now) and I think we are on the same page. So please try not to judge me or my advice with another friend before knowing the situation! She played b-ball in college and is in good shape. I think the comment on training is on point too, for eliminating the limp wristing problem. It is her decision and money in the end!

Thanks for the gun suggestions (the reason for the post). I too am looking for something in 9mm and will consider the BHP, Sig 239,225, CZ75.

I am just a friend trying to help here! Thanks.

[pax]

Boiler_G,

I'm sorry it sounded as though I was biting your head off. Didn't mean to come across quite that way.

A few weeks back, I was helping out on the line at a class for beginning shooters. It's always interesting and I really enjoy getting a chance to talk guns with different people. One of the women there that day was shooting well and appeared to be enjoying herself. But she told me, with a grimace, that she'd rather have had a root canal than be at the range. She had a very nice, very serviceable .38 snubby and wasn't doing a bad job with it at all. But she hated the little gun. I asked her why (thinking perhaps she'd tell me the kick was too sharp or the grip didn't fit or something like that). She sighed deeply and said, "I hate it because every time I look at it I'm reminded that he doesn't listen to me. I told him I wanted a semi auto. I just don't like revolvers!"

I had to blink a few times to wrap my brain around that one. Whyohwhy, if he wanted his girl to learn to love shooting, didn't he let her choose her own gun? It was fairly obvious, in talking to this woman, that she was willing to enjoy shooting, but that the negative emotions surrounding 'her' gun were really getting in the way.

Sad to say, she wasn't that unusual. I've met folks like her before and suppose I will again. It makes me just about crazy because it is so unnecessary.

If that's not where you are or what you were doing, my apologies. It's just that when I see a train wreck about to happen, I always want to see if I can stop it before it does.

In any case, if your friend is willing to look at more guns, don't let me stop you. ;)

pax

[varoadking]

Sig 239...

[Marcus]

I think Pax has some pretty good advice. It`s always a hard thing when a man trys to pick out a gun for a woman. I just went throught this with my wife. She`s shot guns but isn`t a shooter by a long stretch so she wasn`t really able to tell me exactly what she wanted. I had her try a few guns that I felt would be "perfect" for her and they were all miserable failures. I tried to steer her clear of little guns because "they`re hard to shoot well", it hadn`t occured to me that she`s only 3/4" my size and so a 3/4 scale "compact" gun wasn`t compact to her! I figured a DA trigger pull would be safer for a novice. But I didn`t consider that she has 1/3 of my grip strength if she`s lucky so a 10lb trigger pull to me is 30lbs to her! She has to use 2 fingers to pull a conventional DA trigger if she still wants to hit anything at all. She didn`t like Glocks,XDs and polymer Walthers because they were "ugly and mean looking",so they were out. I wanted her to get a 9mm but she ended up with a Colt Gov`t .380 Pocketlite. It fits her little hands perfectly,like a Colt Commander would mine. The trigger pull is easy for her to handle and the weight and recoil all fall well within her comfort zone. It wouldn`t have been my first (or even 5th) choice for her but in the end it was the best. Don`t anyone tell her I said this but I would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I`d shut up and listened a little better in the first place. :rolleyes: I vote for the G26. ;) Marcus

[Sean Smith]

Here is my take on it...

There is nothing wrong with trying to steer someone in a sensible direction. That is very different from making somebody get gun X because you think they should have it. In general, I think it is sound to advise a first-time shooter to NOT get a subcompact gun.

[Sean Smith]

"I hate it because every time I look at it I'm reminded that he doesn't listen to me. I told him I wanted a semi auto. I just don't like revolvers!"

Of course, it is equally true that it is pretty silly for somebody with zero gun knowledge to reflexively want to do the opposite of what someone with at least some gun knowledge suggests simply because the source of that advice is their spouse. ;)

[JohnKSa]

Of course, it is equally true that it is pretty silly for somebody with zero gun knowledge to reflexively want to do the opposite of what someone with at least some gun knowledge suggests
People know what they like even if they're not experts.

The choice here is between pushing someone into what you feel is best for them, and helping them select something that will be suitable for the job at hand AND still be something that they can feel good about owning and enjoy shooting.

My wife was not at all gunny when I married her, but she KNEW what she liked. She doesn't like the look of stainless, and she doesn't like revolvers because of some bad experiences. Now, I know that a medium frame stainless steel revolver is probably the best choice for someone who wants a gun to be there when they need it and be invisible when they don't need it.

But, I chose to purchase her guns that she LIKES, even though sometimes they're not the IDEAL choice. As a result, she enjoys shooting, asks to go to the range, enters various competitions, and often mentions out of the clear blue that she really LIKES one or the other of her guns.

Look, my first gun was a .357 Magnum revolver. Anyone will tell you that starting a first time shooter on a magnum isn't advisable. But, I stuck with it and became a better than average shot. Not because my gun was an ideal beginner's gun, but because I LIKED it. I liked the way it looked and felt, and enjoyed the blast and recoil even though I had to initially work pretty hard to keep from flinching.

My wife carries a single action, blued subcompact .380 autopistol. Is that what I would have chosen for her? NOPE! But I feel good about her carrying that gun because I know she has practiced with it enough to be able to use it competently if the time comes. A big part of that I know she has taken the time to master that gun because she LIKES it.

[David4516]

"While not female, I'm not the biggest guy, and have relatively small hands"

I'm in the same situation.

When I first started shopping for a carry gun, I was thinking about a glock 26 or 27. My dad has one and let me try it out. I liked the size and weight of the gun, but it was a bit thick and while it didn't "kick", it did "jump" (I don't know if that made any sense, what I mean is that it wasn't painful to shoot but it was difficult to control). I'm not an expert, but I'm far from a newbie (I've been target shooting since I was really young, my Dad is a gun dealer), and I don't even feel really comfortable with the baby Glocks.

After dismissing the Glock, I asked my Dad if he had any other handguns that were similar in size to the glock. After some digging around in the safe, he produced a Makarov. At first I didn't think I'd like it. It looked different, it had a funny name, and it was in a "wimpy" caliber. But I did like the size and feel of it. It was a bit heavyer than the glock (it is an all steel pistol), but it was thinner (like I said I've got small hands, so the single stack aspect was a plus), and the grip was a bit longer (so I had a place to put my pinky finger).

So I agreed to give it a try. I didn't expect much from such a "cheap" gun, but I was pleasntly suprised. It was fun to shoot, and it was reliable. It didn't jam, and that really impressed me because the Glock, that was 4 times as expensive, had jamed twice when I was trying it out.

So I got a Makarov of my own, and have been very happy with it. I think it has several advantages over the Glock 26 and/or Glock 27, the biggest one being the feel of the pistol, but cost was also another very important factor. The only dis-advantages were weight (and that doesn't bother me much) and caliber. My Dad's Mak is a .380, but I wanted the 9mm Makarov. 9mm Makarov (aka 9X18 ) isn't as good as 9mm Luger, but it does beat .380, and depending on the ammo can beat it be quite a bit.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I too was seriously considering a baby Glock, but then I checked out the Makarov and never looked back. It's a good carry gun, it's a good target shooting gun (very accurate for a "millitary" pistol), and it's a whole lot of fun for shooting at pop cans at 5 yards...

Best of all, it's cheap. Makarovs can be had for about $150, so if you buy one and don't like it for whatever reason you arn't out the $500 you would be if you got the glock.

[Mikel]

David - On the opposite end of the price spectrum, I ended up with a Sig P239 and a Kahr PM9.

The Sig with Hogue grips fits my hand like it was made for it. The kahr is a little short with the flush mag, but perfect with the extended mag and it's size and weight makes it really easy to conceal.

There's a lot of good small guns out there :p

The miniglocks don't work for me either, they feel retarded to me. The grip is short, which is fine by me, but also fat, which makes for a long trigger reach for me. I usually buy single stack guns for this reason.

Ok, done babbling for now.

[David4516]

Mikel, I've been wanting to try out a Kahr for a while now, but I don't know anybody who has one :( and I don't want to spend $ on a pistol I haven't tryed yet. Maybe I can talk my Dad into buying one...

"Dude, wheres my Kahr?"

[twolf]

Let her try a Kahr P9. The recoil is the same, if not better, than the Glock 26. It is thinner than the Glock and it is a full size grip with an extra 1/2" of barrel.

One word of caution, I have never met anyone that got exactly what they wanted on their first handgun. It is kind of like buying a house, after you buy, you find all the things that you don't like about it and learn. I have several;) handguns and like some features and detest others about all of them. Some I like and others I have sold. I once bought a Kimber Pro Carry and could not hit the broad side of a barn with it. It was not the weapon, it was me and the fact that it did not point well for me.

If you have a gun club nearby, join. The reason that I say this is the club that I am a member at has dozens of people their all the time. I have had people ask me about firearms that I was shooting and I usually ask, "ya wanna shoot it?" I have done likewise. It is a great place to learn what they like and do not like about weapons.

I second the notion what weight is key. Also, no offense ladies, women generally do not have good hand strength which means they need a real light trigger pull or they need a flat backstrap on their weapon in order to be able to exert more pressure on the trigger. My wife thought she wanted a Glock but after we bought it she ended up not liking it so we bought her a S&W 3913 NL. It has the flat backstrap and the same trigger pull as the regular 3913. She tried a regular 3913 and thought the trigger to be too tough. I bought the 3913 NL on a hunch and she now out shoots me. The guys at the range have gotten a real good laugh out of that and I have shrunk about 6"!

;)

[Al Thompson]

Having sold guns for a living, nothing frustrates me more than some testosterone poisioned fool who wants to dictate to the "little lady" what gun she should have.

As many have stated, best to let her try bunches and make up her own mind.

Better a .25 she can hit with than a .4something she can't.

[Vic303]

I know you said she is enamoured of semiautos, but if you can, get her to at least TRY a Ruger GP-100 4". I bet she will love the way it handles--esp, if you load it w/.38Spl+p's ! That way if she does like it, she can always load .357 instead of .38Spl once she is used to the revo & it's recoil, and has more rangetime under her belt. If she finds a trigger on any pistol to be a bit heavy, you can always have a competent smith tune it up for her & lighten the pull...

But ultimately, let her decide what she is comfortable owning--she'll like you better for it!

[Boiler_G]

Again, thanks for all the suggestions!

Also, I must re-itterate! I am not pressing anything here! She has already told me "I am going to get a glock someday." She will probably buy when I am not even around too.

I am just asking in the event that we happen to be at a gun show or shop, for some guns that women tend to perceive as less 'snappy' and a good fit for smaller hands.

I too have fairly small hands and like single stack guns.

Like twolf said, it is hard to get exactly what you want for your first gun. I was just intending to suggest to my friend to shop around some, just to make sure. If she doesn't get a chance to shoot anything else, I doubt she would change from the G26 to something else anyway just by the 'feel' of the gun.

I think she will get the Glock and like it, but I just didn't want her to have a similar experience to my own, after firing some other guns after I made my $500 purchase (New Rollmark Colt 1991A1) and second guessing myself.

I like the Glock for its robustness, reliability, and simplicity in operation. If my friend asks for my advice again, I will tell her to try to get her hands on a Kahr (pricey, but single stack), and maybe a Sig 239, S&W 3913 (TSW or LS), BHP, CZ 75.

Thanks again.

[Ky Larry]

My wife started shooting my CZ 75B 9mm but when she realized how hard it is to carry she switched to my .38 Spl Colt Detective Special. Since your friend may have to trust her life to this weapon, it should be something she chooses. Besides, if she find something she likes better, she can always trade guns. She isn't stuck with only one gun for the rest of her life.
P.S. That goes for you too so treat the lady right!!

[twolf]

I would not have her even try the TSW for four reasons.

1. When you mention "Tactical" the price goes up. In this case, by about $75 bucks.

2. If she plans on doing any HRT work I would say, sure go for it, but I do not think this is the case.

3. Becasue of that accessory rail, which she will never use, it is alot heavier.

4. The TSW has the regular "guy backstrap" and will have a perceived heavier trigger.

Another thing, an older and wiser man told me when I got married: "You can be right or you can be happy but, you can't be both"

He is a tip: choose happy!

:evil:

[Boiler_G]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Thanks for the comments on the 3913, those are the sort of detailed personal accounts that I was looking for. I was considering the 3913 as more of an option for me.

As far as the comments on the 'personal' treatment of my friend ... She is a long time family friend and more like a sister then a significant other, so for all you married peops out there, I could use a little break on all the relationship advice.

My friend wouldn't hesitate to yell at me or call me an a$$. LOL. So don't worry about that department. We are good friends and we both take each others word into serious consideration no matter the topic.

Don't worry, I am not forcing my opinions or personal preferences on her and she wouldn't let me anyway.

Again, I too have farely small/average hands, so the single stack 9mm is of interest to me too (as you have seen in my previous topic posts).

Thanks.

[sig225]

It really is her choice but I am going to give my suggestions. I like the fact that you are trying to help her out and encouraging her to try as many guns as she possibly can before purchasing. Unfortunatly she may already have her mind made up. (Well not unfortunatly Glocks are great guns) I would have to reccomend like someone else stated a single stack SIG. Hmm what comes to mind a SIG 225. The recoil is very manageable it is easy to take down for cleaning and fits my hand like it was made for me. I would tell her to look into one. My other suggestions would be a .38 spcl revolver, a Glock or a CZ75 (my favorite handgun).

[CatsDieNow]

I am female, and also a Purdue grad. ;)

First (I assume she's 21), suggest that she get the magic pink handgun card. I had one for at least a year before I owned a gun. They are relatively cheap in Indiana as opposed to Texas.

I own two handguns, a Browning Buckmark and a Kahr MK9 elite and I like them both.

When Justin (and Chris Rhines, too) took me to the range, I would commender Justin's .22 Ruger and he would whine profusely that he never got to shoot it. So, it was probably time to buy my own gun. I later went to a gun show with them and they were constantly trying to get me to hold everything while rattling off specs and stastics. It made my head spin.

I went to a another gun show without them and then touched and fondled all the .22 target pistols instead of the carry guns, because that was what I really wanted. I picked out the one I liked and asked Justin if there was any reason why I shouldn't get that one. He found me a good deal on a used one, I got my Buckmark, and I am happy.

Similar story with the Kahr, when I was ready to buy a carry gun, I asked him to narrow down the selection to a few choices and I went to a show to hold them all. Found a deal online and bought it. I am totally happy with that purchase too. FWIW, I absolutly hated the way Glocks felt, but that's probably just because I was unable to touch my thumb to my finger while holding it.

The moral of my rambling story is:

Let her take ownership of her purchase, that way it is HER gun. Narrow down the field, and when she is ready to buy, inspect it for defects/major problems and then tell her what a good choice she made. (Even if it is a Glock :rolleyes: ).