Small Hands

[papafloyd]

I have small hands and am a little concerned about trigger reach. I have handled a few handguns in the shop but realized I never put my finger on the trigger! Can any adjustments be made on a trigger! I definately worried about finding a gun that fits me well. I am still undecided on which caliber to get but want at least a 9mm. Any suggestions on guns for small hands? Would a 1911 model suit me better....the trigger seems to be less of a reach. Would prefer a full size model but will consider all options.

As always thanks for opinions/comments, Ken.

 

[ar10]

Try the XD's except the .45APC, that one is thicker.

 

[PT1911]

I would suggest something like a walther p 99 or a smith and wesson M&p as they have very comfortable and adjustable grips to fit smaller hands... I have medium sized hands and what do you know... the medium insert fits me perfectly.... take a look, or more importantly a feel and i am sureyou will agree.... the steyr M9-A1's feel really good too... this is the one of the three I chose when given the choice, but they may be hard to find right now for....complicated reasons...

 

[Quoheleth]

Lots of good suggestions here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=338177

1911s with short triggers feel very good to me, as does Ruger SP101 (I know...revolver) and M&Ps - for me, with my hands, I actually use the large backstrap to fill out the palm area.

Q

 

[TexasRedneck]

Try the Beretta 96 series, as well....amazingly, smaller-handed folks I've worked with at the range have flat fallen in love w/'em.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I have small hands, smaller than most, the XD fits me like a glove, love it.

 

[Billy Shears]

I have small hands and am a little concerned about trigger reach. I have handled a few handguns in the shop but realized I never put my finger on the trigger! Can any adjustments be made on a trigger! I definately worried about finding a gun that fits me well. I am still undecided on which caliber to get but want at least a 9mm. Any suggestions on guns for small hands? Would a 1911 model suit me better....the trigger seems to be less of a reach. Would prefer a full size model but will consider all options.

As always thanks for opinions/comments, Ken.

A 1911 should suit you just fine. I have somewhat small hands, and trigger reach with the 1911 is no problem whatsoever. Another plus is that the 1911 comes with two trigger lengths available. There is the long trigger, such as there was on the original 1911, and the short trigger, introduced with the A1 modifications of 1927. I can shoot either just fine, but find the shorter one more comfortable.

A Browning Hi Power would also be a good choice for you, especially if you want higher capacity. It has a marvelously shaped grip, which even people with the smallest hands seem to find quite comfortable, and trigger reach is not overly long with this gun either.

 

[robctwo]

I have small hands. The CZ75BD 9mm, Browning High Power, and 9mm 1911 all fit me well. I have a set of slim grips on a 9mm 1911 and it is my favorite gun.

 

[Claude Clay]

anyone know the link to the diagram of guns. very well done and perhaps of use to papa

 

[TexasRedneck]

Personally, diagrams and such will be of little practical use in my experience. I've seen guns that on paper would be easy to handle that ergonomically just didn't work for someone.
Best bet is to line up a friend with a variety of different guns and try 'em out...

 

[searcher451]

+1 to TexasRedneck. Regardless of what you hear or see or read, nothing works like a plain-and-simple test-drive. Don't be even so much as tempted to purchase a gun until you've been able to handle it, aim it, fire it, break it down, put it back together, and generally see if it's right for you ... especially in the way that it fits your hand.

 

[HexHead]

A Browning Hi Power would also be a good choice for you, especially if you want higher capacity. It has a marvelously shaped grip, which even people with the smallest hands seem to find quite comfortable, and trigger reach is not overly long with this gun either.

My wife has small hands with short fingers and finding a pistol for her was a challenge. She does very well with my BHP and likes it the best, it's just a little large for carry (especially with the adj. sights). The pistols that fit her the best when we were looking for a carry pistol for her were the Kahr CW9, the Springfield EMP and the Para PDA. She ended up with the Para.

 

[Mastiff]

I have very short hands. The Colt 1911 is at the limit of my reach. The other auto loaders I have found that work for me are the Tokarev TT-33(my favorite), the Star Modelo Super A(a thinner simplified 1911 Clone), the CZ82/83 in single action mode, the Kahr PM9, and the Kel-Tec P3AT.

 

[papafloyd]

Thanks everyone for help, the thread. My goal was to get some models to try and see how they feel in my hands. Now I have an idea when I go in what to as to look at.

Thanks again I appreciate the help, Ken

 

[bannockburn]

papafloyd

Most definitely the Browning Hi-Power for small hands; if polymer is an option, then I would look at the Glock 19. I have also found the M1911 frame with a flat mainspring housing also works well with small hands. Most of the larger, double column, full size guns, like the CZ75 and Beretta 92 are a bit out of my comfort zone with the longer stretch for the DA trigger. For CCW, any of the Kahr pistols are a great fit, ergonomically speaking, as well.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Kahr pistols fit smaller hands and point and balance very well.

1911s can have triggers with varying lengths of fingerpieces installed.

Several newer pistols have grip backstraps of varying sizes and contours.

 

[makarovnik]

Look for a combination with a single action only trigger and a single stack magazine.

One exception would be the Kahr as another poster stated. My wife can reach the trigger on a Kahr and a 1911 where even a Beretta Bobcat in .22 is too far of a reach.

 

[TexasRedneck]

That's a pretty broad spectrum.....there's a number that'll do the job. What caliber?

 

[mbr]

A couple of things to consider:

Do you have small hands, and/or short fingers? Small hands make it hard to get a solid hold on a larger grip, while short fingers make it harder to reach the trigger. I have average sized hands and short fingers. For me its not the size of the grip that matters but the trigger reach, and the placement of any controls, particularly thumb safeties. For example I love the way a CZ feels in my hand, but I can't always hit the thumb safety, so its out, (I know there are decockers, but I'm making a point.). On the other hand the Glock 30sf, which is a double-stack .45 and generally thought of as too big, fits me like a glove, because of the reduced trigger reach.

It sounds like you are looking for your first handgun, and while I'll probably get lit like a Christmas tree for this, I'm not sure a single action autoloader is the best choice for a first handgun. They have wonderful qualities, but in my opinion are not a good beginner's handgun. Have you considered a revolver? One big advantage of a wheelgun is the availability of different grips to help customize feel and trigger reach. They are also much simpler to operate than most autoloaders.

 

[Teufelhunden]

I've got wide short hands, referred to generically as 'small'. While my Springfield XD40 is very comfortable in my hands, my SIG P220 with a set of slim-grips is even more so.

If that isn't enough for you, SIG also makes a short reach trigger, which is just a slimmer one that puts the face of the trigger further back towards the grip to shorten the trigger reach.

I would agree that a 1911, while a wonderful gun, is probably not the gun to start on. A SIG 220 is standard double action/single action, so will be a little more forgiving of brain/hand disconnects.

-Teuf

 

[1SOW]

I have a very short reach.
The XD service .45 reach works well for me.
Great gun for the money.

 

[denfoote]

I have small hands.

Here are the full size guns that fit my hand.

AUTOLOADERS

Glock 30SF.

Walther P99

Walther P5

Walther P38/P1

Ruger P89

Browning High Power

1911

REVOLVERS

Smith and Wesson 28-2 (N-Frame)

Smith and Wesson 65-6LS (K-Frame)

Taurus M66 (Large Frame)

I've included revolvers because man does not live by Browning alone!!

 

[BikerRN]

A Browning Hi Power would also be a good choice for you, especially if you want higher capacity. It has a marvelously shaped grip, which even people with the smallest hands seem to find quite comfortable, and trigger reach is not overly long with this gun either.

That's what I was thinking as I read the original post. I guess it's true, GMTA.

There are some other good options that have been suggested, Glock 19/23, 1911 Kahr and CZ. You are best served to go to the gunshops and handle the guns you are considering. Even better, go to the Range and shoot them.

BikerRN

 

[CWL]

M1911s are probably the easiest pistol to customize to fit any person's hands. In addition to changable trigger lengths, you can easily change the thickness of the grips to fit any size hands, lastly, you can also decrease some M1911s with curved MSHs to flat ones.

I've also been considering the SIG Sauer P250, which comes with 3 grips and 2 triggers -in addition to changeable calibers.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Posted by CWL
M1911s are probably the easiest pistol to customize to fit any person's hands. In addition to changable trigger lengths, you can easily change the thickness of the grips to fit any size hands, lastly, you can also decrease some M1911s with curved MSHs to flat ones.

+1 for this. The 1911 format is truly an erector set for fit. The parts available can creat a custom fit for a huge population.
Joe