SD pistol for small hands....

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The gist, (esp. for a frist gun)
DO NOT GET A SMALL CCW TYPE GUN (not as a first gun)
get a standard/service size 9mm
Large, means much easier to control, better sight radius, and LESS recoil

When you get small to CCW
Light = more recoil
power(ful) = more recoil
little/small = difficult to manipulate, difficlut to grip
lighter slide for caliber = heavier springs

For a "little CCW semi auto"
I think MOUSE GUN (which is a specialist gun to begin with ie. not a 'do everything')
I suggest a Kel Tec P32 if you MUST have little and light, the .32 is adequate at 'social' distances in FMJ, the modified browning lock, means the springs are MUCH softer than a blowback, it holds more and is MUCH more controllable than similar .380's (which can be little pocket monsters)

Now, my suggestion, take all that money you are thinking about spending on a gun and
SEND HER TO A WOMANS ONLY SHOOTING CLASS
Not saying you can't teach her, but women tend to listen to strangers better than men in their life, stupid I know, but...
 
You know, I was thinking about my suggestion of an XDs and something sprung to mind. How is her hand strength? I assume that if she has small hands they are not real strong?

If so, the XDs probably wouldn't be good. It is a stiff tight little gun, and not easy to manipulate for anyone with low hand strenght.

Based on the size and ease of trigger pull, I'd suggest a Ruger LCR if it fits her hand properly.
 
Let them pick their guns but make sure they have full command of all the functions of that gun, semi autos take some strength and technique that revolvers don't. Also broaden their horizons and get them out of their comfort zones just like we do or should do to ourselves by learning and mastering different types and calibers.
 
My niece has very small hands. Someone bought her a Kel Tec P32 thinking it would be perfect for her. She stopped here to stay overnight a couple years ago, and as she was ready to leave, she asked me if I would look at her pistol. She brought it in and had a round stovepiped. I racked the slide and dumped it out showing her how to clear it. I replaced the round in a stovepipe position, and had her clear it like I showed her. Then I found out what the real problem was. She didn't have the hand strength to rack the slide.

If she wants a semi auto, make sure she has the strength to rack it, otherwise she may be much better off with a revolver.
 
You might want her to take a look at a Beretta 3032 or 21A. Yeah, I know, heresy suggesting a .32 or .22. However, they are easy to use, load, control, conceal, hold and fire. Perfect for a person with smaller hands. Well within the budget also.
MR
 
BigBore44 .... I love my XDs also, but share the same scenario with the wife.

Keep in mind Springfield will start shipping XDs in 9mm in June. (And I did call Springfield and they did confirm this)

I am in the hat to get one from my gun store... and I got one of the first XDs 45 when they were released as well, so I have faith it will arrive.

I think the 9mm will be an awesome package in the XDs
 
Ok guys,
I must admit, I didn't read the sticky until I made my thread. My bad! Geeze bite a guys head off. But i guess I deserve it. If I HAD read it I wouldn't be getting my head bitten off. Think they call that cause and effect. Lol.

To the ones mentioning hand strength. She has strong hands. She's a nurse on a med-surge floor. She has moved people weighing over 300 lbs up farther in a hospital bed by grabbing the sheets and pulling. But with anything especially something like lifting weights, proper technique and leverage can drastically reduce the strain needed to move the weight. So no matter what gun, she's gonna need lots of tap rack practice. And the more she does it, the better and more proficient she will become.

I'm seeing a few replies about revolvers. I'm definitely not opposed to a revolver at all. But so many revolvers are made with so little weight in them now trying to advertise them towards women. But in truth, a man needs to be shooting these "air weight" revolvers. I suppose a "classic" style S&W, Taurus, or Ruger could be a possibility.

Shadow,
I understand what you're saying about going full size to start. I'm gonna take her out and see how she does with my XD45. We might be surprised. I learned a long time ago not to doubt the abilities of someone with conviction and determination.

And as far as her taking a female shooting class, I suggested that. She got mad because she thought I didn't want to teach her (ugh, women). She wants me to teach her. And while I don't have the title of "Range Master" or anything like that. I'm VERY patient and have been through Police Pistol 1&2. Was the best shooter in my class and our instructor (Range Master for Tulsa PD) had me helping other students more than shooting my own weapon.
 
I'm a huge fan of the Shield. I find recoil to be quite manageable for a smaller pistol. The slide was a bit stiff to work at first, but it loosened up nicely over time.

Bottom line is that she is going to have to shoot a bunch of pistols herself to decide. How will she carry it? Purse carry is going to have a lot more flexibility around size of the pistol.

Oh, and I would be ecstatic if my wife wanted me to take her shooting. Choose your complaints wisely. ;)
 
I'm just going to second reading the Cornered Cat together. It's a great resource.

As far as pure hardware concerns go, I'll vouch for the Shield for the reasons stated by others (should it meet her criteria), and in a revolver suggest she looks at an LCR. The LCR trigger is very new shooter friendly.

A few comments on other posts:

In that category, the Sig P238 and S&W Shield 9mm are good choices. ...

The above two are guns that my mother gravitated to.... She ended up with the P238 because she wanted a manual safety.

The Shield has a manual safety. I know you probably weren't saying it doesn't, but just pointing that out for those who may not realize it.

I found the Shield was easy to take down for cleaning. It's a simple mechanism but it takes a bit of strength the hold the slide back while pushing out the retaining pin.

You must be thinking of another gun. The Shield uses a takedown lever. Here's a takedown video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTvujx8WTkw

Why do we even have a sticky?

To present general information so that people don't clog the boards with repeated questions. Not to give out advice on what's currently on the market that fits a certain criteria. The OP asks what's reliable and suited for a petite woman.

Plus, that sticky says a lot less than the Cornered Cat blog. It's not particularly useful for specifics of chosing a gun or dealing with a new shooter. It doesn't even link to the info. (Someone may have it linked in a post in the thread, but it's not in the OP of the thread, and not as likely to be seen.) Pretty useless as an information resource, though as a bit of advice, it's priceless.
 
Well man, if she has small, but strong hands, and can work the slide, I return to my suggestion of an XDs. 6 shots of .45 acp out of a very accurate and easy to shoot gun would serve her well. They are a breeze to carry also, and you can throw the smaller backstrap on to help it fit her. If you can find one, I'd have her try one on.

May still be a tad large though.
 
Out of all the hand guns my Wife has shot she likes a Browning Hi-Power 9mm the best. The MK III with the larger safety. The older ones had a very small safety and smaller sights. So far she does not like the sub-compacts. Coles on Gun Broker has Israeli Trade-Ins for under $500.
Good luck, stay safe and may God bless us all,
Mike
 
Folks;
The question asked originally is one I see the wrong answer to every day.
I work 20 hours a week as a range officer at a large municipal run public range.
On a daily basis, I see women, younger men, small framed non-athletic people being given .40 S&W, .45acp, little pocket .380s, pocket 9mm, snubby revolvers etc. I watch as they wince, flinch, grimace, close their eyes and yank the trigger, struggle to pull the double action trigger, then are taught to cock the revolver first. :uhoh: Their flinching with the recoil and muzzle blast is disheartening to watch. :banghead: Then they go to the seats behind the firing line and insist that the "teacher" do the shooting.
Folks, Please start these people out on a .22 pistol.
There are any number of medium frame .22 pistols that are easy to shoot, little recoil and muzzle blast. Ruger, Beretta, S&W, and many more make fine inexpensive pistols that are great for training and fun to shoot.
Remember, you can train all day long with a .22 rf for $20.00 worth of ammo. Opposed to $200.00 for the same centerfire ammo, not to mention the beating from the muzzle blast and recoil.
They also will work for defense. OK they lack "stopping power" But how many people do you know that would like to be shot with a .22 rimfire?
Something to consider. Which is better, 5 or 6 misses with a blaster or 5 or 6 confident hits with .22 Velocitors?
In any case, a .22 rf is better than "Please Mister Don't Hurt Me!" :eek:
Remember, that once the training is done and competence with a .22 is at hand, he, she or it can transition to a more powerful round with confidence and a basis of good and pleasant experience. :)

Roger
 
The gist, (esp. for a frist gun)
DO NOT GET A SMALL CCW TYPE GUN (not as a first gun)
get a standard/service size 9mm
Large, means much easier to control, better sight radius, and LESS recoil

When you get small to CCW
Light = more recoil
power(ful) = more recoil
little/small = difficult to manipulate, difficlut to grip
lighter slide for caliber = heavier springs

For a "little CCW semi auto"
I think MOUSE GUN (which is a specialist gun to begin with ie. not a 'do everything')
I suggest a Kel Tec P32 if you MUST have little and light, the .32 is adequate at 'social' distances in FMJ, the modified browning lock, means the springs are MUCH softer than a blowback, it holds more and is MUCH more controllable than similar .380's (which can be little pocket monsters)

Now, my suggestion, take all that money you are thinking about spending on a gun and
SEND HER TO A WOMANS ONLY SHOOTING CLASS
Not saying you can't teach her, but women tend to listen to strangers better than men in their life, stupid I know, but...
Very well said... Small guns are not good for small hands and small sized shooters.

There are plenty of good pistols out there with changeable back-straps so they can fix most hands properly. The entire M&P line all have interchangeable back-straps for proper fit. The smallest pistols are not always the best. One good choice is the S&W M&P Shield which is a single stack pistol so the grip is thinner than most.

If a revolver is more her style there are plenty of different size and shaped grips that can make that revolver fit her well.
 
Guys, I'm really liking what I'm seeing with regards to the Shield, and LCR. We still haven't had a chance to go play at the gun shops yet. We have basically opposite schedules. But when we get the chance I definitely want her to hold, cycle, dry fire, both of those. I don't believe recoil will be such an issue with a pistol that fits her hands. But I also have a 22 and a smith 38 for us to practice with for the basics. But she can't keep them. They were my grandfathers. Sorry.

"Recoil vs Fit" for example, my 7.5 SBH in 44 mag was a real knuckle buster with the factory grips. It truely wasn't even that much fun to shoot. About 1 cylinder worth and i was done. It just didn't fit in my hands right (large hands long fingers). So I made some custom grips that were about twice the size of the originals and cut in some finger grooves. Now it's an absolute joy. And the felt recoil was reduced by I would say almost half.
 
You really should try the Kahr PM/CM 9 mm pistols. There ergo's and low bore axis make for a very controllable small 9mm SD pistol. I've been CC a PM9 for over 2 years and it has proven itself to be a very reliable pistol. I'd say it has approx. 2000 rounds through it +/-without a hiccup. Kahr did a real nice job when they designed that pistol.
 
Guys, I'm really liking what I'm seeing with regards to the Shield, and LCR. We still haven't had a chance to go play at the gun shops yet. We have basically opposite schedules. But when we get the chance I definitely want her to hold, cycle, dry fire, both of those. I don't believe recoil will be such an issue with a pistol that fits her hands. But I also have a 22 and a smith 38 for us to practice with for the basics. But she can't keep them. They were my grandfathers. Sorry.
Before she buys be sure she fires both because the LCP feels good in the hand but generates a lot of felt recoil while the Shield is only slightly larger but seems to handle the recoil much better, even in 40 S&W.
 
Bushmaster,
What's the trigger pull like on a Bersa? I looked at those online and it got good reviews. But mixed emotions about the trigger.
 
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