Need advice new smaller gun

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I would go with the GLOCK 42. My wife is very recoil sensitive and has trouble working the slide on most semi-autos, but can shoot and work the action of the GLOCK 42 without problems. Also, I carry one as well off duty and have found it to be completely reliable and easy to shoot accurately. She uses HORNADY Critical Defense in her gun.

A slightly smaller gun that both my wife and I like is the BERETTA 3032 Tomcat in .32ACP. It is smaller, but about the same weight as the GLOCK. It is a traditional double action/single action and has a thumb safety if that is an advantage to you. Also, the pop up barrel makes loading and unloading, very easy.

I can recommend both of these guns as they have proven very reliable to me and are easy to operate and reliable.

Jim
 
There's always the classic Bersa single-stack .380, tried and true and lots of colors to choose from in Firestorm (7+1, others all 8+1), Thunder (standard), Thunder Combat (finger grooves and Glock-like sights), or Thunder CC (rounded off frame, bobbed hammer, low-profile sights) versions. All are DA/SA with guns with a decocking manual safety.

https://bersa.eagleimportsinc.com/bersa/firearms
 
So after multiple LGS trips with some range time. She finally found it and it wasn't in nearly in the direction of what I understood she wanted. She landed on the sig p365 xl, her main complaint was the g2 was too large. So I figured a good part of it was the weight. Being slightly smaller in width and very accurate to her standards the xl beat everything she tried from the list we built. Actually it wasn't on the list at all, but my buddy that works at my favorite LGS recommended she try it out. Should be ready later this week for pick up, they were out of stock but had a shipment on its way. Now to search to find the right holster shall commence.
 
MikeInOr said:
I carry a LCP at work frequently. It is a nice size for easy concealment. With some dress clothes a KelTec P32 is considerably easier conceal due to its thickness and weight.

If she wants to go a bit bigger a Kahr CM9/PM9 is a very nice shooter for a small package. The Diamondback DB9 is smaller and more concealable than the CM9 while still packing a 9mm round but is not a pleasant shooter. For me the DB9 usually wins out over the CM9 due to its smaller size. I am not aware of any smaller pistols with a thumb safety... I think you would have to look at one of the minaturized 1911 style pistols but then it would need to be carried cocked and locked. It took a while to get used to carrying a pistol with no safety some 30 years ago when I purchased the CZ 27... all I can say is that I got used to it over time.

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For the same size as a CM9, she might as well get the SIG P365
 
Not at all, I have both they; are the same size and the SIG has more capacity in the same size package; and the trigger is great
 
My current idea of an NPE weapon has evolved to the Glock G42. I would urge anyone considering small autos to at least try the G42. We have his-and-hers G42 pistols. (NPE = non-permissive environment, but not, in this context, places where it is actually illegal to carry.)

I helped break-in my wife’s P32. We both hated it, as it was, really, too small for both my and her hands, so, it has sat in a storage place for so many years. It completed its 500-or-so-round break-in/function-test, and has been a glorified paperweight, since. I cannot remember when she bought it, but it was before the .380 version was introduced.

We have his-and-hers Seecamp LWS-32 pistols, which I find much more shoot-able than a P-32. (I have had Seecamps since their early days, well before Kep-tecs and such appeared.) I rarely carried Seecamps, after my employer, a PD, started mandating a faster-paced qual, out to 15-yards, for back-up weapons. (Previously, I had only had to shoot back-ups at something like five or seven yards.) I was, already rarely carrying it, anyway, and I would “hold up the program” when shooting the faster-moving qual.

The G42 is just a bit larger than a Seecamp, Elsie Pea, or a P-32, but SO much more shoot-able.

To be clear, I am not saying that anyone should use a G42, just because I do.

Edited to add: I would not buy a pre-owned G42. Early batches had some issues. Once upon a time, I knew which serial numbers started the good ones, but I no longer remember.
 
To be clear, I am not saying that anyone should use a G42, just because I do.

Edited to add: I would not buy a pre-owned G42. Early batches had some issues. Once upon a time, I knew which serial numbers started the good ones, but I no longer remember.
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I too would highly recommend a G42..I have had one for about 3 years, 100% reliability with any ammo..small, light, accurate, reliable, not expensive.

The early G42 had mostly problems with the magazine and those were corrected with a new design magazine but those also were made 6 years ago.

Same for Sig 365..early ones had lotsa problems but it doesn't get mentioned here a lot.
 
Deleon517 said:
So after multiple LGS trips with some range time. She finally found it and it wasn't in nearly in the direction of what I understood she wanted. She landed on the sig p365 xl, her main complaint was the g2 was too large. So I figured a good part of it was the weight. Being slightly smaller in width and very accurate to her standards the xl beat everything she tried from the list we built. Actually it wasn't on the list at all, but my buddy that works at my favorite LGS recommended she try it out. Should be ready later this week for pick up, they were out of stock but had a shipment on its way. Now to search to find the right holster shall commence.
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I'm glad to hear that she not only was able to try many different pistols but found one that fits her and her needs. And good for you for taking her to look at different pistols instead of just buying what you though she would like.
 
My daughter had a bone tumor that kept growing in her right hand little finger. After three surgeries it came back. She made the discussion to have the finger and lower parts of her hand amputated.
After nine months her had was pretty much healed but she was scared to shoot her 9mm.
She asked me if I would get her a Glock 42.
The truth is I think she had the surgery just to get my to buy her a new gun. ;)
I have her a Glock 42 that Christmas and she loves it.
I have found that when it comes to women, it’s best to just get them the gun that they want.
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Gunny, I'm sorry to hear about her medical problems. I hope that all is well with her now.

We are a family of giants. My daughter seems stunted at only 6'1"-6'2", but she is only 15 and will hopefully grow more so as not to shame the family. She prefers to shoot my larger handguns. My secret fear, which wakes me up at night shaking with terror, is that when she leaves home for college or career she will hug me and use her sweetest voice and ask me to bequeath to her my Model 28, preferred CZ or Sig, or one of my other favorite handguns. Obviously I will give in, but until then I will be hoping and praying that she develops an intense interest in smaller polymer pistols.
 
Deleon517 said:
Good morning everyone,

Looking for a little advice on what direction to look. My wife is now returning back to work, however they will be adhering to some new policies. She started out with a g19 as her carry gun, then went down to a pt111 g2 due to size and weight differences. She has been pretty happy with it as it was small enough that she could conceal with no problem and even to slip into her bag when at work. Printing or accidental exposure wouldn't be a good thing at her job.

The problem is now they aren't allowing employees to bring bags into work. My guess is to reduce the chance of employee's slipping extra gloves and mask into their bags for personal use (its a medical office). So she is in scrubs which may help with the printing concerns as they aren't form fitting or tucked in. She also won't add a belt but doesn't want something as heavy as the g2 that will drag down her pants as the day goes on.

With all that said what you all recommend we go check out at the LGS that would be smaller and serviceable? She is willing to go down to .380 size caliber but still wants to have a manual thumb safety as well? Only thing I can think of is the Ruger LCP, I don't have much experience with smaller then 9mm handguns and the smallest I own is the Shield 2. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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My personal concealed carry pistol is a Bersa Thunder 380. It eats any ammo I've run through it and, while mine has8 round magazines, they do make a double stack version. I opted for the thinner single stack and a few extra mags. At an MSRP of just under $300, it's affordable, has functioned flawlessly and has a manual safety which is also a decocker.

Highly recommended.
 
Tallball said:
Gunny, I'm sorry to hear about her medical problems. I hope that all is well with her now.

We are a family of giants. My daughter seems stunted at only 6'1"-6'2", but she is only 15 and will hopefully grow more so as not to shame the family. She prefers to shoot my larger handguns. My secret fear, which wakes me up at night shaking with terror, is that when she leaves home for college or career she will hug me and use her sweetest voice and ask me to bequeath to her my Model 28, preferred CZ or Sig, or one of my other favorite handguns. Obviously I will give in, but until then I will be hoping and praying that she develops an intense interest in smaller polymer pistols.
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Oh, her hand healed up just fine. When I see her, I lift my hand and tell her to give me Four.
I’ve bought her two handguns guns and built Her an AR since she moved out, but she has called dibs on a few that I have.
Talk to your daughter about cancel carry now so that she will start thinking in that direction.
 
Ks5shooter,

I found the SIG 230 too large for pocket carry. It is significantly larger than a GLOCK 42 and much heavier. The aluminum framed SIG 232 was light enough to carry in a pocket, but it is too large to pocket carry without printing. If I carry mine now, it is in a hip holster.

Jim
 
JTQ said:
I think figuring out how to carry in scrubs would be the first question to answer. With no belt, there needs to be some other method for carry other than the most common belt holster.
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I have a friend in a similar situation, who carries a Sig P238 in an ankle holster. An ankle holster would not be my first choice, but it seems to work for her.

Jim Watson said:
Strangely, my LC9S is not bad at all.
I think a Glock 42 (or 43) is the default pocket pistol but a thumb safety is wanted.
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I have a LC9s that I often pocket carry. I'm a big guy and I consider the LC9s to really be the upper limit of pocket carry. I've not tried pocket carrying the G43 but IIRC its a little larger than the LC9s, which would cause me concern.
 
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