Pistol for the wife to use

Don't laugh.

But you know what you should look at? The Ruger P95.

I have the 220 and i have the p95. I know that in terms of fit/finish they are not in the same class. But the p95 has a very comparable grip size/feel and is plenty accurate for any carry use. It holds 2x the ammo of the p220, is a DA/SA and after a few hundred rounds turns into a very nice trigger.

Also, a huge factor that my fiancee just loves about the p95, which caused her to claim it over every other gun in my collection (and boy i have some nice ones)... it is the Softest recoil in a substantial caliber i have ever come across. That 9mm hardly recoils in that baby... it also is very easy to rack... even at 5' 105lbs.

My girlfriend tried a few guns and settled on a Springfield XD 9mm for herself. Didn't like how the revolvers she tried felt and really like my Glock 22. The XD felt familiar to her and satisfied the grip and comfort requirements. It is SA only so that might be a deal breaker for your wife's needs.

My girlfriend tried a few guns and settled on a Springfield XD 9mm for herself. Didn't like how the revolvers she tried felt and really like my Glock 22. The XD felt familiar to her and satisfied the grip and comfort requirements. It is SA only so that might be a deal breaker for your wife's needs.

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Doesn't have a SA/DA trigger and not nearly the girth of p220's grip.

Sounds like an M9/M92FS/ Taurus PT-92 might fit your criteria pretty well.

Another vote for the P95.

Like Kingofthehill, has already said, very low recoil compared to other 9's I have shot. Gets back on target very fast for quick follow up shots. Has a large comfortable grip, personally I use a Hogue slip on grip and it turns into a glove for me.

And as an added plus, can be easily found new for $300 or less.

I went through this same adventure last year. Even put up a thread on it. My wife slected the M&P9c. I realize it does not have some of the features you listed, I'm just sharing what my wife selected - and we looked at LOTS!

If I may humbley offer some words: Let her choose. Even if you don't like it, if she doesnt make the choice she's less likely to practice and carry it. As I said in my post: "it's not about me, it's about her".


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=451073

PE

Try the Springfield XDM and S&W M&P9. Both guns are very good and you can change the backstrap on the grip to make the gun fit different hand sizes. The Springfield XD is a good choice too.

Taurus 24/7

Another one to look is the Betetta Px4 line.


Is it wrong that when I see "Pistol for the wife" my first thought is a trade?
OK yeah I know it's wrong, I'm going to go hang my head in shame.

Beretta 92 or M&P (even though it isn't DA/SA). The slide on the 92 is pretty easy to rack.

FNP-9 would be another option to try. It comes with interchangeable backstraps to change the ergonomics of the grip. Plus it wont break the bank.

Sounds like an M9/M92FS/ Taurus PT-92 might fit your criteria pretty well.

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More good recommendations!... don't know how i forgot the beretta 92!...

also nice to see someone actually read what he's looking for before throwing suggestions out there for stuff that doesn't even meet half of his critera. lol

JOe

+1 fnp-9

The P-95 was the first thing I thought of also.
ATB- Your sig line made me think of a boy I grew up with that picked up a possum by the tail once.

Go To the corneredcat.com

Oh and Welcome to THR

Take a look at a USP9...full size or compact.

Another decent one if you find one (it's discontinued...CDNN was selling a bunch of them a few years back) is the FN HPda. It is a DA/SA Hi Power (in name only) compact. I have one and it's been a good gun. Mags were $10 and may still be available.

I also think the FNP would be a great pistol she may really like. Fits all the criteria I believe as well.

On the issue of racking the slide. Recently I've been helping out at the local Rent-A-Gun range on Fridays when it's Lady's night. Lots of small handed lightly built women have not got the grip strength to be able to rack the slide on most, if not all, of the center fire pistols when they use a typical fingers and thumb hold with the gun vertical. However there's a way that makes it easy for them and that would likely help your wife.

First off the reason the fingers and thumb thing doesn't work with the gun vertical. They don't have the same grip strength as folks that are more used to doing harder physical labour or that are just plain bigger. Also the lack of strength is compounded by the angle of the wrist when trying to rack the slide with the gun vertical.

The solution is;

1. With the gun firmly held in the strong hand roll it to the flat so the slide is presented flat to the weak hand. For a right strong hand this means the gun is rolled over to the left so it's flat to the ground with the slide on the left.
2. Now teach her to grip the slide differently. Instead of using her thumb show her how to use her first three fingers and the muscle pad at the base of her thumb. Pinch the slide between this pad using her first three fingers and there will be no issue at all with not having the grip strength needed to rack the slide on anything up to and including .45 1911's.

When done like this even the little 89 lb asian girls with stick like arms have no trouble at all racking the slide through the full stroke from closed. These same girls don't even have the strength to load many of the magazines without using a Maglula loader.

But you know what you should look at? The Ruger P95.

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Yep.
A very affordable workhorse.

With this information does anyone have a suggestion for what to try next?

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Something just came to me ... did you try a Revolver?

+1 on the Beretta 92, but also look at the Bersa Thunder 9 Ultra Compact - easy to rack the slide, SA/DA, decocker, fat grip, etc.

Walther P99C with the AS trigger configuration. I'd wager that she'll find the trigger on this to be better than anything she's tried to date. The interchangable backstraps to adjust the grip for hand size also is a big plus.