Break out the rulers!

[Jim Watson]

G36 is not a particularly slim gun, just short, even with single stack magazine.

I would have thought a 1934 Beretta to be bigger than a 1903 Colt, but if she likes it, she likes it.

She may have to make do with a less than optimum grip on the gun.
Yes, you are best off with the backstrap up the palm into the web, and the barrel in line with the forearm, but that is not always possible. I knew one lady with larger hands than your Mrs but way smaller than mine, whose favorite piece was a LAR Grizzly. She could hang on and get her hits with what looked like a faint grasp on the big gun.

 

[pax]

She may have to make do with a less than optimum grip on the gun.

Jim's right. As long as she can reach and use all the controls, a slightly too-large gun is not a bad thing. Perfection is not always attainable.

If she goes that route, she'll probably do better using the Iso rather than the Weaver stance, because Weaver works best when the gun aligns with your forearm. Iso is just slightly more friendly for folks whose guns are a little too large, once you start shooting fast & under pressure.

pax

 

[Brian Williams]

How about a 1st series Colt woodsman, My son measured the distance from the trigger to the back of the grip frame as 2 5/8s, I will measure the true circumference tonight. It is a great gun and one my daughter loved to shoot.

Edit to add
I measured the circumference of the grip thru the trigger guard and it is 6.5 inches. The length of pull is 2 5/8s. It will not be a very powerful defensive gun, but it is very accurate.

 

[JN01]

I no longer have one to measure, but how about a Star BM?

They are a smallish 9mm single action auto, and are available at reasonable prices.

 

[denfoote]

I like the Idea of the custom grip reduction for the Glock.

Robbie Barrkman works wonders with his reductions. I'm sure his custom shop will work with you to get the right fit!! At least he will be the one to tell you if the gun can be made to fit or not!!

http://www.robarguns.com/

 

[Monkeybear]

If a p22 is too big then Im not sure how shell ever carry a larger caliber than a .22

 

[the naked prophet]

Monkeybear, it's not just the size of the gun. It's also the reach to the trigger. The P22 is indeed quite small. However, the trigger is quite a ways away from the grip. The Beretta M1934 that she picked up has a small grip AND a very short 1911-looking SA trigger. Many of the guns we tried, if they were SA instead of DA or DAO, would have worked fine.

She told me to post the pink Kel-Tec P32 for sale, now that she's got a new favorite that she can actually fire...

 

[TimboKhan]

I am kind of with Pax and Jim Watson. It sounds like she now has a gun that will fit her, but if she wants to step up in caliber, she may very well have to make do with one that doesn't. I don't have one to measure, but what about the Rohrbaugh 9mm? Expensive, and I worry that the recoil will be too much for her, but I suspect it might fit.

 

[cpileri]

any caliber restrictions?

If a 25 Auto is not something you've ruled out on caliber alone, i can get the measurements to a CZ DUO which is basically a copy of the baby Browning in 25.
Let me know if you'd like me to do that.
C-

 

[the naked prophet]

Well, she's got a .380 now that she likes, and that's about the minimum she's willing to go (she was uncomfortable with the .32), and since she's already got a .380 she wants to step up to at least a 9mm (but she prefers .40 over anything else).

We're working on finding a Springfield EMP to try out.

 

[Bobo]

The Kahr PM series (9 mm and .40) have quite a short reach for larger than .380 handguns.

The Jiminez JA-.380 and Patriot Cobra CA380 have a VERY short reach. Not considered top quality guns, but many people carry them. I'm pretty sure the reach won't be problem with either of these.

 

[Falconeer]

I don't have one to measure, but the Sig P239 with the short trigger is a nice package for smaller hands. Plus you can choose 9mm, 357Sig, or .40.

 

[Waywatcher]

How about a 'cowboy' revolver?

I dont have any measurements though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

HEY, a .380 she can shoot well and she will carry is better than any other piston she won't carry. Nothing wrong with well placed .380 rounds. The Walter PPK in .380 is still a very popular gun and wouldn't be if it couldn't get the job done. After all, a .380 is just a shorter 9mm round.

 

[Monkeybear]

Ahh true, diddnt think about the reach.

If its for practice and its a semi just cock the hammer and see where her finger is. She will have to do it the the first time she fires but it may open up her options for a plinker.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Prophet,
Have you looked at a .380 in Bersa http://www.bersa-sa.com.ar/bersa.asp or even one from thier other company, Firestorm? I think the Bersa autos are larger than the Firestorm models. They have a small reach, so small I didn't buy one because it was too small. You really should go to the store and check out the Firestorm 380 http://www.firestorm-sgs.com/380.htm or even the Mini Firestorm in 9mm or .40 S&W. http://www.firestorm-sgs.com/minispecs.htm

(and keep that M1934 as a collectors piece especially since it's so inconvenient to handle)

 

[the naked prophet]

Our pastor has a Bersa. Way too big. We tried out a firestorm at a gun store, also way too big. It's the DA/SA trigger that's the problem - it starts too far away for her to reach it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

WOW, if the Firestorm trigger is too hard for her to reach then she has very tiny hands for sure.

Good luck...

 

[mountaindrew]

Have you tried a Llama .380? I have small hands for a guy, but that gun has a grip almost too small, thin. feels smaller than a ppk. I dont own one, just looked at them in stores.

 

[kmrcstintn]

a stab in the dark

I have a few...not sure if it'll help...

1) new Smith & Wesson M & P compact in 9mm

2) Springfield XD compact in 9mm

3) new Kel-Tec PF-9 single stack 9mm cousin to the P-11

4) Springfield 1911 Micro Compact in ? 9mm ? or ? .45 GAP ?

5) Smith & Wesson 3913 single stack 9mm

6) SIg Sauer P239 single stack 9mm or .40 S&W

Good Luck...I don't like the idea of someone not being able to arm himself or herself due to anatomic limitations

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I measured my S&W .38 Special but I'm not totally sure how you want it measured. I ran the string through the back of the trigger guard and directly around the handle straight back and got 5.25". When I did the same around the trigger to the back of the handle directly behind the trigger I got 6" exactly. If you measure up to where the top of your hand would rest the distance is even less.

I know you have been talking about autos but have you considered a snub revolver? IMO that would solve the size problem and allow your wife to carry something with a little more punch than a .380 considering you can shoot either a .38 cal or .357 Mag from a snub.

 

[the naked prophet]

I know you have been talking about autos but have you considered a snub revolver? IMO that would solve the size problem and allow your wife to carry something with a little more punch than a .380 considering you can shoot either a .38 cal or .357 Mag from a snub.

And I should be clear that she tried a S&W J-frame (Model 642, etc) with NO grips on it at all, and it was well too large for her.

I realize this thread is getting long, especially with the list of guns that have been tried and don't work. Maybe I should so an updated list of guns that have been tried and don't work?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry, I did miss your post about the J frame...

 

[StexFJR]

I have a Kahr PM 9 and just got the SA EMP. I'm at work at the moment and don't have them with me, but I put them side by side last night and the EMP is larger than the Kahr. I don't know about trigger measurements and such but the gun itself is larger and heavier.

 

[the naked prophet]

Interesting about the EMP and the Kahr. One thing about the EMP is that we can get a shorter trigger (the EMP comes with quite a long trigger) and if necessary we could make slimmer grips. We'll try one out at a stocking dealer this week.


I am perpetually amazed though, at the people who suggest the SIG P239. It is huge. It feels larger in my hand than my Glock 19. The grip is plenty large enough for a double stack mag.

We did go to a gun store and try out the SA XD subcompact. Way too big. Also tried the S&W M&P compact. Also way too big.