Good Semi for Small Hands

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freedude

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Hi all,

I'm looking for my first handgun and have (of course) a question or two, particularly about handguns for people with small hands. I'm not a frail guy, I workout a lot, etc., so I think I should have the strength and coordination to handle pretty much anything, but I do have pretty small hands - think size small or in a pinch extra small gloves. I know that for fighting reasons, I should eventually become familiar with many different configurations, even those not optimal for my physical traits, but for my first personal handgun I'd like to try to get something comfortable and optimized for me.

I'm leaning towards a 9mm, primarily because it's a proven defense caliber and supposedly has a reasonably manageable recoil, especially for first time shooters. Out of the few 9mm options I've handled at gun shows, etc., the Beretta 92 seemed to feel best. I'm also considering the S&W M&P9, Ruger P89/P95/SR9, several from CZ but particularly the P-07 Duty, the Walther P99 or new PPQ, and I'd be up for any suggestions as well.

I suppose from the above short list you can kind of see that I'm looking for a no-nonsense personal defense weapon that's rugged and reliable. Once I get more comfortable and familiar with different weapons, I'll probably start a little collection, but for now I'm looking for a solid starting point.

One question that sticks in my mind in relation to my small hands is should I consider a compact model. This is intriguing to me because of the reduced size, but I'm leery of the also reduced capacity and increased recoil.

Just looking for some advice. Thanks in advance.

Chris
 
Being the proud of owner of a pair of small hands, I can vouch for the HK P30 or HK P2000, both with interchangeable back straps, L, M, S and the P30 with additional side panels L, M. S. There are designed to be used by Police forces with shooters of all sizes, male and female. The egronomics are second to none that I have experienced. I can attest to the reliability and ruggedness of these pisols as well. There are tests done that have put at many as 50, 000 rounds through a pistol with no problems other than normal maintenance. See http://hkpro.com/forum/showthread.php?104274-50-000-Rounds-in-Six-Months-The-HK-P30 for example.
 
Browning Hi Power is my go to gun for people with smaller hands.

bhp-izzi.gif

Next is the 1911. The single stack 45 is perfect for smaller hands.

dwcbob01smxs0.gif

Then the CZ P01 which has a much shorter length of pull than the fullsized CZ 75B.

czp012.jpg

Then the Sig P225/P6 9mm Single stack.

DSCF2030.jpg

In the end you just need to put your hands on a lot of pistols. One will fit you better than another. Small hands does not always mean short fingers which changes your ability to reach a trigger. Make sure you are using a proper grip. The gun should be in the web of you hand straight in line with your arm. The pad of the finger is all that is needed on the trigger. Here is a good illustration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48
 
Fit yourself

To do well, all shooters need a gun that fits their hand in a caliber they can control. Don't get hung up on the assumption that high capacity magazines are necessary because all the other "Joe's" have one.

If your gloves are a size small I doubt any of the double stack pistols will allow for sufficient trigger reach if you align the barrel with your forearm. Most small handed shooters scoot their grip around to reach the trigger to the point they are shooting against thumb knuckle joint. That creates a weak grip requiring a lot of brute strength to overcome recoil, plus it makes for a sore joint when they shoot many rounds. This observation comes from observing smaller students at the local LETC deal with the school's .40 cal GLOCK 23 with 180 grain ammo.

So, a short trigger reach will be very important in your selection. Single action/single stack pistols, such as the Colt 1911 and clones fit this bill nicely.
 
freedude

Lots of good suggestions here; the Browning Hi-Power and the CZ P-01 are two great choices in a 9mm. for small hands. If you're looking at the Beretta 92, maybe try locating an older Vertac model. The change in the grip geometry to a more staighter back strap made the gun much more ergonomic to my smaller hands. Another gun to consider is the full size Ruger SR9, or the more compact SR9c. Very comfortable to hold and use, with everything within easy reach.
 
What about the collaboration gun between Smith and Wesson and Walther, the SW99?
 
GO HANDLE THE GUNS
Like paladin said
YOU are the only person who can find the right gun
there are lots out there, but what works for me, won't work for you
 
Hand geometry isn't uniform, though, so the best advice is as above -- feel the guns you're considering. Try them one handed (in each hand) as well as two-handed, and try different grips, too.

That said, I have smallish hands, too (medium glove size, usually -- in a family with many over 6'5", I'm sort of a shrimp ;)), and I find that ...

- Revolvers tend to be surprisingly comfortable -- they don't have a mag to fit in that grip, after all, and the characteristic shape allows for a fairly small cross section up near the main body of the frame.

- Pistols (that is, their geometries) are all over the board. I suspect not even identical twins would find the same pistols equally comfortable -- just note how many people have strong opinions about the grip angle on Glocks vs. 1911s! My hands are large enough that I haven't found any conventional pistols to be totally impossible yet, but I find the Springfield XD-45 to be slightly fatter than I wish it was, while the Ruger P345's thumb-relief cuts make it surprisingly hand-fitting. Though I understand the P-01 has a shorter overall pull, the Cz-75 is nice and slim; that's one I'd urge you to consider. Others have appropriately pointed out the slender grip of the Hi-Powers and derivatives -- good option.

Oh, and at least for me, Kahr's pistols, by virtue of their single-stack mag and compact frames, are extremely comfortable. Mine feels like an extension of my arm --that might be the top of my stack of recommendations for a smaller hand.

(And though I have not yet had a chance to hold one, I would also mention the Ruger LC9; from eye-balling its shape, I am optimistic about its comfort in my hand.)

timothy
 
Last edited:
Palidin38-40:
If your gloves are a size small I doubt any of the double stack pistols will allow for sufficient trigger reach if you align the barrel with your forearm. Most small handed shooters scoot their grip around to reach the trigger to the point they are shooting against thumb knuckle joint. That creates a weak grip requiring a lot of brute strength to overcome recoil, plus it makes for a sore joint when they shoot many rounds.
Click to expand...

This is an accurate description of my problem too. There are 9mm double stacks that will work with a short trigger finger.

The Sig239 with the regular trigger is too long a pull for me. The available short reach trigger helps some. The optional 10rd mag works well.

The S&W M&P with the smallest grip gives me 'close' to a proper grip and the pistol has trigger upgrades available for a lighter/smoother pull.

Some of the 1911 9mm also have a short reach and potentially good triggers.

The BHP does have a fairly short reach.

The CZ PO1 witht he thin aluminum grips (pic above) is a good option.

Good luck.

I have a large 'permanent callous' on my thumb knuckle from an incorrect grip on my favorite pistol. I live with it.
 
Oh, and at least for me, Kahr's pistols, by virtue of their single-stack mag and compact frames, are extremely comfortable. Mine feels like an extension of my arm --that might be the top of my stack of recommendations for a smaller hand.

(And though I have not yet had a chance to hold one, I would also mention the Ruger LC9; from eye-balling its shape, I am optimistic about its comfort in my hand.)
Click to expand...

I think recommending compacts for a new-ish shooter may not be a great idea, regardless of hand size, as "comfort" is the prime consideration here. "Compact" and "comfortable" can be opposing forces.

9mm may well be a great idea. Single-stack may be good guidance. I agree that a BHP can also be a good thing to consider... it feels good in most hands. "Go shopping and put some candidates in your hand" is great advice. I just wouldn't default to compact just because the OP has small hands.
 
My Kahr CW9 handles like a fullsize weapon, very easy to shoot well, and offers me a 100% grip, with my pinky resting on the mag floorplate. Recommending CZs for small hands is not something I would do, due to the very long DA pull. Even the new recurve trigger design offers very little relieve. CZs are perfect for me in SA mode, hate em in DA! 1911s with thin grips fit small hands well, as does Rugers P345.

The best advice was already given, go handle the guns yourself:)
 
If you like the 92FS check out the 92 compacts which are back in production....

75958



For $559.00 from Buds.
 
You must find the pistol that feels right for you. I think a Browning Hi-Power with nice grips is hard to beat and a great first firearm. (I don't care for the factory "square" grips.)
 
I had an XDM that I dearly loved for it's reliability, accuracy, etc, but was a hair too large for me, even with the smallest back strap.
I've always loved the feel of my "starter gun" Tokarev T33, so I've been exploring the single-stack world: Makarov, P6, Cz100. I have to admit that single-stack pistols feel much better in my hand.
The P6 in 9 might be the best off the shelf, but with a little trigger work, the .40 cz100 has been great and fits like a glove. I hear that the cz P7 has similar ergos w/out having to do your own filing/polishing.

Go single stack and just acknowledge that you will never be an action star in the movies.
 
GO HANDLE THE GUNS
Like paladin said
YOU are the only person who can find the right gun
there are lots out there, but what works for me, won't work for you
Click to expand...

+1

Doing this gave me a Taurus PT911 and a Kahr E9.
Let us know what pops out at you.
 
A few others have mentioned 1911s, and I agree. Keep in mind, when the pistol was designed a hundred years ago, the average height and hand size of the American male was smaller than it is now. It was made for smaller hands than the average you see now. It is also the original adjustable pistol. You can vary the grip thickness, the mainspring housing, and the trigger to fit you better.

If you just don't like the old school route, look at modern guns like the S&W 99 and the M&P with the interchangeable backstraps.
 
Wow!!! 20 replies to get to a S&W single stack 9. I would have thought it would have been in the top 5 posts.

Bersa loves people with small hands.
Click to expand...

As does Walther with the PP/PPK/PPK-S. But for basically the same design, Bersa would save some money. (I'm not familiar with their quality however.)

Wyman
 
go single stack
and i love the high power but the handle feels as wide as it is long like a square
 
Almost any single stack is favorable to small hands. Many if not most double stacks do not....at least not to me.

In 9mm, I own a couple of Sigs, a S&W 39 and a couple of steel framed Kahrs that all feel great in my hands. I like the feel of the Kahr K9 the best by far. Be sure you like the length of pull on the trigger as well before you get too serious.

When I go to gunshows, I like to pick up as many different pistols as I can just to get the feel or to remember what I don't like about the feel....even if I have picked them up or shot them many times in the past.
 
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