Looking for a .40, small hands

Status
Not open for further replies.

GunnySkox

Member
Joined
May 22, 2004
Messages
1,129
Location
Raleigh, NC
H'lo all,

I did a search, and couldn't find any similar queries, so here I go.

First, allow me to illustrate the size of my paws:

I have a .45 1911 (Springfield Mil-Spec); its mainspring housing is arched and the trigger, she is short. If I hold the pistol properly, with the barrel parallel with my forearm, and the grip safety nestled into the middle of the web of my hand, I can barely reach the trigger with the pad of my index finger. If I scoot my hand around the grip to get more finger on the trigger, or just to get more comfortable, the gun is fiercely unpleasant to shoot.

So, I ask y'all, please give me options and information on .40 pistols that'll fit my small hands.

Thanks,
~GnSx
 
If you like the 1911 pattern, the Springfield EMP is supposed to be available in .40S&W. There's a recent thread on this board with photos comparing the grip size of the EMP with a standard 1911 - much smaller. The EMP was introduced in 9x19.
 
you can also sheck out the kahr line up of fireamrs. they have all kinds of models and i am sure that you will find a model that will fit you right. as a matter of fact i own a .40 kahr the k-40 which is a single stack, small, compact, durialble, accurate, concealble as all get out little gun. the k series is the steel framed series. there are various other models some cost less and some more. with different attention in different areas. there are polymer models avaliable, which are al little light er but personally in the .40 and above i like the steel frames, it balances out the gun better even unloaded, and the recoil dosen't seem as snappy. the triggers are nice and they will remind you of a da revolver triger, they have good sight set and they are pretty darn good shooters for the intended purposes.

good luck and please let us know what you get!
 
First off, I have small hands for a guy with relatively long skinny fingers.

I love my S&W 4013. Grip is narrow side to side but long front to back. Uncocked trigger hits the 2nd pad of my trigger finger. My hand wraps almost 3/4 of the way around the whole grip, looks funny, but feels right.

I tried a Kahr CW40 this weekend. Seemed even narrower, and my hand wrapped almost too far around and got in it's own way. That said, I still might be getting one soon as it wasn't unbearable,and I could get used to the grip with some practice.

My Glock 27 has the widest grip of the 3 guns and is the only double-stack, but somehow didn't feel too wide at all. In fact, the circumference of the grip was great, its just not a fun gun for me to shoot.
 
GunnySkox,

I feel your pain.

I'm sitting here holding my Springer GI with the arched MSH and short-trigger and it sounds like we have the same size paws.

I've got a H&K P2000sk that "would" fit, were it not for the LEM trigger.
I'm going to attempt to fit up (some of) the parts from the DA decock version.
That should do it.
See if you can fondle a H&K P2000 DA w/decock. (Would have to be carried condition 0 for fit)

Also, SiG P239 works for me if carried cocked. (Safeties be damned)

+1 on the EMP.

Everything else I've tried (alot) does not fit proper.
I can't remember if the Kahr K40 was a proper grip or not, I just shot with it and returned it to its rightful owner.

Best of luck kinsman ;)
 
See my name? Heckler & Koch makes it, it might not be for you but maybe take a grip on one. Mine has an ambidextrous mag release and an ambi slide catch\release lever. Comes with two different thickness backstraps.
IMO it looks more appealing than some other things also, if you like a beauty in the collection.
 
You must have small hands. My wife has trouble reaching the trigger on a j-frame but she can reach the trigger on a 1911a1 no problem. She is 5'-1". As another poster suggested, you could try the super slim alumagrips for a 1911a1 and also switch to a flat mainspring housing/backstrap. The only other pistol my wife can shoot is a Kahr or possibly some of the .22's out there like the Walther P22.
 
oo7, dear sir,
I am sorry to hear that you dislike your LEM trigger group, I adore mine.
Do as you choose, however IF I were in your shoes;
I'd pay H&K a small fee to perform the DAO conversion for you. I value the warranty.
 
I hear ya p2000sk..I'd have H&K do it in a heart-beat, trouble is they tell me that it requires a different frame due to the decock mechanism.
I dig the LEM, but it just isn't ergonomic for me paws.

So, I'm stuck playing home gunsmith. Not that I'm complaining, as I like to tinker :D

Oh, it'll be DA though, not DAO.
 
+1 on the Taurus Millenium Pro PT145. It fits small hands and works great and is about $325.00 new if you get the deal I did. Make sure you get the 3rd generation.
 
I too have small hands. The USP compact in .40 is slim for a double stack and fits my hand well. It has an ambi mag release and can be carried cocked and locked with the trigger to the rear for easy reach.

The Kahr line of pistols has one of the shortest reaches I've found in .40 and may be your best bet.

--usp_fan
 
I also have small hands/short fingers (cadet medium golf glove.) I had to have a short trigger put on my Sig P229 to enable me to grip it properly. The P239 is single stack so it fits me much better, albeit at the expense of mag capacity.

I love my P2000 (w/ LEM trigger.) You may also want to consider the Walther P99, which has three backstraps to choose from. It is a very ergonomic gun. The EMP suggestion is a good one - I also like the 1911 platform and am going to check out the EMP at the gunshow this weekend.
 
I second the M&P or M&P Compact. Make sure you try the small grips.

Browning Hi-Power in .40 ... if the 1911 is too big, you can at least try this one, but I bet it is too big, also.

Mike
 
Sig 239.

Kahr Arms makes a whole line of compact .40's. Some folks have problems with the polymer models, but the all-steel models get high marks.
 
SIG has a "short trigger" option for most of their guns. This decreases the distance the trigger finger has to reach.

The SIG 239 is a single-stack .40 cal, and with a "short trigger" installed it would be about as friendly to a small handed shooter as any semiauto I can think of.
 
I have small hands. I like Springfield xd, hk usp .40 compact, Kahr, FN/Browning Hi-Power, and 1911.:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top