Looking for CCDW option for my wife

[Kaskadian]

Evening all,

I was hoping you'd be able to give me a few suggestions here.

I've been trying to find a decent ccdw option for my wife. The problem is, my wife is has a very small build (5'0) and can't seem to properly operate my Glock 26/27. She's unable to properly hold the firearm and still be able to manipulate the trigger. Of course this is a operation & safety concern. I'll post a few pictures below: don't worry, the firearm was unloaded, no magazine, and I had a snap cap loaded up.

I've been racking my brain for a while now and I've got a few ideas. I'd love to hear feedback on these models:

1. Ruger LC9
2. Kel Tec PF9
3. Kahr CM9
4. S&W Shield

I'd like this firearm to be 9mm if possible. I have nothing against lighter options like a .380, but my wife is comfortable shooting 9mm, I reload several thousand rounds of 9mm every month, and I like knowing we both have the ability to carry the same caliber if needed.

Thanks a lot guys!

 

[tarosean]

Take her to a range that has rentals, give her your wallet and let her figure out what she likes or doesn't regardless of caliber.

I have first hand experience buying what you think is right, only ends up in the safe never to be touched by the significant other.

 

[omgtkk]

I've shot the ruger and the Kahr. I think the Kahr has a significantly better trigger and handles recoil better. If I didn't already own a Kahr K9 I would have bought one. With her small hands I think the grip size of the Kahr would work for her also. Tarosean has the right idea about renting guns at a range, but I think its doubtful you'll find a place that has more than one or two of them in the rental fleet

 

[Kaskadian]

Thank you both for the suggestions! My wife and I work some really strange hours, but you guys are right, I need to get her out there to test a few different options out.

I'll definitely take a look at that Kahr CM9 and get her to check out a few other options. The most important thing is finding a gun that she is comfortable operating.

Of course I wouldn't dream of pushing her into any direction she was unhappy with. She has just recently in the last few years really taken an interest in shooting. She loves shooting rifles, and my Ruger 22/45. It took a while, but she is finally comfortable with the idea of carrying a ccdw firearm.

Thanks for everything fellas.

 

[oldillini]

I carry the Shield in 9mm. Very happy.

Another option if racking a slide is an issue might be a revolver. Finding in 9mm would not be typical. If round count is critical then semi may be preferred.

 

[Havok7416]

If you haven't read the sticky at the top of this sub-forum, I would suggest you start there.

 

[Hometeached1]

Take her to a range that has rentals, give her your wallet and let her figure out what she likes or doesn't regardless of caliber.

I have first hand experience buying what you think is right, only ends up in the safe never to be touched by the significant other.

Pretty much this.

She might want to look at the SIG P239 or the S&W 3913, 3914 as well.

And welcome to THR!

 

[JTQ]

On another forum a similar discussion came up, and one of the moderators commented about the perceived "need" for the forearm to be aligned with the muzzle. I think this is what you are trying to do with your wife's grip.

He mentioned the forearm alignment is important if you are shooting one handed, but if you are shooting two handed, as is taught by just about everybody, the need to align the barrel with your forearm is not needed. Just rotate your hand to get to enough finger on the trigger. Your support hand/arm will supply enough support to control recoil and ensure proper function of the gun.

This should work with a gun that only requires movement to one side of the gun, such as a safety-less auto or revolver. On a single action auto carried in Condition 1, where you may have to rotate to one side hit the safety, and then to the other side to reach the trigger, it may be somewhat of a problem.

 

[Gary A]

Take a look at the Sig Sauer P290RS, not the original p290. Small but very shootable, IMO.

 

[David E]

On another forum a similar discussion came up, and one of the moderators commented about the perceived "need" for the forearm to be aligned with the muzzle. I think this is what you are trying to do with your wife's grip.

He mentioned the forearm alignment is important if you are shooting one handed, but if you are shooting two handed, as is taught by just about everybody, the need to align the barrel with your forearm is not needed. Just rotate your hand to get to enough finger on the trigger. Your support hand/arm will supply enough support to control recoil and ensure proper function of the gun.

This should work with a gun that only requires movement to one side of the gun, such as a safety-less auto or revolver. On a single action auto carried in Condition 1, where you may have to rotate to one side hit the safety, and then to the other side to reach the trigger, it may be somewhat of a problem.

That moderator was wrong.

It's best to align the bore with the forearm for multiple reasons. You can "get by" rotating your hand SLIGHTLY to achieve proper trigger finger placement, but it's far from ideal.

From the pictures shown, "slightly" won't be near enough.

She needs to look at the poly Kahr 9's and the Sig 938

 

[skoro]

The only real answer...

I was hoping you'd be able to give me a few suggestions here.

Take your wife to the gun shop, let her try out whatever she wants. Buy the one she likes best.

 

[DrBozack]

The PM9 might have too much recoil for her. Same with the PF9.

The Shield is a great option. For me, the easiest-to-shoot single-stack 9mm is the Walther PPS.

 

[josephbw]

I used to carry the PF9 and it is very east to conceal and you can actually forget you are carrying it. However, I would not recommend it for a woman, especially a small woman. It has a lot of recoil and is painful to shoot more than a magazine full.

 

[MedWheeler]

Why isn't this thread titled "My wife is looking for a CCDW?"

Seriously, follow the advice given above regarding letting her try some stuff, browse www.corneredcat.com together together, then let her at it.

 

[1911 guy]

Several things go into how a handgun fits the hand. Among them are width of the frame, length of the frame from front to back and trigger reach. None of them are the complete fix (or problem) and the proper combination, or something that comes close enough to work, to not have an extensive learning curve. One the basics are learned, they can be transferred easily to an platform that is farther from the ideal, but teaching someone with something that is a bad fit is a recipe for frustration.

And David E is on to something. The closer the heel of the hand is to the rear of the grip frame (muzzle aligned with forearm), the more the hand, wrist and arm absorb recoil, rather than the edge of the hand and right thumb.

 

[weregunner]

This is a what fits her and her needs.

I agree with taking her to the LGS and trying as many types to see what fits her.

This is from another post from another forum.
If the checklists are followed in what to look for prior to buying one cannot get into trouble.
Revolver Checkout Procedure
[video=youtube;WMOGVWB-QHw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMOGVWB-QHw]How to check the condition of a used revolver - YouTube[/video]
Buying a Used Handgun
Buying A Handgun
cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=1180


Problem is that many do not or make things up as they go along.

Infamiliartity with the gun and not reading and understanding the gun manual that comes with the Taurus gun are a great majority of the time why there are problems.

Second thing. People buying for the first time and no little or nothing about the firearms at all are on the rise in great numbers. It behooves these people to take basic NRA or NSSF accredited basic handgun courses to get a starting and useful knowledge about firearms.

Find a beginner course near you.
First Shots: For New Shooters

NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training Note: Check the left row for NRA basic courses.
For new beginning women shooters:
Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics

Quote:First she needs to do this.
People buying for the first time and no little or nothing about the firearms at all are on the rise in great numbers. It behooves these people to take basic NRA or NSSF accredited basic handgun courses to get a starting and useful knowledge about firearms.

Find a beginner course near you.
First Shots: For New Shooters

NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training Note: Check the left row for NRA basic courses.
For new beginning women shooters:
Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics

NSSF - National Shooting Sports Foundation Then she can concentrate on the gun/caliber combo that fit her and her needs. END OF QUOTE.
Let her go to a a basic beginner course if she hasn't already. Women only courses usually let women be introduced to a bevy of firearms.

This way she can decide what meets here needs. That goes for which ammo/gun combo can be right for her as this is her choice.

Granted, you can offer some advice, but up to a point.
For starters and this needs to be told firmly to every dude that's out there "buying a gun for the wife", it needs to be her pick. She knows what's best for her and her needs and wants.

Does she have training and is proficient with any handguns? If yes, then no problem.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

My Wife and I returned to hand gunning after a 30 year hiatus....her main squeeze back in the day as her Colt Officers ACP in .45. She shoots it accurately but it's too heavy to carry, slow to deploy and slow to follow with. It simply beat her so bad she was sore for days. She's 56 and 5' 110 lbs.

We shot everything we could rent, borrow, or buy last Summer. She liked my Glock 26 but not that much. She shot best with her Fathers S&W M19 4" with .38 Specials but it's too big for her to carry. We got her a Ruger LCR in .38 and she loves it with my 110 gr handloads. Then we got her a Glock 42 (cause it wasn't available last Summer) and she has found her "Soul Mate" and actually makes excuses to take girlfriends to the range to shoot it.

Not a gun I would have picker for her but I have loaded some .380 auto that's pretty dang stiff and she shoots it like a pro and grins. I'd rather her have a 9mm but wouldn't wanna try and take her G42 or anything else from her when it's in her hands.

My advice is let her shoot anything and everything and buy it if you can't rent/borrow it. If it doesn't work out, sell it for something else. It might take a long time and a lot of money to find her best bet but it'll be worth it.

VooDoo

 

[DrBozack]

This is a what fits her and her needs.

I agree with taking her to the LGS and trying as many types to see what fits her.

And definitely have her shoot a few different models first.

My girlfriend pre-gun range trip, holding a Sig p938: This is the kind of gun I would want.

My girlfriend post-gun range trip, holding a CZ 75B: This is the kind of gun that I could shoot and actually be confident I'd hit something.

 

[Jim NE]

Would the Ruger SR9c be too big for her to handle? I'd be concerned about a smaller person being able to shoot one of the super small 9mm's accurately. If your range has a SR9c for rental, I would consider giving it a try. Sorry, I have no experience with the LC9. I would probably own it before the Keltec PF9, though. I actually like my Keltec P11 in certain respects, but if you're shooting thousands of rounds every month, I'd seriously be looking for something more durable than a Keltec product. Not a slam on the company, I just don't think it's going to be near as durable as Ruger or S&W.

 

[ljnowell]

I tried to give my wife a frame and she didn't want it. Tried an lcp or an lc9, didn't want it. Took her shopping and told her get anything you want. She got a 4" service model XD45. Carries it OWN in the factory holster. People like what they like.

 

[Byrd666]

I'm going to start out with the obvious, take her to the range and let her shoot whatever She wants to shoot. Trial and error is a fantastic tool.

Noticing her non menacing grip, no offense intended, and seeing as she does have a smaller grip, I might recommend a Smith model 66 round butt revolver as a good starting point. Or even perhaps a Commander or Officer's size 1911. I have friend of mine whos'
wife is 4' nothing and she does a fantastic job of shooting the ten ring with a Colt Defender in .45ACP. I'm not a huge guy but, I am big, and Both of her her hands can fit comfortably in one of mine.

Another thought along those lines, Rock Island Armory is coming out with the "Baby Rock" sometime later in 2014. Septemberish I think. It's a .380 1911. Similar to a Colt Government .380 of years ago. Might be another option.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Kahr cw-9 is a lot better than my PF-9 recoil wise I like my PF-9 but don't see a small woman with it

 

[sgt127]

I'm about 6' 175 lbs and reasonably fit. But, I have dainty little girly hands. The single greatest feeling gun in my hands is likely the Kahr K9. Its just outstanding. The weight will really tame the recoil. The PM9 may be lighter and easier to carry, but, for shootability, the all stainless K9 is an amazing gun.

I have a Kahr PM9...a K9 and a K40. I also had a MK9 (should have kept that one).

The K9 was an authorized off duty gun for the NYPD for years. They got rid of it because Kahr could not make the trigger bad enough and heavy enough to meet thier criteria.

 

[David4516]

My wife had very similar issues. She's got short fingers and has difficulty reaching the trigger on many handguns.

After searching extensively for a pistol that fit her hands, we had it narrowed down to 3 choices.

Sig P238
Colt Mustang
Glock 42

She liked single-action pistols because the trigger is shorter and doesn't have to travel as far. However she didn't like the idea of carrying "cocked and locked" with a single action so we ended up buying a Glock 42. Have not had a chance to take it to the range yet but I think it will work well for her, fits her hands well (we added the grip extension on the mags that helps alot).

Another thing in favor of the Glock was that it was actually cheaper than most the other options we found.

She was not set on .380 as a caliber but it just so happened that most guns that fit her hands happened to be .380s

 

[BSA1]

What do you have against revolvers?

p.s. This question comes up so often there is a sticky posted at the top of this category.