smallbore
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don't forget about the slim frame SF Glocks
Pistol for the wife to use
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BCRider
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The guns I've handled that were slimmer than the others by enough to really notice have been single stack 1911's, Ruger SR9 and S&W M&P in 9 or .40.
But the size of the grips is not the entire issue. The reach to the trigger counts for as much or more than the amount of finger wrap. If the trigger finger is too short to fold back and fit squarely on the face of the trigger she'll end up pushing the gun to the left when the trigger breaks as it fires and that'll both open the groups as well as shift them strongly to the left. So she needs to try a lot of options. And if her fingers are really short then that sort of lets a lot of guns out of the running due to longer trigger pulls where she may have trouble reaching that far forward to start the trigger pull.
THis is also where 1911's shine. Different length triggers are common with them and if in a pinch one can be custom made from the next size up and trimmed down easily to fit her.
There may be a lot of the more compact guns that fit her well but I can't suggest anything since up here they are all prohibs and that means I can't own any of them. Occasionally I get to handle and shoot one that belongs to a shooting buddy that has his prohib possesion ticket. But being new to the sport I don't qualify and never will. But I can tell you that the Walther PPK was supreme fun to shoot. At least I had a chance to shoot the quintesential James Bond gun....
Oh, and if she finds that she likes the fit of the single stack 1911 format may I suggest an STI commander length Ranger II in 9mm? The shorter slide and barrel balances very sweetly and the 9mm rounds are fun and stout without kicking the bejebus out of even a lighter pair fo hands and arms.
But the size of the grips is not the entire issue. The reach to the trigger counts for as much or more than the amount of finger wrap. If the trigger finger is too short to fold back and fit squarely on the face of the trigger she'll end up pushing the gun to the left when the trigger breaks as it fires and that'll both open the groups as well as shift them strongly to the left. So she needs to try a lot of options. And if her fingers are really short then that sort of lets a lot of guns out of the running due to longer trigger pulls where she may have trouble reaching that far forward to start the trigger pull.
THis is also where 1911's shine. Different length triggers are common with them and if in a pinch one can be custom made from the next size up and trimmed down easily to fit her.
There may be a lot of the more compact guns that fit her well but I can't suggest anything since up here they are all prohibs and that means I can't own any of them. Occasionally I get to handle and shoot one that belongs to a shooting buddy that has his prohib possesion ticket. But being new to the sport I don't qualify and never will. But I can tell you that the Walther PPK was supreme fun to shoot. At least I had a chance to shoot the quintesential James Bond gun....
Oh, and if she finds that she likes the fit of the single stack 1911 format may I suggest an STI commander length Ranger II in 9mm? The shorter slide and barrel balances very sweetly and the 9mm rounds are fun and stout without kicking the bejebus out of even a lighter pair fo hands and arms.
TexasBill
Member
I have an FNP-9 and a Beretta PX4 Storm. My wife and daughter who are each about 5'4" and have small hands can handle either of these with ease. They both rack more easily than a number of pistols I have tried and both have interchangeable backstraps to accommodate smaller hands.
Once you start going to smaller guns chambered for 9mm, you start running into more recoil, which your wife may find objectionable.¡¡
Once you start going to smaller guns chambered for 9mm, you start running into more recoil, which your wife may find objectionable.¡¡
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