Pistol for very small hands

[Sam1911]

Slide racking effort should not be a serious deciding factor for any moderately healthy person.

Again, read this: RACK THE SLIDE

It is NOT a strength issue, unless she has some sort of degenerative condition, serious arthritis, or other physical handicap that limits her ability to perform the proper technique.

Griping the slide as most new shooters tend to, yes physical strength will seem to be the limiting factor, but that's poor technique. If she learns to do it right, it won't be an issue.

If my little 12-year-old gal can do it with confidence, so can your adult wife.

 

[jjones45]

Another vote for the CZ line of guns. As already stated though, technique is more important than how strong someone is when racking the slide

 

[Outlaw Man]

I'll echo what Sam and JTQ have said. The technique uses a different set of (much stronger) muscles and bones to pull it off with relative ease.

Another thing I'd suggest, along with putting a lot of different guns in her hands, is a basic pistol class, if she's not already very familiar with handguns. Having a better understanding of the functionality may better help her decide. She may not know she doesn't like a manual safety or how important it is to be able to reach the mag release without adjusting her grip, for instance. And if she's anything like my wife, she won't listen to you enough to let all of that sink in.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Only one way to find out, go to the gun show and touch everything.

 

[JDGray]

CZ-75 or Browning Hi-power?

A CZ 75 in DA would be the last gun I would recommend for a short reach....
Unless it has a short reach kit installed, but that wont be cheap.

 

[JTQ]

A CZ 75 in DA would be the last gun I would recommend for a short reach....

I agree. I wear a men size 8 glove (men's small). The CZ75's grip is slim, but the reach to the controls is long. I'd pick a Beretta 92 over a CZ75.

EDIT to add: I'm not saying the Beretta 92 is a good choice for those with small hands, just that I think it is a better choice than the CZ75. If you want a double column 9MM, I'd still pick the Hi-Power.

 

[TfflHndn]

SIG 238 fits small hands well and is pretty easy to rack. Beretta 92 (or Taurus clone) also. Consider the RIA 22TCM, very easy to operate the slide and a very natural shooter with minimal recoil. Also look at S&W j-frames (like the .327 mag if you can find one). No slide, and very manageable in both frame size and recoil (especially with the .32 long).

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I know you said "pistol", but you might also consider a revolver. Revolvers come in small sizes as well, and don't have some of the issues a pistol might. Operating a slide, for example.

I've not much experience with guns for small grips. I recently bought my wife a PPK/S and she loves it. However, slide operation still gives her problems because she hasn't worked with it as much as she should.

 

[Sam1911]

If you want a double column 9MM, I'd still pick the Hi-Power.

There is a lot to be said for the ergonomics of some of the modern polymer-framed autos. Polymer frames tend to be noticeably thinner/slimmer than more traditional autos, and also tend to hold more.

Here is a really informative comparison of the xDM fullsize to a lot of common 9mms:

http://gunstuff-jd.blogspot.com/2010/02/springfield-xdm-size-comparison.html

Remember, that's a 19+1 gun in those shots!

 

[Siggy63]

Another one in the kahr k9 camp. It truly is one size fits all.

 

[B!ngo]

I endorse the Cornered Cat reference. She does a great blog, serves and is part of the exact demographic that you seek, and there's a lot of subject info on this topic. Rather than directly seek the data, seek the meta data (her forum) and rich amounts of data will be found.
B

The 1911 and the Browning Hi-Power are both good options for those with small hands.

SIG P6/225 may be another, though I've not handled one. http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Critical Look at SIG Sauer P225.htm

The Hi-Power's and Handguns site will also have lots of stuff on the 1911 an Hi-Power if you are looking for information on either or both.

If you have issues with slide racking, this may be helpful from "The Cornered Cat" http://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/

The Cornered Cat also has lots of good general gun information for women.

 

[astra600]

Both my Makarovs slides are easy to rack and the trigger pulls are easy. Just a suggestion.

 

[aarondhgraham]

My tiny friend just bought a Bersa UC 9mm,,,

My tiny friend just bought a Bersa Thunder UC (ultra compact) 9mm,,,
Her hands are very small and this gun fits her very well.

This is a stock photo from the web,,,
It's not her gun or hand.


She had previously been using my Bersa Thunder 22 and 380 for practice,,,
It only took one range trip for her to get used to it and 9mm ammo,,,
The Bersa UC 9mm is only a hair larger than the 22 and 380.

I had been reading about the gun for quite a while,,,
It gets good reviews from everyone I read,,,
And 9mm ammo is so much cheaper.

It comes in either 10 round mag or 13 round mag versions,,,
I don't think the grip of the 10 round is thinner,,,
It's just for those living in prohibitive states.

The pistol is a DA/SA with a safety/de-cocker switch,,,
It also comes in .40 caliber (10 round),,,
Or .45 caliber (7 round).

I really like the gun and will probably get one for myself,,,
But I'm somewhat of a Bersa fan-boy anyways.

Anyways, try and find one to fond, eerrr, handle,,,
It is reliable (so far) and very easy to hit with.

Aarond

.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I agree with the folks saying to go to a gun shop or gun show and handle as many as possible.

 

[Kiln]

CZ-75 or Browning Hi-power?

I'm with this guy. The CZ75B is probably perfect, it fits medium hands well so people with small hands can use it and so can you. If you've got larger hands and end up loving it, you can always grab a slip on grip down the line to take up the extra space around the gun.

The CZ75B also has an awesome rep for a reason.

 

[kokapelli]

Shot my 75B this morning and it is an awesome gun, but it is also a large and heavy gun that some ladies might not like.

At 82 years of age,
Weight, size and felt recoil are becoming much more important to me, So I am moving more and more to more compact light and softer recoiling pistols which IMO are just fine for close range self defence siduations.

I find myself shooting my P238, Bersa thunder and Glock G42 most of the time now, all of which would be very good for small hands.

 

[SIGLBER]

Sig 239.

 

[computer45]

After my girlfriend received her carry permit we decided that it was time to shop for a proper handgun to fit her small hands. We researched a number of guns and got the short list down to three or four that she wanted to shoot at the very well stocked LGS. Maybe not so local--270 miles. We included an extra day in another planned trip for a stop at the range. After explaining what we (I decided that I wanted to try some as well) wanted to try out the range attendant got out the guns we wanted and also one of his choosing for each of us to try. After an hour shooting and trying out the guns we each decided to purchase the range attendant's suggested handguns, a Kahr CW45 for me, and a Walther PK-380 for her. The 380 fit her small hands better than anything that we had pre-chosen. The moral of this long story for us was "better to spend $100 at the range trying out some guns than spend $5-700 and return home with something that we only thought that we wanted." The PK380 is a fine gun for small hands but may not be the best for everyone--shop around and don't rush the purchase. You will hopefully have this gun for a long time.

 

[barnbwt]

C96 Mauser and the VZ61 Skorpion have the smallest grips of any autoloading pistol I've seen.

TCB

 

[kokapelli]

C96 Mauser and the VZ61 Skorpion have the smallest grips of any autoloading pistol I've seen.

TCB

Just what you need for pocket carry

 

[340PD]

Semi's are not only about racking a slide. One needs to have a lot more knowledge about how a gun functions, clearing malfunctions, etc. A limp wrist on the first shot fired may cost you your life if you do not have the skills necessary to put the firearm back into service.

 

[Shifty]

My wife is 5' 2" and 110 lbs soaking wet. Tiny little hands. That said, she can handle a 4 inch GP100 just fine, and a Glock 26 fits her perfectly...... but she's nearly unable and definitely unsafe trying to rack the slide on the Glock.

That has been our biggest hang up on training her with an auto pistol. My advice, handle and test everything personally and extensively before making the decision.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Just what you need for pocket carry

The OP is seeking recommendations for a home defense pistol, not a CC piece.

Andy

 

[Sam1911]

but she's nearly unable and definitely unsafe trying to rack the slide on the Glock.

One more time, read this: RACK THE SLIDE

Griping the slide as most new shooters tend to, yes physical strength will seem to be the limiting factor, but that's poor technique. If she learns to do it right, it won't be an issue.

If my little 12-year-old gal can do it with confidence, so can your adult wife.

 

[barnbwt]

The OP is seeking recommendations for a home defense pistol, not a CC piece

I'm not sure that changes the practicality of a Broomy . A Skorpion would be a formidable HD weapon that anyone could operate and use easily, but there are better choices with nastier cartridges than 32acp. If HD is the goal, why settle for a pistol? A rifle will be easier to handle, God forbid. Off topic, though, so whatever.

+1 on "get her able to run a Glock safely before even thinking a down grade is the proper solution." If she's anything like my Ma, she's trying to pull the slide off the top of the gun at least as hard as she's pulling it back, and that's the cause of the difficulty. I don't know why newbies (ladies in particular, for some reason) don't instinctively pull back along the line of action, but they don't tend to.

If all else fails, a good* R51 is markedly easier to rack than a PX4 full-size (at least for my mama, when she tested mine out )

*meaning "make sure it's a good one before buying"

TCB