Sig 239 SAS in .357 Sig, they are out of production but they are on the used market parts will be available for years to come 7+1 in 40/.357, 8+1 in 9mm
Safety+decocker? There are not so many options: Beretta Px4 Compact F. HK USP Compact. Grand Power P1D. Taurus TH9C. Arex Rex Zero 1 Compact. There are some other options but I don't know if they are imported in the USA: Tisas Zigana K. Tanfoglio Force Carry R and Force Police R.
I never liked "automatic pistols" either. I do prefer "Semi-automatic." I would agree with a used Sig 239 or H&K P30SK
1) CZ P07- can be easily converted from using a decocker or change it to a manual safety. All parts are included. 2) Ruger SR9c- nice trigger for a striker fired pistol and has a manual safety. A nice, compact 9mm.
I was thinking the same. S&W 327 TRR8 S&W 327 M&P R8 S&W 627 Performance Center V-Conp All 8 shot revolvers in .357 magnum with the ability to add optics.
As always, lots of good suggestions in this thread, and there are likely a ton of good pistols that will fit the bill, at least on paper. I carried a Glock 19 for about 3 years before moving to a S&W Shield, and I'd make the switch again in a heartbeat. I liked my G19, but the grip was just slightly too fat for me. I find the ergos on the M&Ps and Shields to be much more to my liking, and my Shield has performed flawlessly for about 4 years and ~750-1000 rounds. (I know that's really not that many rounds, but it is what it is.) It's available with a thumb safety, but no decocker. Also, there's no grip safety and it's not available in .357 SIG. Other pistols which I thought had good ergos, but which I do not own, include the Ruger SR9 and SR9c and the CZ 75 Compact. I've never shot an SR, but I have shot the CZ. It was very, very nice.
The small hands thing is what gets me so I’m having trouble thinking of things for OP to try. I have big hands and I’m trying to think of the pistols I have wanted to try but we’re too small for me. Walther PP comes to mind, but it doesn’t fit the rest of the description. 3rd gen S&W would work but they are heavy by modern standards and are long out of production. I agree with the cz75 suggestion but for truly small hands and a high grip I have my doubts. It’s a shame they never made a Walther p22 or very similar pistol in 380 or 9mm.
Most DA revolvers will fill the bill rather nicely. If you don't like autos, don't get one. There's no requirement to, last I checked. 1. Long heavy trigger pull, hammer. 2. Except for Mateba and Chiappa, not a problem. 3. Many excellent DA revolvers are concealable. 4. Self-evident. 5. Stay away from turn-of-the-century S&W and IJ revolvers, you should be fine.
Another vote for the Sig P365. 10+1 capacity, small enough to conceal very well and is very easy to shoot.
My hands are wide, but my fingers aren't overly long - the SIG P365 fits the bill for me; thicker than the Ruger LCP (WAY too skinny) and nowhere near as fat as a Glock; but it has the same capacity. They now make a version with a manual safety foe those who feel the need for such.
CZ P01 or P07, Beretta PX4 come to mind, but if you could find one on the used market a Sig P239 in 357 Sig sounds like it was made just for the you. You might also consider the Ruger Security 9 compact. It’s kinda, sorta got a hammer, and I see them for not much over $300 even in today’s inflated market.
I'm also going to suggest the CZ PCR (my favorite carry gun) or the P01 if you thing a light may be in your future one day.
It may be that I have large hands and don't realize it, but to me a CZ-52 would be a normal-sized gun. I might even prefer slightly larger! If you're experiencing slide bite, you're trying to grip TOO high. So here's the thing. You have a Kel-Tec that jams on you. You don't like Glocks and you don't like 1911s. You need to try more than just three handgun brands/types. Smith & Wesson, Ruger, SiG, HK, CZ, and Beretta all make compact guns. I'd also throw Springfield's XD in there, but you said no grip safety, so that rules every single one out.
Ok, something to watch out for is that they make 9mm barrels for the CZ-52, and 115gr 9x19 is a creampuff in the 52. Now, other than not having a decocker, your program sounds like a Colt .380 Government model. It's small, but not tiny like a Mustang, nice, simple, obvious, safety. Sadly, the Government Model is long out of production, and can be hard to find. Which leads me, as at least one above also pointed out, to the SIG 365. Modern pistol, bugs generally worked out; not a balky or finicky arm. Also, entirely likely to have the same value if it does not work out for you.
Look for a CZ 2075 RAMI, 9 mm. About the size of a S&W J frame. My hands are small. It fits. Single action/double action, mine does not have a decocker. I carry it with a round in the chamber on half-cock; first shot double action, subsequent shots single action. It shoots everything I feed it with never a jam. I’m a wheel gun guy. I only own two semiautomatic handguns; this CZ and a Ruger Mark I. I sympathize.
Thanks for all the recs guys. I am quite sure out of those offered here I can find something I like. Thank you all.
I wear mens medium gloves, and the sig p365 (10 rounds) or the ruger security 9 (15 round) both fit my hands well and are carry capable. The Ruger is a little big for IWB d
Polish Radom P-64- looks like a PPK, bites like a Makarov. S&W 6906 (GEN III, IIRC)-9mm You can find these used, occasionally, but if you want the new, Beretta Compact or the CZ.
Both are uncommon, it is usually one or the other. If you absolutely want both, I would recommend the Px4 in whatever size feels most comfortable. Beretta took the best parts of the 92FS and made it lighter. https://www.beretta.com/en-us/px4-storm-compact-carry/ Another option I would recommend is the Walther CCP. They designed it from the ground up with small and weak (ie arthritic) hands in mind. Meets your requirements, minus the decocker and safety. I have had several students try this pistol as a rental and not want to give it back to the range. https://waltherarms.com/ccp/
Another vote for the M&P Compact. Seems to tick all your boxes. Absolutely reliable and very manageable in .40 S&W. Find a 9C barrel and you have a two-caliber pistol on the cheap.
Although agreeing with the other CZ PCR people...and owning one.. ..do you know that the Walther P99 AS is both...DA/SA —-and— striker/fired? “Sootch” shows us the trigger modes in a nice video on YouTube. Same ergos as the PPQ, but the P99 AS can be decocker into DA, which smooth stacking.