Where should I start looking?

[Harukichi]

I am just starting to look into possibly purchasing a handgun to carry concealed. This is a bit more of a challenge than it may be for some. Here is some criteria of what I am looking for/need:

At the moment I am looking for a semi-automatic handgun, revolvers have not grown on me yet.

I have small hands so it would have to be something single stack with a grip that is not bulky.

It will have to be small over all (I have a conceal carry purse but i'd also like to be able to carry in a small holster and not have it print much). but I definitely want it to have a barrel length at least 3 inches.

My wrists are relatively week so I would prefer a recoil that moves back into the hand or at least doesn't jump badly when fired (I plan to practice with the weapon, not just use when necessary).

the gun would hopefully not be too light because of re-coil but also not too heavy so it'd be manageable as an easy carry piece.

Also, because of weak hands/wrists the slide will have to be fairly easy to pull back (I have no problem with my walther p22 but my huband's 1911 is more than I can handle without a few attempts and a table to catch it on)

I am thinking of something in 9mil but am not opposed to 38 special.

Also, something ambidextrous would be a bonus but not necessary as I like to switch hands when I shoot

If this is in the wrong place or I did not post this right please feel free to let me know. Thank you all for your advice.

 

[smalls]

Any price limit in mind?

Small, single stack 9mm, I'd look at either the M&P shield, or Khar. Maybe a Walther PPS.

If you can manage a double stack that opens you up to the M&P9c, Glock 26, and a few others.

 

[MedWheeler]

M&P Shield, Bersa Thunder Nine, or Bersa BP9? Taurus PT709 or Millennium series? The new Sig (P220, I think?) looks pretty promising, though it does bear a Sig price tag..

 

[wlewisiii]

Bear in mind that 9x19 can have a fairly strong recoil in a small automatic. You might be better served by a .380 instead. Have you had any opportunity to fire any of the very small automatics? If not, I'd suggest trying them in various calibers first as that might have a bigger impact on your decision than anything else.

 

[TAKtical]

M&P shield is the best bang for the buck IMO

 

[Mike OTDP]

wlewisIII is right. Try a bunch of guns, figure out what works for you. Off the top of my head, I'd think of the following:

9x19 Parabellum
Sig P225
HK P7
Browning High Power (with Spegel grips)
Rohrbaugh R9 (expensive, and with challenging recoil, but very small)

9x18 Makarov
Makarov PM

.380 ACP
Beretta 85
Walther PPK
Seecamp LWS380

 

[Kynoch]

Glock 36.

http://www.glock.com/english/glock36.htm

 

[Lawdawg45]

I am just starting to look into possibly purchasing a handgun to carry concealed. This is a bit more of a challenge than it may be for some. Here is some criteria of what I am looking for/need:

At the moment I am looking for a semi-automatic handgun, revolvers have not grown on me yet.

I have small hands so it would have to be something single stack with a grip that is not bulky.

It will have to be small over all (I have a conceal carry purse but i'd also like to be able to carry in a small holster and not have it print much). but I definitely want it to have a barrel length at least 3 inches.

My wrists are relatively week so I would prefer a recoil that moves back into the hand or at least doesn't jump badly when fired (I plan to practice with the weapon, not just use when necessary).

the gun would hopefully not be too light because of re-coil but also not too heavy so it'd be manageable as an easy carry piece.

Also, because of weak hands/wrists the slide will have to be fairly easy to pull back (I have no problem with my walther p22 but my huband's 1911 is more than I can handle without a few attempts and a table to catch it on)

I am thinking of something in 9mil but am not opposed to 38 special.

Also, something ambidextrous would be a bonus but not necessary as I like to switch hands when I shoot

If this is in the wrong place or I did not post this right please feel free to let me know. Thank you all for your advice.

Please be aware that weak wrists/hands can cause feeding malfunctions in semi autos, and most instructors I know do not recommend a semi auto for a new shooter. Look at a J frame .38 with light loads to start with.

LD

 

[BADUNAME37]

I would try a .38 Special S&W J-Frame, either 442 (blued) or 642 (stainless).

If you can get one that has had some trigger and action work done, preferably by S&W, you might find what you are looking for.

 

[Harukichi]

smalls: my price range is under $600

I have not fired any other small automatic other than my 22. I have been carrying a small .38 jframe (s & w special +P) but am not completely comfortable with how much it jumps when fired. I believe the only other small semi-auto anyone I know owns is either another 22 or in a large caliber (I can find out exactly which one).

I've seen the Bersa Thunder online and it does look nice. I will have to look up some of these others.

hmm, I hadn't thought of a .380. that could be possible. Though I obviously want it to be strong enough not to have feeding issues like my Walther (I guess the 22's aren't strong enough for the blow back operation to work?)

I wish I had a store/range locally that would let you test fire, but sadly I don't think it is an option around here.

I have also come across the CZ 75 D PCR Compact. (I have held a full size cz 75 and really liked the balanced feel but never shot it as it was at the lgs).

Thank you all for your advice. I look forward to reading further thoughts.

 

[Lawdawg45]

Harukichi,

On your .38, try using a non +P and also buy larger combat grips (Hogue or Pachmyer), this should help. The Bersa is an exact copy of the Walther at half the price and I've heard nothing but good things about them, just make sure you can fire it reliably and can rack the slide. One trick you might try is to hold the slide and push the gun frame forward to rack it, this helps most with issues.

LD

 

[Guillermo]

Harukichi,

First off, you are getting good advise. Shoot a lot of guns before you decide.

Second, autos are great but require a lot of training when they don't work. Failure to feed, failure to eject, stovepipes, and other stoppages are possible and it takes a lot of practice to be ready for all of them.

Generally, a revolver just requires pulling the trigger again if it fails to fire.

Because of this I rarely recommend a new gun person to carry an auto.

In addition, the "weak wrist" comment causes concern. As others have mentioned, "limp wristing" an auto can cause a malfunction.

While maybe not your first choice, the revolver is probably the way to go.

Best of luck

G

 

[wlewisiii]

Have you considered a somewhat heaver revolver? One option would be a Model 60, an all steel J-Frame that will help with recoil and muzzle jump. One step further would be a 2" barreled Model 10 - a 6 shot K frame that is far easier to control than any J frame. I used to carry a 642 and found that while it's light weight was nice for carry, it was extremely unpleasant to shoot with FBI load ammo. I've since gone back to all steel firearms.

 

[buck460XVR]

Please be aware that weak wrists/hands can cause feeding malfunctions in semi autos, and most instructors I know do not recommend a semi auto for a new shooter. Look at a J frame .38 with light loads to start with.

LD

Harukichi,



While maybe not your first choice, the revolver is probably the way to go.

Best of luck

G

I concur with LD and G.

A DA J-Frame is easy to use, very safe, accurate and can be bought new for under $400. Fits small hands well, easily concealed and even Airweights are easy to handle with standard .38 loads.

 

[CraigC]

The suggestion that jumps out at me is the Beretta 84 .380 or something similar.

I like to switch hands when I shoot

It is a very wise practice to learn to shoot with both hands.

 

[wrench]

Harukichi, welcome to 'The High Road'.
I'm female, 5'2", with small hands. I've been shooting pistols for about 10 years, carrying for about 8 years.
If there's a gunshow around you, that's a great place to go to just hold lots of different pistols. Some will feel really nice in your hands, make a note of those. Others feel awkward, too big, trigger reach too long, etc. Cross off the list.
A few pistols I like, and are super carry guns for me, include the Glock 26 and 19, S&W 3913 and CS9. The Glocks are double stack, so the grips are a bit thicker, the S&W are single stack, so are slimmer.
The S&W are no longer made, but are available on the used market. I bet if you shoot a 3913, you will love it.
I'm not a revolver person, I had the S&W 642 that everyone advises women to buy, hated that little thing. I still call it 'the evil revolver'.
I don't know if you've been over here...
http://www.corneredcat.com/Contents/
lots of really good info there for all shooters, but women in particular.
Good luck, feel free to PM me if I can help in any way.

 

[MedWheeler]

If you do decide to consider the .380 round as a possibility, don't fall too quickly for the "keychain" guns in that caliber that are so popular right now (Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P3-AT, etc.) They can be downright rude on small hands. But, the caliber can be quite sufficient in easier-to-shoot platforms like the Bersa Thunder 380 (and the slightly smaller Thunder 380 CC), the Walther PPK, the Beretta 84 and the Taurus 58. I can vouch firsthand for the Bersa Thunder 380, and the Interarms version of the PPK/S. I like the Bersa a little more, but it is a tick bigger and holds one more round (seven) than did my Walther. I've had it since 2008 and carried it as an EDC for over a year until I replaced it with a Kel-Tec PF9 (which you would not like.) I still own and enjoy the Bersa, though.

 

[JWJacobVT]

My wife loves her S&W 686 2 inch with 38 loads, but that is her bedside gun. A female friend of mine loves her Ruger LC9, she is still getting used to the long trigger pull. I have other female friends that carry and shoot 1911's in 45. Some ladies I have worked with can only handle a P22, and it is better than nothing. You need to find a gun that fits your hand, then you can work on the rest.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

I second the suggestion of a Sig 225. They are available (used) as a SIG P6.
The P6 was the German Police pistol that came on the market several years ago. Single stack,9mm,easy to cock,SA/DA, w/Decocker. Straight back recoil and very accurate..and the price is right! +or-$400.

P.R.

 

[vamo]

One thing that jumps out at me is you've mostly shot 22s. I am by no means a 22 hater , but any defensive round is going to have an extremely harsh recoil compared to a 22. 380 would probably be the lightest and still be suitable for most defensive situations, but the recoil is still going to take a lot of getting used to if you re accustomed to shooting 22s. I think its been mentioned already, but larger frame guns tend to absorb the recoil better so you might want to lean toward a bersa thunder instead of an lcp type if concealability isn't a major concern.

And if it wasnt implied above a 380 should have more than sufficient recoil to chamber the next round in any decently made gun.

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

I have a Kahr CM9 that is a single stack and pretty small. It fits my hand great. I think that it handles recoil very well. Recoil is very subjective though.

Try to hold a bunch of guns to get the feel.

Best of luck on your search!

 

[BCRider]

To get a better feel for your recoil tolerance I'd suggest buying and shooting some regular 158gn .38Spl out of your J frame revolver. Not the +P, just regular .38Spl. Report back on your feel for that much recoil. It will provide us all with some more information to go on and tune the suggestions more.

FWIW the kick from a J frame shooting +P is nothing to sneeze at. If you find that it's only a little more than you are able to tolerate then simply switching to .38Spl and some grips that suit your hands better may be all it takes. Or at the very least it would confirm that you would do well with a smaller semi in .380acp. For example I found that a Walther PPK in .380acp kicked a touch less than a J frame shooting regular power .38Spl.

 

[Promod1385]

I would look at the M&P Shield in 9mm. Its cheap to practice with and you can get a M&P 22 to get more practice/range time.

 

[hAkron]

G10 grips made by companies such as VZ and Houge can make the grip profile of guns suchs as the compact CZs (including the PCR and the P-01) quite thin. They can be a bit on the heavy side for carry in your situation.

I would look at the Walther PPS, The Springfield Armory XDs, the Sig P290 and the 938, and the compact model Glocks. Polymer guns of that size have the dual advantage of being light and managing recoil quite well (considering their size).

 

[skiwi]

Lots of good advice and intentions, however, you have not described your shooting experience. If you have received formal training or not? I bet if you have received formal training, the recoil from a 9mm or larger caliber would not be such an issue. I raise the issue of training because you are serious about concealed carry. This is not something to be casual about. Limp wristing or weak hands/wrists could be a huge liability. I bet with proper training you could grip properly and handle more effective caliber and gun options.