Pistol to fit wife's hand...

Phantom76239 · 11-12-2009, 09:26 AM

My wife has FINALLY discovered the joy of shooting! She had a chance to shoot a 9mm semi-auto Ruger, and now wants to become a competitive shooter. Here's the rub - while the likes of High-Point's JH-45, any 1911 clone and the SIG P226 fit MY hand quite nicely, she has trouble manipulating such larger frames. The Ruger - a P85 or P95 (I don't remember exactly) with a slip-on Hogue - was in the too-big-to-manage category, as well. I would like to know what medium-frame semi's are available that would be at home in IDPA and USPSA competition. Oh, as an extra, she saw a red-dot sight in action on some shooting program on television, and LOVED it. So whatever she shoots will have to be able to wear one. Help, please! Thanks in advance - Chris

TXplt · 11-12-2009, 10:30 AM

Nothing wrong with a 1911 -- it fits most everyone's hands -- JMB was a genius. Also it can be had in 9mm, .38 Super, and of course .45 ACP. There are differing grips available as well to make it fit very well. If this is too big, I might recommend you look at a Sig 239. It is a great and reliable gun available in 9mm, .40, and .357 Sig (I have a 9mm and it was my carry gun until I found the HK USP Compact LEM 40 pointed for me more naturally, had a better trigger reach (the 239 is a great compact gun but without aftermarket grips my trigger finger is a little bit too long), and wasn't all that much more bulky). You can also get aftermarket grips for the 239 as well, but I think the stock grips would fit smaller hands pretty well. The 239 can be had with a decocker as a traditional DA type auto, or with the Double Action Kellermann trigger (DAK) which is a light double action trigger which I've found to work pretty well (albeit it has a little bit of a long trigger arc for some). Since there aren't any external levers on the DAK model it might be what you are looking for.

Glocks are also great but some find them a bit bulky--might give this a try. The trigger on them is well designed to be used by the finger pad and they are very reliable.

You might also have her try the HK USP and see how this fits. I have a Sig 220 (which fits my hands and points perfectly) but the USP is a close second.

Good luck--many ranges rent guns and you might find the best fitting gun there.

Kaybe · 11-12-2009, 10:45 AM

Glock 19, Ruger SLR.......go to a gun shop and feel up a bunch of guns. I'm sure she should would find one that fits. If it means a little travel time, so what? It will be worth it to find the one that fits her hand and that she is HAPPY with! Good luck.

Metronome · 11-12-2009, 11:29 AM

Sounds like her hands are about the size of mine, I have short fingers and many guns give me issues in manipulating the controls. Give a try to the 1911 styles, the Ruger SR9 and the CZ platforms. All of those fit me right.

Pope130 · 11-12-2009, 11:46 AM

You may have heard the expression: "To find a handsome prince, you have to kiss a lot of frogs." The best course is to test fit as many different types as possible. Gun shops and shows are a good way to narrow it down, then (if possible) go to a range that has rentals. Sometimes a gun that feels good in the hand will have a nasty recoil, so trying it live is important.

Given that the 1911 is a bit large for her you'll need to go to the next size down. My wife has the same problem. After much test fitting we've settled on the S&W Model 39 series, and the Star Model BM as the best fit for service pistols. They are both single row 9mm, enough slimmer than a .45, or double 9 to fit well. The Star is out of production, and can be hard to get parts for, later models of the S&W are still being made (some under the Ladysmith label). There are other single row 9mm's on the market that are worth a try.

Robert

deserthobbies · 11-12-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaybe

Glock 19, Ruger SLR.......go to a gun shop and feel up a bunch of guns. I'm sure she should would find one that fits. If it means a little travel time, so what? It will be worth it to find the one that fits her hand and that she is HAPPY with! Good luck.

+1 thats the best way, i was all set for the XD but after going out and holding the different models the S&W M&P felt best and it has 3 interchangeable grips with it.

Deep13 · 11-12-2009, 02:30 PM

Browning Hi-Power. It's slim, but still a "real" gun.

TheWall · 11-12-2009, 06:49 PM

My wife shoots a Springfield XD 9mm sub-compact and loves it. She has small hands and has no problems. I don't know anything about competitive shooting, but it is very accurate at 25ft. distance that we normal practice at. Figure out what caliber she wants to compete at first would be my suggestion, and go from there. Talk to somebody that shoots competitively. For self defense and CCW it's a great gun.

Kaybe · 11-13-2009, 01:29 AM

Take her to a gun shop and let her "try" some out. Whatever feels great for her hands, get it. She will be shopping and you will be at a gun shop. Does it get any better? I don't think you will have to stand around and hold her purse also.

Deep13 · 11-13-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaybe

Take her to a gun shop and let her "try" some out. Whatever feels great for her hands, get it. She will be shopping and you will be at a gun shop. Does it get any better? I don't think you will have to stand around and hold her purse also.

Yes, all these suggestions need to be tested by putting hand to machine to see what fits.

Cyrano · 11-13-2009, 10:04 AM

I agree that she's got to try it before she buys it, as the guys are all saying. Don't overlook the FEG P9M. Essentially, it's a Browning Hi-Power with a Hungarian accent. And if the idea of using 9x18 Makarov ammo doesn't skeeve her out, have her try a CZ-82. The triggers on those are really sweet right out of the box and it won't break the bank.

240 Coastal · 11-13-2009, 05:00 PM

PA-63; light, slim, very concealable and extremely accurate. Might want to replace the trigger spring for a woman though, single action it's wonderful buy double action takes a herd of wild horses to pull.

About $150. It's my everyday carry with the clipdraw.

Tom

danf6975 · 11-13-2009, 06:03 PM

the XDM models have 3 backstraps so you might want to have her give those a try .

luckily my wife has a similar grip to mine . saves money =)

HopLax7 · 11-13-2009, 08:18 PM

Like others have said, hit the local gunshop and start test driving.

My girl thought my Glock32 was "too bulky" but really liked my Taurus 709 SLIM. Although I have my qualms about some reliability issues, I haven't found anyone yet that thinks it is uncomfortable to shoot. The Slim also has a manual safety that she likes and has very manageable recoil for a pistol of its size.

Cyrano · 11-13-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240 Coastal

PA-63; light, slim, very concealable and extremely accurate. Might want to replace the trigger spring for a woman though, single action it's wonderful buy double action takes a herd of wild horses to pull.

About $150. It's my everyday carry with the clipdraw.

Tom

You can probably fix the trigger issue with the Wolff Springs spring replacement set for the PA-63. In the FEG fourm, people in the past have commented that by swapping springs around until they got a combination that suited them was not hard to do and the monetyar investment is about $20.

FortyXDM · 11-19-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danf6975

the XDM models have 3 backstraps so you might want to have her give those a try .

luckily my wife has a similar grip to mine . saves money =)

You beat me to it Dan. The smallest strap just might do the trick.

240 Coastal · 11-19-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrano

You can probably fix the trigger issue with the Wolff Springs spring replacement set for the PA-63. In the FEG fourm, people in the past have commented that by swapping springs around until they got a combination that suited them was not hard to do and the monetyar investment is about $20.

Cyrano,

I prefer the "heard of wild horses" DA trigger pull; I use the clipdraw so the trigger isn't guarded and this gives me an extra level of comfort. One in the chamber, safety on and a rediculous DA trigger pull makes for one really secure carry.

By the way, the SA trigger pull is wonderful and needs no adjustment.

Tom

big shrek · 11-20-2009, 03:53 AM

Taurus Slim fits many folks well who have smaller hands...

Shooter Girl · 11-20-2009, 08:51 AM

TX. The USP is a pretty big piece. Not unmanagable. Just big. If she does well with the 1911, then stick with the 1911.

TXplt · 11-20-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooter Girl

TX. The USP is a pretty big piece. Not unmanagable. Just big. If she does well with the 1911, then stick with the 1911.

Yep....I agree for whichever fits the best (which for smaller hands might also be the Sig P239 which is available as a TDA as well as DAK which has no levers to manipulate). The USP .40 Compact--at least the one I got--is bigger than the 239 but at least for me didn't seem like all that much bigger of a gun; it's pretty easy for me to CCW--but it seems smaller to me than the Sig 220 Carry Elite and points (and fits my hands) almost as well--I do know many women shoot the USP reasonably well and both it and the P239 are probably worth a go just to see but as we've said here it's a VERY individual specific type thing (and the optimal solution is to shoot 'em all and see which fits the best). Any of the 3 (quality 1911, Sig 239, USP) are great guns as are IMHO Springfields and Glocks. I'd be a little cautious about micro-sized 1911 clones in .45 (the 9's have done ok for me) in that I've experienced some stoppages in these.

One of the many aspects of the genius of the 1911 is its nearly perfect fit for a wide spectrum of hands, and once the levers are figured out is a great gun to carry cocked and locked (and due to its flatness surprisingly easy to conceal). The trigger is great as well--just so long as its operator puts in the training to use the gun properly both when it works as advertised and when not.

Thanks and cheers