Help With Wife's First Handgun

[Integrator]

My wife has been taking lessons from an instructor - not me - and her instructor has advised her to purchase a larger pistol. I had originally purchased a Glock Model 26 for her. She (the instructor) recommended a Browning Hi-Power (BHP), stating that as a beginner, my wife needs a larger, as in heavier, pistol. I'm not against that at all, since she will have the Glock once she is comfortable with shooting in general. Big gun at home, G26 as CCW. I am having one severe problem, though.

Finding a heavier pistol, particularly a BHP, that fits her hand has become problematic. We will shop the stores in San Antonio (I've been to a couple already), but I want to have a starting point in selecting her weapon.

What would you recommend in 9mm (preferred) for a small-handed, approaching 60, enthusiastic novice female shooter? She wants to learn quickly, is capable of doing so, and will get her CHL when she is comfortable loading, shooting, and handling the firearm. All feedback is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[MoJo]

The High Power probably has the smallest grip size of the double stack 9mm handguns. I wonder why the instructor wants her to get a High Power? They are great guns but not a good beginners gun IMHO. If grip size is an issue, I would recommend an S&W M&P (full size) they come with three different size back straps. Most women I've shown an M&P with the small grip on it have fallen in love with it.

The XDM is another gun with interchangeable grips as is the Beretta PX4 Storm.

My wife loves her M&P JG with the pink grip and breast cancer ribbon.

edit: A wise man will let his lady pick her own gun.

[Integrator]

Thanks, MoJo. She will pick her own, I guarantee! Any other thoughts out there?

[CC Italian]

My better half went through the same thing. Here are some options.

-Any 1911- But if she can't hold a hi-power she will probably still have a problem with a 1911.

-single stack sigs

-S&W 3913 or 908

- Kahr K9- This will more then likely be what she is looking for. My girlfriend loved it and it weighs around 25 ounces unloaded but it was a little out of our price range so she got the second best fit. S&W 908. This is the all metal Kahr not to be confused with the P models.

She needs a single stack is my guess. I have talked about this with several other guys that are looking for guns for thier wives. The Kahr is the smallest heavy gun that we could find. Also the Springfield EMP is pretty small but way to pricey. Don't overlook a good S&W revolver in .357 or my personal favorite the Ruger SP-101 in a 3in barrel. Just load .38 special instead of .357 mag. I would shoot for a gun between 23oz-33oz. This will be heavy but not overly so.

[CC Italian]

How small is she? My girl is really tiny, 4 foot 10in and the hands of a 8 year old girl. She is tiny. She could not hold an M&P, XD or the Beretta, though the M&P was the best of those by far.

[Pawpaw]

Check out the Sig Sauer P239 in 9mm. While it's not a large pistol, it's not a pocket pistol either.

It weighs 29.5 oz unloaded and much of that weight is in the slide - making it a real pussycat on recoil. The grip is very thin. If it's too small, you can "bulk it up" with some hogues.

[randomoutburst]

I have a STI 1911 (Ranger II) in 9mm and I love it. It's heavy and fits my hand very well. A lot of women like the 1911 frame, and it has enough weight to it...without becoming a rock!

[RHenriksen]

How small is she? My girl is really tiny, 4 foot 10in and the hands of a 8 year old girl. She is tiny. She could not hold an M&P, XD or the Beretta, though the M&P was the best of those by far.

My wife's about the same size. We went to a large gun show, and she handled darn near every pistol in the GRB. Settled on a Baby Eagle compact steel frame in 9mm. She loves it to death. Disadvantage (to me) is the manual of arms (for her). She can't pull the DA trigger, so her procedure w it as a nightstand gun is:

thumb off the slide mounted safety
cock the exposed hammer
fire SA

It's definitely a sweet shooting gun, accurate, soft recoil. Stock sights are tiny, though we haven't pursued upgrading/replacing them.

[Teamless]

Integrator, where are you at?
I ask, as you may want to ask on this forum, for others in your area, and see if your wife (and you of course) can meet at a local range, to get a feel for may various weapons, not only the holding, but gripping, using the slide, pulling the trigger, and feeling the full recoil.

I know that I would be (and have previously been) willing to let them use any of my 4 weapons.

[Integrator]

Thanks, everyone! To answer at least a couple of the questions. Wife is 5'4" with hands about the size of our 12-year old grand-daughter's.

We are near San Antonio, so we have several options regarding ranges. If anyone has an idea which of the SA ranges rent handguns, I would be grateful to know.

I have 4 serious handguns myself (along with two "toys"), but the one that fits her best is my Colt Combat Commander .45 ACP. It's a little too powerful and not something she would ultimately prefer to carry.

Meanwhile, we're going to look at as many of your recommendations as we can find, concentrating on single stack. The beauty of this is that with every pistol she decides she doesn't like, I have a new item in my collection.

Thanks again, everyone!

[Divided Attention]

I only have about an inch on your wife, and my 13 year old and I have same size hands. She and I both can handle my M&P 9C just fine. I LOVE shooting it! My other carry is a Sig P238. One thing I might suggest, is get her a stress ball... helps with grip strenght... I am wondering if her issue is recoil vs. grip size. Some folks just aren't comfortable with recoil, but being able to grip stronger sure helps with that some.

JMPHO Good luck, have her come on here and ask any questions, this is a great group - guys and ladies included, and quite open with their opinons and help!

[jamisjockey]

If she does well with your colt commander....what about a 1911 paterrn in 9mm?
You haven't mentioned what your budget is. If you can spend a little extra, and the recoil is the issue, what about a pistol that's been ported?

I have really small hands. My problem isn't getting a solid grip, but manipulating the slide release or mag release. That goes for most handguns, except pocket pistols. I just had to give up and went to a full size 1911.

[The Annoyed Man]

Rent her a 1911 to try out. Even though its a .45, many female novice shooters find the .45 to be surprisingly softer shooting than a 9mm, and the single stack grip fits better in their hands.

[MoJo]

I am thinking the instructor means your wife needs a longer sight radius. Many of the options noted above are short barrel pistols. Teaching someone to shoot with a short barreled gun is an exercise in futility, it can be done but, - - - . Ya'll go look at "service" size handguns (4" barrel or longer) again, look at an M&P (my first recommendation) an XDm or a Beretta PX4 Storm all three guns have adjustable grip sizes and are small hand friendly. The Gen 4 Glocks have grip adapters but the Glock grip is still bulkier than the other three.

A lady in one of my CHL classes was using a BHP at her husband's insistence she shot OK, afterward, she shot my wife's M&P and her shooting and comfort level went up exponentially. Fit and comfort are paramount in gun selection.

edit: Unless your wife is willing to dedicate hours and hours to master the 1911 it really isn't a good choice for a CCW. I see numerous 1911 pistols in my classes they are the ones that malfunction most of the time due to operator error and some of the poorest scores come from these shooters. A plastic gun that is point and shoot is a better choice for someone that may not be able or willing to spend the time to fully master a 1911.