Suggestions on a handgun

[PhreakDrive]

So, I've been pondering getting a handgun, I have more experience with rifles in general, and only recently got back into shooting at all and am looking for some suggestions. I've recently spent some time shooting a Glock 23 with Riposite, and actually like the gun a lot, enough to get one myself, but I am curious if other folk might have some suggestions. Tricky thing here is I am a small gal, as in, all of 5'2" and 100 pounds with my boots on, so I gotta take that into consideration...any words of wisdom or suggestions for guns to try out?

[Chasbo00]

Give the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm Compact a try. My wife is about your size and this pistol was her choice. Make sure it has the small palm swell installed on the grip when you give it a try.

[RugerJoe]

If you liked the Glock 23, but would prefer a little less recoil, you may want to try out a Glock 19 or a Glock 17, the 9mm Glocks.
If you plan to conceal carry at some point, and only plan to own one handgun, you may want to go with one of the newer sub compact 9mm's that a variety of manufacturers offer. After you figure out the caliber you most prefer, you will want to select a reliable pistol that fits well in your hand. Something you are really comfortable with.

[ProShooter]

After you figure out the caliber you most prefer, you will want to select a reliable pistol that fits well in your hand. Something you are really comfortable with.

Actually this is backwards. Frame size is the first thing to consider. When you find the frame size that fits your hand, then worry about caliber, brand, price, etc.

A good instructor should be able to help you find the right gun.

[mk4]

^^^
This, for sure!
Especially if the shooter is overly recoil-sensitive. Appropriate frame size and grip can go a long way to making shooting comfortable. I'm going through this exact exercise with my Mother who is a new shooter and has expressed an interest in carrying.

[KaosDad]

Have a look at the Ruger LC9. Inexpensive, smaller frame and Rugers are pretty reliable.

[thekinetic]

Well considering your size means nothing, it's the size your hands and your grip. If you don't have muscular hands and fingers I wouldn't recommend anything higher than a 38 sp.

Next consider how wide your hands are. I'm 6'3" but hanve medium hands with not much muscle in them so I have a hard time with large framed pistols. So that in mind go with what is comfortable my m&p 9mm is but it also comes with different grips, my brother's ruger sr9c is not despite it's compact size I have trouble with it normal mag and have to use the larger one with a handle extension.

Now what you also need to into account is how easy is the slide, again I know on my brother's sr9c the slide spring is tight so it's hard for me to cock it. Mine again is not as hard (but that's why I chose it). Glocks are easier still but I found them more uncomfortable and then the other I looked at was the walther pk380 which has a very easy slide which supposedly someone with artheritis could cock.

Just some thigns to keep in mind, but in the end it's all what you are comfortable with so don't be afraid to look at and try lots of different guns before deciding!

[Tweaker]

Have a look at the Ruger LC9. Inexpensive, smaller frame and Rugers are pretty reliable.

That tiny chassis would be most unpleasant, lead to all manner of recoil fear induced poor habits and most likely scare away a noob, tiny or not. NO WAY!

That is an expert's pistol!

[Palladin]

For fun and accuracy? Ruger Mark III stainless target (22lr)... It's what I started my Mom on. Shoot it a lot, won't bust your purse.

For a small hands, easily hidden, get off me 'mouse gun', a Beretta Bobcat... keep it clean and run quality ammo through it, and it'll run like a champ.

Springfield XD's, and XDm's... Try them in 9mm and you'll leave the Glock on the counter.

Mom's hand cannon now is a S&W Model 66 - .357 hps for splattering waterfilled milkjugs, and my hand cast handloaded .38spls for printing on paper all afternoon without getting your wrists pounded.

Heck, it's just like shoes and handbags - you really do need them all, and of course ACCESSORIZE!

(Sorry Rip! )

[Jakeiscrazy]

Have a look at the Ruger LC9. Inexpensive, smaller frame and Rugers are pretty reliable.

That tiny chassis would be most unpleasant, lead to all manner of recoil fear induced poor habits and most likely scare away a noob, tiny or not. NO WAY!

That is an expert's pistol!

I disagree I shot one on a couple occasions and the recoil was manageable. Not nearly what the little pocket .380s recoil. The DA trigger is challenging though.

[SDChop]

I am a glock guy personally. I have shot with many female shooters with a different range of handguns. Start off with what features do you want on your firearm. Safeties, construction, placement of levers and such. glock 23 is a great gun. I also have smaller hand and love the feeling of 23 and 19's. Both are very easy to shoot. Glock is a tuff simple gun. I can tell you I have owned HK, Glock, SW, Springfield yada yada. I know have 4 glocks haha.

[Riposite]

having shot with Phreak, I don't think she's going to be too worried about recoil. the .40 despite being snappy doesn't seem to phase her at all.
I do know the glock fits well i my hand and she doesn't seem to mind it either.
t
I had shot a number of hand guns before i settled on he glock for me and I am trying not to unduly predijuice her (of all the handguns i rented/tried i seemed most accurate with the glock, it fit well in my hand, and originally i was looking for a 9mm but my instructor conviced me .40 was a better choice ).

I was thinking something like a sig SAS P229 might be a good one as the grip has a nice slim fit and in 9mm seems a delight to shoot and would probably make a good carry gun. (anyone have any opinions on sigs?)



Phreak, second what Proshooter and some of the other say that the fit of the frame in your hand is probably the most important part. You want something that is comfortable in your hand that will go along way to being accurate and confident with it.

[mk4]

I was thinking something like a sig SAS P229 might be a good one as the grip has a nice slim fit and in 9mm seems a delight to shoot and would probably make a good carry gun. (anyone have any opinions on sigs?)

opinion on sigs? why, yes, yes i do.

i carry a p239 sas gen2 in .40sw every day. for me, it's just enough slimmer than my non-sas/non-e2 p229r to be much easier to cc iwb. sure... i sacrifice capacity, but i find it much easier to carry two single stack backup mags than one double stack and end up with 22 vs 25 rounds. both are dead on poa/poi right out of the box. i also like that with a simple barrel swap, they becomes a .357sig. that's a fun round to shoot! just gotta watch out for overpenetration possibility.

love my sigs!

[PhreakDrive]

Thanks all! I did in fact like the Glock 23, and MK, I have been eyeing Sigs for awhile- I do like the way they look and will undoubtedly try 'em out. I do have rather small hands, but long fingers, so how something fits in my hand will be a deciding factor indeed. But thanks for the suggestions- I have lots of things to try out now!

[mk4]

^^^
you interested in some side-by-side pix of the 229 and 239?

[PhreakDrive]

Sure!

[mk4]

'k, i'll later tonight.

[ProShooter]

The Glock 23 is the greatest concealed carry gun, period.

[hatchetman]

My .02. Shot placement is the single most critical element of using a pistol defensively. The single most critical element of getting good shot placement is practice. It's a lot cheaper to practice with 9 mm than anything other than .22, ergo a pistol firing 9 mm rounds is the most cost effective way to get your shot placement down using a modern defensive caliber.

I've played with a couple Sigs and like the way they feel, but think DA/SA decocking actions present issues. I'm relatively new to the instruction game and have only worked with a half dozen or so students using Sigs, but have only worked with one who could consistently place the second shot the same place he put the first, and he said he did 10K rounds worth of slow fire practice to get there (see the point made above). If you are going to use an SA/DA pistol, be aware that you'll have to put lots of range time in to get off an effective second shot. In classes with extensive courses of fire I've noted some having trouble remembering to deal with the decocker after each string of fire; be aware that it will take a lot of reps to get that process committed to muscle memory.

I've had several students using an Ruger LC9. Their recoil is surprisingly tame, though I doubt I'd want to take a class where you fire 600 rounds through one. Don't like the tiny safety and the long trigger pull; too many things to deal with during an adrenaline dump. Am thinking about getting one for a BUG, carried cocked and unlocked in a good kydex IWB holster.

Like many, I started off a 1911 guy and they are still the pistol that feels best in my hand. It's an old, expensive design however, one that requires a lot of care and feeding. As such I've migrated to Glocks and think the 17, 19, and 26 are all good choices, and like the .40s and .45s too, with the proviso that ammo will prove more expensive.

However you go, get the range time and dry fire practice in, and get periodic professional training to clean up you game and/or take things to the next level.

[Tweaker]

.40 Short and weak = 40% ammo cost premium for = energy downrange vs. 9mm AND .45 ACP.

.40 sucks!

.40 has a perceived "snappy" recoil as it is both stronger (than 9mm) and shorter (than .45 ACP) than other cartridges that equal it in energy.

I don't get that abortion of a caliber, and I am in short (haha) order, getting out of that caliber completely. 10mm here I come!