Posted: 4/20/2005 4:56:52 PM EDT
| So I am trying to find a pistol for a girl who has tiny hands. Every pistol is slightly too large. 3 closest are the Browning HiPower, .45 GAP 1911 and PPK. WHat has a shorter trigger reach than these two (semi auto)? |
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1911 with short trigger and flat MSH is pretty short, as is the Springfield XD...I am no big fan of these guns, but it is what it is. Can she work the PPK trigger DA? If so, I think there are several guns she could handle. I have trained many small-handed females, and have never seen one who could not use a Sig 225 or a S&W single-stack compact 9mm (3913) in both DA and SA just fine. I have also seen several who could do very good work using an innertube grip "insert" on a standard 92F or similar gun. With a SA pistol being in the mix, I would think this would be no problem. What say you? |
| Although I forget which gunrag in was in that I read about the new Springfield I think it was a new 1911 in .45GAP that actually has a small grip (from front strap to mainspring smaller). I don't recommend a 1911 nor a .45 (even the GAP) for a new shooter. Have her try a Kahr P9/K9 or if her hands are large enough a Glock 19. If those are too large look at a SIG 239 with the optional short trigger. |
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XD way too big (I own one) PPK SA only not DA its too big Cant find a 225 to try... any sugeestions on how to find one to try in the Houston area? Sig does nto make them anymore and teh Sig display at the NRA show had none because of that. SW 3913 I have never even handled one, will have to check it out. Can you carry it cocked and locked or is it like an M9 safety decocker? What is an innuer tube grip for 92F (Beretta?) you are kidding if you mean the M9 right? Will have to check the Steyr M9/S9 never tried one. Sig 239 is way too big even with short trigger for DA use. I think the Kahr will be too long becasue of the DA pull (I used to own one) |
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I like the Llama .380 (think the model is IIIA). Have one right now, really like it, my old man swears by 'em as back-up pieces. It's like a tiny 1911. The Colt Mustang mentioned above may work as well. As for full-power pistols I wouldn't think that the single-stack 9MM Kahr full size, the KT9093, would be too big. but you did mention that the DA reach might be excessive for her. Have you guys tried a 1911 with a short trigger and slim grips? I know that the .45 ACP may be a bit excessive for a beginning shooter, but you can shop around and find a 1911 in 9mm. Also, why are you set on semi-autos? A J-frame might be just the ticket. |
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She can fire a J frame but does not like DAO triggers nor revolvers in general. BHP is too far of trigger reach. None of the pistols are too BIG they have triggers too far away for her hand. She is 5'0" with very short fingers. SHe has to reach around the grip to maunipulate the trigger on ther handguns and the beavertail area hits the joint where her thumb connects to the hand and she gets bruied there during recoil making shooting unenjoyable for her. Is there such a thing as a 1911 in 9mm that has a smaller frame like the Springfield GAP frame? Where do I find a short trigger for a 1911? What are the slimmest grips? Is there a Colt Mustang in 9mm? Id like to see her get into a 9mm over a .380 if at all possible. |
There haven't been any "small frame" 9mm 1911s made that I'm aware of. The "short" triggers (USGI 1911A1) are available from a number of places-check with Brownell's. Chip McCormick and several others make the slim grips. Look into that Brownell's catalog and a copy of the Shotgun News. There never was a Colt Mustang 9mm. If you don't know it, the .380 is just a "9mm Short". The spec on the 9mm NATO (AKA 9MM Luger, 9MM Parabellum) is 9X19mm. The .380 Auto is 9x17. While not a much vaunted stopper, it DOES work with modern hollow points. A friend of mine worked some .380 shootings - they changed his perspective on this underrated cartridge. Which would you get her? A 9mm she isn't comfotable shooting, won't practice with, and won't be confident with? Or a quality .380 that she likes to shoot and is deadly with? Another great .380 pistol I forgot to mention is the CZ83. It's double action, but can be carried "cocked and locked" with the manual safety engaged (just like a 1911, Mustang, or Llama). |
And its about 1/8 to 1/4" too big for her still. If there was a short trigger for this grip frame and the ability to have it in 9mm this would be the ideal handgun. If it had a longer barrel and grip... say comander type size it would be even better. How much does a standard 1911 short triggger reduce trigger reach? How much do slim grips reduce grip circumference? Will the short trigger for a standard 1911 fit the GAP frame? |
I can already tell you she wont like the CZ83 because it is "ugly" but will get her to handle one. .380 only reaches 12" penetration with FMJ so Id rather get her a 9mm so she can use some of my Winchester Ranger RA9T. Reports I have seen on Gold Dot and Ranger .380 place it in the 8-10" penetration range usually nearer to 8" or less. But if it has to be a .380 then it will have to be. Id rather see her with a .38 snubby than a .380 |
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DevL; The 92F / FS is exactly the same as the M9, and no, I am not kidding. The grip thingy I was thinking of is the Hogue "Hand-all" or something similar...the slip-on grip addition. I can only tell you that I have seen several very small females who were mandated to use these guns (Beretta 9mm's) who ended up preferring it to the Compact Models, including the "M" single stack models...specifically due to this grip addition. They have told me that the grip allowed them to hold on to the gun just fine, even though the gin appeared obviously...to me...far too large. They could certainly shoot them well enough to qualify on a 25yd. to 3yd. course on two targets, and still carry them on duty, so I must assume they know what they prefer. However, the "M" series compact 92 is another option I had not thought of. The smallest female I ever trained was...luckily...also a college circus acrobat, in very good condition...and she bought her shoes / boots at a children's shoe store. She preferred the Sig 225 and shot hers just fine with standard velocity 115-124gr, JHP...she could not make the gun work reliably with +P+ ammo, however...I just issued her standard velocity stuff and never worried about it. |