Compact 9mm for my wife

[t84a]

Recommendations?

 

[seawolf823]

Sig P239
Saw one at Continental Arms in Timonium recently

 

[mrb2217]

Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm. My wife has the .40 version and she loves it. I've shot it as well and I'm impressed with it too.

 

[krashmania]

Are we taking glock 19 "compact" or sig p238 "compact?"

That's a very broad term in todays market.

 

[jonnyl]

I like my Kahr MK9, would be nice to be able to actually carry it, but that's another thread...

 

[TopShelf]

Compact - Glock 19 Gen 4.
Subcompact - Ruger LC9

I recommend to give a few a test drive - Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly VA, and On Target in Laurel MD are good spots to rent guns. It is best that she finds a model that is most comfortable for her...and that is hard to determine without actually firing through a few magazines

 

[Bootknife]

Ruger LC9 is good!

 

[t84a]

I have a 19. Interesting that it would be considered a compact. Go figure. If this is the case, subcompact. I was looking at a Baretta Nano but it sold.

 

[BradMacc82]

Let the wife decide, that's your best bet IMO.

 

[Boxherd]

Glock 26

 

[90gsx]

Ruger sr9c or glock 26. They are both pretty similar. The ruger has an additional slide safety and adjustable sights

 

[SmokingGun]

Let the wife decide, that's your best bet IMO.

+1

 

[Baccusboy]

CZ-82 in 9x18mm

Heavy enough to soak-up recoil. Compact. Good penetration and power somewhere between a .380 and 9mm.

Women tend to love them.

 

[Beemerguy]

I have one of the original Kahr K9 pistols, bought around 1995...very nice! It's reliable, accurate, easy to shoot, with a great trigger.

 

[TopShelf]

I have a 19. Interesting that it would be considered a compact. Go figure. If this is the case, subcompact. I was looking at a Baretta Nano but it sold.

Yeah, I was not sure how big a gun you were talking. Glock's marketing dept has the 19 in their "compact" category, but it is not all that small...

 

[Threeband]

How big are her hands?

Double action pistols like the SIG and Beretta can be a poor choice for people with small hands or short fingers, because they have to twist the gun out of line with their forearm to reach the trigger.

Kahrs are supposed to be good for small hands. The M&Ps aren't bad, Glocks are a bit fat. She really has to try them for herself. A single stack like the S&W Shield is probably good for small hands.

But why a Compact? And how compact? A Glock 19 is compact, a Glock 26 is subcompact. I have both a full size M&P and the M&P Compact. The full size is a little easier to shoot because of the longer barrel and longer grip, but the ergonomics are the same otherwise. Unless it's for carry, "compact" might be more of a disadvantage than an advantage.

Let her actually handle (and shoot if possible) different guns. Check carefully to see if she's twisting the gun in her grip in order to reach the trigger. She may not be able to avoid it if her hands are small. In that case she may just have to suck it up and try to train harder to overcome a poor fit.

 

[Diesel Kinevel]

what fits right in her hand.

-Z

 

[BradMacc82]

what fits right in her hand.

-Z

The potential for bad jokes is just off the charts with a comment like that.


I'm straining to take the high road...

 

[Threeband]

what fits right in her hand.

-Z

The potential for bad jokes is just off the charts with a comment like that.


I'm straining to take the high road...

How big are her hands?

...

Thread drift warning!

 

[Faded Blue]

Recommendations?

The best advice may be to take her to a range where she can try out different guns for herself and let her decide. I tried the "I know better what you need" route at first with my wife and wound up spending a bunch of money on guns she didn't like.