Good Handgun For My Girlfriend?

Judge

quote:

---

She used a Glock 17 9mm in her class and was pretty accurate with it, but the instructor mentioned that it was too big for her small hands.

---

Sounds like that latter part is nonsense. If she shot it well, that's a great first start. Something a little more manageable would be a Glock 19 - and that wouldn't be sacrificing very much in the short, mid or long term, either, as the Glock 19 is very likely the most recommended handgun of the 21st Century.

Hard to beat as a home/car gun. I'm a Sig guy, myself, so try the P229 in 9mm if you can, as a side by side comparison, but it is a different fire control system. She already shoots the G17 well, so either a G17 or G19 is my recommendation.

Glock 19 if it fits her hands. Glock 26 if the 19 doesn't feel good. There are a lot of really nice guns out there. I know there are more knowledgeable posters here that will help you out. Those glocks I have personal experience with which is why I recommended them.

Take her to a local shop and let her handle a few. If she shot the G17 then I would look at a G19. Operates the same and little more compact. Biggest mistake most men make is picking out out the gun for their GF or wife. Let her choose unless she wants a hipernt or Taurus then you can intervene.

Glock 19

quote:

---

She used a Glock 17 9mm in her class and was pretty accurate with it, but the instructor mentioned that it was too big for her small hands.

---

You might be the first guy to not say she needs to get a tiny 38 revolver. Bravo to that.

And I'm also glad you're keeping the conversation in the full sized realm. They are definitely the easiest to shoot.

I'll copy and paste a list from a previous post I made but I won't copy the entire post since you've decided on the full sized category.

FWIW my girlfriend recently got an HK VP9 and she really loves it. It's considered a "mid size" and is only slightly smaller than the G17.

_______________________________

So there's my suggestion - a full sized 9mm. I would keep it simple and avoid some guns that have safeties since they require more training. But ultimately her preference will beat anything out. Finding a gun that has a thin grip taper will ultimately be the most comfortable for someone with smaller hands. A few good examples from the big-player manufacturers for a first 9mm are:

S&W M&P
Springfield XD
Glock 17/19
Ruger SR9
Walther PPQ
HK VP9
FN FNS9

If these make her arms tired from holding for too long, then getting a "compact" may be slightly better. "Compact" simply means that the grip and slide are shorter than a full sized gun. The gun itself is typically still somewhat large and will produce more recoil than a full sized gun. But they are still easy to handle. Of the ones I listed up there^, nearly all of them have a compact counterpart.

If you'd prefer she'd have something lighter-recoiling that is heavier, there are a few metal-framed handguns to consider. They have a few more controls than most polymer guns and are hammer-fired, meaning the hammer that strikes the firing pin is visible on the outside of the gun. Some have safeties and decockers that require a bit more training but can be learned:

Sig Sauer P226/228/229
Beretta 92/96
CZ 75/P01
1911

All of these can be had in 9mm. If you step up the cartridge to 40 or 45, expect a bit more felt recoil.

quote:

---

How was it too big? Too big in length of grip or too big around?

---

The instructor was teaching proper grip and apparently with her hands in the proper grip, it was difficult for her to reach the trigger with her index finger or something.

I've never been "instructed" before by a professional. I was taught to shoot by my father, so who knows if I have proper technique.

quote:

---

The instructor was teaching proper grip and apparently with her hands in the proper grip, it was difficult for her to reach the trigger with her index finger or something.

---

So the gun is too big around. She will likely need a single stack then. There may be some that will fit slightly better that are double stack but I think most will be too big.

quote:

---

HK VP9 (most versatile grip on the market)

---

This

I had had exactly one student - ever - whose hands were too small to handle a Glock 17/19.

I suppose it's possible that the instructor knew what he was talking about. But I'd lay odds that your wife will do just fine with a double-stack M&P, Glock, etc. (In her case I might lose that bet, but I'll win that bet 99 times out of 100 ). And you certainly won't find anything more reliable.

A S&W revolver would be equally reliable, but I'll lay sizable odds that she won't shoot it nearly as well as she can shoot a "normal-sized" Glock or M&P. (In her case I might lose that bet, too -- but believe I'll win that bet 499 times out of 500).

Hopefully you can find a range in your area that rents guns. If not, drive her up to BR to Precision and rent a few guns (Glocks, M&P's, revolvers and mouse guns). $10/gun. Then compare the targets she shoots and you should have your answer.

If you can find a day that fits my schedule, I'll meet y'all at Precision and she can shoot some of mine (no charge -- just bring some ammo). I have a "full size" 9mm M&P & a 9mm Shield, several different 9mm, .40 and .45 Glocks, S&W revolvers in 9mm & .38 Spl, plus different size Kahrs in 9mm. If she can't find one of those that works for her, you probably need a new wife that's less picky. :lol