My wife has shown some interest in beginners idpa.Here is my question which would be better to compete with,the 909 or 5906.I have let her try both my sig (357 sig)and glock 22 but she hates the grip on both.They do have a revolver class but we both agree that her snubbie is under gunned,and she won't shoot my 686.I have a 5906 on layaway now,but i have been checking around for answers but find little to go on.

We just want to know which would do better for both competing and c/c.

I would probably go with the 909 over the 5906. Believe it is a lighter, and slightly smaller firearm. Which would probably serve her well for both competition and c/c.

I would say the grip would be the major factor. The 909 being a single stack has the more narrow grip. And if your really into gaming it the 9rd mags could be a handicap. The 5906 is about 10ozs. heavier which would help with recoil but hurts as far as a daily carry.

would there be a middle of the road entry level starter gun.Here is basicly what she wants.Personally i would love her to have my sig 229 but she didn't like that either.

S&W
9mm or 357 sig
Grips like 59 series or slimmer
3 1/2 to 4 inch barrel
with a hammer(i have no idea why)
3 dot sights.
shorter and lighter trigger pull
no polymer guns(hates my glock)

BTW why would there be a handicap with the 909 mags,is there a requirement on how many a mag can hold.Sorry for all the questions,this is something kinda new.She and i have been watching wednesday night at the range and she see's more and more women shooting competitively,so we have been doing more and more range visits and now she wants to try competition for real.

S&W M&P 9mm

How about a 6906. Has the double stack grips, 3.5" barrel, weighs less than the 5906, but still has a 12 round capacity. They have the same sights as the 5906, and can be found with hammer. Think it would fit the requirements you are looking for.

IDPA has a 10rd limit, not that big of a deal but it can come up on certain stages. If the 909(3904) fits her well I'd say go for it. It offers the longer 4" sight radius, alloy frame for lighter weight and a thinner grip. The 5904/03 also have alloy frames with the double stack mags which can be down loaded to the 10rd limit. You say hammer, do you mean exposed or actually have a spur? They can be changed out but the compacts(3913, 6900) will have a spurless flush fit hammer standard.

What model is her snubby, and why is she "undergunned" with it?

I have shot many IDPA matches with a 2.5" model 66-2. I was hardly undergunned, and beat several semi auto shooters.

It's IS the indian not the arrow. I would advise that she compete with whatever fits her hand best, and she can get consistant hits with.

FYI, I've seen several females compete in IDPA matches with 5-shot J-frames and do very well. My 0.02 Regards 18DAI.

She carries my older model Rossi m677 with a 2 1/2 inch barrel.She shoots it well but i don't think it would last very long after shooting 100's of rounds a weekend all summer long.Something else she mention was that ammo for a 9mm is way cheaper than .38 or .357.

10.00 dollars a box is a lot better than 18.00 or more,and i promised her if she liked shooting and was able to c/c for a year,i'de buy her anything she wants.

She wants an actual exposed hammer that she can cock.