What would you recommend for a female new shooter with small weak hands? Her hands are childlike and she is under 5ft. Off hand I am thinking a ruger lcrx but the grip looks too large. My concern with Smith's is that the triggers are too stiff on 43c and recoil too great on 38s. The autos look too big and hard to rack.
Gun for small hands
- Thread starter Practical
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Sounds like a good situation for a rental range trip, or borrowing candidates from friends. A Shield 380EZ may be one to try.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I had trouble when I first tried semi-autos, but my husband had me try a SIG P-238 which was very easy to rack.
Eventually, my hand strength and technique improved enough to use most anything.
Eventually, my hand strength and technique improved enough to use most anything.
Based purely off what you just posted...Id recommend the S&W 9EZ the new offering.
The 380 is decent as well from what Ive been told.....but up to 9mm power for the same price.....if they can handle the recoil I see no downside.
The 380 is decent as well from what Ive been told.....but up to 9mm power for the same price.....if they can handle the recoil I see no downside.
ContinentalOp
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I agree with murphydog. Your best bet is to take her to a rental range and see what she can handle.
Alternatively, she can enroll in an introductory handgun course that offers students the opportunity to try out a variety of different guns. She can get some training and hands-on experience with a variety of guns all in one shot (pun intended
).
Alternatively, she can enroll in an introductory handgun course that offers students the opportunity to try out a variety of different guns. She can get some training and hands-on experience with a variety of guns all in one shot (pun intended
).
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In NY this is hard to do. FIRST we must get a permit to even touch a handgun. Once she has her permit we have 2 rental locations within 60 miles I know of. The usual approach is get your permit and buy something. If you don't like it trade back in at loss or sell to some one you know giving them a sweet deal and try again
4barrel
Member
A light weight 9mm revolver with extra shots. Most girls fingers are soft and can't load a magazine. The springs on a small auto are stiff and can break a nail. I see this all the time. Just when they are ready to give up I ask if they would like to try some loaded down ammo in a smaller revolver. <I LIKE THIS MUCH BETTER> They like it and the husband or boyfriend gives me a cold stare.
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My sister has a Glock 42 that she's happy with. It fits her small hands.
The grips are way too small for my hands, then again I wear an xl glove.
IraIII
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I’m in western ny and I can agree with it being difficult here. A road trip to a Pennsylvania range will let her try different guns without the roadblocks that ny throws in your way.
AlwaysArmed
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S&W Performance Center 642 (SKU 10186). Shoot regular blunt nose brass rounds. It has a trigger job from the factory. That's what I bought my wife for her birthday.
AA
AA
S&W Model 36, 3" barrel, round grip, action job, and use 148 grain wadcutters.
3rdgeargrndrr
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Ruger 22/45 mk3 or 4. Or similar style single action pistol.
A model 63 in single action is what my kids started out with.
Or A sig 1911 style p238 or the p938 in 22lr.
A model 63 in single action is what my kids started out with.
Or A sig 1911 style p238 or the p938 in 22lr.
Sounds like a good time to try out a J frame or perhaps K frame in .22. Actually, it is IMHO better yet to start with a .22 rifle. Seems like the goal here is to first find out if your friend is compatible with ANY firearm. Your first shooting experience does not have to be with a self defense weapon. How many of us started that way, anyhow? Dollars to donuts, the vast majority of us started with the .22 rifle.
Daniel Howe
US Veteran
went through this with my fiancee a few years ago. She finally found the Ruger 605 fit nice and loads it with .38 special.
@Practical,
I see two avenues available to you due to N.Y. gun laws, and neither requires leaving the State!
First is a J frame with a reduced power rebound spring. Back in the late '80s, I purchased a 36-6 new, but the trigger pull was harder than I wanted. I replaced the rebound spring. I shoot only either factory 148gr wadcutters, or handloaded 148gr wadcutters or 150gr semi-wadcutters. In the almost 30 years I have had this revolver, I have never experienced an ignition issue.
Second, would be a semi-auto that would be of a 1911 style that does NOT have a full length recoil guide. This past November, I attended a defensive shooting summit for disabled shooters, and they taught two techniques for cycling a semi-auto for amputees. The easy way to charge the pistol is if the slide is locked back, just slingshot the slide. But if the slide is in battery, you can either:
a) use the rear sight to catch on your holster or a hard surface, and push the grip towards the muzzle to complete charging the pistol, or
b) place the recoil spring plug against a hard surface (edge of a table) and push the pistol against that surface without catching the barrel muzzle.
Technique "b" is effective and provides a number of opportunities to improve your pistol choices.
I see two avenues available to you due to N.Y. gun laws, and neither requires leaving the State!
First is a J frame with a reduced power rebound spring. Back in the late '80s, I purchased a 36-6 new, but the trigger pull was harder than I wanted. I replaced the rebound spring. I shoot only either factory 148gr wadcutters, or handloaded 148gr wadcutters or 150gr semi-wadcutters. In the almost 30 years I have had this revolver, I have never experienced an ignition issue.
Second, would be a semi-auto that would be of a 1911 style that does NOT have a full length recoil guide. This past November, I attended a defensive shooting summit for disabled shooters, and they taught two techniques for cycling a semi-auto for amputees. The easy way to charge the pistol is if the slide is locked back, just slingshot the slide. But if the slide is in battery, you can either:
a) use the rear sight to catch on your holster or a hard surface, and push the grip towards the muzzle to complete charging the pistol, or
b) place the recoil spring plug against a hard surface (edge of a table) and push the pistol against that surface without catching the barrel muzzle.
Technique "b" is effective and provides a number of opportunities to improve your pistol choices.
If she is as small and weak as you indicated she will not be able to rack the slide on anything other than a 22.
In regard to the LCRx, I have one, the 327 Fed Mag, but can also shoot the lower power .32 S&W long and the .32 H&R.
I also think the Model 36 is a good possibility. The original factory grips on those are tiny!
The LCRx 22 looks perfect to me, that grip is not big.
Ruger(R) LCRx(R) Double-Action Revolver Model 5435
In regard to the LCRx, I have one, the 327 Fed Mag, but can also shoot the lower power .32 S&W long and the .32 H&R.
I also think the Model 36 is a good possibility. The original factory grips on those are tiny!
The LCRx 22 looks perfect to me, that grip is not big.
Ruger(R) LCRx(R) Double-Action Revolver Model 5435
Models 30 or 31 (32 S&W Long). The right size, and enough power but very mild recoil.
Very true, I have one, tiny grips and very mild recoil. But not exactly easy to find and the ammo is scarce except online.
My wife is small stature. She has had several surgeries on both hands. She shoots a Glock 42. Took some lessons on technique to get the slide rack reliable but she has no issue with now. And she shoots it pretty darn well too.
I would prefer a 9mm over the 380, but, the ability to operate the gun reliably is far more important than increased power
I would prefer a 9mm over the 380, but, the ability to operate the gun reliably is far more important than increased power
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