Small semi-autos

[Janet L.]

I'm strongly thinking about buying one of the little 9mm pistols that have come on the market since I last looked for a concealed carry gun.

These little critters are hardly bigger than a PPK, while packing a serious punch.

Now, the problem is that I'm pretty small boned - for my height anyway.

Now, most of the guys I know have wrists nearly as big as my ankles, which leaves me wondering if the recoil of a ~one pound gun will be manageable, not in terms of pain, but in terms of the gun functioning correctly. I can shoot a .38 Airweight snubbie which weighs under a pound pretty well, but it doesn't depend on me controlling the muzzle rise to function correctly. It isn't much fun, but I can shoot it OK.

Years ago, I bought a nice CS45, thinking it was just the thing for concealed carry. That is 'till I took it to the range. One, maybe two shots and it would stovepipe jam. The guys said I was limp wrist-ing it, so I tried holding it tightly and keeping my wrists as stiff as I could and it still jammed.

I had several of the guys at the range try it, and they emptied the magazine without the least trouble. Got 'em all in the scoring rings on a NRA 50' bullseye (at 50') while they were at it.

This experience leaves me pretty leery of tiny guns with big bullets.

I eventually traded the thing off for a wheel gun. The problem is women's clothing: There is a rather limited set of outfits a wheel gun will not print on.

Enter the desire for a small 9mm. They're not near as lumpy as a snubbie.

So, ladies, how do you do with an M&P Shield or one of the smaller critters? Should I get one, or should I go with a .380? Guys, how do your wives do with little 9s?

Thanks in advance,

Janet L.

 

[Kadonny]

Lots of great questions. There is a big difference between the .45 and the 9mm in terms of recoil, so I think you might be ok with the CS9 and the failures. However, you said the airweight revolver you could shoot, but recoil was not pleasant. I think the CS9 will be similar recoil wise since it's a lightweight too.

My thoughts? If you are that tiny, I'd probably lean towards the .380. A gun you can shoot well but may be a smaller bore is better than a larger bore gun you can't shoot well. If you have to pull the gun (god forbid) and you anticipate recoil, that's trouble. Also, the .380 will be very easy to conceal.

One more thought. Have you looked at the bra holsters? You might be able to carry a wheel gun in one of those and conceal it very well.

My wife has not started shooting yet (soon though) so I can't give you her opinion on caliber and recoil yet. Sorry.

Good luck.

 

[Old cop]

Caution is the watchword w/the current crop of sub compact autos. Some work great while others, same model & brand, are trouble prone. That said I do own a Keltec P32 but only carry it when deep concealment is needed. My EDC is either a 442 or Colt Corba.

You said you shot the J frame okay so my suggestion is to go w/that. If you do a Youtube search there are several good videos by women showing how they conceal their revolvers.

 

[photoman]

I'm very reluctant to trust any of the super-small (smaller than a Glock 26) pistols. Reliability of function seems to be an issue with the small semi-automatics, much more so than the full size ones.

 

[tops]

A "J" frame is too long and too lumpy for my wife so she wanted an auto and settled on a .380 because of recoil and size. I do not trust any striker fired or internal hammer auto with one in the barrel. If it has an outside hammer and is carried cocked it is the same as striker fired. If the hammer is carried down it has to be cocked before it can fire which could be a problem. Her solution was a S&W BG.380. It works the same as a "J" frame. It is safe to carry one in the barrel. Pull the trigger and the hammer rolls back and fires. The hammer follows the slide down so it doesn't stay cocked. Steel cased ammo doesn't work in it. PMC, American Eagle and Winchester works good. My brother also has one and it is what he carries every day. Larry

 

[Moonman]

With a semi-auto you MUST BE ABLE,

To WORK THE SLIDE,

Not Limp-Wrist it when firing,

and PRACTICE the Failure To Fire Drills often, without hesitation.

Depending upon your wardrobe, Shoulder holsters are better suited

to many women, There are the BRA holsters, Handbag holsters,

Day Planner holsters, Pocket holsters, IWB and OWB holsters, and Ankle holsters.

I normally advise females to carry a REVOLVER due to all that's involved with the Semi-Auto.

Go try some Semis is a range rents them or a friend has one.

If you can make it function, will practice THE DRILLS, keep the action CLEAN AND LINT/DEBRIS FREE.

Go For It.

The Sig 238 is a nice 380 (it's a mini 1911 style).

 

[LSUDVM]

Hey Janet
I will add my input. I carry a Ruger LCP 380 in a Nemesis in my back pocket. I am a 5 9 140 lb guy. I have no problem working the slide on a semi auto and am very used to them having shot semi my whole life. Now my GF on the other hand has a lot of trouble with most slides on semi autos. So for her we got a Smith Airweight. She has no trouble with the LCP slide but she is not entirely comfortable with semis just yet.

 

[OLDSTER]

I have a Kahr P380. IMHO and personnal experience, these little buggers (Keltec, Ruger, Sig, Kahr) are completely reliable IF they're broken in properly, and are fed the proper ammo.

 

[Rufus]

I sounds like the Sig P238 might be your best bet. It is VERY concealable, and it has more mass than most other 380s. This added mass helps reduce recoil. The P238 has a REAL set of sights, which makes it the most accurate 380 that I have shot. Most people who shoot 380s are all over the place with their grouping because the guns are so small they are hard to control. This is not the case with the P238. I am also a big Kahr fan, and they make a pretty neat P380, but I have read about some reliability issue with this gun. I have never had any problem with the two Kahrs that I have had, but I have never owned the P380. Again, this gun also has more mass than the standard 380, and it also has REAL sights on it. The Sig P238 may be a bit sleeker than the Kahr P380.

 

[venomballistics]

Ive been keeping an eye on the field reports of the springfield XDs in 45.
This little pocket rocket seems to be making quite a name for itself.
its recoil is said to be quite manageable while its reliability is well oiled machine class. Add to that a growing reputation for accuracy and I have to advise at least a test drive of this gun before any decisions are made with the checkbook.

 

[97ZJWheeler]

I own a Kel-Tec PF9, and will admit it's quite a handful to shoot. The girlfriend doesn't like it at all, but she can fire it successfully if the need arises. She did like the M&P Shield 9mm I had in my care for a few weeks over the summer, and had no issues handling it.

I just shot a buddy's Ruger LC9 over the weekend, and it was easier to control, and friendlier on the recoil than my PF9. Recoil was probably right in between the Shield and the PF9.

 

[kcode]

I have tried and tried to get the wife to give up her .380 PPK/S for something with more of a punch. I bought her a 3913 Lady Smith, she said the PPK fit better, ok. I bought a Ruger LC9 with crimson trace, that did not work either. Now I just make sure she has good ammunition for the .380. In the meantime, I have become attached to the LC9, its narrow and small enough for concealed carry. It to me is dependable with a hammer instead of a striker fired. The hammer is not exposed, but it does have a hammer. It is slightly bigger than the .380 LCP, but easier to handle. I keep it loaded with 147 grain sub-sonics 9mm. Its worth taking a look at for yourself.

 

[Moonman]

Too many men either husbands or boyfriends possibly a pinheaded gun store salesman want TO CHOOSE THE LADIES FIREARM.

We're talking Apples and Oranges here, her hand strength is usually less as is her trigger finger reach and she is less tolerant of recoil.

Let her figure it out as to what FEELS GOOD AND FITS HER.

Let her choose the recoil and caliber SHE can handle most efficiently.

You need to go back and watch football or something, maybe you can go TWEET RAMBO.

 

[GLV]

I have carried small autos as a second, more often a third gun. Do not have a huge amount of trust in them. Sort of like two is one, and one is none.

Too each his/her own

 

[gdnagle]

My wife has strength problems in her hand so she tried the S&W Body Guard .380 it also has a laser which for some reason she likes. She has no problems racking the slide or fireing it, she likes it and can handle it and not that large. We don't like revolvers but that is our prefence which would be easier to operate. Remember a gun you can handle is a gun you will carry. One at home does you no good. I carried a p64, size of a ppk fits pocket very well but is a 9X18 slightly better then .380 until I got my Kahr CW45. Go to gun shop and handle the smaller guns, rack the slides and ask if you can dryfire, some shops don't like that. Maybe they might let you fire one if they have a range there or rent you one so you can compare this would be to your advantage so you don't buy the wrong one.

 

[MichiganScott]

My wife carries a M&P9C in a dedicated holster purse. She's 5ft 110lb. Her profession prohibits belt carry. It's not as small as a Shield, but works for her.

A purse requires additional caution for retention. It's slower than a belt holster, but beats leaving it in the car. You can, however, place your hand on the gun when you feel you need it in a hurry.

We viewed the bra holster on U-Tube and decided there is no way that the gun is not being pointed at parts of her body we would prefer not to have holed during the draw. With a purse holster, you keep your off hand on the strap to stabilize it.

 

[angel71rs]

My GF can shoot my Shield 9 just fine, but much prefers her Kel-Tec P32. But she is pretty petite. Absolutely hated my P-3AT.

 

[Janet L.]

I'm not that petite

Let me explain further - I am not a tiny little thing who can't work a slide - fewer than one in a hundred women are as tall as I am. My range guns include a CZ97 .45 and a CZ75b 9mm, They shoot very well and digest anything I've asked 'em to swallow with reliably approaching 100%.

I've carried a Kel Tec P32 'till nearly all the finish on the slide is worn off, mostly on my skin or the inside of my bra strap and clothes, but I've got to worrying about it 'cause .32 is not noted as a fight stopper, the sights are really poor, and the ammunition is expensive enough that I'm way too cheap to train enough to shoot it from the hip. I figure it's a 10' gun at most. I call it the mouse gun, but it's gotten to be like a piece of underwear to me. Might still carry it as a backup when I work out a good carry option for something bigger.

As I said, the Airweight isn't much fun to train with, but I have shot it a fair bit - it's what I shot to qualify for my concealed carry permit. If I found something that was like a 3/5 scale 1911, I'd shure be tempted. . .

As for worrying about having one up the pipe, I just don't. Maybe that's 'cause I haven't ever seen a negligent discharge. In open carry situations I normally carry in condition 1 - Chambered round, safety on, thumb break strap between hammer & the slide, even my traditionaldouble action CZs.

 

[Kanewpadle]

The Kahr CM9 is a good gun. Not too big and recoil isn't bad. Flat and easy to conceal.

 

[chicagoslim]

Janet,

I think that a 9mm like the Shield, would work well for you. I'm a big guy, but I've owned most of the guns mentioned. I love my CZ75B, but my EDC is a Shield. The Kahr CW9 recoiled about like an Airweight .38 Special (637). My wife can handle them, but doesn't like shooting either.

The 9mm Shield recoils just a little heavier than my alloy CZ75B. All are more pleasant to shoot than a .380 PPK/PPKs.