[McC]

Hello. I’m a new member. Veteran for 20 years. Woman. I have very small hands.

the reason I’m posting is to ask suggestions for a small hand gun. I’ve plenty of experience with rifles and Glock handguns.
but I really don’t like the grips on the Glock.
I don’t need a ccw. This is just home protection issues. I would like it to have a laser on it- because I prefer to not search for my glasses if someone is coming in. As I said, I have really small hands and wrists. I want something I can snap into my hand- no adjusting before squeezing the trigger.
Open to any suggestions. Once I get suggestions I can know what to go test at ranges. Thanks to all the savvy people who will respond. Also- state is Ok. Pretty gun friendly state.

 

[Oldoutlaw]

Welcome from Eastern Iowa. I'll have to think on your question. Many of the guns to fit a smaller hand have no way to mount laser or sight. Do you have a caliber preference? That makes a difference in what is available.

 

[McC]

Caliber doesn’t matter. Just accuracy in a home environment.

 

[OldGnome]

@McC - Welcome to the site. Please wander over to the Introductions section and tell us a bit about yourself. You will also want to familiarize yourself with this thread (it has good information about the site):So yer new here, huh?, and this thread (our community rules): FirearmsTalk.com Community Rules.

 

[Oldoutlaw]

Caliber doesn’t matter. Just accuracy in a home environment.

In thinking about this, here is what I suspect your best way to go is.
Go to a few gun shops. Put your hand on a few different ones. See if they fit your smaller hand and if they have rail for a laser.
For a man, I have very small hand myself. I have to pick up a gun to know if I can hold it the same every time I pick it up.
You may find more than one maker who has a fit for you.

 

[oaklandopen]

I had a ruger 380 lcp at one point as a precursor to getting a ccw, but I quickly realized my hands were way too big and I had to nearly curl my entire trigger finger in on itself before it fired

Maybe try that one out, and I do believe they have laser options

 

[sheriffjohn]

Shopping "around" on forums and internet searches is a good way to start, for sure. Knowledge is power. For a man my size, I have small hands & understand quite well the problem. What once required custom (expensive) grips for me has been simplified by several manufacturers who offer pistols with variable grip inserts. My Walther .22 came with them and others are available.

"Crimson Trace" makes good quality lazers, custom fit, for a wide variety of pistols. They work great and customer service is excellent. As with anything, you will get what you pay for, which is why I chose Crimson Trace.

 

[G66enigma]

For smaller hands, IMO the Kahr K9 9mm is hard to beat. It's got a single-stack magazine, rubber-type wrap-around grips with a fairly small circumference. You might find it fits quite well.

(I've got smaller hands. I find the larger, big-circumference guns, like the CZ 75B for example, to be huge, and unwieldy unless fitted with extremely coarsely-cut checkered grip panels. Out of nearly 35yrs of test-firing countless dozens of different handguns, IMO the Kahr K9 beats them all hands-down, for comfort of fit with smaller hands. The PM9 is even smaller, a "mouse gun" really, but its fit for smaller hands is also excellent. The CW9 and CT9 pistols are a close second to those, though larger guns.)

If you want a laser sight on a Kahr, Crimson Trace carries a laser sight that can be fitted to several models of the polymer-framed Kahr pistols.

Crimson Trace #LG-437 LaserGuard for 9mm Kahr (SKU 01-2410-1):

LG-437 Laserguard® for Kahr Arms 9mm and .40 | CrimsonTrace

LG-437 Laserguard® for Kahr Arms 9mm and .40

www.crimsontrace.com

Kahr pistols that the Crimson Trace laser would fit -- CT9, CT40, PM9, P9, PM40, P40, CM9, CM40, CW9, CW40, TP9 and TP40:

Firearms - Kahr Arms - Pistols - Page 1 - Kahr Firearms Group

shopkahrfirearmsgroup.com

Kahr K9 9mm pistol #K9093NA, if you prefer a steel-framed pistol, though it won't allow fitting of the Crimson Trace laser:

K9, Matte Stainless Steel Slide w/ Night Sights

shopkahrfirearmsgroup.com

Another make/model of pistol I find quite good for smaller hands is the Bersa BP9 CC 9mm -- though it won't come with a laser:

https://bersafirearms.com/index.php/product/bersa-bp9cc/

Also, take a look at the Smith & Wesson Shield EZ 9mm -- Last year, I handled one for quite awhile (though haven't fired it), and I was mightily impressed with the smallish grip and ergonomic feel. Two of their models come with a laser sight option:

SHIELD EZ | Smith & Wesson

Since 1852 we’ve been an industry leading manufacturer of pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shooting accessories. We continue to bring innovative firearms to market that meet the needs of every shooter and deliver on exceptional quality with a brand you’ve learned to trust.

www.smith-wesson.com

 

[AgedWarrior]

Welcome from another vet in west Texas. Thank you for serving.

Though it is a double stack, the Sig P365 has a small comfortable grip. Crimson Trace and others make lasers for P365 pistols. There are several versions of the P365 but I would not leave them out of your search. They can be had in .380 or 9mm.

 

[X-Raycer]

Try any of the single stack 9s. But it's been my experience that small light guns are painful to shoot.

Go to gun and pawn shops that have new and used guns and put them in your hands to test.
I have small hands and several pistols. One, my S&W M&P Compact has three sized back straps. Surprisingly the one I like best is the largest one. It gives me more to get a grip on.

 

[OldLawyer]

I have dozens of handguns and became a CCW instructor in 1996, so I have heard your question before. My first suggestion is the Smith and Wesson Model 637 Air Weight with the Crimson trace laser. I have had one for a decade and they are a great little gun. 14.5 ounces in 38 special. The recoil is mild but if too hot, check out Hornady's low recoil defense round.

As a vet you get the 5% off everything at Bass Pro and Cabelas, so if you catch them on a sale, that 5% helps, otherwise they are not the cheapest. The 637 comes as a package with the Crimson Trace or you can add one on as I did, it is much cheaper as a package. Here is one but the price seems too high, I would shop around.

I collect Smith and Wesson but you can find just as good a revolver by Taurus at half the price.

As to semi autos. I have trained two ladies, one 49 and one 66 on the Smith and Wesson EZ Shield in 380. They are a wonderful handgun and should fit your hands nicely, and easy to pull back and extremely accurate, and low recoil.

They come with and without a lazer.

This one is $449 at Academy.

Feel free to ask any questions. I have trained folks on dozens.

 

[primer1]

S&W makes a 380 acp in a platform called the EZ, meaning it's easy to rack the slide and manipulate. Like Oldoutlaw and Oldlawyer said, find what fits your hand and points naturally. Go to the biggest store that you are willing to drive to that has a big selection, then when you decide on something buy, go to a local privately owned store. Rent if you can.

 

[Lucky Pierre]

the ONLY way for you to find what's best for YOU is to go to storeS that have large selections and do a "hands on" comparisons, making sure any choice you make has or can be mounted with your laser requirement.....and, of course, if you're able to rent-to-shoot, so much the better

suggestions posted here won't do you much good

and by the way, I'm a 9yr Army Vet - lots of Vets here - and welcome to the forum from Baja Oklahoma (E Texas)

"when" you find and get what you're looking for please return and let us know what you've chosen.....(and remember, you can always "haggle" about the purchase price with Local Gun Stores, always)

 

[Land_Owner]

My wife is a Classical Pianist and a total of 125#'s soaking wet. That's petite. Her wrists are the stuff of Insurance nightmares. She's delicate and sensitive to recoil. We found her to be quite proficient and comfortable with a Charter Arms Undercover 38 Special

With a Crimson Trace grip, that revolver will work flawlessly. It is not the "Air Weight" brand, which diminished firearm weight will acerbate recoil.

At the other end of the laser is you. Hits on target occur when facing a threat rather than retreating and firing. With training and muscle memory, across a room is a "sure thing" in the center of mass on the first round unless one is mentally obscured by fear and retreating from the threat.

You are ARMED. You are DANGEROUS, yet under control. You have the foresight of training. You can control your fear. Standing your ground is the only way forward, unafraid, ready to fight, willing to use DEADLY FORCE to eliminate the threat.

That last part is the true test. If you do not have the mental fortitude to SHOOT, and keep shooting until the threat is neutralized, you don't need a gun.

USCG Vet here. Welcome to the forums from Mims, FL. Thank you for your service.

 

[G66enigma]

the ONLY way for you to find what's best for YOU is to go to storeS that have large selections and do a "hands on" comparisons, making sure any choice you make has or can be mounted with your laser requirement.....and, of course, if you're able to rent-to-shoot, so much the better

suggestions posted here won't do you much good

and by the way, I'm a 9yr Army Vet - lots of Vets here - and welcome to the forum from Baja Oklahoma (E Texas)

"when" you find and get what you're looking for please return and let us know what you've chosen.....(and remember, you can always "haggle" about the purchase price with Local Gun Stores, always)

Yup.

Though, to be fair, suggestions for ones to consider are just that. As none of us can know the specific shape of another's hand, size of grip circumference that'd feel best, grip angle that'd feel most natural-pointing, etc.

A couple of great "rental" ranges is a stellar way to go, assuming a region has them.

 

[Southernguns]

Look at North American Arms for ridiculously small handguns. They make good quality stuff.

 

[Sniper03]

McC
First of all, welcome to the Forum and glad you have joined us.
And welcome from Tennessee.
Regading anatomic fit with a Pistol and smaller hands. I have several pistols including Glocks and others that I have carried and shot for years. In the recent past I purchased a Springfield XDS. Mine happens to be in 45 ACP but they also come in 9mm. But of all the pistols I have the Springfield XDS is the best feeling Pistol that I own anatomically. It simply feels fantastic. If one is a little recoil sensitive, I would suggest the 9mm. because the 45 ACP has some real snap! (Recoil) but still a great pistol and I really like it.
It is a single stack magazine which for me that is all that would ever be needed for home protection. But for CCW and with an extra magazine it is great for CCW off the property. And the Springfield XDS also has a Rail for mounting a Laser.
All this McC, to say you might want to take a look and feel one of the Springfield XDS Pistols.
Good luck!
03

 

[Higgy Baby]

Welcome to the club.........

Before you buy anything- find- and handle a Sig P365 in 380. At least handle one ans shoot one if possible.
That is the most accurate, smoothest, easiest shooting gun I have ever held. It comes with 10 round mags, which is fine. But you can buy a 12 round mag that will make the grip a tad longer if needed. It comes with a little adapter that makes it fit the standard grip or the X-grip.
That is my most often carried gun, next is the 9mm model, and occasionally a slightly smaller Ruger LCP max or Kahr CT 380 in the pocket.
At least TRY the 365 in 380.....if you don't like it- nothing lost. Good luck.

 

[Dire Wolf]

I would focus on Handguns for women. I remember reading about a New Smith design that was designed for women, but in reality just for small hands. There are so many varibles and give and takes, it is hard to just give one example. I will say that myself and members of my club will test out new guns with 1,000-2000 rds. We tested the Sig 365 and all of us thought that the gun was suited for small hands and not large one's. The one woman in the group loved the gun. Others thought the Grip space to the receiver was too short and a issues with riding the slide.

 

[JTJ]

Don't buy without trying but my wife really liked Her Ruger SR9C. She is small 5' 2" and under 120 lbs. While she is no longer able to shoot a 9 she did try my Hellcat. The fit was good but she can't handle the recoil. You stated you don't like the grip on the Glocks but have you tried a G48?