Hi. I'm new

Hi there!
I'm new to the site. My brother Seiran posts here and thought that I might like it. So here I am. I have some questions. I know that there are a lot of questions about what kind of handgun to buy for a lady. I'm on the small side (5' 2" with small hands and an athletic frame) and I have tired shooting a Glock 23. It killed my hand. I have looked at other guns such as the XD. Over all I really like it, however, I don't like the grip safety. I like the M&P. I don't remember if there is anything that I don't like about it. I really like shooting a 9mm. The kind of gun that I'm looking for is an all purpose gun. I will use it for home defense and I might want to get a CCW. And of course I want to take it to the range. Do any of you have any suggestions?

Welcome to the site.

Have you looked into the M&P9C? Compact version of the M&P.

If you have just one pistol, you want to make sure it's one you can conceal, in case you need to. Don't go overboard on that, since the smaller the pistol, the more noticeable its recoil will be, the less reliable it will be, and the shorter its sight radius, making shooting tougher and tougher. The M&P9C and equivalent glock and other pistols are carefully sized to be concealable but still manageable without too much training or experience.

Also, holsters are a science unto themselves, sort of like purses. There are good ones for you and bad ones for you, and no easy to way to figure out which is which, because everyone's a little different.

If you find that holsters designed for men don't fit you well, there are some out there that are designed for women, with more offset from the waist and such. Or purse holsters or some other stuff.

Purse carry tends to be discouraged, because your purse can be left somewhere accidentally, or grabbed off your shoulder without warning. It's also quite slow and clunky to draw a pistol from, just like finding your keys in it or something else. BUT, you usually have it with you, and you won't always have a holster on your waist. So use your judgement.

This is a good site in general, and its discussion of women's holsters is well-informed: http://corneredcat.com/How_Do_I_Hide_This_Thing/

And this lady on youtube is also very intelligent and well-informed on all things firearms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6id83qgQVic

Welcome aboard. Don't let being related to that Seiran guy get you down. Genetics are only part of the equation.

I second the suggestion for the M&P9c. It will likely be my next handgun. The main drawback tot he M&P pistols is the nonexistent trigger reset, though that can be remedied inexpensively with drop-in parts, resulting in a wonderful trigger altogether. I've put thousands of rounds through the M&P and I approve of them. Like you, I don't so much care for the XD, though I did shoot one XDM that impressed me. Also, I think 9mm is the way to go. You can shoot more for less, you have good capacity in small guns and it's easy on the shooter.

See you around.

Welcome! Nice to meet you. We all love Seiran, and I'm sure we'll love you just as much.

As for your questions, my first was a S&W M&P 9mm, and I adore it.

Ive got an XD and dont care for it..should probably get rid of it.

There are several guns from reliable manufaturers that have good quality and relatively light recoil. M&Ps are great, Glocks, Sigs, etc. Mostly it depends on what feels good to you. M&Ps 9s, for me, arent as comfortable as a Glock 17, but for some people, the opposite is true. I dont really care for double action/single action triggers, but other people don't mind them, or even like them. I do have a P232 that was my first gun and its great, but at .380 is the bare minium i'd reommend, and there are much fewer ammunition choices. My next pistol will probably be a Kahr PM9 but some of them are known to be finicky and Id hesitate to recommen them to anyone starting out.The idea i to find, of the reliable guns, which one youre most comfortable with.

The main thing is to be sure you get proper training,and a CCW class, while necessary, in my experience, rarely covers anything related to handgun skills..they're mostly focused on the law. A good instructor may rent guns, or be willing to provide loaners. Some gunshops do as well. Check in the Hometown forums for instructor recommendations, and if you plan to carry or shoot regulalrly, train with more than one instructor. I'd recommend budgeting for at least one professional class per year, even with regular practice, as it helps you maintain profiency and keeps you from falling into bad habits.

For me, I like to go into a gun shop and when they ask if I can help, tell them I'm looking for a handgun. If their net move is to ask me specifics, we're good. If they tell me they have a great revolver that doesnt require me to clean it or practice, I move on..thats a bit of a dramatization, but not by much, trust me.

Good luck with yor journey.

For what it's worth, my relatives seem to think that my Kimber Pro CDP is my softest shooting pistol, even though it's the largest round at .45 ACP. There are a lot of dynamics involved in shooting which are difficult to predict or analyze.

So, whatever you decide on, make sure you try before you buy. The two women I linked to in my first post both have commentary available on how to try out a pistol even if you can't fire it. Seeing if you can get a clean sight picture from it, testing your grip on it, that sort of stuff.

And yeah, there's no substitute for training and practice. And above all, safety safety safety.

Hey! Welcome! Sei is pretty awesome .

Hi and Welcome!!!

I like the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mil as well. I am not quite five two and have small hands as well. I like a full size versus compact. I just like more gun in my hand, it makes me feel like I have more control. I have not tried shooting the XDM but I have held it and I like how it feels in my hand, good grip and such. If you are going to carry, think of how you are going to carry. Are you carrying in your purse or on you body? I am getting a full size versus a compact because I am carrying in my purse.

Good to have you here! Good luck finding a gun!

Kimbers are nice guns..a lot of 1911s are great, too although not all. I think some guns, like Kimbers, get left off the typical lists of recommendations because theyre pricey, but thats probably an oversight. We should probably strive to provide information and let the asker determine their own budget.

The XD I have Ive had for probably 8 years, but I really dont shoot it much, although I thought it was great when I got it. I doubt I've put two thousand rounds through it, and broke an extractor, and had to send it in to get fixed because Springfield doesnt sell parts to the public..at least they didnt at the time. Maybe thats changed.I dont even know how many thousands of rounds I've put through either of my Glocks and they've been flawless. Kinda of sad that I'd have a hard time guessing how many rounds.

+1 to all this.

Especially the being related to Seiran part.

I second the M&PC. My husband has that and it feels really good to concealed carry. I have a full size M&P.

Oh and welcome to the site. Seiran is a great guy.

Hi and welcome!

Hi everyone.
Thank you for all of the advise. I'm going to look seriously at the M&P 9.

Try as many guns as you can and don't just blindly buy one from our recommendations. Find friends that have different 9mm, or even rent one (especially if it's one you're seriously considering) to make sure you really like it.

This. I knew it was for me as soon as I held it, but it's probably best to try out a bunch.

I got my Kimber Ultra CDP 10 years ago.I have loved it. After being a hairstylist those 10 years, it got a little hard to handle. I got a Walther PPS .9mm a couple of months ago and it's much easier on my hands and wrists. It depends on what you're comfortable with.

And

Welcome to the site. Lots of information here, read the tech forums a lot.
It's a site full of guys, so...you know, thick skin and all that.

I enjoy my Sig P226 but I do not have small hands, I have little insight to offer on that topic.

Welcome! We simply ADORE your brother

Careful in the ammo forums. The moderator there is a real hard-ass from what I hear.

Hi. Welcome. Good Luck. IBTL.

GO out tomorrow and buy a used Glock 19 and 3-4 extra magazines. Pay around 350-375, used.

Take a Beginning Pistol class using the Glock.

As you learn more about pistols and their features, compare them to the Glock for simplicity, reliability, fit, function.

If you find anything that out performs the Glock in enough categories, then sell it for 350-375 and apply the money to the new gun.

IMHO, you'll not find anything you like better than the Glock 19 for an all-around, easy to use, easy to understand, 9mm.

TRG

Now I see that "TRG" stands for"The Real Gaston".

JK - Nothing wrong with a Glock. Always wanted a 10MM one.



The Ol' Crew Chief

I've heard 'TRG' stands for worse things than that...

For the record, my main backup gun for hog hunting has been a Sigma SW40C for about 10 years now. My house guns are a combination of Smith&Wesson, Glock and Sig. All in .40. I no longer own any 9mms.

But, for a beginner, I still think the G19 is the litmus test.

Single stacks, like the Lady Smith, in 9mm have their fans. And some of the offerings by Kahr are interesting for smaller hands as well.

But, you sacrifice ammo capacity and simplicity when you drift away from the G19.


TRG

I can't stand glocks.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer anyway, let's just keep making suggestions.

Correct.

However, a baseline is a baseline.

I find that most new gun owners are confused by grip safeties, magazine safeties, de-cockers, trigger safeties, flip safeties, slide release and other options, three-dot sights, dot/bucket, vertical dots, buckhorn sights, ad nauseum.

Glock is straight forward, point and shoot. Once a new pistol user masters the Glock, then they more readily understand the function of other types of pistols and more easily comprehend the added complexity.

It is the same as recommending a four-door Honda Civic with an automatic transmission for a new driver.

TRG

I recommend a Ruger GP100 then...

The reason that kimbers get left off most lists is because they don't belong on any list of reliable handguns. With my own eyes, I watch Kimbers choke almost every weekend. Both the ones I owned were junk. they're great for learning how to be a gun smith though.

I assumed that the guns listed, and her enjoyment of 9mm, precluded a revolver as her starting point.

TRG

Given that she's shot a G23 and it "killed" her hand, I'd shy away from a Glock. I know what she means, whenever I shot my Glock, it beat the heck out of my thumb knuckle cause of the way the grip met my hand. I think she'd like the revolver, especially if she put .38 spl thru it instead of .357.

Meh.

I own a 23, and while it does have more snap to it than a 9mm, it is not enough to make my man-hands hurt.

However, I did shoot a compact Sig .380 once (forgot the model) that seemed to focus the recoil in to my thumb socket. Painful after even one round of .380. After one magazine I could not shoot it anymore.

TRG

Welcome.

Whatever you pick, make sure you love to shoot it..... otherwise it is of no use to you.

Very solid advise.
To be crystal clear the Glock 19 is a great gun and almost nothing has better resale (because everyone wants one)

If hand size is a problem the new gen4 glocks have a slightly smaller grip. small difference but with a small hand it can be important
A grip that "feels" big can sometimes be the best at soaking up recoil so try to shoot a regular 19 first.

I teach pistol classes and have found many women and particularly those with lower experience are very sensitive to noise.Many times noise is perceived as recoil so
good high rated earmuffs (I like the Peltor Bullseye model) are a asset to better shooting. For folks with noise issues cheap foam earplugs under the muffs are better yet.

As a women starting to shoot be aware many of the gun store slobs will talk down to you,try to not let it bother you.
Welcome aboard here.
I am a revolver fan myself,there is lots of fun and good use to be had from them also. Flexibility in grip sizes and flexibility in ammo choices are a couple of areas where they can beat out a semi auto

YAY!!! Seiran's sister!!!!


Welcome. He brags on you a LOT!

Go M&P. I have one and we are the same height with small hands. I LOVE MINE!!!

Hi again!
So let me start off by saying that I agree that Glocks are great guns. My brother has one and I have put maybe 500-550 rounds through it. With that being said, I have not held one that feels comfortable in my hand. I have taken 2 training classes with his Glock 23. By then end of my second class, my hand was blistered. So I really do not like how it feels. I suppose that I should have said in the beginning that I have taken some classes, and I will be taking more. Also as a side note... I live in CA, so we can't get very much here. I thank all of you for the advise and the warm welcome. Have an nice day

In a few weeks I'm buying an M&P. I love the way it feels.

Try a single stack Sig 226 or P6 IN 9MM.


My GF is pretty small in stature and had never fired a firearm before and she loves the P6 and my BHP.

She hates both the Glock 23 and Glock 19 I have.

One thing I've learned. Don't always automatically go with the smallest cause you have small hands.

Glock 23 (40S&W) is a great gun but not quite the right one for a beginner. My first gun was a XDM full size 40 caliber and wow was it snappy when I had no experience. (sold and I am happy)
I understand that it is your brothers and the convenience of borrowing is awesome.
I suggest trying a 9mm like the Glock 34, 17 or 19. The Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm is a great one too. Certainly try the SA XDm.
Buying a gun is like buying shoes - they fit each individual differently. Some people are brand loyal like when buying cars - Ford, Chevy, Dodge.
Go to your local gun store/range and rent different ones to see what works best for you. Don't worry so much about conceal carry just yet - get some experience and the rest will follow.

Welcome!

What T.B. said.

One mistake I see a lot of new women shooters make is to assume the smallest, lightest, most easily concealed weapon is the best place for them to start.

When in fact it is the worst place for most. A new shooter's gun gun needs to be big enough to fill the hand, and heavy enough that the shooter isn't battered by the recoil.

Shoot first. Shoot a lot. And do it with something you like to shoot and don't worry if you think it might be too big to conceal.

Many of the small backup guns are just that, for backup. I love my little .38 snubby and when I need deeper concealment than I can get with my bigger guns, it goes where I go and I would (and do) trust my life to it. But it is not fun to shoot for very long, especially with hot +P ammo.

And as has been said, guns are like shoes. You don't want to walk all day in shoes that are uncomfortable.

And guns are also like shoes in another way, no lady would ever be happy with just one pair of shoes.

My every day carry is the XD 40 and I love it. Couldn't be happier. It's a bit large, but I don't have too much trouble with concealment and I'm 5'2", about 110 lbs.

Any sister of Seiran's is most welcome here!

My first pistol was a Glock 19x9, I also have a sig Sauer P229, and an XDMC (compact) all 9MM. I like shooting the 9MM as it is easier on the hands so I can shoot more, it is cheaper, and I don't have to worry about so many differtent types of ammo... (Except for my AR, but that is OK too...)

A lot of great advice in this thread. I'll throw another quality option out there for your consideration. If you get a chance, try a Ruger SR-9 full-size or compact. It has a nice crisp trigger and the grip geometry feels great in the hand. It's polymer framed and uses a double stack magazine like most of the other pistols mentioned here, so the grip is similar in most dimensions. The thing that makes it stand out for me is the contouring around the upper part of the grip. It slims down gradually as it approaches the slide, so it doesn't feel like you're trying to hold onto a brick. If you get the opportunity to handle one at a shop or range, I would definitely give it a try.

The S&W 3913T is my carry gun, double stacks don't fit my hand but the single stacks are great :) I don't like Glocks either.

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