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Greg G.
Starting Member
USA
14 Posts |
 Posted - 07/07/2011 : 17:34:33
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| I know I havent posted in a while but I have been lurking. So here's the problem I'm facing, my girlfriend is excited about getting her permit but we are having a hard time finding a suitable hand gun. She like my 9mm xd, but its too big for her to carry. She likes the small size and ease of operation of my airweight, but the trigger is soo heavy that it hurts her finger after 20 or 30 rounds. She definately doesnt like my glock 27 because of the recoil and she can not rack the slide or operate the slide release(on the glock or the xd). Keeping all of that in mind, I want her to have a service caliber gun, from a reputible manufacturer. A few of my ideas include a glock 26 in 9mm with an extended slide release, or a comparable gun in 9mm. She has very small hands and VERY little grip strength so a gen4 glock with the small backstrap comes to mind. We are both very excited about her progress so far, but I feel that with a gun more suited to her small hands we could really have her enjoying our sport. |
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WahWah
Average Member
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 18:19:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg G.
She like my 9mm xd, but its too big for her to carry.
Try the xd9c or xdm9c
quote:
Originally posted by Greg G.
She likes the small size and ease of operation of my airweight, but the trigger is soo heavy that it hurts her finger after 20 or 30 rounds.
20-30 rounds is fine, but if you think she needs more practice, then try the Ruger LCR .38 or .357. Supposedly, the trigger is a lot easier.
quote:
Originally posted by Greg G.
Keeping all of that in mind, I want her to have a service caliber gun, from a reputible manufacturer. A few of my ideas include a glock 26 in 9mm with an extended slide release, or a comparable gun in 9mm. She has very small hands and VERY little grip strength so a gen4 glock with the small backstrap comes to mind.
Have her try the Gen4 Glock 19. It has to be broken in a bit, but the slide is easy to rack after a thousand rounds or so or you can opt for the #4 spring free from Glock to replace, which is less stiff than the #3s that have been shipping with the Gen4G19's.
The compact slide frame requires a stronger/stiffer spring in the G26/27s so that may not help, but have her try the grips.
quote:
Originally posted by Greg G.
We are both very excited about her progress so far, but I feel that with a gun more suited to her small hands we could really have her enjoying our sport.
You're doing great! Also consider that one of my friends, who is very tiny (around 4 feet), found the Ruger SR9c to be the easiest to grip for her and found the slide relatively easy to rack.
Note that the Ruger SR9c also has a doublespring system and your best assessment of these firearms are used ones, not brand new. They will all naturally be tough to rack with strong springs. Have her try well worn ones at a gun range. |
Wah ... wah ....
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nmuskier01
Senior Member
USA
1845 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 20:04:16
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| My wife also has difficulty operating duty caliber semi autos. I suggest a .38 revolver. Shop with her for an acceptable DA trigger. She can practice good target marksmanship with SA pull. Practice with cheap stuff, and carry +P JHP. Ruger and Smith and Wesson make fine models for small hands. |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2292 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 20:05:49
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As an instructor since 1987 I have heard the "I can't rack the slide" complaint a thousand times if I have heard it once. I've had 80 year old ladies with arthritic hands do so easily as well as a 9 year old.
If you are right handed most people try to hold the frame stationary and pull back the slide with their left. Many struggle with this...instead I teach to hold the SLIDE stationary and push forward on the grip. Your strongest hand is pushing forward and your weakest hand is holding the slide. Reverse this if you are left handed.
Things are now working FOR you instead of against.
Some instructors will have you pull the slide with left hand AND push forward at the same time. Works for many as well.
If the slide release is too difficult then use what many call the slingshot method...simply pull back on the slide with a loaded magazine and let it spring forward, don't ease it.
The other thing I harp on is FIT...it must fit HER and no one else. Much like shoes...she has put on at least one pair of shoes that really FIT her foot. The same with handguns...handle as many as possible and live fire as many as you can as well. Something will stand out for HER. Then move forward...
Randy |
"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2292 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 20:07:44
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I might also suggest that she take a look at the corneredcat.com which is a site designed for ladies BY ladies.
Randy |
"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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pax
New Member
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 07:21:54
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quote:
As an instructor since 1987 I have heard the "I can't rack the slide" complaint a thousand times if I have heard it once. I've had 80 year old ladies with arthritic hands do so easily as well as a 9 year old.
If you are right handed most people try to hold the frame stationary and pull back the slide with their left. Many struggle with this...instead I teach to hold the SLIDE stationary and push forward on the grip. Your strongest hand is pushing forward and your weakest hand is holding the slide. Reverse this if you are left handed.
Great post! And that's the method I teach, too.
You can see the process in pictures, together with other tips, at www.corneredcat.com/RunGun/rack.aspx
As an aside, I believe a lightweight snubby is among the very worst guns you can possibly hand a new shooter. They are great guns for experienced shooters, esp those who want to carry, but lousy for beginners: short sight radius, (often) vestigial sights, stiff trigger, and snappy recoil all combine to create a difficult and painful firearm that discourages regular practice.
After spending nearly a decade hanging out at a busy firearms training school, first as a student and later as an instructor, I have still never met a healthy adult woman of any size who could not be taught to rack a slide. But I have lost count of the number of women I've met who could not manage 10 consecutive trigger pulls of a snubby in DA mode. At this point, some folks are likely thinking, "Well, you only need to pull it once or twice to defend yourself, right? So what's the big deal?" The big deal is that if you cannot practice with the firearm, I mean really practice, like 200 rounds in a weekend class, then you cannot become well-trained enough to trust that gun for self defense. You could of course use it in a pinch ... maybe ... but bet your life on your ability to do so? I don't think so!
All of which is to say, if you have a new shooter who wants a revolver, suggest an all-steel revolver, one size up from a snubby -- IF she has the hand strength to run a DA trigger without strain. That gun will allow your new shooter to learn the basics of a difficult firearm much more easily.
Or just start with a semi auto, which is much easier to learn to shoot, and follow 1813Anschutz' advice above about racking the slide.
Hope this helps.
pax |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2292 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 08:01:06
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Kathy's link , and the whole corneredcat.com site says it as well as anyone with great graphics. She is a VERY welcome addition to this site!
Your site is a breath of fresh air to many and especially to our lady shooters. Actually to all shooters...new and old.
Thank You Again!
Randy |
"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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Shotgun Mama
Starting Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 16:03:34
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Greg,I am a petite woman with very small hands so I know exactly what your girlfriend is experiencing. I carry an LCR 38 and I also have an M&P 40. I have had to spend much time practicing, including dry firing and using a hand exerciser. That said, I also agree with the person that suggested that you find a gun that fits her. She may have to try holding every gun in the store and also fire some of them. I had to do this to find what is the best fit for me. Good luck in your search and I am glad she is excited. |
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MikeyF
Starting Member
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2012 : 07:47:05
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Another plug for Kathy's site. My wife bought the book and loves it.
My wife also had a hard time racking the slide and I found the solution in the Cornered Cat book. Simply grab the slide with the left hand backwards(thumb pointing towards yourself) and pull back. This position gives far more strength than simply pinching the back of the slide with the left hand. Using this my wife has gone from being unable to rack any slide to mastering all of them.
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hkguy
Advanced Member
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2012 : 09:31:02
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for the S&W you can get an apex spring kit that takes the trigger pull down from 12 lbs to about 9lbs and it is a drop in kit.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=44423/Product/J-FRAME-DUTY-CARRY-KIT
J-frames are not range guns and after about 25-30 rounds out of mine shooting +p stuff my hand is pretty fatigued. My wife has a Kahr P9 9mm that is a good compromise between by Jframe and her USPc. |
God created all men....
... Sam Colt made them equal |
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Can't work the slide, air weight isnt much better
