The pdf at this link may be of use to you in making your selection
Problem is all these mouse guns are a pain the @#$ to fire and practice with. Especially for someone not use to handling recoil. Although it is a seriously heavy gun and you’re reduced to 5 shots, I would consider a Ruger SP101 with .38 or .38+p’s.
Nice chart, but why would it not include the Bersa guns?
Personally, I have never had a problem with shooting the mouse guns. Maybe I was in anticipation of such a horrible time with them that I ended up pleasantly surprised.
I have shot the Bersa Thunder & Compact Carry, Ruger LCR, Kel-Tec P11 and the only one that made any kind of impression as far as recoil or ability to handle was the P11 which started out kicking like a mule.
How small is small? Short fingers? Not very wide palm?
First off forget the P30. I’ve got thousands through the P30 and P2000 platforms. Nice guns but I know from experience that despite the interchangeable grip inserts it will not work very well for small hands. (Let the flames begin!) Why? The grip is too long with its unique shape; trigger reach is too long; and the trigger is heavy in the DA mode. P2000 would be a better choice than that but still not ideal.
You of course want 9mm forget the heavy/snappy recoil stuff.
Single Stacks:
The PPS is a very nice option of CC with the exception of needing to shift the grip to drop the mag and the lowish round count.
The Springfield EMP is a nice 9mm 1911 style single action option but SA/Safety and heavyish.
Regarding Kahr, They are good guns but I have a hard time being consistence with them with speed and under stress–they are not easy to shoot. But I would recommend the PM9 as being the gun that all the other manufacturers are trying to copy
Best Double Stacks:
The SIG P250c and sc has a small grip module and a short/thin trigger module but has a longish and heavyish trigger. However, it fits small shooters hands exceptionally well and has very good ergonomics.
Finally, I would check out Taurus. They tend to have smaller grips on some of their pistols. You will not doubt get Taurus haters here–but Taurus has improved in the last few years alot. The PT111 Millenium Pro has a very small grip, a nice trigger, good capacity (12). If you get it in Titanium it weighs in very very light-yet the recoil is decent. The 709 Slim (single stack) is another good option–it is similar in size and shape to the PPS.
BTW, I either own, have shot, or have handled every gun mentioned in this post.
Is there a Glock 19 for genuinely small hands? No there is not.
The real problem is not to obsess over quality but to worry about getting a choice for her that is too heavy, too bulky, too long a trigger reach, too heavy a trigger pull, and does not fit her hands. The Sig 229 mentioned by another poster (again I have thousands through the 229 and 239) is generally all of the bad above characteristics for most small statured/small handed persons (although the new E2 model might work for some in the hand size). Finally, the gun that is shot best at the static bench range (and not under stress) is generally not the best gun for CCW. The one that is with her, that she is confident with, and that she can get into action the quickest with the quickest “good enough” shots is the best. See how many shots she can get onto a torso sized target at 7 yards in 2, 3, and 4 seconds from the carry method she will use with that gun (starting in DA mode or with safety on if applicable) and real duty ammo (such as Speer GD 124gr). That is all the matters.
Good post Muzzy. I was the one who posted the Sig 229 suggestion. I should have metioned that it is the P229 SAS Gen 2 which has the smaller grip of the E2. That grip made a significant difference for my wife. Naturally, the other factors you mentioned are things to be considered as well as bieng able to easily manipulate the slide, clearing jams and bieng able to perform quick reloads.
Edit: Older, pre-Gen/E2 P229s can be converted to E2 grips by Sig for $100. This service includes the new one piece grip, and lower profile decocking lever, hammer strut and mainpring strut.
My wife has really small hands and the only thing that we found that she really likes is a 1911 with slim grips and a short trigger.
Kahr K9, Smith 3913, Smith 442.
The Glock 19 SF is called the Walther PPS. It’s grip is dramatically thinner than the Glocks, and also slightly shorter. She will have no problem handling it.
While the standard mag holds 7 rounds, an 8 round mag is available from Walther for the gun. It is a very accurate and easy to shoot pistol. Very easy gun to control and keep on target in rapid fire.
For some comparisons, here are two photos of my 9mm Walther PPS on the right, next to a 9mm Sig P239 on the left:
And here is another comparison with the 9mm PPS on the left, next to a S&W M&P compact handgun on the right.
She will find it so much easier to grip a Walther PPS.
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double tap…
For a full sized pistol I’ll also recommend she try on the Walther P99 or new PPQ which I understand is basically the same sized gun with a better feeling trigger.