Need some handgun advice please

09/25/2002 | myself

[PleaseNoMore]

I am in search of some general advice as I am contemplating purchasing another handgun. At the present time I own a 9 mm Ruger P89 DC which holds 16 bullets, (15 in the clip and 1 in the chamber ). This is a police issue semi automatic handgun. I like the semi automatic feature but this is a large gun. My hands are small and I don't feel as "in control" as I would like to feel holding this gun and firing it. Quite frankly the "largeness" of the handle causes me to feel intimidated when loading it and firing it. I don't have a good grasp on the handle. I also like the ammount of ammo that this gun can hold. Is there anything comparable in firepower and such but with a smaller grip? Just because I am a female doesn't mean that I need a "sissy" gun...I just want something of equal power but easier to handle. And FTR, I know very little about guns! So can you work with that info and answer my question? :-)

[Bikers4Bush]

Have you considered buying a 9mm that isn't hi-cap?

[gundog]

How about a Makarov?

[AdamSelene235]

Do you find the handle too fat or too long?

[luckodeirish]

I am female and have fairly small hands, and love the grips on my Sig Sauer 229.

[PleaseNoMore]

Ok....you stepped in it lol...What is hi cap?? I am totally lost at the technical terms for guns and their features. I am basically going to go shopping and feel each gun that I consider. You know, hold it in my hand, get a feel for how it "handles" etc...

[yarddog]

The Browning HP has a much more comfortable grip than the Ruger. It is also smaller.

The Browning is a single action auto but that might be an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

I like the .45's and other larger bore calibers but I wouldn't dismiss the smaller ones such as the little CZ-70 in .32 ACP. For that matter the .22 LR is a very fine chambering. It is cheap and pleasant to shoot. It is also accurate and deadly.

[PleaseNoMore]

The handle is too fat. My hands don't grip it well because it is so fat. The length is fine.

[dd5339]

My wife who has relatively small hands found that my Sig 226, (available in 9mm as a police trade in possibly with 15 round magazines) fit her hands very well. I've bumped her on this so I'm sure she'll contribute some advice as well.

I would suggest visiting several gun shops or gun shows. Talk to the people there and spend time with those sales people who are willing and able to answer your questions. Once you've found a reasonable shop, check out the different pistols there, hopefully the shop will have an attatched range where you can actually try out the firearm. Handle them and see how they fit your hands, check out the controls to see how easy or difficuly they are to operate.

Don't limit yourself to one particular brand/type/caliber. Check out everything that you can, you might find something that works great for you.

I'd also suggest looking at revolvers. My wife has a Ruger GP 100 that she loves. Every woman that we've taken to the range that has shot her Ruger has loved the fit of it.

Most of all, have fun looking at all the different firearms out there.

Semper Fi

[vin-one]

Personaly perfer my snub nose 38, only problem is that it holds only 5 rounds,
the handle is too short, but can be replaced easily.
best thing about it is that it is a revolver, easy to use,
just point and click,,,,,,
recommended by a local police officer....

[advocate10]

SIGARMS makes a SigPro compact 9mm that's excellent and top quality. Also, I know a place online where you can buy one at rasonable cost.

[joesnuffy]

Browning Hi Power
My wife has small hands and this really fits her hand nicely... I had Ted Yost do the action - smooth out all the sharp edges-and make it ultra-reliable
The top pic is a picture of my wife's auto....Ted also does a fantastic job on 1911's
http://www.tedyostguns.com/browning1.htm

[BallandPowder]

Powder..patch..Ball FIRE!

How about a Makarov?

Very nice handgun, not very expensive...

[rockfish59]

Ruger SP-101, .357!
I don't leave home without it! (Scanned actual size)

[Bikers4Bush]

You have freep mail.

[zx2dragon]

GlockTalk
The Firing Line

Post at the above sites for some good feedback.

[winner45]

Go to a gun shop with a firing range. Rent several different pistol, and try them out. Find the piece thats suits you best. Buy it. Practice regularly. Obey all local laws and codes regarding firearm ownership. But most of all be happy.

[Pahuanui]

Under what conditions do you see yourself using the gun? If not simply for home defense, and you'll be out on the streets with it, you might want to consider an internal hammer detective's revolver ('snub-nosed'), in either .38 or .357, depending on how easy it is for you to handle the recoil.

Powerful, small, and you can fire them from the inside of a pocket in somthing you're wearing, w/out having to worry about the hammer catching on fabric or having to reach into a purse for it.

[Sungirl]

I was thinking about a new gun too. I'd like a light - flat - small - powerful semi-automatic...cheap.
Am I asking for too much?