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Ah, hand strength and length of finger are not necessarily the problem. What I found contributes to the fearsome reputation of the .45 Auto are these. Beginning shooters [male and female] of the M1911A1 are intimidated by: (1) exaggerated stories about its recoil (it will break your wrist); (2) it's huge muzzle blast; (3) the HORRIBLE trigger pull (8+ pounds) in G.I. M1911s; (4) the HIDEOUS slop and over travel of the standard, short, stamped G.I. trigger; (5) the inadequate G.I. sights on the M1911A1 (and M1911 is worse).

These new versions of the MEUSOC M45 pistol cure the sight problem with Novack high visibility sights; a trigger job for a light and crisp trigger pull; a new trigger that is longer, fits, and minimizes over travel. The other things are fixed by training -- assuring the trainees that the gun will NOT break their wrist and recoil is manageable. Reassuring the trainee that the muzzle blast will not kill them. Imparting confidence in the trainee that they are the master of the pistol and not the opposite way around.

I have trained Army MPs (females) who’s hands were so small they could barely get their fingers around the grip of a standard 1911. As range safety officer I had to order one female to use the .38 to qualify because she could not maintain control. At first we thought she just did not want to qualify. When we had her demonstrate her grip (thinking that we could correct the problem) her finger tips were on the front of the grip, under the trigger guard.

Granted she looked like 4 foot 11 inches to me (barely met the requirements) and only the Lord knows why she chose to be an MP ... but that was the case. One of those ... perhaps you should consider changing MOS moments.