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Recommend looking at one of the old Star "Firestar" 9mms if you can find a quality used one. Very heavy all steel guns.

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You are not far off from an STI LS. It's a little heavy but not unruly, and it will help with recoil.

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My wife has tiny hands as well - she's 4'10". She handled dozens of pistols @ a gun show and liked the Baby Eagle compact, steel frame the best. Only drawbacks: she can't handle the initial DA trigger pull, so manually cocks the hammer for the first round, and second it's TOO heavy for her to consider carrying. But it's a great range & bedside gun.

Baby Eagle & CZ are basically the same gun. A 1911 would avoid the initial DA trigger issue.

CC Italian wrote:Yep. G26ster that’s the Colt we handled today but in a .45. It was a beauty. I assume the 9mm is the same size as the .45 defender? They recommended the New Agent because of the slim none Hogue grips.

Well I mentioned the 9mm Defender because you mentioned recoil. Yes they are the same size. These Hogue grips come off in a minute and you can add thin grips for under $50 easily. BTW, have you seen the sights on a New Agent. Their just one long groove along the top of the slide from back to front. That's it! Also, I paid $810 for mine new.

The Taurus PT111 in 9mm has very small grips and weighs 18 ounces according to the company website. Mine isn't bad after the break-in.

Well I talked to her about it more and even though it wasn't a perfect fit she wants to shoot a 908 S&W. She said that was the best fit for the money. She doesn't want me to spend that kind of money on a 1911 for just her. I don't blame her. The Gun Emporium in Conroe has a 908 for rental. She can hold the gun and the trigger is perfect unlike the sig but can she hold it enough to shot it accurately. We are going to go there tomorrow and rent it and see how she does. Honestly she has never shot a 9mm. Only .22LR, her .32 H&R, .38 special and .380. After shooting my Glock 20 and 27 all the time a 9mm is a breeze in a full size gun. I know they have a conceal carry instructor their. I might ask if he could give her a couple of pointers. Any pointers from you guys? I will report back tomorrow with results.

if she can shoot .38 special, 9mm will be a breeze.

CC Italian wrote:Well I talked to her about it more and even though it wasn't a perfect fit she wants to shoot a 908 S&W. She said that was the best fit for the money. She doesn't want me to spend that kind of money on a 1911 for just her. I don't blame her. The Gun Emporium in Conroe has a 908 for rental. She can hold the gun and the trigger is perfect unlike the sig but can she hold it enough to shot it accurately. We are going to go there tomorrow and rent it and see how she does. Honestly she has never shot a 9mm. Only .22LR, her .32 H&R, .38 special and .380. After shooting my Glock 20 and 27 all the time a 9mm is a breeze in a full size gun. I know they have a conceal carry instructor their. I might ask if he could give her a couple of pointers. Any pointers from you guys? I will report back tomorrow with results.

I understand we all have budget limitations but price would be the last factor in a self defense weapon choice. I mean really to coin a old phrase, how much is your life worth?

We will see. The .38 special she shot was a 4inch S&W that weighed about 30-35 ounces so this gun will be much lighter and the revolver was easier for her to hold.

Well she already has the .32 H&R in a 3in barrel and believe it or not I think it might do more damage then a .380. Potent little round, she keeps it full of 6 rounds of federal jhp. I think it will get the job done. Also she has a 20 gauge Remington 870 Youth for home defense plus me and all my toys. Really I want the 9mm but she is always left out of the fun when going to the range. I am trying to take my better half into account. This will not be her personal protection gun unless it just works out that way. I just want her to be able to handle it and it just happens that most of the guns she can hold are mainly for concealed carry because her small hands. I guess for recoil a 115 grain non +P would be best for shooting tomorrow? That seems to be American Eagle and Remington UMC territory.

If it wasn't for the weight restriction, I'd recommend a KelTec PF9, but it's 13oz unloaded.

CC Italian wrote: Any pointers from you guys?

9mm recoil can be overcome with practice, start with one round in the chamber and an empty magazine. Did a quick google search and found a video on technique. I'm sure there are more out there.

Just went and picked up some ammo for tomorrow and no wonder you 9mm guys love it so much. It is cheap. $23 dollars for 100 rounds of Winchester white box at wally world. It was $28 for .40. I definitely need to get a 9mm to just go plinking at the range even if I don't ever carry it.

CC Italian wrote:Just went and picked up some ammo for tomorrow and no wonder you 9mm guys love it so much. It is cheap. $23 dollars for 100 rounds of Winchester white box at wally world. It was $28 for .40. I definitely need to get a 9mm to just go plinking at the range even if I don't ever carry it.

If you buy the Federal 9mm at Wally World it's only $9.57 for 50. provided your WW stocks it of course.

The 908 is an excellent gun for women. I have it's fancier brother the 3913 and I almost lost it to my wife until she tried an M&P. My wife has smallish hands and rather short fingers she absolutely loves her M&P with the small grip inserts.