single stack 9mm?

[G-Solutions]

+1 for the Sig 225/P6. This is probably one of the best guns for smaller hands.

Your wife will likely have to get used to the hard double action trigger for the first round or develop solid skills with bringing the gun out and racking the slide to bring the hammer back.
I'm not normally a fan of pistols with external hammer, but this one and the Sig 239 are the exceptions.

[CJJohn]

I have a few 9mm's, including a Walther PPQ, Kahr CM9, Sig 226, and a Ruger LC9. Both the Ruger and Walther are on my LTC and I carry the Ruger. The PPQ is going to my wife so that doesn't really count, but I bought the CM9 to replace the LC9...and haven't done so yet. I guess I have grown used to the trigger of the LC9 and now carry it most days over my Kimber. The danged thing has just grown on me, it's small, easy to conceal, accurate, it has been absolutely flawless from day one and has ate everything I have fed it. I am seriously hesitant to put the Kahr on my LTC, I like the Ruger better!

[ptroxx]

Smith & Wesson M&P 10+1 9MM 4 1/4" CA Legal
I love my LC9 I just got the trigger kit for it to help with that long pull.
Have you went to you local store and had your wife check them all out..You can rent what you want to check out here

http://www.gunsfishing.com/shooting-range_w.php

I almost got M&P9 cause I have small hands too and like the fit.. But im going to go with the 40 and then I can change out the barrel and nake it a 9mm

[dfletcher]

Cool...thanks for the input! 1911 patterns are kinda out, because of the grip size. Wife's got small hands, and it's a bit thick for her. In addition to the Ruger, we'll check out the Sig line a little more.

That's why the EMP should be considered. The grip is built around the 9mm cartridge, not the 45 ACP. I have one and the difference is significant and noticeable. You don't have to shoot it, just give it a grab.

[shafferds]

Surprise no one has said it: Browning High Power!!

[erik_26]

Springfield EMP 9mm. It is a smaller 1911. Perfect.

I just shot one of these yesterday. While it is a cool gun, looks nice, feels solid, it lacks in accuracy. Keep in mind it only has like a 2" barrel after you chamber a round. While at 15 yards all shots were center mass, it was a very loose group.

Once you own a 1911, it becomes the gun you compare everything else to.

You couldn't be more wrong. I have two 1911's. I am not a 1911 guy. I love mine, I respect the design and I will complement all the pretty ones out there. But it is not my go to gun. I don't ever carry them. I do enjoy them, but they are more of range toys.

But to each their own. I compare all guns to similar guns or caliber. Polymer to polymer (Glock vs. XD vs. PX4 vs. M&P etc...) (Kimber vs. Les Baer vs. SA vs. Wilson Combat vs. Sig.... etc) (Colt Python vs. S&W 686 vs. Taurus... etc.).

Bear in mind I'm a Glock guy. So for me to say that...is saying something. If you want single stack...well that just SCREAMS 1911.

Personally I don't care for Glocks. But I respect them and their hardcore loyal users. I know a Glock will go bang every time. I know a Glock will make 1000 trips to hell and back and ask for more. But they just aren't for me.

So to the OP, just patiently take your wife to a reputable gun store. Find a helpful staff member that isn't in a rush and ask them to show your wife all available single stack 9mm. Let her feel them all to see which ones are best. Then rent them and have fun.

[Rocket Man]

I just shot one of these yesterday. While it is a cool gun, looks nice, feels solid, it lacks in accuracy. Keep in mind it only has like a 2" barrel after you chamber a round. While at 15 yards all shots were center mass, it was a very loose group.

Completely disagree with this concerning an EMP, the one you shot must be defective & should be sent back to SA. I own two EMP's a 9 & 40 and they are really accurate, read the emp thread over at 1911 forum & everybody complements how accurate they are, granted some have had problems with jams & such but not accuracy, SA takes care of the jam problem for free.
Sorry if I got a bug up my *** about this but I flat out love my EMP 9 & 40

[IMG][/IMG]

Two mags at a close 7 yds;
[IMG][/IMg]

[Sackett]

I feel your pain. My wife and I just went through this. She's pretty small too. After feeling and shooting many guns, she preferred a full size 1911. Now, she actually likes the small "cute" guns but really appreciated the amount of felt recoil that gets soaked up in that big but thin steel frame. Make sure you don't just feel them, you gotta get her out there shooting too.

[KandyRedCoi]

my ex gf has tiny hands but she loves and shoots my kimber well...the EMP is a sound option...single stack 9mm in a 1911 pkg...thats a winner in my book

good luck in your search...

[scotty99]

Have you considered a revolver? I went through this with my wife, then one day out of some sick fascination I handed her a S&W 686, which she proceeded to shoot like she'd been doing it all her life.

It's not single stack, but you may want to have her hold a Walther PPQ. It's pretty narrow for a double-stack gun.

[erik_26]

Completely disagree with this concerning an EMP, the one you shot must be defective & should be sent back to SA. I own two EMP's a 9 & 40 and they are really accurate, read the emp thread over at 1911 forum & everybody complements how accurate they are, granted some have had problems with jams & such but not accuracy, SA takes care of the jam problem for free.
Sorry if I got a bug up my *** about this but I flat out love my EMP 9 & 40

[IMG][/IMG]

Two mags at a close 7 yds;
[IMG][/IMg]

Your grouping looks nice at 7 yards.

At double the distance +1 (15 yards) I could not shoot that tight. I was in and out of the 10 ring.

Perhaps it could be a flaw with the one I was shooting. But considering after you chamber a round, from bullet tip to muzzle end is only 1.5 to 2" of barrel to work with. You start reaching out 15+ yards, you will start to lose accuracy.

Either way, the EMP looks nice, it feels good and is fun to shoot. I wouldn't mind adding one to my collection. And if it works for you, even better. Congrats on a good looking gun.

But with that said, it would not be my go to gun. And to compare all guns to one style is not a fair comparison.

The right answer to "what gun should my wife get?" is The one that fits her and feels most comfortable for her to shoot.

My go to gun right now is my Beretta PX4 Storm in .40 S&W. The back up to that is my Sig P220 in .45 ACP. But that is what works for me. I like how they feel. I like how they carry. I like how they shoot.

I shoot well with all my guns. But with my PX4 and P220 follow up shots seem effortless. I can maintain tight groups with fast shooting. While I can have a very clean tight group with my Kimber Custom II, it takes a little more time and patients to get there.

[brassburnz]

Star Model B. 1911-ish Spanish service/police pistol. Very reliable and very inexpensive when you can find one.

http://www.star-firearms.com/firearms/guns/b/index.shtml

http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Star_Model_B

[OIF0708]

Walther PPS. Fantastic firearm. Easy to conceal, thin grip and a nice trigger.

[jlbflyboy172]

What will be the purpose for the gun. Will it be range shooting, working her way into competitive shooting, home defense gun, concealed carry? The answer the that questions should way heavily on the choice of both caliber and the weapon choice.

[CJJohn]

What will be the purpose for the gun. Will it be range shooting, working her way into competitive shooting, home defense gun, concealed carry? The answer the that questions should way heavily on the choice of both caliber and the weapon choice.

This as well. Do you want her fumbling with a safety under the stress of a home intruder? I know it's one more thing to think about but sometimes simpler is better. Although I've trained almost my whole life with 1911s my wife is not comfortable with the safety and knows it may be an issue in a bad scenario. As mentioned have her try a PPQ if you can. With the small backstrap it fits my wifes hand perfect, it's big enough to handle recoil well, and it's a "simple" system...point and squeeze.