DING DING DING!There is a big difference between a Beretta PX4, Steyr M9, Ruger SR9 and little guns like the Glock 43 and the S&W Shield.
I see this all the time in the "my wife/girl friend/daughter/etc. needs a handgun" threads. People always start recommending little concealment guns like the G43, Shield, J-Frame, etc. The issue is usually trigger reach not concealment. Nobody wants to shoot a little gun, they just want a gun that is easy to shoot that they can comfortably reach the trigger.
The PX4 is a pretty good choice, as is the Ruger SR9. The S&W M&P is another that would be a good choice. The 1911 is also a great choice for those with small hands. It's been my choice for about 30 years, but they are usually quite a bit heavier, and usually more expensive than the current polymer guns. If I were starting out today, I'd probably choose between the Beretta PX4 or the M&P9.
finally someone who understands my frustrations....even at LGS I get the same responses. "hey guys I have small hands and I can't get a good purchase while reaching/pulling the trigger on a lot of guns...." 90% of the time they immediately walk me over to the compacts/concealed section....which has absolutely NOTHING to do with my issue in selecting a gun.
I really appreciate you pointing this out....while the responses in here are generally much better than what I get at a LGS, you will still find plenty of people that seem to automatically equate small hands with "wants a concealed".