Small guns feel odd, is it just me?

[bigalexe]

I was given opportunity recently to shoot a Glock 27 which is their subcompact model in .40S&W. My dislike for the gun came not because of the heavyish recoil or having difficulty controlling it because I wasn't, it just felt like there was nothing to hold on to as far as the grip goes. Anyone have that instance where they feel like the gun is just plain too small?

I shot 3 or 4 shots and was staying on-target, just felt odd.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Not just you, I hate the feel of subcompacts. Without a full size grip, I don't feel like I've got full control of the weapon. Two and a half fingers of grip just doesn't cut it.

 

[foolsgold80z]

I also do not like sub compacts. I have trouble manipulating them well and drawing from concealment is a major problem for me. I suppose training could overcome these issues but I ask myself, why bother when I can generally conceal my larger weapons adequately.

 

[forgetitohio]

I use to carry a P3AT for CC. It's not a gun to take to the range and shoot all day. I'll practice about 25rds. til it starts to be no fun to shoot.

I now CC a LCR. Nice to shoot 25-50 rds.+Ps and recoil is OK. If using my 125gr./ 750FPS target re-loads I can put 100 thru it with no problems.
I guess some would consider the LCR grip as small but not being a BIG guy it fits my hand pretty good.
I've put over 600rds. thru my LCR with no problems what so ever. Good gun.

It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. - David Ormsby Gore

 

[RedAlert]

Small compact guns are a compromise in fit, form and function.

They seek to fit into a smaller package than is comfortable in your hand.
They have heavier recoil springs due to lighter weight.
They have reduced ballistic performance due to shorter barrels.
They have reduced round capacity.

Admit it, you take all those into consideration and it would be impossible to create one that felt just at home in your hands as a full size pistol.

You have to decide if their lighter weight, smaller more easily concealed size is worth the compromise.

Red

 

[JMSUN]

Hand size makes a lot difference. I have relatively small hands, and I don't mind shooting compacts.

 

[JCallaway82]

I can't get into tiny guns either...I've shot a few of the more popular subbies....the LCP, the PF-9, the Ruger SR9c(yesterday)...

And I cannot get into them..

I guess if you are just going to jam it into a IWB or pocket holster and only use it when you needed it, it doesn't matter too much. But I have a hard time buying a gun I don't truly like just because it is small.

 

[bigfatdave]

You have to decide if their lighter weight, smaller more easily concealed size is worth the compromise.

That's well put.

You can learn to shoot without that placebo feeling from the pinky, I have monster hands and I just expect the grips of anything but a duty-size (or larger) gun to leave my smallest finger dangling, now I'm used to it and I don't even use my pinky for grip on my target guns or when I have a larger mag in the compacts, at this point it pulls my shots low if I clamp on the last finger.

Every gun is a compromise among factors too numerous to list, you'll have to decide if smaller is worth it for your needs, and if your needs don't go much beyond range toys, there is likely no point in a little abbreviated gun.

 

[oldbear]

I'm not to wild about small guns either, auto loader or revolver. As I'm a revolver guy I have found that the S&W J frame is to small, the K frame is just about right, and as much as I love them the N frame is just a little to big. But I hope that I will never have to stop shooting the N frames.

 

[Shadow 7D]

It's a trade off, and if you don't like it, be what it may, then just jam a Service size pistol down your pants and wear a coat.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Holding almost anything with just your thumb and one or two fingers will always feel unnatural, because it literally is. You just need to remind yourself that this is the price you pay for a short grip and increased concealability and learn to "tune it out." And don't just let the little finger hang off in space. Curl it under the butt or magazine floorplate and apply pressure with it. This will help to control the recoil and tightens the grip of your other fingers.

 

[Frozen North]

Subs can be alright when you get used to them... I can shoot my G26 as well as anything else now. The trick is to tuck your pinky underneath and use it to squish up on the mag. I can see how a G26-27 would be a miserable gun for those with gorilla paws though...

 

[Caliper_Mi]

It's a pocket pistol, not a full size range gun... Yea, the grip is small so it feels different but it's still fun. Haven't yet decided if I like my PF9 better with the pinky extension or not. It conceals better without though.

What feels different to me is my .32 Savage pistol. Just enough grip for all my fingers but the small barrel and slide mean it disappears in a two handed shooting grip. The pistol seems more in my hand than on top like more modern designs.

 

[flrfh213]

Subs can be alright when you get used to them... I can shoot my G26 as well as anything else now. The trick is to tuck your pinky underneath and use it to squish up on the mag. I can see how a G26-27 would be a miserable gun for those with gorilla paws though...

i never could do the p3at or pf9 but i have small to med hands and i love my Taurus pt740, my glock 23 feels odd unless i have the lazer on it. then it feels solid too.

 

[pockets]

Personally, I prefer compact and pocket pistols.
The only 'full size' pistols I own are a few chambered for .22LR.
And nope....I don't have tiny hands....just a preference for smaller pistols.
.

 

[Nushif]

Same here, Pockets. The Compact models definitely feel best in my hand.
Full size translates into "too big for you."

 

[thefamcnaj]

The g27 was my first gun purchase. When I took it to the range for the first time it did feel odd with my pinky finger just dangling off the bottom. So I found a cheap way to fix this little issue. I bought pearce pinky extentions for all my mags and I couldn't be happier. These extentions didn't give me any extra rounds in the magezine but you can get mag. extentions that will give you +2 I think.

 

[chez323]

I agree with you completely, I can't stand guns where the bottom of my hand is just left hanging. It just doesn't feel right/good to me, but to each his/her own.

 

[AKPastor]

I handled a lot of pocket pistols before deciding on the one I bought. My hands are pretty big. I wasn't real keen on having any fingers not on the grip. I found one though that just felt good when I picked it up. I wasn't able to find one to try out on a range, so I took a leap and bought it anyway.

It feels good shooting and I'm accurate with it. But I don't enjoy long range sessions the way I do with my full size guns. But I wanted the option of a small carry pistol for days when I don't feel like dressing for full sized concealment.

So, I encourage anyone that wants a pocket pistol to just keep looking for one that feels right.

 

[bigfatdave]

pearce pinky extentions

Those extensions defeat the purpose of having a gun with a small concealable grip

 

[orionengnr]

Everything is a compromise.

A smaller pistol will likely be of a lesser capacity, a smaller cartridge, or both of the above.

Accept this and move on.

 

[thefamcnaj]

The g27 is not harder to conseal with the pearce pinky extentions. IWB that little 40 caliber just disappears. I did think of leaving one of my mags stock just for carry, I figured I ought to carry it like i practice with it.

 

[bigfatdave]

The g27 is not harder to conseal with the pearce pinky extentions.

A longer grip is harder to conceal ... not impossible, you just have to dress around it more or position it more carefully.

 

[GCBurner]

The little P3AT in .380 is hard to get a consistent hold on with the standard 6-round magazine. I got the Kel-Tec one round extension, which increases capacity to 7 +1, and gives me room to wrap another finger around the grip. It's noticeably more controlable, and still fits in the pocket holster. The 9-round magazine increases capacity to 10, including the one in the chamber, and gives an almost full length grip, but needs to be carried in a holster on the belt, or IWB, as it's too long to easily draw from a pocket holster.

 

[Gig 'em]

I'm going to stand with bigalexe on this one. I couldn't stand the little bitty pocket pistols when I was searching for the right CCW. As I tried them, they felt more like toys than firearms. I ended up with an XD45c and couldn't be happier: All fingers on the grip and disappears completely.