Softest shooting 9mm?
- Thread starter Guvnor
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ZeSpectre
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My first thoughts are SIG 226, Beretta 92, or a CZ-75B.
However all of these have pretty hefty grips so if she has small hands it might not work.
However all of these have pretty hefty grips so if she has small hands it might not work.
LiveLife
Member
We see this quite often at the range with shooters trying to select pistols for their wives/girlfriends.
I always recommend they have their wives/girlfriends fire as many different pistols as possible and let "them" choose the one they can shoot the most accurately and comfortably the fastest (our range has a quite extensive rental selection). For 9mm, they usually end up with Glock 17/19.
Several female coworkers at work also wanted pistols for SD/HD. After firing various makes and models, they also chose Glocks over other brands. When I asked what made them choose Glocks over other models, they stated they felt less/milder recoil than other models and were able to hit the targets better.
If they are left handed shooters, I also cover which models have ambi controls (mag release, slide lock, safety) and M&P models have been popular with them although many left handed shooters have selected Glocks as well.
I always recommend they have their wives/girlfriends fire as many different pistols as possible and let "them" choose the one they can shoot the most accurately and comfortably the fastest (our range has a quite extensive rental selection). For 9mm, they usually end up with Glock 17/19.
Several female coworkers at work also wanted pistols for SD/HD. After firing various makes and models, they also chose Glocks over other brands. When I asked what made them choose Glocks over other models, they stated they felt less/milder recoil than other models and were able to hit the targets better.
If they are left handed shooters, I also cover which models have ambi controls (mag release, slide lock, safety) and M&P models have been popular with them although many left handed shooters have selected Glocks as well.
oneounceload
member
+1for letting HER pick out a gun to use.
Both of you need to read Kathy's www.thecorneredcat.com before doing anything else, lots of great info
Both of you need to read Kathy's www.thecorneredcat.com before doing anything else, lots of great info
LiveLife
Member
Both M&Ps and Glocks tend to have stiffer captured recoil spring assemblies and will often provide "softer" felt recoil with full size models being softer than compact models.
Good suggestion on cornered cat website. Here's a working link - http://www.corneredcat.com/article/choosing-firearms/gun-store-miss-adventures/
Good suggestion on cornered cat website. Here's a working link - http://www.corneredcat.com/article/choosing-firearms/gun-store-miss-adventures/
bannockburn
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Any full size all steel M1911 should be fairly tame on the recoil end of things. A CZ-75, Browning Hi-Power, or a SIG P229, are all very ergonomic and able to handle the 9mm. cartridge quite readily without much in the way of felt recoil.
The softest shooting 9mm. I have ever owned was MAB PA-15, which was all steel in construction and weighed nearly as much as an M1911. It featured a rotating barrel within the slide which made it very easy on felt recoil.
The softest shooting 9mm. I have ever owned was MAB PA-15, which was all steel in construction and weighed nearly as much as an M1911. It featured a rotating barrel within the slide which made it very easy on felt recoil.
LiveLife
Member
bannockburn, that's what I thought until I had a five foot female shooter who expressed displeasure of trying to hold up fully loaded full size "metal" pistols. When she picked up the fully loaded Glock, she smiled and said, "Now, this is much better."
While I love shooting my Sig 1911 over polymer pistols, when such range testing is being done, now I say nothing until the shooter had a chance to shoot all different make/models and target shot groups are reviewed.
IMO, the ultimate judge of gun selection for a female shooter is the shooter herself and the shot groups on target. And that will vary for different shooters. My wife loves to shoot the full size M&P45 but with the small grip insert.
While I love shooting my Sig 1911 over polymer pistols, when such range testing is being done, now I say nothing until the shooter had a chance to shoot all different make/models and target shot groups are reviewed.
IMO, the ultimate judge of gun selection for a female shooter is the shooter herself and the shot groups on target. And that will vary for different shooters. My wife loves to shoot the full size M&P45 but with the small grip insert.
bannockburn
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bds
Without a doubt, the only judge of what's suitable for a woman shooter is the woman herself.
The first time I took my sister (18 years old, 5' 6", and maybe 110 lbs.), to the range, I started her out with Ruger MKII .22. She did well with it and liked the weight (35 oz.), as it provided her with a steady balance in her hand. Not too heavy, not too light, and easy for her to keep it on target.
Next was a Star Model B in 9mm. (weight about 34 oz.), and again she shot fairly decent groups and didn't think the gun itself was too heavy or unwieldy, or that recoil was of any great concern.
Finally she finished up with a Browning BDA (todays SIG P-220 with a weight of 26 oz.), in .45ACP and shot her best groups of the day with it. Now you would think shooting a .45ACP in such a lighter weight pistol would be an issue for a beginner, but again no problems with felt recoil probably due to the great ergonomics of the SIG design.
Without a doubt, the only judge of what's suitable for a woman shooter is the woman herself.
The first time I took my sister (18 years old, 5' 6", and maybe 110 lbs.), to the range, I started her out with Ruger MKII .22. She did well with it and liked the weight (35 oz.), as it provided her with a steady balance in her hand. Not too heavy, not too light, and easy for her to keep it on target.
Next was a Star Model B in 9mm. (weight about 34 oz.), and again she shot fairly decent groups and didn't think the gun itself was too heavy or unwieldy, or that recoil was of any great concern.
Finally she finished up with a Browning BDA (todays SIG P-220 with a weight of 26 oz.), in .45ACP and shot her best groups of the day with it. Now you would think shooting a .45ACP in such a lighter weight pistol would be an issue for a beginner, but again no problems with felt recoil probably due to the great ergonomics of the SIG design.
col_temp
Member
Second BDS suggestion and yours.
My wife who is quite small found she liked the MP9 the best.
Note one of the other things going for the MP series. Is they are left or right doesn't matter. (I am left she is right) so we can share.
Secondly, the MP have adjsutable back straps. Not all have this. So you can get a back strap that will work for both of you. (I.e. Whichever needs the smallest. The other can compenstate if necessary.
As other have said, go shooot a bunch and figure out which you like.
ALSO, try using 147gr ammo. I has a smaller recoil than the usual 115gr. (I don't notice a huge difference but after firing 40-50 rounds of 115gr and then shooting a clip of 147gr I do notice a difference!)
Good luck let us know what you come up with~! :-}
SharpsDressedMan
member
Try a P1 Walther with standard 115gr loadings. It also has left hand ejection. 
I recently took a new shooter to the range and let her shoot my Beretta 92, Browning Hi Power, and CZ-75B. She liked the Beretta 92 the best and ultimately I sold it to her. I was surprised as the Browning Hi Power is my favorite, but she did not like it as much and admittedly, it did seem to possibly have a little more recoil when doing side-by-side comparison with the same ammo.
toivo
Member
For a smaller-handed person, try a SIG P239.
Stringfellow
Member
I own the same group, and concur that the 92 seems to have the least recoil. The HP to me has the most of the 3. I was actually surprised that head-to-head, the 92 seemed softer than the CZ75. The only thing I could think of that explains this, is the larger dimensions of the 92 spread out the recoil. Dunno...
I'd suggest you add an H&K USP9 to the mix. I like their soft shooting feel (and other reviews note the same) and can be swapped to left handed controls (mine is). If hand size is an issue, the USP9c (compact) has a smaller grip circumference but a similar double buffered soft feel. My wife has that one.
GL with the choosing.
B
GL with the choosing.
B
snooperman
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+1 on the SIG P239 if she has small hands. If not, then try the Ruger P95.
meanmrmustard
Member
I think the M9 and CZ75 feel the same, but recoil is subjective.
My fiancé has tiny hands, but with VZ Tactical Diamond grips, she shoots my 75 better than I do.
My fiancé has tiny hands, but with VZ Tactical Diamond grips, she shoots my 75 better than I do.
The Glock 17L is very soft-shooting, it is a long slide and the mass out front makes recoil negligble.
It's polymer framed so it ends up being a fairly light pistol over all.
I don't like stock Glock triggers but they can be replaced for 40 bucks.
My Glock 17L is the softest shooting nine that I have, followed by a close second - my HK P7M8.
It's polymer framed so it ends up being a fairly light pistol over all.
I don't like stock Glock triggers but they can be replaced for 40 bucks.
My Glock 17L is the softest shooting nine that I have, followed by a close second - my HK P7M8.
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Jenrick
Member
You might be surprised, she might like a wheel gun. My wife prefers my mode 15 with hogues compared to any other gun I own. She even prefers to shoot my M19 with .357 magnum loads over say my G34, she just vastly prefers how the revolver fits her hand.
Back to you original question, I find either my USP in 9mm or my 5" 1911 in 9mm are the two softest shooting nines I own. Both have a very mild recoil impulse, and the longer barrel helps get the blast and noise that much further away from the shooter.
-Jenrick
Back to you original question, I find either my USP in 9mm or my 5" 1911 in 9mm are the two softest shooting nines I own. Both have a very mild recoil impulse, and the longer barrel helps get the blast and noise that much further away from the shooter.
-Jenrick
Jim NE
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Of course, if my spouse was getting me a new 9mm, the CZ would be my choice, but the P-95 might be the best choice due to it's lower cost. The negative would be that the grip feels bulky to some. People say the P-95 is soft shooting, but that might be by comparison only. Mine is pleasant, but if my wife wanted to start shooting, I'd give her one of my K frame .38's.
Rock185
Member
Lots of good suggestions here and I own, or have owned, many of them. I have 1911s in 9MM that are very soft to shoot, but I believe the softest shooting 9MM I've ever personally encountered is the SIG X-5. I have the X-5 AllRound version which has the common DA/SA, decocker,etc., so it is no different to handle and shoot than any other traditional DA/SA SIG...ymmv
TMann
Member
In general, a large heavy gun is going to shoot softer than a smaller, lighter one. Also, grip size matters, as a good fitting gun is generally more controllable than one that doesn't fit you as well.
So having said that, I have had good success with he following guns: Browning Hipower, CZ 75B and 9mm full-size 1911s. All three can be carried/shot cocked and locked and shot in SA mode. I have small hand and have a hard time with DA/SA gun as the trigger pull is often just too long.
TMann
So having said that, I have had good success with he following guns: Browning Hipower, CZ 75B and 9mm full-size 1911s. All three can be carried/shot cocked and locked and shot in SA mode. I have small hand and have a hard time with DA/SA gun as the trigger pull is often just too long.
TMann
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