Softest shooting 9mm?

[Newcatwalt]

I strongly recommend the 9mm Sig P239.

 

[twofifty]

Good advice on the 147s having less felt recoil.

 

[toivo]

I strongly recommend the 9mm Sig P239.

With Hogue rubber finger-groove grips:

http://www.hoguestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_47_605&products_id=4224

 

[777TRUTH]

From all the ones I've tried I'd say the CZ 75B or the Beretta 92.

 

[Shipwreck]

Beretta 92 for sure. Very low recoiling, and newbies generally are surprised at how well they shoot with one.

 

[fridayxiii]

Perhaps the Beretta PX4 Storm? Rotating barrel design and three sizes of backstraps available.

 

[SDGlock23]

The heaviest 9mm you can find, which is likely to be either a Beretta or 1911. Sig may have a few heavy ones, plus it's got a fat grip. Then load it up with 147gr ammo, that bullet weight seems to be the easiest shooting of all. A standard pressure 124gr XTP or Speer Gold Dot would be another great option, they aren't all that fast. I think Speer and Hornady also make a standard pressure 115gr JHP too. Or get an all copper bullet, their added length vs. a lead bullet eats up case capacity so it's generally a light weight bullet moving slower than usual, but they're nasty expensive.

 

[ATLDave]

Percieved/felt recoil is a complicated thing. A heavier pistol, all else being equal, will recoil less in absolute terms. But lots of other things go into how that recoil feels, and some of them are personal. Some people feel rotating recoil/muzzle rise more strongly/unpleasantly than linear recoil. For them, a low barrel axis may be more comfortable. Some feel straight-line recoil is more unpleasant, and a higher barrel axis may suit them better. Some prefer a steady push, which augurs for a heavier recoil spring, while others like a gun that stays "flatter" longer, with a quick snap of rotation when the slide ends its stroke, which suggests a lighter spring. Some people like the lower absolute recoil of a steel frame, while others like the shock-absorbing frame flex of a polymer frame.

In short, different people will percieve the same pistol to recoil differently. In my subjective experience, a full-size M&P9 is about as soft-shooting as any centerfire pistol, but I know others who feel differently. The best approach is to take her to shoot as many different types as you can with a constant type of ammo.

Then, once you pick the pistol, you can experiment with different types of ammo.