which of the following (in 9mm) do you recommend and why?

[cpttango30]

Springer EMP. Nothing else need be said.

 

[Pilot]

CZ RAMI or if you can go a little bigger the compact, lightweight CZ-75D PCR.

 

[Eightball]

BTW, she has small hands and CAN'T get her hands around a FULL size gun.

If she can't get her hands around a full-size gun, why are you even polling for compacts that have the same grip radius as the full size firearm, and can accept the full-size firearm's magazines? I'm referring to the M&P, XD, PX4, Glock, and maybe the USP (dunno about it as much). Either she can, in which case she might invest in the same model's full-size cousin for HD, or she cannot, in which case those are worthless options for the poll, IMO.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Anything but the Glock and HK - they are blocky and not likely to fit her hands. The other double-stacks may be too thick as well, in which case you're down to the Kahr P9 as the best choice. FWIW, I voted Beretta PX-4, but several good choices on the list, as a combo home defense/carry gun.

 

[Great Scot]

Glock 26

Reliable with everything, mild recoil, lots of accesories, with mag extension it handles like a duty gun. Excellent overall weapon.

 

[BlazingAngel01]

Beretta 92 FS

 

[NGIB]

I second a Kahr K9 (the all steel version, E9 is cheaper if you can find one). One of the best carry 9s and a sweet shooter - love mine...

 

[equitytrader]

Glock 17 and CZ-75 - Because you have to get one of each eventually.

 

[Mak92fs]

Browning High Power

I have to second this even though i dont own one because ive shot a few and i would definetly prefer them over any single stack 9mm....plus im getting to be a hardcore 1911 fan and it seems like it would be a good companion gun

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

you also need to take into concideration if she can rack the slide. some auto's have a rather stiff pull and that needs to be looked at. i would take her to a range that rents.

let her look at ones she like then make sure she can rack it before she shoots it.

oh ya i voted kel-tec pf-9. my 4'11" asain wife loves it with her tiny hands. she keeps trying to steal it from me.

 

[NWdude83]

Kahr CW9

 

[lax]

Sig P250. Nice trigger.

 

[GRB]

Beretta 92FS. Ultra reliable, quality firearm.

 

[JBP55]

Kahr if she can not shoot a weapon with a large grip, G19 if she can.

 

[Dan-O]

Kahr PM9. No explanation needed. Shoot one and tote it around in yer pocket all day, and you will see what I mean.

 

[deputy tom]

S&W 3913 LS.It's designed for a woman's hands and they work well.Easily carried CCW,accurate,well made,heck being a man I'd like one too! YMMV.tom.

 

[rbernie]

M&P Compacts have worked well for me, and my wife's hand seemed to fit it well with the smallest backstrap installed.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I voted Kahr 'cause it's not a Block.

Second choice would be an XD.

 

[Nagant]

Try the Kahr...

My vote is for the Kahr CW9. It is almost guaranteed to fit her hand, and it's a great little pistol, IMHO.

 

[poor_richard]

Whichever one she shoots/likes the best. Honestly.

Here's some reading.

http://www.corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx

There’s your answer right there. And, don’t just read one article, read them all.

That said. If the Glock 17 fits her well, then that would probably be best for HD, but would she be able to conceal it.

For the rest, it’s really about personal preference. I personally don’t like the PPS controls. I also still don’t trust the M&P’s yet, and think that anyone who decides to go with one should run 1000 rounds through them before trusting them (wouldn’t exactly be a bad thing to do with any SD/HD gun, but definitely ones with spotty reputations).

People often ask “which one?”, but that question should be integral with other questions. More importantly, “How is she going to use/carry/conceal it?”, or “What’s the availability of parts, and accessories?”, “How experienced/safe is she?” are just a few. These of course should be after she has eliminated the ones, which don’t fit her well. Many people seek advice on which one to get, only to be disappointed when they get what was advised. This happens because they don’t do the research to find out what’s best for them, and that doesn’t mean reading the Internet, it means going to shows, shops, and the range to get a hands on experience.

Let her decide which one she likes (or narrow down to a list), then have her try out different carry methods to see if they’ll be agreeable to her. The USPC may be an excellent choice, but if it’s too big for her to carry in the hot summer months, then it’s pretty much worthless. I had a friend who bought an SP-101 for CC only to decide about 6 months later (having never even attaining his permit) that he wants to have a gun for pocket carry, and the SP-101 is too big. He bought the gun with no thoughts on how he was going to carry it, and now isn’t happy with a fine CCW piece. Have her try out guns, but also have here try out holsters (preferably with the guns in them). Let her get an idea of what it’s going to be like carrying the gun, and that will help her decision.

I have another friend who is currently looking at getting a carry gun, and I told him to get the one he thinks he be more inclined to carry, since, “a gun at home on the dresser isn’t going to help you when you get mugged.” If that means you carry a P3AT because you think the J-Frame is “too bulky”, then so be it. He of course came to the logical conclusion that he should then get a second gun for the winter months, and home or office defense.

I personally like the G26, and XD-9SC because, while both are sub-compacts, they can both be run with extend mags in a ergonomic configuration. Thus they can both work for CCW and still double as a higher capacity gun for HD (not ideal for HD, but better than nothing until something better comes along). They are also both proven designs. I personally prefer the Glock, but that’s nothing against the XD. OTH, they might be too blocky for her, and the Kahr might be a better choice.

The Kel-Tec PF-9 isn’t a bad gun IMHO, but I do think the Kahr is nicer.

I don’t know much about the Beretta other than I think they look nice. My main concern is getting parts and accessories (mainly a few holsters that will work for here preferred carry method). Both it, and the H&K are the only ones with manual safety levers, and aren’t striker fired (Not sure about the KT).

I won’t vote in this one, since I have no idea what her intended uses and methods of carry are. I like either the G26, or XD-9SC for carry (with a preference for the Glock), and the G17 for HD, but that’s just for myself. Asking someone to pick out which gun your going to CC is like asking someone to buy your underwear without telling him or her your size, style, or brand and color preferences. It’s a personal thing, and the only one who can decide which one is best for you is you.

 

[ewayte]

SIG P239. I've owned the S&W M&Pc, SA XD9SC, Kahr PM9 and a Glock 33 (same size as the 26). I've gone back to wanting a pistol made of steel, that's all.

 

[Chortdraw]

I like my Service -9 XD. But I also like my SR-9. It would be a toss-up for me so far.

 

[rj112275]

The Glock 26 is what I voted for. I love mine. However, the Kahr PM9 would probably be my 2nd choice. The size of the PM9 make it so easy to carry and you still get a 9mm.

 

[MCgunner]

Kel Tec. Small, affordable, light, concealable, accurate, 100 percent reliable, backed by a lifetime warranty by one of the best customer service policies in the business. You don't need to spend more, though you might WANT to if you are a "beat the Jones' " type. Suit yourself. I've been happily armed with a P11 for a dozen years now and have no intent to carry any other 9 except maybe a PF9 if I get the urge. You cannot change my mind. But, the P11 is nearly as light and small as the PF9, only 1" thick and a double stack. 13 rounds of firepower, +P rated, in a pocket, and capable of 3.5" 25 yard accuracy. I have a Ruger P85, only marginally more accurate, no more reliable, and a hell of a lot harder to conceal and carry. It only has 3 rounds more capacity! No way in hell it'll fit in a pocket. I never carry that gun, just a range gun.

 

[Anna's Dad]

I didn't even vote because there are so many good options there that I would recommend highly.

I have personally owned the Springfield XD, Kahr, Smith M&P and H&K USP. If not the exact model you listed, one very similar.

I would have no problem recommending any of them. All performed very well for me and were extremely reliable.

I sold the Springfield and Kahr but my reasons were really just personal preference--nothing wrong with the guns at all.

I can't speak highly enough about either the S&W M&P or H&K USP (that's a lot of ampersands). Both have been extremely reliable and accurate.

I'd give the nod to the M&P on ergnomics, but both are great choices.