Wifes new weapon; S&W M&P Shield .40 / Glock 27 / Berreta Nano

[rnmac]

So my wife is not liking the Rugar LCP to much because of trigger bite and the hard trigger pull of the gun. So I am looking into other options.

I own a XD40 SC and she says it is to big, bulky, and heavy for her.

So my question is; what gun would you experts out there recommend?

My wife has very small hands and already has a problem racking a round on the LCP because of lack of grip to the slide and the power of the spring. She would like this new choice of gun to be her Concealed Carry gun. She is a size 2 and has little places to make a holster concealable unless she is wearing a coat or heavy sweatshirt. So the purse is the likely place this weapon will be most of the time.

I have researched the Glock 27, Beretta Nano, and the M&P Shield in 40. To me they all have there good and bad points, but, I am leaning towards one just because of compactness and conceal ability.

Please tell me your expert opinions on these choices and points you think that matter and those that do not. I know she will have to place hands on these guns to make the right choice, but I would like to limit her shooting a dozen guns to get the right one.

[Thunder71]

You would like to limit her, curious who limited your choices? Who picked the LCP?

I'd probably stay away from the .40 caliber, but I nor anyone here (to the best of my knowledge) know your wife.

Purse is a terrible option... thief will grab that first, then he has everything - including the gun. Lots of options out there, check out faliaphotography on YouTube for some ideas, Smartcarry comes to mind as well.

Good luck!

[N.E. Tx.XD]

If your XDsc is too thick in her hand, then I'd say the G27 will also feel bulky to her. However, It's not as blocky nor heavy as the XDsc. I wouldn't put her in any .40 either for her first SD auto. It has a nasty little bite compared to it's brother, G26 in a 9mm. It's a SPICY meatball! The 27 will not be as enjoyable to shoot, and that will matter when she's "training up" The .40 isn't gaining you that much over the 9mm other than a physiological security blanket. If you must have or do come down on the G26/27, definitely get it in a Gen4. With the backstrap system on it, the smallest setting will make it 3mm shorter than the Gen3 model. It made a difference with mine for her.

I have heard LOTS of complaints about the Nano. Am steering clear.

Of the one's that you have listed, the M&P Shield makes the most sense.

If you want to spend an extra $100, look at it's German cousin, the Walther PPS. I have showed my wife a series of single stack 9's and she really likes how thin the Walther is and how it feels. It has just enough size to enjoyably shoot a long session with, and small enough to conceal. She is also left handed, and the mag release is ambi on the trigger guard. So we can both carry it and the mag release is always in the right place. I have one on order when she lands her CHL.

My wife is also tiny like yours, but the right holster with the right dress and these thin single stacks will also disappear IWB on her. As stated above, purse carry is not really a good idea since your not in total control of your gun at all times. However they do build/make purses specifically for gun toting. The best one I have seen demonstrated had a strap that went around the guns grip, that would hang out where the closed Velcro pocket was securing the gun. If she keeps this strap wrapped around her wrist when carrying, and her purse gets snatched off her shoulder, the gun comes out in her hand, as the purse goes away. BANG...another Dbag down. They are NOT cheap, but the only way I could recommend purse carry for a woman.

[Brimstone]

The Shield is a very nice choice. Is there a range where she can try them out and see which she likes best?

[RobzXD]

Since you write that your wife has trouble racking the LCP and has rather small hands, she needs to do some hands-on research and figure out which of the pistols SHE thinks she could handle and conceal (she may need to alter her dressing style in order to effectively conceal, but hey... it's an excuse for her to buy clothes). We're also against Purse Carry, for the reasons stated. On-Body Carry is the only way we recommend.

My Wife loves shooting her XD9 Service, but can't conceal it well. She had the SR9c for a while, but wasn't thrilled with the trigger. She's currently carrying the G26. in weighing the Pro & Con of each... While she likes the conceal-ability of my Shield, she prefers the G26 trigger over the conceal-ability of the Shield.

As far as choosing which caliber she carries, she needs to see which caliber will allow her to get better/quicker Follow-Up double & triple-taps. If she gets better follow-up shot placement with 9mm, I wouldn't make her go .40. Try to Rent (or Borrow) all the potential new pistols, rather than just holding them at the counter. Way too many 'Feel Good' to hold, but don't Feel Good to shoot. My Wife leanrned that the hard (aka: Expensive) way (yes... She buys her OWN pistols with HER money).

If you haven't seen it yet, check out Cornered Cat
Having problems racking a slide MAY be more Technique based, rather than Strength based. Cornered Cat has a great page referencing Racking Slides, as well as Concealed Carry options for Women, Choosing the pistol that's right for HER and more.
Good luck in the hunt!

[Steak]

Originally Posted by rnmac

So my wife is not liking the Rugar LCP to much because of trigger bite and the hard trigger pull of the gun. So I am looking into other options.

I own a XD40 SC and she says it is to big, bulky, and heavy for her.

So my question is; what gun would you experts out there recommend?

My wife has very small hands and already has a problem racking a round on the LCP because of lack of grip to the slide and the power of the spring. She would like this new choice of gun to be her Concealed Carry gun. She is a size 2 and has little places to make a holster concealable unless she is wearing a coat or heavy sweatshirt. So the purse is the likely place this weapon will be most of the time.

I have researched the Glock 27, Beretta Nano, and the M&P Shield in 40. To me they all have there good and bad points, but, I am leaning towards one just because of compactness and conceal ability.

Please tell me your expert opinions on these choices and points you think that matter and those that do not. I know she will have to place hands on these guns to make the right choice, but I would like to limit her shooting a dozen guns to get the right one.

If she has trouble racking the slide then how about these?

Product: Model 638

Ruger® LCR® Double-Action Revolver

[Snaphook]

I had a Glock 27 and was not a fan. Didn't like the grip angle, the way I held it, trigger, or accuracy of it. Not trying to start another Glock fight, but I just didn't care for the gun and it's really no smaller than the XDSC. Have you thought about the small single action Sig's? If she's comfortable with cocked and locked I've heard both the 9mm and the 380 versions are spectacular little guns.

My smallest gun is a Kahr PM9, which would suit a small hand fine but she may not like the long trigger pull.

Given the options you list, having owned the Glock and shot the Nano and the Sheild I would go with the Sheild hands down.

[XDRoX]

I'd just train her to use the LCP. It's small package is what makes it superior to the others IMO. You can train her to rack it without effort in minutes. She needs to grab the slide with her left hand and do all the pushing with her right. Most people don't do it this way making it way more difficult to rack than it really is. There's a member on Calguns that made videos of his pre-teen daughter racking all his handguns.

If strength really is an issue then maybe a revolver is a better idea.

Here are a few pictures so you can compare the sizes. She won't be able to wear the larger ones as well as the LCP.

LCP vs Glock


LCP vs small framed revolver

[Ridge]

Originally Posted by rnmac

So my wife is not liking the Rugar LCP to much because of trigger bite and the hard trigger pull of the gun. So I am looking into other options.

I own a XD40 SC and she says it is to big, bulky, and heavy for her.

So my question is; what gun would you experts out there recommend?

My wife has very small hands and already has a problem racking a round on the LCP because of lack of grip to the slide and the power of the spring. She would like this new choice of gun to be her Concealed Carry gun. She is a size 2 and has little places to make a holster concealable unless she is wearing a coat or heavy sweatshirt. So the purse is the likely place this weapon will be most of the time.

I have researched the Glock 27, Beretta Nano, and the M&P Shield in 40. To me they all have there good and bad points, but, I am leaning towards one just because of compactness and conceal ability.

Please tell me your expert opinions on these choices and points you think that matter and those that do not. I know she will have to place hands on these guns to make the right choice, but I would like to limit her shooting a dozen guns to get the right one.

My wife had the same problem with her LCP. It wasn't worth trying to find an "easy" semi-auto for her so I got her a revolver. Pull trigger, go bang. Much better option IMHO.

[Triton225]

I like the shield, and my wife loves it. It's ideal for me in what I been looking for. A small size auto for spring/summer CC(short and thin) and a grip that my whole hand can grip(8 round mag), doesn't stick out past my palm. Perfect fit for my hand for a full grip. Plus it shoots great, decent trigger, and accurate.