What Handgun Should My Daughter Use?

I took my 15-year-old daughter to her first shooting experience the other day--a "basic handgun" course. I thought I'd have her try the Glock 19 (for the milder recoil, etc.). Well, she is so petite that she couldn't get her finger around to and on the trigger to shoot comfortably. She didn't even try the Glock. So the instructor suggested she shoot a .22 cal., but that gun didn't look all that much smaller.

Is there a thinner and/or smaller gun that would be (1) easier for her to shoot AND (2) similar to a Glock with regard to double action, reliability, etc.? The "thinner" Glock 36 might not be all that much thinner in her hand--plus the .45 might be a bit much for her tiny frame. Or should she just have hand recontruction surgery so that she can become a true and committed Glock Girl?

BTW, her first shooting experience she would probably rate only a 4 on a 1-to-10 scale. She just wasn't terribly excited. So maybe a more appropriate handgun will do the trick next time, if there is a next time.

Thanks!

[D2G19]

How about a K frame?

[USMC_2674]

I found the secret to getting my girls to like shooting was start 10 years earlier than you did with your daughter.

I have two girls, 5 and 7, and they both love going shooting. They beg me to take them every week. So we go.

5 year old likes my Glock 26 with AA conversion kit and 10/22 and my 7 year old likes my G34 with the full 9mm round. She likes to shoot the pop bottles and watermelons. She also hunts mice with me with her pellet gun in our garage! She's gotten to the point where I can just let her go out there by herself and I trust her explicitly.

Semper Fidelis

[vafish]

My 11 year old son shoot a G19 just fine.

The G36 grip circumference is almost exactly the same as the G19, if her hands are too small for the G19 I doubt they'll fit the G36.

The various Kahr 9mm's should be smaller. The full sized, all steel, "T" model would appear to be a good choice (but I've never handled one).

[Lancelot]

I'd have her try one of the Ruger MkII .22 pistols, or a Ruger Single Six .22 revolver. I know its not a Glock, but they might be easier to get a hold of.

Or take her to a gun shop and see what she can grab. Smaller guns aren't always better, as felt recoil may increase with light weight or frame size.

I'd try the single six first.

[EON]

My 9 year old daughter first shot my Ruger Single Six about a year ago and loved it. About 6 months ago, I bought a Walther P-22 that she now shoots. We spent a lot of time talking about weapon safety before and after she began shooting. I have been very pleased with her attention to safety issues. In some cases I would trust her more than some of the adults who shoot at the local range.

EON

[vaglockman]

Check out the Kel-Tec .380. Its only 0.77" wide. It is the smallest pistol made in a caliber that might actually be able to stop someone. First time I saw one, I thought it was something to put on your key ring - just doesn't look real at all! If you have never seen one in real life, image a saturday night special, 25 auto, that is sliced in half...thats the size of this gun. Only $300 too!

http://www.kel-tec.com/p3at_pistol.htm

[JWM]

And preferably a rifle for starters. If you want to start with a handgun, go with the Single Six. Use .22 Shorts or Subsonic ammo and make sure she's also using ear muffs as well as plugs underneath. No noise is important at this stage, it's got to be fun for her.

For targets, nothing beats balloons. Blow up a dozen and set them up close. Hit = instant gratification. A .99 cent bag of balloons should keep her entertained for an afternoon. Move them out further if it's too easy for her, get her to call her shots, etc.

So you've eliminated the negatives: Noise and recoil, while providing reactive targets that are relatively easy to hit. If she doesn't enjoy it, well, she may not care for recreational shooting right now.

[Nowhere Man]

You might try the Walther P22 or P99. The grip size can be changed to fit most hands.


Dave

[RichardinNC]

Originally posted by vaglockman
Check out the Kel-Tec .380. Its only 0.77" wide. It is the smallest pistol made in a caliber that might actually be able to stop someone. First time I saw one, I thought it was something to put on your key ring - just doesn't look real at all! If you have never seen one in real life, image a saturday night special, 25 auto, that is sliced in half...thats the size of this gun. Only $300 too!

http://www.kel-tec.com/p3at_pistol.htm

Just remember that Kel-Tecs are not beginners weapons. Many older shooters have trouble with them and the P-3AT (.380) may be the most difficult of all. Their size is deceiving - they look like simple guns but they are more demanding than most as far as getting them to function properly. I have an old Iver Johnson TP-22 that is about the same size and would be ideal (it's not for sale) but you should be able to find a quality small frame revolver or auto pistol that would be be good for plinking and learning shooting discipline.

[DonGlock26]

3" M-60 S&W J-frame with soft rubber grips. You can use mild wadcutters to start with and 135+P Golddots for S.D. later.

Or, a Kahr 9mm/ Sig P225 ,single stack 9mm's with small grips.

Thanks to everyone, so far, for the suggestions about which handgun might be appropriate for my daughter. As usual, there are a lot of different opinions. I'll have to do some research, keep talking to people, and then make a decision. Or better, I'll get my daughter involved in the process and have her determine what feels best in her hand. If she can try shooting with the various guns, that will be better. Thanks.

[SeanK]

;f ;f ;f

http://securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2500/2520.htm

[A_Swede_17_1911]

Browning Hi-Power is worth a try, also check out the Kahrs, and dont rule out a 1911 clone, if you reload you can really make some loads that are mild to shoot, and the single stack frame should fit her hand, and can get a .22 converstion kit, if she cant handle the .45 loads, and once she's comfortable you can swap it back over. The Hi-Power does seem to fit many peoples hand, it fits my wifes and she has fairly small hands, so far the only gun i've found to fit is my K frame with houge rubber grips.

[dogboy13]

try a kahr k9.that is what my girlfriend carries and shoots she is only 5ft 2in. and pretty short fingers

[22highcaps]

USMC_2674

OT, but after reading your post, I an only say one thing...

You rule!

[Hugo R]

Both of my girls started shooting with an old Glenfield single shot .22 bolt action. They learned safety and responsibility and had to prove themselves to move up to the Taurus .22 revolver and my Marlin M39 Golden .22 lever action.

Eventually they both went on to shoot my Glocks which of course now has me purchasing Glocks for both of them. One of them loves the G19 and the other one loves the G26. My younger daughter is 14 and kinda petite but handles the G26 no problem. My 16 year old daughter eats up the G19 and recently shot my Para Ord P14 Limited. She didn't like the recoil and went back to her G19 but I can tell that in time she'll probably move on up.

I think a lot of it has to do with mind set and experience. I have a seven year old son and he'll be graduating from his BB gun in the near future.

Don't give up, take her out again, and try a .22 like the instructor said. I purchased a Browning Buckmark recently and both of my daughter love to shoot it. Especially the petite one.

Good luck!

[tjpet]

The only handgun I've seen small-handed women fall in love with at first pick up is the Kahr P9. The grip, weight, and most of all, trigger reach, is just about perfect for them.

They also appreciate the simplicity of the design - insert mag, rack slide to chamber round, pull or don't pull trigger.

[Bear_B]

Try the XD-9 Duty or tactical model.... my daugther loves mine.

I tried the 4" barrel (midsize) XD-9 for the very first time just last week. I liked the fit of it in my hand better than the Glock 19. My daughter just got back from almost two weeks of camp. We'll have to go to the shooting range and try out some of the guns all of you have been recommending. Thanks.

[1k9]

I bought my girl her first gun when she was 13yrs old (ruger MkII)
but she shoots all of my guns from her MkII to G23,G30, DSAFAL AR15.
The best thing I think is getting them to enjoy shooting and then let them experience what ever thay would like to try to shoot.

[1k9]

another pic

[1k9]

last pic with one of thre Glocks

[DAVEKO]

We have a petite 15 year old that shoots the G19, G26, G27, G30, 1911's, etc...
Mandy prefers the G26 most of all, great size for a hideout/carry gun. Give the G26 a try and if the only thing in her way is the grip size then get a grip reduction for the G26. Or get her a Khar micro................dave....

[tjpet]

Originally posted by 1k9
last pic with one of thre Glocks


Hope the slide doesn't take a chunk out of her left thumb.

[C9X19]

I was thinking the same thing! I prefer the leatham grip (both thumbs forward).

[JWM]

Originally posted by JWM
And preferably a rifle for starters. If you want to start with a handgun, go with the Single Six. Use .22 Shorts or Subsonic ammo and make sure she's also using ear muffs as well as plugs underneath. No noise is important at this stage, it's got to be fun for her.

For targets, nothing beats balloons. Blow up a dozen and set them up close. Hit = instant gratification. A .99 cent bag of balloons should keep her entertained for an afternoon. Move them out further if it's too easy for her, get her to call her shots, etc.

So you've eliminated the negatives: Noise and recoil, while providing reactive targets that are relatively easy to hit. If she doesn't enjoy it, well, she may not care for recreational shooting right now.

Funny - since this thread came up, I'd mentioned to my wife that I was overdue a trip to the range. My 10 yr old daughter chimed in that she'd like to go. She already goes hunting with me.

After thinking it over, I asked my daughter if she'd like me to teach her to shoot. She got wide-eyed and you could see the gears turning. I explained that I had "quiet guns that don't kick" and I'd be happy to teach her. She was slack-jawed so I told her to think it over and let me know. She came back next day with an emphatic YES.

So I've got a used Marlin model 60 I took on trade and have never shot. Perfect trade material. First call to a pawn shop, I found a bolt action Marlin .22, and they'd be happy to trade.

Then I call the gun range I belong to, and explain what I want to do to see if they'd care about shooting balloons. "Just pick up as much as you can."

Soooo, my daughter is learning to shoot one day this week (I'm off all week and don't know which day we'll go yet). And taking my own advice.

:) :cool:

[1k9]

Tjpet,
good point, goes to show pics can be used as a good learning tool also.
I will point it out to her, Thanks^c

[drofnas]

I know that every kid is different, but...
I also know that my 16 month old is still too young.
That being said. Also understanding that it would be good to start with a BB gun, then 22, etc.....

Thoughts on age?

[Chainsaw Maniac]

Kahr MK9.

[DAVEKO]

drofnas,

What you mention is how we grew up with firearms. Trusty BB gun to a single shot .22 to a single shot shotgun, to a big bullet rifle. Once we were taught to bring home game animals with one shot and could prove such, then we got a semi auto (and from there it never stopped). We never got to use a scope until around 15 years of age.

We were deer hunting with our dad at 10 years of age. around 7 years of age the BB gun started the whole thing off. That's how I taught my kids. One is in College and one is in High School - they are pretty good shots and respect firearms. (the Daughter is the hunter and fisher person of the family)

[drofnas]

It was in a veeerrrrryyyy liberal house with the whole "never a gun here" mentality. I came around by age 25 or so. I've been one of those "gun folks" for about 14 years now.

Now, with my own son, I have to kinda look around for how to do this the right way.

[TED]

I heartily recommend the Walther P22 with its interchangeable backstraps and its handling/operation smiliar to a centerfire.

That or a revovler with light loads or even a .22 revolver.

BTW, tell her to not cross her thumb over like in one of the pictures from the right back side. She can get her thumb sliced and banged up that way.
TED