My daughter is looking to buy her first handgun. She is looking for something in 9mm. She is a tad short at 5'-1" and likewise her hands aren't very big. I have an M&P 2.0 Compact that fit her hand decently with the smallest back strap installed, but she says it feels too fat to get a good grip.
She is adamant that she wants to buy her first handgun (I bought her first rifle & shotgun). She's just finished college (graduated today) so she is looking to stay in the $400 and under range.
So through out the best recommendations for a 9mm carry pistol with a thinner grip for small hands
Yeah, you're not gonna like hearing this, as will a lot of the rest on here. It's my two cents though, and I'm right. I spent a LOT of time, money and ammo learning this.
We as a community put way too much into the "fit their hand," "let them choose," and "try different guns," mentality. That is an injustice to most new shooters, who often go through numerous pistols seeking something that they should be learning in instruction, practice and training.
Put your daughters decision off for a year while she practices, trains and shoots a little competition with your G19. The same G19 that 11 year old girls compete with. The same G19 that most trainers will be carrying and instructing with. The same G19 that most LEO, LTCH holders and even thugs carry.
Send your daughter to class, with your G19, carry rig and a bunch of ammo. She NEEDS to be able to effectively shoot THE most carried pistol out there. It might not always be her own pistol that she is shooting, or needs to be shooting. Being able to effectively shoot the most likely pistol that will be around her is of utmost importance.
It's the same with carry. She needs to be able to carry a "full sized" pistol and related gear. She needs to be familiar with how to dress around it also. How to not feel as if it's weird to walk around with an effective modern high capacity pistol.
She can decide what to buy herself, when she can make an informed decision. It's you, as her mentor, to help her to be informed. A good place to start is with the most carried sidearm out there. It only makes sense right? She NEEDS to be able to effectively shoot THE most carried pistol out there.
New shooters can specialize later, after they are educated. After they have been to training and had thousands of rounds down range, then they can better decide how or if they need to change to a different pistol.