novice pistol guy needs recommendation.
- Thread starter dvdcrr
- Start date
WildBill45
New member
In regard to your use and ownership of your P99, the CCP is similar in some ways, but different in others, such as the gas system, and smaller grips ... which should suit you since you specified your small hands can be an issue in some gun choices. Think of a slim grip on your P99 AND, reduced recoil, and you can see the advantages of the CCP. I have owned the P99S and now own and shoot the CCP, and talk from real world experience. Check out the CCP and you may fall in love all over again!
I use a medium glove and have started to think I have shorter than average thumbs due to difficulty reaching mag releases when I was shopping for guns for my wife and I to start with. I recently purchased a Taurus pt111 and enjoy it so far with my first 50 rounds. We both like the fit and feel of sr9c (sr9 gives both of us impressions the slide is harder to pull back, not sure why), g17/19, vp9 was comfortable (love the slide ears and changeable back/side grips). I also personally loved the feel of cz7. M&p was comfy but I hated the gritty trigger feel.
BTW most of my research was initiated by video reviews, followed up with in store visits; inspecting comfort, trigger, capacity, price, action. Q&a with dealer.
Research is not as thorough as some but I relied on "experienced reviewers", dealers, and then inspected to get personal dry run experience. I would be more inclined to shoot the model prior to buying it, unless a great deal precedes my opportunity to try-b4-buy.
BTW most of my research was initiated by video reviews, followed up with in store visits; inspecting comfort, trigger, capacity, price, action. Q&a with dealer.
Research is not as thorough as some but I relied on "experienced reviewers", dealers, and then inspected to get personal dry run experience. I would be more inclined to shoot the model prior to buying it, unless a great deal precedes my opportunity to try-b4-buy.
Given the OP specifically stated 40SW as one preferred option and an attraction to M&P, gave no indication of intended purpose and feels he has smaller hands, and given I own (and shoot) two M&Ps one of which is chambered in 40SW...that seems like a recommendation with some basis to me. Also given my hands are 'average' (based on an actual but informal internet survey of hand measurements of about 500 guitar players) and that 'several people' have mentioned they find the M&P pistols easy to operate and more comfortable than other popular guns, it seems like a solid recommendation.
Like many handguns available these days, it's as easy to use left- or right-handed, and as I regularly shoot all my handguns weak hand only, that's based on my personal experience.
I also own one Kahr (K40) and wouldn't recommend that for a novice shooter necessarily--it's extremely small IMO, and a very special shooting challenge. Single-stacks aside, I find no size advantage to 9mm over 40, and certainly would never select a single stack gun just because my hands were on the small side. I find tiny little 9mm auto pistols as miserable to shoot as any gun available, and simply wouldn't recommend one to anyone classifying themselves as 'a novice'.
Not a caliber war here by my account, for sure, and not a LOT to go on beyond the usual 'what should I buy next?' thread. But, I think folks are generally responding well to what was provided.
Maybe a good recommendation is to find a public or private range that rents--I know some clubs have a fairly-wide selection to choose from for rentals and that can really make a difference.
Range toy, target shooting, backwoods plinking, concealed carry, home defense/nightstand gun, vehicle gun, shooting a lot or just from time-to-time, plan to handload or no, plan to customize with drop in parts or remain pure stock, preferred price range? All of these can drive 'better' choices or recommendations--
have mentioned they find the M&P pistols easy to operate and more comfortable than other popular guns, it seems like a solid recommendation.Like many handguns available these days, it's as easy to use left- or right-handed, and as I regularly shoot all my handguns weak hand only, that's based on my personal experience.
I also own one Kahr (K40) and wouldn't recommend that for a novice shooter necessarily--it's extremely small IMO, and a very special shooting challenge. Single-stacks aside, I find no size advantage to 9mm over 40, and certainly would never select a single stack gun just because my hands were on the small side. I find tiny little 9mm auto pistols as miserable to shoot as any gun available, and simply wouldn't recommend one to anyone classifying themselves as 'a novice'.
Not a caliber war here by my account, for sure, and not a LOT to go on beyond the usual 'what should I buy next?' thread. But, I think folks are generally responding well to what was provided.
Maybe a good recommendation is to find a public or private range that rents--I know some clubs have a fairly-wide selection to choose from for rentals and that can really make a difference.
Range toy, target shooting, backwoods plinking, concealed carry, home defense/nightstand gun, vehicle gun, shooting a lot or just from time-to-time, plan to handload or no, plan to customize with drop in parts or remain pure stock, preferred price range? All of these can drive 'better' choices or recommendations--
Thanks again, I just got back to read this tonight. Intended purpose is home defense, recreation, carry in that order. Carry will only occur if I follow up on getting my cc permit. Yes this info definitely has me looking at 9mm again. I would be OK with single stack if it was at least 8 rounds and if the barrel was same length at least as the P99 not shorter. I have fired handguns throughout my life but dont follow new models or consider myself to be a handgun guy, more of a rifle shotgun guy. Thats why I value the expert feedback on ammo and new models. I am intrigued by the vp9, ppc.
marine6680
New member
Now that you got back to us and cleared things up...
Stick with 9mm for its cheaper ammo cost, higher capacity, and lower recoil. It is a very good defense caliber with good hollow points.
Is there a price range?
Either way, hit up a store and put your hands on several models. Find one that fits and feels best. Ones that have adjustable back straps tend to have the medium size on them., as that size tends to fell best for most people. If it does not feel right, as the shop to change it for the other sizes, you might want to try them even if the medium feels ok, as another may feel better. A shop should have no problem with this for a serious buyer. If they do, find a different shop.
Keep in mind the grippiness of the stippling/texturing. When I was teaching my fiancé how to shoot, we both loved the feel of the PPQ, but when we went to shoot one, she hated it. I loved it though... To her, the grip was too slick and it felt loose in her hand under recoil. While she is more practiced and this would most likely not be an issue any longer, she has developed a preference for grippier feel to a handgun.
That story was just to illustrate the hidden factors that only show up when firing, that just holding it does not tell you.
Beyond finding a pistol that fits you well and you like, you can't go wrong with most of the modern offerings from the major manufacturers.
A simple striker pistol would be a good place to start for small hands, trigger reach is shorter on them usually. My hands are smallish side of average. So things like reaching the slide stop without adjusting my grip is impossible on almost all pistols. I simply do not use it to drop the slide on a reload.
Also keep in mind that for most of the more popular pistols, a less than ideal trigger feel can be corrected with aftermarket parts or a trip to a gunsmith. But that adds cost so keep it in mind, you may find that another model is better overall, even if a few features are not quite up to another pistol.
My M&P for example... I hated the trigger. But an apex FSS kit made it fantastic. So that pistol went from ok to one of my favorites. But the trigger added $120 to the total cost. (I feel it was worth it though)
Have fun with your search.
Stick with 9mm for its cheaper ammo cost, higher capacity, and lower recoil. It is a very good defense caliber with good hollow points.
Is there a price range?
Either way, hit up a store and put your hands on several models. Find one that fits and feels best. Ones that have adjustable back straps tend to have the medium size on them., as that size tends to fell best for most people. If it does not feel right, as the shop to change it for the other sizes, you might want to try them even if the medium feels ok, as another may feel better. A shop should have no problem with this for a serious buyer. If they do, find a different shop.
Keep in mind the grippiness of the stippling/texturing. When I was teaching my fiancé how to shoot, we both loved the feel of the PPQ, but when we went to shoot one, she hated it. I loved it though... To her, the grip was too slick and it felt loose in her hand under recoil. While she is more practiced and this would most likely not be an issue any longer, she has developed a preference for grippier feel to a handgun.
That story was just to illustrate the hidden factors that only show up when firing, that just holding it does not tell you.
Beyond finding a pistol that fits you well and you like, you can't go wrong with most of the modern offerings from the major manufacturers.
A simple striker pistol would be a good place to start for small hands, trigger reach is shorter on them usually. My hands are smallish side of average. So things like reaching the slide stop without adjusting my grip is impossible on almost all pistols. I simply do not use it to drop the slide on a reload.
Also keep in mind that for most of the more popular pistols, a less than ideal trigger feel can be corrected with aftermarket parts or a trip to a gunsmith. But that adds cost so keep it in mind, you may find that another model is better overall, even if a few features are not quite up to another pistol.
My M&P for example... I hated the trigger. But an apex FSS kit made it fantastic. So that pistol went from ok to one of my favorites. But the trigger added $120 to the total cost. (I feel it was worth it though)
Have fun with your search.
Last edited: