Sig P232 .380 for a girl or....

R

RT13

New member
I am looking a for a perfect gun for my soon wife to be. I was looking at the Sig P232 stainless. I was also concerned with the recoil and mag release of the gun. But this is one beautiful gun and fits in her hand like a glove. I want her to be comfortable with it and able to manage the recoil. I am thinking .380ACP or 9MM. She's a small girl with small average size girlie hands I guess. What guns can you guys recommend for her aside from the P232? I am also considering a revoler since it is easier for her to load unlike semi autos. What are the advantage and dis ad. of a .380 vs. 9mm? Thanks.
 
If there is a disadvantage to a blowback style firearm, it is the recoil, which while not heavy, can seem a bit sharp to some. My wife does better with a locked breech single stack auto than a double stack, and prefers an Officers Model with a beavertail grip safety. She does not like shooting +p, but I think standard velocity ammunition is good enough given her level of accuracy. A friend of mine has a Beretta 84 and a PPK, and she definately did not like the 84 being a doublestack with the wide grip, nor did she really like the PPK because of its apparent kick. I would recommend you take her to a nice range and if you can, rent a couple of different models to try. As you know, most uninitiated think a large pistol kicks more (size does matter?). She did like the 380 government which is a locked breech 380 single stack and considered getting one as the controls were pretty much the same as her Officer.
 
By the way, these are some of the other guns I have considered.
Sig P239-9mm subcompact, aluminum frame
SigPro2009-9mm semi compact, polymer frame
Hk USP9c-9mm compact, polymer frame

Which of these would you recommend?

She tried out a Glock19 and loved the weight and feel, but hates the recoil. Any other brands and models semi or revolver?
 
First, I would go with the 9mm. Here's why.
  • 9mm kurz/.380ACP: bullet weight: 95gr energy: 180FP

    9mm Parabellum: bullet weight: 95gr energy: 330FP

    9mm Parabellum : bullet weight: 115gr energy: 350FP

As you can see, the energy imparted to the target is much greater with the Parabellum. This leaves only the choice of the weapon. It sounds like she needs something just a little bit heavier. It will cost you some bucks, but the Walther P5 may be just what the doctor ordered. An alloy frame, single stack 9mm that is about the same size as the G19, only with more weight. It was designed for the West German police and has passed their stringent trials. It is an excellent gun. :)
 
Also look at the SIG 225. It's a single stack 9mm, shoots like a dream. I have a 232 in blue (alloy), love teh feel and pointaability. The recoil is a bit 'snappy', but entirely manageable. If she's got small hands, teh Kahr P9 might be wortha look also. 9mm, light (though that does add to the felt recoil), accurate, reliable, very concealable.

Good luck, M2
 
Hates the recol of the Glock 9mm? That's a poser. To me SIGs recoil harsher than Glocks so that might negate the SIGs on your list. HK also has a higher bore axis. I'd suggest a heavier pistol then. Perhaps a Kahr K9, great feeling grip but the weight will tame the recoil. Too bad you don't live nearby or you could have her shoot my Springfield Ultra Compact in 9mm. Nice small gun, zip on recoil.

Has she she actually fired the 232? One other problem with the 232/PPK is slide bite but with smaller hands this may not be a problem.
 
rt13, as the co-owner of a sig p232 <my wife's> i would say that it's a damn fine gun. take her out and let her shoot it. if it fits her hand like a glove and she is comfortable with it then it could be the gun for her. it might not be a 9mm or the .40cal. but if she is comfortable with it, she is going to carry it, if she is going to carry it she is more likely going to want to train with it. if she is going to train with it she will become proficent.

no matter what we suggest or point you towards, SHE is the one that needs to make the decision it is HER firearm. and just remember, that a well placed .22 is better than a .475 that missed.


Adept
 
RT13,

In addition to the suggestions here of the Sig P225 and Sig P239, have you considered the Browning Hi Power?

I've found that people with small hands prefer the narrow grip of the Browning over the Glock 19 (I own both), and the weight of the gun reduces felt recoil by a significant amount.

I would also consider a Beretta 92 M -- the single stack, 8 round version of the model 92, but I don't have any first-hand experience with it.

While the takedown of the Browning is not as easy as the Sig or Beretta (which both have special levers for the purpose), the Browning does have a notch to lock the slide back while the slide release lever is pushed out. Unlike most other handguns, the user does not have to hold the slide back (while the spring is under tension) and push the slide release lever out at the same time, which can be difficult for some people.
 
I'd say a P-239/P-225 or a Kahr K-9. Avoid the MK-9 and P-9 Kahrs, which have snappier recoil.


(Myself, I think a good girlie gun is a 10mm Glock 29 stoked with Cor-Bons, but what do I know? ;) )
 
For my wife, there were three factors she was considering:

1) Recoil
2) Fit in her hand
3) Ease of racking slide

You didn't say if she was going to carry the gun. If not, the clear winner for my wife was the H&K USP Compact. It has a recoil buffer than cuts recoil substantially. It has a narrow grip which fits her great, and the slide is big and very easy to rack. She shoots it better than anything else in my collection.

If she is looking to carry (in a purse), the P232 is great, but the slide is a little hard to rack. The P239 is easier to rack and packs more firepower. Good luck.
 
another vote for the hi-power

Because she didn't like the G19, there are three that I would vote for a close look at for heavier, ergonomic, 9mm's.

Hi power
USPc
CZ-75/85

If wanting to go small, the colt 380's. There are three to choose from ...gov't is full size (but remember that's a "full size" pigmy), mustang has shorter bbl, pony shortened bbl and grip. 380 acp in a fixed breech gun is enticing but I haven't shot one yet.

I'd say my browning hi power is more comfortable to shoot (less percieved recoil) than the following (I've shot all of these within the same range session) CZ83 in 380 (barely) pp in 32 and makarov in 9x18.

I patiently wait for you to send me .02 via paypal:p
 
My wife tried the following when making her decision on a carry gun:

Glock 26
Kahr MK9
S&W 640
SIG Sauer P239 - 9mm

She chose the SIG (she obviously has good taste ;) )
 
Kahr P9: it fits small hands surprisingly well, Elite trigger pull is short, much less felt recoil than a blowback 380,esp.as light as the Sig232, the gun is light and flat.
 
Must be my personal prejudice against the P-9/P-40; they have a grip like a popsicle stick. I can wrap my fingers around the thing nealy three-and-a-half times. ;)
 
RT13, the Sig 380 is a fine gun. I have owned one. I like automatics, but both my wife and two of my daughters have chosen the revolver as their self defense piece. My wife and one daughter chose Ruger Sp101s in 357. The other chose a S&W k-frame. None of them are going to shoot a lot, but they are all competent with their guns. They were able to learn to shoot the mild 38 special loads and then work up to full power 357s over time. If your lady is going to practice enough to get very familiar with an auto and the possible clearing of jams, good for her. If she is only going to shoot rarely the simple manual of arms of the revolver may be a better choice. In any case let her choose the gun that feels best in her hand. That makes a huge difference. Watch-Six
 
My wife (a petite woman with tiny 'girlie' hands) shot a P239 in 9mm until she became dissatisfied with the 9's performance against pepper poppers. For the last year or so she's been shooting a Kimber 1911 in 45ACP that Bill Laughridge at Cylinder and Slide modified slightly to fit her tiny hands. No problem with recoil.

My advice is to let your girlfriend/fiance try out as many guns and calibers as possible and let her decide what she wants. "Perfect" is in the eye of the beholder.
 
I have several guns of various manufacturers in both 9mm and .380.

I take my girlfriend shooting with me once-in-a-while. Of all the guns I take for her "small, girlie size hands....", she prefers the SIG 239 9mm. The NAA .380 is a close second.
 
Another K9 vote.

Diminutive in size, reasonable in weight, accurate and reliable.

And the prices are right for most folks, too.
 
My advice is to let her decide. I am a small woman with small hands. I thought for sure I'd want a revolver because of the simple mechanics of it, the ease of cleaning, etc. However, once I shot the .38 and the .357 I found that I didn't like the way they felt at all.

Although I like Glocks, I have trouble reaching the slide stop lever and the mag release. The grips are just too fat for me.

I finally decided on a Makarov (9x18 not .380) and I love it. Even with the Pearce grips, it still fits my hand perfectly. Recoil is minimal. Muzzle flip non-existent. Great for concealment if she is interested in that too. And accurate little bugger. And I don't care what anyone in any pissing contest says, getting hit with a 9x18 hollow point isn't a very attractive option. I believe that you don't have to carry a .45 to be "adequately protected" as others will claim.

Bottom line is that whatever she shoots she has to be very comfortable with, so let her rent or borrow a bunch and try 'em out herself before making a decision. Good luck!

Shoeless
 
When pursuing the same criteria for my daughter, we went
to our local gunshop whereas she handled the Sig P230, as
well as the American made Walther PPK. Knowing I
would have bought her either, after careful consideration
she chose the Walther. It was a little smaller, and fit her
hand well. Even with all the bad and negative report's
about the American made Walther PPK's here on TFL;
hers had functioned flawlessly, 0 malfunctions of any
type. I guess she picked out a good one, even though
I don't like the idea of it not having a slide lock; whereas
the P230 did.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
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