Wife is looking to upgrade

L

Longhorn1986

New member
My wife has an SD9VE and is thinking about an upgrade. She really liked the feel of my Ultra TLE II, but wants a 9mm. I'm a little hesitant to commit her to a 1911 style for several reasons. Is anyone aware of a 9mm pistol with a similar grip "feel" that might work?
 
What is important is it fit her hands...and has the controls she wants and likes.

Nothing wrong with a 1911, as long as she learns to use it properly.

Nothing wrong with other single stack guns...( like Sig 239 ) if that is what she wants. But there is a good chance / like many of the ladies in my family, that a single stack is exactly what they like the best because of weight, width, etc..and probably grip angle. A Kimber Tac Pro II model, in 9mm -- 4" barrel, alloy frame -- and a Sig 239 ...are 2 of the guns I have that my granddaughters and some of the other ladies in the family like to shoot the best. I have other 1911's in 9mm, all steel, 5" barrels - that most of them think is too heavy...and they go back to the 4" alloy frame.
 
My Experience

I've owned quite a few guns and my wife has always preferred the Walther P99. It's sat as king of the hill over many other guns we've tried for her.

- Adjustable grip
- Decocker
- Excellent trigger
- Good recoil mitigation
- Paddle style mag release is easy for people with small fingers.

FWIW she has chosen that one.
 
For a sec there, it sounded like she was wanting to upgrade husbands.
Haven't you learned by now not to try to make decisions for your wife?
Geeze, how long have you been married?
Some folks sure are slow learners.
The only one who can decide on what pistol she needs is her.
Give her advice only if she asks.
But since you asked, if she likes her present pistol and your 1911, she might also like a Browning HP even more.
Also recommend to her the Ruger SR9, especially the compact version.
 
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Gwillikers I refrained from making the husband upgrade comment though it crossed my mind!

Hope OP will clarify what the missus is interested in as per upgrade.

I don't pick guns for Mrs. Khegglie for sure!
She knows what she wants.
 
Sorry if I missed it, but is this for carry, or hd?
In any case my wife loves her vp9 for bedside table/range and the walther pps to carry.
 
The woman should choose, become proficient, and carry the gun of her choice. The man shouldn't be "committing" her to the gun.
If she doesn't like it or changes her mind, she can choose another gun.

However, perhaps she's a person who doesn't know what's better for her; she doesn't know what to choose; she has no interest in researching what's on the market; she has no interest in putting time and practice once she gets the hardware; and is basically gun-ignorant. I understand that, too.

As you might see in my signature, I'm familiar with Glocks and 1911s. There are several other good 9mm makes & models on the market. Here are some brands to research:

Glock
Smith & Wesson
Springfield-Armory
Wilson-Combat
Guncrafter Industries
Nighthawk
HK (Heckler-Koch)
Walther
Kimber (already mentioned)
Ruger (including revolvers)
SIG

Perhaps there's one 9mm out of the brands listed.
 
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My wife fell in love with the 9mm STI Escort, based on how it fit her hand at the gun store, and how "cute" it looked. We got to the range and discovered that in her hands, the lightweight pistol consistently failed to extract. This was using Winchester white box ammo. She let me have a turn, and I experienced no stoppages, which annoyed her greatly.

I think she is unable to hold the pistol firmly enough to allow it to cycle properly. She has no issues with larger pistols, and in fact her favorite is my XDM 5.25 45. The heavier gun cycles reliably for her. The upshot of all this is that I now have a sweet little STI Escort, and every now and then she lets me shoot "her" XDM.
 
convertable

Look long and hard at the Sig P320. It is a striker fired type, no hammer. extremely reliable and appears to accept any ammo I have tried. Comes in different grip sizes. I like the carry model. Easy to convert from 40 cal to 357 Sig.
 
"For a sec there, it sounded like she was wanting to upgrade husbands."


LoL! That was my first thought as well.

Is this for CC or "nightstand"? For nightstand, why not a 1911?

For CC, yeah, they are kind of large. And there is the whole single action thing.

Obviously, it must be the lady's choice.

Just my opinion, my FiL and I have about a dozen 9mm pistols between us. Both of us prefer incarnations of the CZ75 over the other fine pistols we own. They come in different shapes and sizes appropriate for various roles. I guess they are not much more or much less like 1911's than any other random pistol.

My wife and daughter are generally revolveristas. My daughter does like to shoot a 1911-style 9mm, though, FWIW.
 
I've been known to have a gun suffer from "limp wrist". People keep telling me that squeezing the grip too hard affects accuracy. So, I try to loosely grip the gun; and, thus get an occasional failure to cycle. It happens with lighter weight guns and those with shorter barrels.

I've never experienced the problem with 1911's, i. e., the full size versions. I have several 1911's in 9mm. Have given up shooting .45 ACP on a regular basis because they're beating up my poor old body, especially my hands.

My wife has a fondness for my short barrel S&W Model 422; an older S&W .22lr, similiar to the S&W Model 41. Yet, she doesn't care for my Model 41.

Wives are like everyone else; they want what they want. It's best to offer advice, when (if) asked. Voice of experience; 55 years worth.
 
Ruger sr9, very similar feel to 1911 imo. Slim body, same grip angle, rides high. She will like it.
 
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Well, is she likes the SD9VE, then an M&P 9mm would be one place to look. You might also consider a minor upgrade like an Apex trigger kit for the SD9VE. Ruger's new polymer, striker fired 9mm (not the SR9) is also pleasant to shoot and affordable.

While the Hi-Power has wonderful ergonomics for small hands, it is heavy and has a high bore axis. It is also sprung so heavily that women, elderly people, and even some grown men, have a hard time working the slide.
 
The Sig P320 in 9mm would be an excellent choice. If she has had any problems racking a slide on a semi auto pistol, the P320 has a very easy to rack slide and the controls are easy to manipulate and reach.
 
I would hang back a bit and support her. Why does she want to upgrade? Just a change or some improvement she is after?
 
Another vote for the Ruger SR9. My wife loves hers. I bought her Ruger SR9 and my Sig 2022 40cal the same day. I like the feel of her Ruger better.
 
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