Perhaps the title is an oxymoron, but I have a question for you. I would consider myself to be a novice shooter. I have never had any real guidance or lessons. I have a tendency to buy things online on a whim. I have bought a few handguns online when I find them ridiculously on sale, only to get them and shoot them and find that they are just too small for my large hands to comfortably shoot. For example, I recently purchased a Taurus PT 111 G2 because I enjoy shooting 9 mm and it was really cheap. I also recently purchased an EAA Windicator 38/357, because it was cheap and I wanted a revolver. The grips of both are too small for me to comfortably and/or accurately shoot. I have a feeling the shorter barrels may also play a role in that. It could, of course, also be technique or lack thereof. However, I shoot my full size Glock 22(40), my Walther PPX M1 9mm, and my 1911 45 pretty accurately.
If grip size and comfort are truly the factor that I think they are, is there such a thing as a compact handgun that would be good for carrying, but would still have a larger grip to accommodate my garden rake sized hands? I recently tried a Glock 19 at a store, and it feels great. However, I would have a hard time justifying spending another $500 on a Glock that is only approximately half an inch shorter then the 22 I already have. Me being 6'6" and 400 pounds, I doubt the half inch would make that big of a difference in concealability. But I do have some issues comfortably concealing full-sized handguns like my 22.
Any suggestions? Preferably something either in a 9 mm, maybe a 380, which I have never tried. I would consider a 45, but the cost of ammo is prohibitive. Or perhaps a revolver.
FWIW, I have found that double stack grips tend to be more comfortable for me than single stack grips since they're wider and fill the palm out better.
There are a number of fine guns which might fit your needs, but you may have to resort to some different measures to get the best combination of grip length and concealability. I understand the grip issue; I'm about half your size, at 5'6" and 150 lbs, but I still have trouble finding a gun that will fit my hand. My solution has been to buy an excellent gun that fits my need for concealment, but has available extended grips to fit my hand. In most cases, the extended grips also add a round or two the the gun's capacity, so it's a win-win situation.
One gun that is taking the gun store where I work by storm is a new brand -Canik. They're made in Turkey, and I can't praise the quality enough. Many American-made guns are far more roughly finished. It's a 9 mm, with an 18 round magazine, and comes stock with extra mags, a loader, a holster, and replaceable grip panels to allow you to change the fit to your hand easily. At a retail price of about $410, it's hard to beat. We can't keep them in stock long enough to show them to customers who arrive on Friday...
The Smith & Wesson line of M&P weapons also offer a great selection of long and short guns. You might also want to consider the Springfield line of XD guns, which are readily available and of high quality. If you like the .380, the Ruger LCP line is hard to beat. I'm a fan of Browning, myself, but I think the LCP in .380 is a better value - though it's not a better gun - than the Browning 1911-380.
Your choices are many, and the absolute best recommendation I can offer is to visit all the gun stores you can to fondle all the guns you can find. Then make your choice for the gun that fits you better than any other. It will happen, and you will find it, if you take advantage of all the stores that will let you fondle their wares.
When you pick one, post for us a few pictures; we love gun porn.
My solution has been to buy an excellent gun that fits my need for concealment, but has available extended grips to fit my hand. In most cases, the extended grips also add a round or two the the gun's capacity, so it's a win-win situation.
. . . The Smith & Wesson line of M&P weapons also offer a great selection of long and short guns. You might also want to consider the Springfield line of XD guns, which are readily available and of high quality. If you like the .380, the Ruger LCP line is hard to beat.
. . . Your choices are many, and the absolute best recommendation I can offer is to visit all the gun stores you can to fondle all the guns you can find. Then make your choice for the gun that fits you better than any other. It will happen, and you will find it, if you take advantage of all the stores that will let you fondle their wares.
Thanks for the response. Yes, I have tried ones with extended grips, and you're right. That certainly makes a huge difference. But in my limited experience, to make it truly comfortable I need an extended grip that basically makes it the same length as a standard sized pistol. Case in point, one of the first guns I impulse bought on sale online was a Springfield XD-S .45. Very cool looking gun, and concealable, but I couldn't shoot it for crap. Could barely hit the broad side of a barn. Okay. That's an exaggeration, but I just never got comfortable with it. I bought the Pierce extensions for the smaller magazines, but it didn't really help. With the extended magazine that made it basically a full-sized one, it was better, but still not good. I think the grip was still too narrow (single stack) and the LOP was too short.
As for S&W M&P, those are some fine guns. I LOVE the feel of the full-size. It's super comfortable in my hands. I tried the compact ones, and the 9 and 40 feel too narrow to me, but the compact .45 feels perfect. That one is definitely on my short list. But .45 ain't cheap, and I haven't actually shot the M&P yet.
It's not that I love .380. I've never shot it. But it seems that many compact guns are in that caliber. My friend had a Ruger LCP, and I couldn't shoot it for anything. I bounced all around in my hand.
At the risk of being a pest, since you did mention that you're a novice shooter, might I suggest that you take the NRA Basic Pistol course? I've been an avid shooter for 53 years, but I learned a bunch from the course I took online last month. It's not expensive, and you will learn a ton of stuff that you will never learn on your own.
Compact with double stack mag, have you thought about the Para-Ordnance P.12.45? Or even their Warthog? Might be worth looking into. They are .45s but have you looked at the price of .380 ammo these days? I think .45 is the same, if not cheaper. Just my opinion.
If you can, drop by your local gun store, and fondle all the guns they have. You'll find one, hopefully, that will fit your hand, and still be concealable.
Yes, I have learned that lesson the hard way. I will never buy another handgun without trying it first. I just figured I would ask out there for any recommendations on things people have tried, so I can try to call around and see if any store near me has it. I live in a small town and my options are limited.
Soon many unknowns, it is like all things a personal choice based on priorities. As a shot in the dark based on what you have said....look at a Combat Commander with Pachmayr grips.
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