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Best Handguns & Aftermarket Grips for Small Hands

Big Shotgun by Big Shotgun
January 22, 2022
in Barrels
0
Best Handguns & Aftermarket Grips for Small Hands

I personally struggle with choosing handguns because I have small hands. Or, more accurately, I have tiny, childlike hands.

This makes finding a gun with a short enough trigger reach and a comfortable grip a pain.

If you can relate, then this is your lucky day!

I’m using my experience to recommend some small grip handguns and some companies with a good selection of aftermarket grips so that you can get a handgun that works with your hand size.

Please note that this list isn’t just for women, though women are more likely to experience the small handgun buying struggle.

Anyone with small hands — whether man, woman, or child — can appreciate the guns and grips discussed here.

Deadpool KFC Spork

But before we dive in, let’s talk about how you should be holding your handgun and what you should look for when selecting a handgun that suits your hands.

Table of Contents

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Checking the Fit of a Handgun

Before we get to the recommendations, let’s start with some tips for making sure your handgun isn’t too big.

(If you aren’t familiar with handguns or just need a refresher, check out the “Handgun Grip” section of our Ultimate Guide to Shooting a Pistol Accurately to learn the basics.)

Taurus GX4 Grip

To start, when you hold a handgun, your trigger finger should have a shallow curve and the pad at the end of your finger should rest on the trigger.

On a gun that’s too big, your finger will be straight along the side of the frame of the gun in order to reach the trigger.

Handgun Grip, 1911 Safety Shelf
Proper handgun grip

Next, when holding your grip, your thumb and fingers should comfortably meet at the side of the grip.

Your thumb should rest along the top of your fingers.

Adjusting Your Grip When You Have Small Hands

Now, for a grip that’s just a little too big, you can slightly rotate your shooting hand towards the trigger.

You don’t want to rotate it so far that your thumb is in the way of the beavertail or posterior bulge, though. If you have to, then your gun is too large to work

Handgun Grip Women Shadow Systems MR920
Handgun Grip Women Shadow Systems MR920

You also want to make sure that the rotation of your hand isn’t causing you to compromise the strength or comfort of your grip, or hold your gun at an angle.

For small hands, a two-hand grip makes it much easier to control your gun, especially since smaller guns, which are usually easier for small hands to grip, tend to have more recoil.

Handgun Grip Women Sig Sauer P238
Two hands are a bit better than one.

Bring your non-shooting hand under your grip, so its heel rests against the heel of your shooting hand while helping to support the gun.

However, relying on a two-hand grip is less than ideal for a defensive situation, where one of your hands may be injured.

For a defensive gun, it’s best to go with a gun that fits your hand well, but a two-hand grip is good enough for just killing time at the range.

Sig Sauer P238 Shooting

Best Pistols for Small Hands

Now that you know how to make sure a gun fits your hand, as well as how to adjust your grip for larger guns, let’s move on to some gun recommendations.

One quick note before we get started though.

Handgun Grip Set Wrist
A proper grip won’t have your wrist at any wonky angle.

For all of these pistols, I prefer versions chambered in 9mm because it has less recoil than .45 ACP or .40 S&W.

Since small hands can have a harder time getting a firm grip, especially on full-size guns, less recoil means less need for adjusting your grip between shots.

With that said, these all come in other calibers, too, and if you prefer one of them then more power to you.

I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life, just sharing my experience.

Best Handguns for Small Hands

1. Sig Sauer P365

First up is the Sig Sauer P365…

Micro Compacts Sig Sauer P365X
Sig P365 Love.

This micro-compact features a single-stack magazine for a slender grip. In fact, the P365 has an exceptionally slender profile in general. It’s just 1.1 inches wide.

Despite this, it’s still able to fit 12 rounds — 10-round versions are also available, though, for people in states with magazine limits.

Most innovative CCW gun [2018]

Most innovative CCW gun [2018]

The grip is also aggressively textured to help small hands keep a more secure hold. This 9mm pistol weighs just 17.8 ounces and is 6 inches long and 4.8 inches tall.

For a slightly larger version of the same gun, you could also go with the P365XL.

2. Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0

The M&P 2.0 doesn’t have completely replaceable grip modules, but it does come with four different sizes of grip inserts to help you customize your fit.

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0

And if the smallest insert is still too big, you can actually use the gun without any insert at all.

The textured grip makes the pistol much easier to keep a secure grip on, even in small hands.

Runner-Up (Beginners, Home Defense)

Runner-Up (Beginners, Home Defense)

The M&P M2.0 is available in full-size and compact versions. Both are great, so just go with whichever feels better.

If you want something even smaller, you can try the similar, but subcompact, Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard.

What’s your take on the M&P 2.0? Give it a rating below!

3. Springfield 1911 Enhanced Micro-Pistol

Love a 1911 but feel like it’s too much gun for your hands? Then the Springfield 1911 EMP may be just what you’re looking for.

Springfield 1911 EMP 9mm
Springfield 1911 EMP 9mm

It’s one of the smallest 1911s currently on the market, with an action 1/8 inch shorter than the original 1911, a height of 5 inches, and a length of 6.6 inches.

It’s not short any features though. The 1911 EMP offers 3-dot tritium combat sights and a match-grade barrel.

And if the grip is still bigger than you’d like, there are plenty of compatible aftermarket grips to help you slim the grip down even more.

4. Ruger GP100

Some small-handed shooters may find revolvers to be unwieldy compared to pistols since they have more recoil, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them altogether, especially if you prefer revolvers.

Ruger GP-100.

The Ruger GP100 is a great full-sized revolver that you can try if you want to take that route instead of going with a semi-automatic.

The GP100 comes in 3 inch, 4.2 inch, 5.5 inch, and 6-inch barrel lengths. I like the 4.2-inch barrel because I find it easier to balance. But I recommend handling the various sizes to see what works for you.

Best Medium Frame Revolver

Best Medium Frame Revolver

It also comes in a couple of different grip options. For my tiny hands, the cushioned rubber grips with a hardwood insert were a little big, but the Hogue Monogrip option was more manageable.

There are also plenty of aftermarket grip options to help you narrow it down even more.

In fact, Ruger designed the grip frame specifically so that it would be compatible with a variety of aftermarket and custom grips.

4. Ruger LCR

Some small-handed shooters may find revolvers to be unwieldy compared to pistols since they have more recoil, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them altogether, especially if you prefer revolvers.

If you want to go that route, I recommend the Ruger LCR.

Ruger LCR
Ruger LCR

With a .357 MAG caliber, the LCR is available in a few different versions with different combinations of barrel lengths, finishes, and grips in a 6- or 7-round capacity.

I like the 4.2-inch barrel because I find it easier to balance, but I recommend handling the various sizes to see what works for you.

It also comes in a couple of different grip options. For my tiny hands, the cushioned rubber grips with a hardwood insert were a little big, but the Hogue Monogrip option was more manageable.

There are also plenty of aftermarket grip options to help you narrow it down even more. In fact, Ruger designed the grip frame specifically so that it would be compatible with a variety of aftermarket and custom grips.

There’s also a 10-round capacity, .22 LR, 5.5-inch barrel version that’s not a great option for self or home defense, but makes an excellent fun gun.

5. HK VP9 SK

The entire VP series is great, but for small hands, I particularly like the VP9 SK.

This 9mm compact pistol comes with three backstrap options, plus replaceable side panels. The grip is also contoured to help cut down on bulk. 

HK VP9 Trigger
HK VP9 (the OG not the SK but you get the idea)

This makes the double-stack magazine, which comes in 10-, 13-, and 15-round capacity options, easier for small hands to manage.

In addition, the HK VP9 SK has an extended slide lock, which is great for shorter thumbs.

For a similarly easy-to-handle-with-small-hands gun in full size, you can instead opt for the VP9 or VP40.

Aftermarket Grip Solutions

Speaking of aftermarket options, maybe you already have a gun that you love, but it’s a bit too large for your hands.

Let’s talk about some options to make the gun work better for your hand size.

Depending on the gun, you can get an aftermarket grip and switch it out yourself. A ton of brands exist, but a few of my favorites are Altamont Company, Hogue, and VZ Grips.

All three offer high-quality grips for a variety of guns and in a range of profiles. So, between them, you’re sure to find something (probably several somethings) that work for you.

A textured grip will make your handgun easier to grip. You can either get a textured grip or get a textured wrap that goes over the grip you have from a company like Gun Grip or Talon.

The importance of the grip cannot be overestimated.

If your gun’s grip can’t be easily switched out or you can’t find a grip you like, you can also see about having the gun’s grip reduced by a gunsmith.

But be warned: a poorly done reduction can make your gun much less functional, so make sure you have it done by a gunsmith with an excellent reputation.

1911 custom grip reduction
1911 custom grip reduction, Lucky Gunner.

In addition, a grip reduction will void the gun’s warranty and can make it more difficult to sell later on. So I’d go with a grip reduction as a last resort.

Lucky Gunner has a great article on grip reductions if that is something you’re interested in.

If you’re really having a hard time with mass-market grips, try a custom grip first.

Shadow Systems MR920L XR920

There are tons of companies that make them, as do many gunsmiths.

Conclusion

While switching out grips or finding a gun that is a more manageable size makes holding and shooting your handgun easier, they aren’t replacements for basic firearm skills.

Without solid fundamentals, you won’t be able to shoot comfortably, accurately, and safely no matter what gun you’re shooting with.

Adams Arms AA19 Shooting

Various drills can be used to work on your shooting skills. Dry fire drills are a great way to brush up on your skills even when you can’t make it to the range.

Trigger control, in particular, can be difficult when you have small hands, so be sure to make sure you’re at the top of your game.

What are your favorite guns for shooters with small hands? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to check out our general Best Handguns for Women.

Source
Best Handguns & Aftermarket Grips for Small Hands is written by Megan Kriss for www.pewpewtactical.com

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