About to start trying out small carry guns for my wife. Last week she had a situation with a road rager/stalker that followed her to work, so now she wants to carry and only has a G19. First ones that popped into my mind were the G42 and the Ruger LC9 or LCP. Are there any others that I should check out? Not really a fan of a safety. Also not looking to spend $700 on a pea shooter!

I know you said you were not a fan of a safety but you should really look at the sig 238 and 938. The wife has the 238 and LOVES it! I've shot both the LCP and her P238 and the 238 shoots circles around the LCP. I can shoot 2" groups at 15 yards with her 238 and even better with my 938 if you would rather have a 9mm. With the mag extension they fit fairly well in my large hands and the wife likes them with her tiny hands also.

Just my .02

I carry a P938 almost everyday. My wife also has the P238. The only other small handgun that I would recommend is a Ruger SP101; as it does not have a safety.

The LCP has a new triger and taller sight. The new one feels much different than the first edition. I was fairly impressed with a kahr 380 I recently saw a my LGS. Smaill, light and thin (no external safety).

My recommendation would be a S&W mod 642 or a M&P Shield 9mm.

Sig 938 is a very nice pistol. I'll throw out another option. I have a S & W M351 PD Airweight, chambered in .22WMR

Ideal caliber? No. But, I wouldn't wanna be shot by an air rifle either.

You and your wife are more then welcome to borrow this. Easily concealed. Low recoil to the point of being non-existent. 7 round capacity.

I'll second the Smith & Wesson Shield. I recently got one without the manual safety and it's a great shooter. Much thinner than the G19.

Another one to look at is the Sig P290RS. Small, 9mm without a safety, but has a double action only trigger. It isn't bad though, just longer than a Glock trigger pull.

I own a Ruger LCP, and the trigger was very manageable. I heard a lot of stuff about how awful the trigger was, and I found those claims to be greatly exaggerated.

I took a few female friends shooting, and they both loved the LCP.





I am able to hit clay pigeons sitting on the ground at 7 yards with this pistol. For a close up self defense pistol, I don't think you need to be any more accurate than that.

It is so small, it comfortably fits in my pocket.

Another one to look at is the Kahr CW series. They're well made and reliable, and light and concealable to boot. You can get into a CW9 or CW40 for under $400. No safeties or extra levers to fool with either. I carry one, and my wife likes hers also.

G26 with the Pierce grips on the magazines.

Then the grip is as big as the grip on the G19... no advantage IMO, might as well carry the G19.

Try a Kahr CM or CW9.

Sig P238 (380) or P938 (9mm) are small/concealable, reliable guns. All metal slide and frame that will cost you a little more, but you get what you pay for-Sig Sauer quality!

Springfield XDS
Kahr PM9/CM9

A couple of these I didn't think of, thanks for the advice fellas. And Janie I might take you up on that offer, I saw Bill the other day up at the ball fields, he was trying to steal all the brisket!

You beat me to it!

My wife loves her Kahr and is very accurate with it.

I carry a Sig P290 if I have to conceal in summer clothes. I'd be glad to let ya'll try it out too.

I carry a G27 with pierce pinky mag extensions. With them on its only about 3mm longer than the S&W Shield with flush fit mag. No where near the size of the G19/G23 grip.

M&P 9mm, my girlfriend loves it. I carry one as well, so small I can carry it at 3 o'clock with no problem. Saw them online for 329 on PSA.

According to Pearce on their website, it adds 5/8" to the grip. Granted that it is angled, so it only affects the front of the grip and not the butt, however it still adds length and is comparable to my G23.

Pearce Grips

Also, there is not much difference between a S&W Shield and a Glock 19/23 as far as height per the specs. S&W height is 4.6" and the Glock 19/23 is 4.99"...

When I put them on my buddy had just bought the S&W Shield. We compared them on top of each other and the Glock was barely longer with the extension installed. Without it the Glock actually has a shorter grip than the Shield does.

But it's way thicker correct? I'm more concerned about thickness. I carry my shield with the extended mag no problem. I like it because it is a single stack and very thin. I've shot the 27 and it's way to fat. Like holding an unbalanced brick.

Yes, without the extension, the G26/27 grip is shorter than the Shield. But that is my point... once you add the grip extension, you are giving up the "advantage" of the G26/27.

Yes, the Glock is thicker. The Glock is 1.18" per their webpage, but that is measured on the slide. The grip on my G23 appears to be wider than the slide. The Shield frame width is .95" per the spec sheet.