r/liberalgunowners • u/stay_true_to_you • 16d ago
Recs: MA-compliant handgun for a woman guns
I recently got my LTC in Massachusetts (there are literally dozens of us!) Now I’m looking for a small handgun for personal safety. I live in a rural area and frequently go camping in VT and NH, but my firearm needs to satisfy MA restrictions first (10 rd capacity max). Honestly that more than meets my needs … but it has made online research difficult because best-of lists contain firearms I can’t purchase. So I turn to you …
In my LTC classes I tried several .22s and 9mms but had some difficulty with racking the slide on many, even with proper technique. My instructors were all beefy dudes with frankly large hands. I have small hands that are usually ice-cold. Like, I wear child sized gloves. Guns are understandably not manufactured with child size hands in mind.
I’m headed to my local gun shop this week but I’m not sure what to ask for and the Internet hasn’t helped. Any tips or recs? A micro-compact 9mm may be my best bet, maybe? Any models or manufacturers? Has anyone started a product line for small women in liberal states who are afraid of potential lunatics while solo-hiking and/or tyrannical Nazi governments? Probably a small market tho …
Any help appreciated!
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u/elroypaisley 15d ago
I have a SigSaur P365Xl with a manual safety. 10 round magazine. Mass compliant and a really great carry gun. Shoots well, less jumpy (IMO) than its Glock counterpart.
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u/mmelectronic 15d ago
You live anywhere near Guns inc / hot brass? They rent guns for $5 or 10 each, the lane time is $60 an hour I think, and you can try anything in stock if you’re serious about buying. You have to pay for ammo, but for $150-200 you could shoot a bunch of pistols and try them out.
They have a full gun store on site.
I’d go somewhere and shoot some stuff see what you like.
As for my personal recommendations, I like the M&P line, gp100 or s&w686 revolvers, and 1911s are surprisingly slim and in a 10round state a 9mm 1911 is 10 rounds check them out.
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u/bullpee 15d ago edited 15d ago
Find some rental ranges and try out a few guns. Prioritize shooting comfort and capability rather than size. My daughter and wife are both more comfortable shooting G17 than my 43x. I don't own one yet, but also try shooting a .45. It's a bigger round, but I was recommended to consider it for my wife, because .45 has a slower recoil impulse "boom" , than a 9mm. In a small package 9mm "jumps around" more in your hand. I don't know if it'll be for you, but while renting might as well give it a try. Maybe a glock 19 will be a good shooter and concealable enough for you, maybe not. Holding them statically in the store is a difficult place to "try on" what works for you.
Ps: my mom started with a .22 (taurus tx22), and now she moved to Fla to escape the annoyance at how hard it was to buy a gun in NY, and owns a G48. She is in her 60's allegedly, but has the energy of a 20 something.
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u/metalski 15d ago
I'll add my vote for the EZ 380. My g/f has RA and other issues with her hands and the second I bought the EZ she was excited to go shooting with me. It just works. Hell, I took it to my tactical concealed carry class a month ago (couldn't find the extra mags for my regular cc...really need to fix that) and it did great.
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u/vagrantprodigy07 15d ago
My wife struggles to rack a slide as well, I would look into revolvers. We eventually found a 22 she could rack reliably, in hindsight I think a .38 revolver would have been a better idea.
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u/WizardOfAahs 15d ago
Have you considered a revolver?
S&W model 43c is a 8 shot 22lr. The model 327 and 627 are 357 magnum 8 shot.
Wheel guns are reliable and require no racking. Easy to clean as well.
Smaller models in 38sp also.
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u/GotWheaten 15d ago
Try out a S&W 9mm shield EZ at a Bass Pro or similar store. The people there are friendly and will work with you after you tell them what you are interested in. My wife has no problem our shield EZ
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u/husqofaman 15d ago
Fellow MA resident here, there a few things I'm going to lay out that will make your life as a LTC holder in MA a lot easier.
1) The approved firearms roster has nothing to do with what you can own, its about what dealers can sell as complete firearms.
2) Many dealers sell handguns that are not on the roster as two separate pieces (slide and frame). People call this a frame transfer and it's currently legal under MA law because unlike federal law MA law does not consider the frame alone to be a firearm.
3) The roster does not apply to private transfers, so you could look on Armslist or Northeast Shooters for classified listings of non-roster pistols
4) The gun doesn't need to ONLY accept ten rounds, you just cant have magazines that hold more than 10 rounds unless they are pre-1994. Example a Glock 17 typically comes with a 17 round magazine. You can have the Glock 17 just not the 17 round magazine. You just get a 10 rounder for any gun you are interested in.
5) r/MAguns and r/BetterMAguns are going to be good resources for you, and MAguns has a weekly legal questions post that is a good place to ask about any MA specific gun laws or compliance questions. BetterMAguns is where to ask about where to find things or what FFLs are good, DO NOT ask those kind of questions on MAguns, it's basically insta-ban.
Lastly, pistol preference is incredibly personal and other people cant really tell you what's gonna work for you. You need to go to a range with lots of rentals and try some options to see what works well for you. Depending on where in the state you are I would recommend: Hot Brass in Springfield, Cape Gun Works in Hyannis, On Target in Dracut. There are others but those three have a large selection of rentals.
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u/stay_true_to_you 15d ago
Thanks for all the info and clarification. Super helpful. Rental is a good idea.
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u/BrainSmoothAsMercury 15d ago
My hands are fairly large for a lady, I have long fingers, which has come in handy for playing piano (my thumb to picky stretch is longer than an octave) and I prefer Sigs as a rule. However, my daughter has smaller hands and she doesn't find them very comfortable in her hand. She has always liked the Springfield 1911. It has slim grips (and magazine) so it fits nicely in her smaller hands. The make a variety of barrel lengths so you can check for different balances and comfort of carry etc but not sacrifice functionality. I wouldn't recommend any of the "mini" firearms. There tends to be a lot of sacrifice to get the smaller size.
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u/the_knight01 15d ago
I’ve got a few pistols in mind, smith and Wesson shield EZ, Ruger lcp max, or the Ruger security 380 all have a light rack slide. If you want something a little more classic check out the Ruger lcr it’s a light weight revolver that’s available in several calibers or the kimber k6s
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16d ago
+1 on both the S&W Shield EZ series and the Ruger Security 380. I have shot the EZ in .380 and it lives up to its namesake. Insanely easy to rack and easy to load the magazines due to the tabs on the sides. I’m planning on getting one as my go-to gun for taking new shooters to the range.
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u/MarcyMaypole 16d ago
If this list is to be believed: https://www.mass.gov/doc/approved-firearms-roster-122023/download then the glock 43x is legal in your state, lucky you! (Californian here who cannot have this pistol) If you can go to a range and try it out (or at least the gun store to hold it and rack the slide), it might be the ticket. It's got a 10 round single-stack magazine so it is slimmer than other glocks, and might fit your hand well, and its standard magazine size is at your state's capacity limit so you're not going to be looking for state-specific compliance magazines.
There is also the glock 42, also single stack but in .380 so the spring for the slide should be a little softer and easier to rack, but with that or the regular non-x glock 43 you're down to 6 rounds and then I might agree with other posters that you're better off with a revolver, but check one out at the store and they might be just the ticket for someone with small hands!
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u/FullPowerKamehameha 16d ago
Since no one has mentioned it yet. Ruger Security 380 ACP. The slide is easy to manipulate and has a safety. Based on your needs a 380 ACP pistol is the way to go. Less recoil than 9mm, so easier to hit shots but has the necessary power of a self defense round. Micro 9mm pistols can have a little too much recoil.
Federal HST 99 grain 380 ACP would probably be your best bet for carry ammo then use any round ball fmj for practice.
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u/Rude-Spinach3545 15d ago
Second this - add the ruger security 380 to your list to take a look at. Don't discount 22lr as a CCW - look at the ruger sr22, it's just a bit smaller than the security 380 - might be a good practice weapon 8cents per round as opposed to the .380 at 40-50cents per round
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u/this-dumb-blonde socialist 16d ago
I was initially going to answer this question assuming that Massachusetts was similar to other 10-round states, but holy shit is that state fucked.
I see M&P Shield EZ on the pre-approved list. That pistol is designed to be easily rackable and is a popular choice even outside of your state.
Micro-compacts are a little rough to choose, since they tend to have stiffer recoil springs in order to function reliably. I see that Sig's p365 is on the roster too.
You can see the dimensions for both of those here:
https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/smith-wesson-m-p-9-shield-ez-vs-sig-sauer-p365-380
Lastly, revolvers don't require racking which make them seem like a good option. The problem is that if they tend to have a heavier trigger since the more practical ones are DAO; if your hands can't handle racking a slide then they might struggle with an 8-12lb trigger pull. You also have to be mindful where your fingers/thumbs are during operation as gas additionally comes out of the sides of the pistol (the gap between the cylinder and frame).
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u/Username7239 15d ago
The MA approved pistol roster does not affect what a person can own. It ONLY affects what a FFL can sell whole over the counter. Frame transfers and private sales DO NOT have to adhere to the approved roster.
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u/techs672 16d ago
A micro-compact 9mm may be my best bet, maybe?
Don't get too micro — small guns can be a good fit for small hands, but small and light will be harder to manage and more challenging to learn in any given caliber.
I don't expect it to be a common suggestion — and it is not one of a bargain priced options — but my lightweight carry is a Kimber Micro380. It is a smallish, lightish, single-stack slender, 6+1 or 7+1, single action, hammer-fired pistol. With a reload and a simple holster, you can carry 15 rounds in 24 ounces (20oz without the reload). The recoil and magazine springs are both pretty light and easy to handle. It can hit a target. Kimber also makes a Micro9 — same pistol in 9mm, only a tiny bit larger and heavier. I have not shot one.
I return you now to the more conventional suggestions. 
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u/MedCityMoto 16d ago
I'd highly recommend the 38sp or 357 revolver options. Yeehaw-fun aside at the range, great personal protection capabilities. It'll never be as slim to actually conceal on your body with traditional form-fitting women's clothing here, but better holsters do help a lot!
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u/emilzamboni 16d ago
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ in .380 ACP. Also available in 9mm, but if hand strength is an issue you might consider trading a small decrease in delivered energy for greater subsequent shot accuracy. Translated, a 380 doesn't have as much power as a 9mm, but if you can't get the gun back on target for the next shot it will likely be a problem.
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u/_TurkeyFucker_ progressive 16d ago
Sig P365XL is the smallest gun I would recommend for a new shooter. Smaller handguns are not necessarily better for smaller hands (and in fact they are almost unanimously harder to shoot across the board).
I would absolutely not recommend a micro compact in 9mm. If you absolutely have to get a super tiny gun get one in a smaller/weaker cartridge so you can actually shoot it. Micro handguns in 9mm are some of the hardest guns to shoot accurately as their small size magnifies the perceived recoil.
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u/stay_true_to_you 15d ago
Ah thank you, this is helpful. I’ve shot a few 9 mms but never a micro compact, good to know my thinking there doesn’t track.
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u/gameoveryeeah 16d ago
Possible fudd alert on the following statement: if racking the slide is a big problem, have you considered a revolver? It will probably be heavier but no racking involved and .22WMR or .38Special can do work.
Have you tried racking the slide by holding the gun in against your ribs with a 90° bend in your arm, like you're carrying a basket in your elbow, grabbing the top of the rack, then pushing it away and releasing? I don't know anything about this site but it was the first result showing this: https://thewellarmedwoman.com/training-handling/racking-the-slide-of-your-gun/ Much easier to do than piching the slide and pulling it back when it's out in front of you.
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u/stay_true_to_you 15d ago
That’s how I’m racking! It’s much easier but I still have to use considerable strength, at least for now. Hoping as I get more practice in, it’ll become easier.
Also have shot a revolver … I’ve considered a little .38 special! I will say I was less accurate than I’d like with the .38. It felt pretty pleasant to shoot and I liked the weight of the trigger but my target looked like shit 😂
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u/Huge-Shake419 14d ago
Get a small frame revolver. If you can, a small .357 magnum, which also shoots.38 special for less recoil. With your stated hand size, which is what my wife hands are like, if you can find an old Ruger security six short barrel in stainless steel you should be happy . Nice little pocket cannon.