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Competition pistol for small hands?

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ATC8155

Alpha
Hello all,

My 13yo daughter has been competing in Speed Steel and ASI with 22lr pistols, and is ready to move up to a 9mm so she can shoot USPSA. As we train with my current guns we quickly discovered that non of them fit her hands well, so we are now shopping. The initial list consisted of:
  • S&W M&P 2.0 Competitor
  • Walther PDP-F
  • Canik SFx Rival
Of these 3, the Smith looked to be the best fit and likely to be even better with the small backstrap. The LGS refused to let us swap them out, so we are only speculating. (BTW, take a 90# 13yo gun shopping. I'll leave it there.)

So, I just read Mr. Ayoob's article on the Echelon and learned that it has interchangeable backstraps as well as different sized frames. Although this isn't a necessarily a competition pistol, it certainly has possibilities.

So, my questions are:
  • Have you had luck fitting pistols for small-handed shooters?
  • Anyone with experience shooting the Echelon in competitions?
  • Since the Echelon is more of an EDC gun, are there aftermarket triggers and recoil springs available?
  • Is the Echelon worth seeking out to try?
  • Are there any other pistols we should be considering?
Thanks in advance. Looking forward to some insightful replies!
 
No experience with the Exhelon, but the VP9, which is recognized as having perhaps the best ergos available, comes with adjustable backstraps AND side panels. You can customize the grip to fit your daughter’s hand perfectly. The VP9 also comes in a 5 in barreled Long Slide version as well as a 5.5 inch Match version, both of which come optic ready. The nice thing with the VP9 is the frame is the same between the three variants and the slides can be bought separately so you can start with the basic VP9 and add the larger slides as your daughter progresses. The VP9 also has one of the top triggers - think Canik and Walther - in the striker fired market.

Here’s my VP9 collection. The small one is the SK and uses a different frame.
IMG_6117.jpeg

IMG_6513.jpeg
 
HansGruber said:
If you try one off the shelf, it will be set up with medium/medium/medium panels & grip…but the slim/small setup really shrinks it (at least, it sure feels that way).

And the multiple grip options come standard with the vp9, so you don’t have to buy a different grip module.
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+1! I run medium side grips with the small backstrap. The gun feels like it was custom made for me.

Count your blessings that she’s got small hands or you’d be looking at one of these.

IMG_6912.jpeg
 
I have child sized hands. I buy gloves in the kids department. I shoot my S&W M&P9 2.0 using all the smallest palmswells, or whatever you want to call them, and it fits perfectly for me. I also have a VP9 and a VP9SK. They are each fit with the smallest size setups. I’m not the greatest shooter by far, but I have no problem using them in my small hands. Hope this helps.
 
ATC8155 said:
Hello all,

My 13yo daughter has been competing in Speed Steel and ASI with 22lr pistols, and is ready to move up to a 9mm so she can shoot USPSA. As we train with my current guns we quickly discovered that non of them fit her hands well, so we are now shopping. The initial list consisted of:
  • S&W M&P 2.0 Competitor
  • Walther PDP-F
  • Canik SFx Rival
Of these 3, the Smith looked to be the best fit and likely to be even better with the small backstrap. The LGS refused to let us swap them out, so we are only speculating. (BTW, take a 90# 13yo gun shopping. I'll leave it there.)

So, I just read Mr. Ayoob's article on the Echelon and learned that it has interchangeable backstraps as well as different sized frames. Although this isn't a necessarily a competition pistol, it certainly has possibilities.

So, my questions are:
  • Have you had luck fitting pistols for small-handed shooters?
  • Anyone with experience shooting the Echelon in competitions?
  • Since the Echelon is more of an EDC gun, are there aftermarket triggers and recoil springs available?
  • Is the Echelon worth seeking out to try?
  • Are there any other pistols we should be considering?
Thanks in advance. Looking forward to some insightful replies!
Click to expand...
I have relatively small hands for a guy. I purchased the small frame grip module used the small backstrap and couldn't be more pleased. Installed a Powder River Precision trigger and mounted a Holosun EPS red dot. If I were still shooting in competition I would definitely use the Echelon.
 
I have a quick follow-up in hopes that it helps anyone with the same problem. I was able to get a few options in my hands by paying attention to fellow shooter's equipment and asking to see their pistols at the end of the match. The Canik SFx Rival-S and the VP9L we both being shot in my squad last week and I got my hands on both. Unfortunately, the VP9L was set up with a large grip but I liked the ergonomics and thought it had a natural point of aim. The Rival was set up with a small grip and it felt great. My daughter liked it a lot. (I didn't bother letting her handle the VP9 because she would have immediately hated it with the large grip.) I still can't find a Q5.

With all that, and reading and watching reviews, I took a chance and ordered the VP9-B Match. It was actually less expensive than the S&W, but a little more than the Canik. And to be honest, the Canik almost got the nod, but online reports of problems scared me away.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and opinions!
 
ATC8155 said:
I have a quick follow-up in hopes that it helps anyone with the same problem. I was able to get a few options in my hands by paying attention to fellow shooter's equipment and asking to see their pistols at the end of the match. The Canik SFx Rival-S and the VP9L we both being shot in my squad last week and I got my hands on both. Unfortunately, the VP9L was set up with a large grip but I liked the ergonomics and thought it had a natural point of aim. The Rival was set up with a small grip and it felt great. My daughter liked it a lot. (I didn't bother letting her handle the VP9 because she would have immediately hated it with the large grip.) I still can't find a Q5.

With all that, and reading and watching reviews, I took a chance and ordered the VP9-B Match. It was actually less expensive than the S&W, but a little more than the Canik. And to be honest, the Canik almost got the nod, but online reports of problems scared me away.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and opinions!
Click to expand...
I think you will love shooting the VP9-B Match. I have child sized hands myself, and I own a VP9 and a VP9SK. Both are sized with the small back straps and side panels all around. I don't compete (far from it), but they are a joy to shoot. They are accurate and so far they eat anything I run through them with no issues. Enjoy!
 
ATC8155 said:
I have a quick follow-up in hopes that it helps anyone with the same problem. I was able to get a few options in my hands by paying attention to fellow shooter's equipment and asking to see their pistols at the end of the match. The Canik SFx Rival-S and the VP9L we both being shot in my squad last week and I got my hands on both. Unfortunately, the VP9L was set up with a large grip but I liked the ergonomics and thought it had a natural point of aim. The Rival was set up with a small grip and it felt great. My daughter liked it a lot. (I didn't bother letting her handle the VP9 because she would have immediately hated it with the large grip.) I still can't find a Q5.

With all that, and reading and watching reviews, I took a chance and ordered the VP9-B Match. It was actually less expensive than the S&W, but a little more than the Canik. And to be honest, the Canik almost got the nod, but online reports of problems scared me away.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and opinions!
Click to expand...
Canik. Well, friends don’t let friends buy Turkish guns. That’s all I got to say about that. The Q5 has a nice but if I had it to do over again I’d have bought the Q5 steel frame. That’s approaching $1500.

The VP9 Match is a hell of a gun. @SimonRL and @HansGruber can attest to that.
 
I don’t know why everybody is against guns from Turkey, SDS, Tisas and Girsan are very good guns, especially for the price, Canaks I can’t speak about, but I guess if it doesn’t come from Germany and have a VP in its name, all others are junk……
 
Annihilator said:
I guess if it doesn’t come from Germany and have a VP in its name, all others are junk……
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Yeah every other gun besides a VP9 is junk. 🙄

A good analogy of the post you just made is if someone were to say

“ I guess if it isn’t Austrian and made by Glock it’s junk.”

No one thinks your love for Glock equates to you thinking every other gun sucks, so why would you think my bias against cheap, Turkish guns equates to everything besides VP9s being junk ?

For the record, my current favorite handgun isn’t even an HK.
 
Bassbob said:
Yeah every other gun besides a VP9 is junk. 🙄

A good analogy of the post you just made is if someone were to say

“ I guess if it isn’t Austrian and made by Glock it’s junk.”

No one thinks your love for Glock equates to you thinking every other gun sucks, so why would you think my bias against cheap, Turkish guns equates to everything besides VP9s being junk ?

For the record, my current favorite handgun isn’t even an HK.
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No, I don’t hate H&K guns, just not my preference, and I don’t push Glock on here, I just don’t understand the thing with guns from Turkey, same with Ruger, people trash talk them also, that’s my meaning, and I NEVER SAID H&K’S ARE JUNK! I had several, don’t care for the VP9, but I loved my USP40 till my sheriff talked me out of it cause he wanted it. Also did I mention you directly….no!
 
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