Good Sub Compact Pistols

[style]

Thanks to all of you that offered responses to my cry for help regarding a sub compact pistol for my wife to use in an AirSoft style IDPA training. Lots of good suggestions and information. For any that didn't see my post in the "Introduce Yourself" forum I know nothing about Airsoft. Thats why I came to the experts (all of ya'll).

My wife recently got her CWP and carries every day. I intend to set up some IDPA firing stages in my back yard to get her (and me) some inexpensive training.

She is small and very recoil sensitive, but I have been able to move from a Walther P22 to a Beretta Tomcat in .32. (That is one nice little piece..the gun...and my wife!) She carries the Tomcat daily in an OWB belt holster in the 4 o'clock position, strong side.

I am looking for an Airsoft pistol for her, something along the size of the P22 or the Tomcat. All suggestions are welcome !!!
If anyone is interested, I hope to expand the Airsoft IDPA to include friends, so if any of you are interested, drop me a line. We will do this on a larger scale at the place we shoot live ammo, but will have a day set aside for Airsoft.

I probalby cannot call it IDPA either, but I will contact them about the use of their moniker.

Anyway, thanks for th help !!

[Echo1 Operator]

No comment on the Tomcat

The biggest problem you are going to run into when looking for a gun is that nearly every GBB pistol is going to be a fullsize gun. There are a few options for compact guns, but compact is a pretty loose term depending on the gun itself. The other problem you run into there is that you are no longer training with the gun you are going to be carrying. Keep in mind airsoft recoil isn't even going to be half of what you feel from that P22. You may want to spend your money on more ammo, and get the airsoft guns for fun.

[TeamBadCompany]

you should be using a .38 special or .357 magnum, or train with a 9mm cause the ammo is cheaper, if you want a gun to carry with a ton of stopping power you should probably carry .38 or .357 IMO, i know it didnt answer your questions but thats my 2 cents

[Echo1 Operator]

you should be using a .38 special or .357 magnum, or train with a 9mm cause the ammo is cheaper, if you want a gun to carry with a ton of stopping power you should probably carry .38 or .357 IMO, i know it didnt answer your questions but thats my 2 cents

.32 ACP does as much damage as a .357 Magnum with stopping power pro perk on.

[Felix]

I don't know real steel all that much, but I do know a little about finding airsoft guns. The only ones that are compact, really are heavy and kinda big. P99, USP, Glocks, stubby revolvers, those all have compact models. Another really small gun would be the PPK/s, which I have. Its a really small gun compared to the others and is pretty realistic. This sites not too good about ordering guns, because its Hong Kong based, but its good at finding rare models and a huge selection. (http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/pistols-gbb-smgs/index.html) Go through and check out all of the GBB pistols, and if you have any questions post it up and we would be glad to help.

Hopefully my .2 helped.

[Romba]

I don't know much (anything, really) about real guns, but I have a (airsoft) USP compact. It's pretty small. KWA makes a USP compact which is super reliable and a GREAT gun, but the one I have is the KWC USP compact. It's inexpensive.

Felix, you only needed to put in $0.02, not $0.20.

AS11, true, stopping power helps.

[Cody C.]

Airsoft is used more for getting team based tactics down, it is less about achieving realistic recoil.

*EDIT: KWA does make 'Personal Training Pistols' which are supposed to be extremely close to the 'real steel' weights. If you are just trying to teach your wife proper gun handling then that might be the way to go. They are about $160.

[Romba]

Ahh good point Cody. The PTP.....

[SteevoLS]

The original post specifically asked for compact pistols along the lines of the P22 and Tomcat.

The closest you will be able to get to the size of the Tomcat is the PPK or Detonics .45. The only other readily available small frame pistols would be a P99 (very similar to the P22) or 3.8" Hicapa.

[Echo1 Operator]

The only other readily available small frame pistols would be a P99 (very similar to the P22).

Other than one is external hammer and the other is internal striker The P99 is still a decently sized handgun compared to true compact/subcompacts. My vote is to get an airsoft G26, and then eventually get her a real G26.

[style]

Thanks for all the responses (even the one that was off topic!!). Cody C hit the nail on the head. This is for learning tactics; how to "slice the pie," engage multiple threats, and to induce stress on the shooter (shooting against the clock).

Airsoftsniper11, the G26 was my second choice when buying my carry pistol so I know the physical dimensions of that model, and it just might work for her. I selected the Springfield XD SC9. I carry Gold Dot 115gr JHP at 1250 fps. I offer this information to TeamBadCompany so he knows I am well protected. My wife carries her Tomcat with 71 gr FMJ, because overpenetration isn't an issue and the JHP at lower velocities tend to penetrate less and leave a reduced wound channel not hitting vital organs.

Again, thanks for all the information. I will do some research, buy something and see how it works for her. If it doesn't fit her, well then I have a new toy !!

Yes, I hope to get her comfortable with the Tomcat, then move her up to a larger caliber. Carry the largest caliber you can shoot comfortabally, and accurately.

[blackout]

Good Luck finding any Glocks now-a-days.

[MarksInnerDemon]

Well being a real steal guy who came to airsoft for the same reason let me suggest a great little gun for your wife, and they make them in GBB for training. The Walther PPS (modern one not the old PPK style one). Dimensionally the gun is a bit wider then the P22, has a double recoil spring for recoil management and shoots like a dream.

That said Uramex/Walther make the airsoft version of this, and being its about the same size you should be set for training and hell maybe you can con her into getting one. I own one and if you are ever in the area or I am in yours you are welcome to finger it and see if she likes it. Other then that see if she likes the Walther P99 as well most women I know seem to like it, and I bought one for my ex years ago and she still loves it. Might not be her thing though. Note that the S&W99 magazines which are 20 dollars are exact duplicates of the Walther magazines.

airsoftsniper11 - 9mm +P, +P+ rounds run about as fast as a 357 mags, come in the same grains, and just about everything from a 38 special 9mm, 40, 45 acp all do the same damage in a person. This is because most penetration depths of hollow points are between 11-13 inches, and because human tissue is elastic that effects the damage. Add to that no hydrostatic shock from pistol rounds (generally seen in rifle rounds called temporary wound cavities) and the 1.5 mm differnce between a 9mm/357 mag diamiter, and a 45 acp makes no difference in the body.

[Echo1 Operator]

airsoftsniper11 - 9mm +P, +P+ rounds run about as fast as a 357 mags, come in the same grains, and just about everything from a 38 special 9mm, 40, 45 acp all do the same damage in a person. This is because most penetration depths of hollow points are between 11-13 inches, and because human tissue is elastic that effects the damage. Add to that no hydrostatic shock from pistol rounds (generally seen in rifle rounds called temporary wound cavities) and the 1.5 mm differnce between a 9mm/357 mag diamiter, and a 45 acp makes no difference in the body.

I wouldn't know about any of that stuff. I don't shoot real guns, just Call of Duty.

[TeamBadCompany]

That is the problem with the youth of today^
they see an M4 a think its a comando or whatever, and the only thing they know about guns is what they learn from COD