by Lohkai » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:07 am
Bravo, marcos1977. The 36 seems custom made for CC. The smaller grip also is a boon for those of us with small hands. The 1911 is a great gun, my first consideration, but design and engineering factors steered me toward the 36 instead.
(1) That smaller grip on a smaller, lighter gun. The heavy 1911 felt like holding a can of soup. Thus, I didn't feel as "in control" of the weapon (and probably wasn't). It was fat and heavy. The 36 was not. Nor, to small hands, was the grip short. In fact, it was (is) just right.
(2) Ease of concealment. Though my state has simply a Carry permit, not strictly concealed carry, I'm not an idiot and don't want the bad guys to make me their first target, no questions asked. The element of surprise is a serious advantage for survival, and the 36 keeps out of sight, out of mind, like a dirty little secret. And it does it without feeling like a child carried on the hip. (I guess only a woman would make that analogy, but it is applicable.)
(3) Ease of use. We're not all gung-ho enthusiasts who live to shoot or who like to show off our guns as toys. We practice because we need to practice. We want to weild our weapon with skill, not grace. The gun is a tool, and more often than not, we try not to imagine ever being in a crisis that demands we pull our weapons. We know it will not be pleasant, easy, or anything nice to remember. BUT, we want to protect ourselves and our loved ones, especially our loved ones, and understand that we WILL do what needs doing when the time comes. We do not want to have to stop and think, "Okay, which way does this safety go?" Just not smart. With any Glock, it's just point and click, like the computer mouse. Keep it safely tucked until its needed, and don't worry about it.
All said, I could see the average man not much caring for this gun. It's dainty - makes him feel like a sissy. It's light - not a macho trait at all. But, like a noisy cricket (Men in Black, if you've never seen it), it packs the necessary punch to do the job and do it well. I won't say it's designed for a woman, as not all women have small hands. For that matter, some men do have small hands and might appreciate the 36. I will say the 36 is "the Goldielocks gun" - just right - for some of us. And those who complain of and dismiss this weapon are effectively only dismissing this niche of gun-toters for whom it seems specifically designed. That kind of irks me, as it's a bit insulting - like they're saying, "Hey, grow bigger hands, why don't you?"
Now, it does kick like an angry mule, the consequence of a two-pound tool spitting .45 mini-missiles. And for some women (or even men) this may be too much or simply uncomfortable. Again, it's not about "playing". It's a tool. A powersaw, too, can be a pain in the butt, but it'll get the job done quicker than a saw. So, it's important to understand when pulling the 36's trigger that it's going to behave as it does. Get over it. Get used to it. Master it. And if a little woman with small hands (me) can do that, then there are no excuses for anyone else. And with my 36, I can get 100% on silhouette with 80% in the kill zone at 30 feet with my right hand, 90% in the kill zone with the left. That can't be bad considering that, for a small woman, this thing feels like its fighting back with every shot.
The 36 is a good gun. It has its place and is good at filling it with ease. However, it's not for everybody. But, then, neither is a good old 1911. Diversity, as they say, is the spice of life.