A lot of this depends on the size of your hands and the how well you hand can curl around the grip. If you have long slender fingers vs beefy fingers makes a huge difference.
I have fairly large hands and have found the following works very well. I have several that I rotate in my carry.
From Smith & Wesson: M&P Shield Plus Performance Center 4" barrel with built in comp. Good capacity (13+1) and the comp absolutely does make a difference.
If you hand is smaller, the M&P Shield or Shield 2.0 may work better. The grip is smaller, but the capacity is lower, 7+1 or 8+1 rounds.
Another possible pistol is the M&P Shield EZ 9mm, This was designed for folks that are not able to rack the slide on most handguns, however, the capacity is low. One of the really nice things about it is that the magazine is also designed for people with weak hand strength and has a tab that you use to allow easier loading of the magazine and a grip safety in case you are concerned about it accidentally going off.
From Springfield Armory: The Hellcat (3") or Hellcat Pro (4"). The primary differences are the Pro has a 4" barrel instead of A 3" barrel. Also, a slightly longer grip. The Hellcat offer good capacity 13+1, or you can use the extended 15 round magazine. The Pro offers up to 17 rounds. If you get the threaded barrel, you can add the comp to either of them. This adds about 1 inch to barrel length.
You may even consider a āMiniā 1911 such as the EMP or the Ronin EMP available in 3" or 4" barrel. This is an extremely comfortable gun to shoot, but again, you lose capacity. You are limited to 9 or 10 rounds.
Any of the handguns that people have listed are excellent choices, however, you really need to start thinking about one item that makes a huge difference. That is your holster. I, personally, do not like the kydex holsters as they are too stiff and frequently have a tendency to dig into my side. Iāve had several of them. Alien Gear, Versacarry, Cross Breed, Crucial Concealment, and a few others. What I do like is the blend of leather and kydex. Versacarry has an excellent holster that is leather where it meets the skin with Kydex on the outside. This gives great retention and added comfort. I also have several that a leather only, and I find that they tend to be more comfortable for me. Additionally, I have a belly band from Vanish (VNSH) that is comfortable and adjust quite well.
Which ever gun you choose, start investigating what holsters are available and find what works for you.
When summer hits, I will change to a smaller Sig P938. I use 2 all leather holsters, one IWB, one OWB for the EMP4. I use a leather/kydex hybrid IWB or a leather pocket holster for the P938. They are both single action only, SAO, triggers. You owe it to yourself to try a single stack SA trigger- you might like it.
