Please do not give in to the temptation to get a small gun for your ladies. You will be well served with a compact, but only if a duty sized counterpart is available for training. We see time and again, students come through the classes with compacts and subcompacts and they find that the smaller guns are VERY difficult to shoot well. Train with the full size pistol and transfer those skills to your carry option.
My girlfriend shoots a glock19 very well. But she can't conceal a glock19 very well. She would like to buy a shield and so tomorrow we will be going out to shoot it a bit more for her to make a final decision after she carries mine a bit this week also to be sure it works. I'll let you know by Friday the verdict. It's more how she will respond to carrying it this week I am curious to see, shooting I know will go well.
Wife carries her shield in one of these. Loves it. Also a spot for a spare mag on opposite side.
DENE ADAMS