I love the feel of a .45 in my hand, but I'm a large guy. My wife and daughter will also be shooting, so I'm thinking .40.
Thanks!
Speaking as a certified firearms instructor, I think you should reassess that conclusion. Actually, the 40 has a much sharper recoil in the form of barrel jump. VERY SNAPPY. Much more so than almost any 45ACP in any configuration.
My wife's favorite gun is the Colt Combat Commander 45 I got her after she tried to "co-opt" my Government M1911.
My daughter prefers her Ruger SP101 357 magnum. She doesn't like semiautos because she says there are "too many parts moving at the same time."
If you're concerned about grip size, may I suggest the Springfield Arms XD45? I got rid of my Glock M30 because it was "too blocky" in my somewhat smallish hands. The XD is quite comfortable.