Looking to have my wife step up to 9mm- she's been shooting 22 for some time- sig mosquito 5" barrel- she likes target shooting- anyway it appears her hands are to small for a 1911 which i would hoped she could shoot- the springfiled xd is available in 9mm and 5" barrel - is this gun accurate?
for target in 9mm not to much out there- mostly 4" or less- any suggestions for small hand 9mm target gun- i'll change the sights if need to

They are generally accurate, but a 5" is going to be pretty heavy. S&W makes quite a few alloy framed 9MM and the polymer Sigma that are priced very competitively and are much lighter and also very accurate. Target 9mms are mostly in the 1911 platform.

A little weight won't hurt as it cushions some of the recoil that comes along with the 9 mm. My wife shoots a SIG P228 and has no problems keeping all of her shots in the black using ball ammunition at the combat range of 15 yards. Be aware that once your wife gets her own 9 mm, you may never get to shoot it again. My wife "lets" me clean it and reload for it but she won't let me shoot it.:mad:

You might also take a look at the Magnum Research "Baby Eagles". I have one, the FSS, or short barrel (4") and short grip. Mine is an older gun, one of the Isreali-made guns, and is the steel frame with fixed sights and the 1911-style safety. (The new ones have decocker safeties.) Not really a "target" gun, though.

It IS heavy when loaded (12+1), but shoots great! It is based on the Tangfolio/CZ style platform, and feels good in my girlie hands. They are now available in a polymer frame, but these will have more felt recoil than the steel frame guns as indicated by Marshal Kane.

Also, you ought to check out the CZ website and see the adjustable-sighted CZ85 and CZ100.
http://czusa.com/products_handguns.php

With a SIG you can get a short trigger. As Marshal will tell you they shoot lead bullets very well which is important if you reload. With all the PDs upgrading to .40S&W you will find a lot of real nice 9MMs available. Sig sells them as "factory reconditioned" with a paper band around the handle. You may be able to find one with a short trigger already installed, I have seen them with night sights too.