Best CCW gun in your OPINION

[tomrkba]

Starting a thread on best options for ccw pistols. I'd love if everyone gave their opinion on what they think is the best and why. Remember, it's based on your opinion, so there are no wrong answers. This is your chance to brag on your ccw choice and why you think it's the best. I hope it is also helpful to those new to CCW and they might see a CCW pistol option they hadn't considered before.

So here's my two cents:

I have 3 ccw pistols, P365 Spectre Comp, Shield 9 with Apex trigger, and a Canik MC9. Because of the magazine capacity of 7 or 8 +1, the Shield gets no time in the rotation. So for me it is between the Sig and the Canik.

I'm a huge Sig fan, and love the modularity which I'm sure is why it's so popular.

Sig Pros: modularity, aftermarket support, looks badass, magazine capacity and the grip with beavertail fits perfectly in my hand.
Sig Cons: trigger is just a little squishy, price ($1300 retail, $2k CalGuns)

After shooting the Canik for a while, I've gotta say it's an incredible little gun. Out of the box, the trigger is amazing.. it feels like the Apex trigger on my Shield.

Canik Pros: Amazing trigger, very accurate (for me), not at all snappy due to heavier slide, comes with 12 and 15 round mags (blocked of course), and number one PRICE ($400 retail, seeing about $1k CalGuns).
Canik Cons: Not much aftermarket support, bore axis is just a little high/grip beavertail doesn't allow me to get as high of a purchase compared to P365.

All in all both great guns, and I carry my Sig pretty much everyday, but I really enjoy shooting the Canik.

My problem: There are so many great handguns!


I divide a gun's suitability for personal carry into three parts:

Carry
Fighting ability
Concealment

* Carry: How well the gun carries in a holster. This includes spare ammunition and any accessories (lights, RDS, even Glock grip plugs). This includes presentation of the grip to the hand for the draw.

* Fighting ability: This contains many variables: reliability, accuracy, capacity, caliber, ability to assist or hinder the shooter with recoil, sights, terminal ballistics, speed of draw, etc. Anything that involves the actual fighting part of a pistol.

* Concealment: While it could be an attribute of "Carry", it's so important to so many people that I believe it deserves its own category. It describes how well a gun, spare ammunition and accessories hide under all conditions.


Each person will prioritize these in the order that makes sense to them. Within that, the priorities can change based upon circumstance, such as having to carry a Ruger LCP in a pocket holster for deep concealment rather than the usual Glock 17.


All that said, I always TRY to prioritize fighting over the other two attributes. This results in choices that go against the current "standard" for carry. This means longer barrels, wider slides and grips, and larger calibers. Contrast with the current trend of building the smallest 9mm pistol around a 10 round box magazine. Heck, I think the skinniest gun has a slide 0.9" wide! This is crazy narrow, but the shooter also pays for it in extra felt recoil, possibly reduced grip tightness and certainly a shorter grip that doesn't support all fingers and the palm.

So, for me, despite owning the P365, LCP, Glock 43 and other small guns, the Glock 19 "class" of guns still comes out as the "best". Specifically, the Glock 19 is under 5" tall (Glock's measurement of 5.04" includes the sight), 4" barrel, and 1" wide. I find this to be an excellent standard that assists in shooting, manages recoil well, and has enough capacity for a fight.

So, for me, the best carry gun is the Glock 19 "class" of guns. Examples: SIG P229, Glock 19/23/32, Glock 30/30S/30SF, HK P30SK, HK45 Compact, CZ P10C, S&W M&P 9 Compact M2.0, SIG P320 Compact, and similar. As much as I like the smaller guns like the Glock 26, SIG P365, and Glock 43, etc they do not shoot anywhere near as well. I reserve them for times when "Concealment" is essential and I'm forced into the compromise. Other than that, I try to carry the largest gun, in the biggest caliber with the most ammunition that I can manage (to paraphrase Jim Cirillo).

[Roering]

For me M&P Shield in 9mm with some enhancements.

[BigPimping]

I go between a Shield 9mm and a Kahr CW9. Both are very good in the hand. Just bought a HK P2000. That may take the place of my G19 on the permit. We will soon see.

[Bobthegod]

I have my 3 listed here;

1. Springfield Armory EMP3 9mm
2. Springfield Armory 1911 A1 45acp
3. Ruger GP100 4.2" 357mag

I use a belly band holster from VNSH and it feels awesome for all 3 guns.

[9Cal_OC]

I go between a Shield 9mm and a Kahr CW9. Both are very good in the hand. Just bought a HK P2000. That may take the place of my G19 on the permit. We will soon see.

What?! No more Glock?

[ACfixer]

What?! No more Glock?

He's probably growing a beard too.

[lancerawd]

I wouldn't recommend sub compact firearms as they are generally harder to shoot. Anything from a glock 19 and above. If you can carry a 34 why not. I know more than a handful of dudes who carry 34s. But that's just my opinion. The way I look at it, I want to carry the best gun I can buy, if it's a staccato p, so be it.

[nintense]

Is best means what I carry the most? If so, Colt Combat Commander 45, and my no crime day carry is the P2000SK 9mm. I also have a a full size Colt GCNM 45, but I use it as a backup in case my commander is in service - I plan to replace it in my renewal with a Springfield EMP4 9mm.
Colt Pro: ultimate man stopper - carry with Civil Defense 600fpe. Easy to conceal, and I shoot it best.
Cons: heavier and more expensive than plastic fantastic. MSRP $1,000, CG up to $2,500.
P2000SK LEM Pro: extremely reliable and high quality roster gun, great for deep carry, and nothing is safer than a double action hammer gun.
Cons: more expensive than most guns in the roster, no fun to shoot, fatter than wife?s 365. MSRP $900
EMP4: it?s a hybrid between the two, I prefer the longer barrel over the 3.25? on the HK, and it?s lighter than the Commander. MSRP $1,300, CG up to $2,000.


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[RickD427]

My personal favorite is the P7. It's very flat and that makes it more easy to conceal. It uses a gas piston system to lock the action during the firing cycle and that helps to reduce the overall size. It also gives a very "tight" feel to the recoil. It points well and when properly gripped, will return to the point of aim after firing.

The grip lever makes every round fired a "Single Action" and ensures that there is no spring tension on the firing mechanism when carried. That lever eliminates the need for a conventional safety. It can also frustrate the efforts of someone who is unfamiliar with the weapon to fire it. You can rack the slide, and pull the trigger all day long. All that you'll do is eject live rounds. The weapon will not fire until you know what to do with the grip lever.

There are two drawbacks to the P7:

1) Good luck finding a holster for it, particularly a shoulder rig The large makers don't offer anything.

2) Be aware that you can also fire the weapon with the grip lever. If the trigger is pulled to the rear, nothing happens. If the lever is pulled while the trigger is to the rear, the weapon will fire.

[Jayantonio]

Glock 19 w/x300
Staccato cs w/ streamlight
Staccato P w/ x300

[NATEWA]

On the waiting list for the shield plus. If Ruger comes out with a CA approved LCP or the roster is no longer, those will sell like hot cakes.

I like a pocket gun, subcompact and compact.

Lcp
Shield
G19

Shield has magguts kit for the mags.

[Gryff]

Sig P365 in its original form. Best balance of size, capacity, and controllability in a valid self-defense caliber. And has the added benefit of being able to plug the FCU into a larger kit if you need more grip space or capacity.

[JoyfulJoker]

Good shooter^^^^!

The one you have trained the most with. At my last CCW renewal, the guy next to me said he put 300 rounds through his Glock 19 to prepare for the CCW qual. He asked how many rounds I had through my P-01. I told him about 10,000 at that time. I still suck with it. But , the way people were shooting at my last two CCW renewals, , it really didn't matter what they were shooting as it was evident that had not practiced much.

It's not the arrow , it's the Indian and what you make work best for you.

P-01,

P365 XL . I had an issue with the P365 flopping forward. The longer slide of the XL and a better holster ( JMCK) changed that.

Glock 19 ( which is a bit more comfortable Than the P-01 and about as easy to conceal as the XL).

[Pistol_Ned]

On the waiting list for the shield plus. If Ruger comes out with a CA approved LCP or the roster is no longer, those will sell like hot cakes.

I like a pocket gun, subcompact and compact.

Lcp
Shield
G19

Shield has magguts kit for the mags.

You're going to love the Shield Plus when you get it. The trigger is vastly improved over the original Shield and I never thought the original Shield had that bad of a trigger. I have both now.

[tomrkba]

Looking at this again...

Frankly, all are solid choices. You really cannot go wrong with any of them.

I think you should focus. Two guns on your license should be identical. This way you have a backup immediately available for carry in case of loss or failure. Your third should fulfill any requirement you see fit.

You should have one designated practice gun for each model on your license (your carry guns should be low round count -- minimal use, verification of accuracy and ammo). Then you should focus upon training. Your shooting with any gun will improve. I do recommend learning to shoot 1911's, DA/SA guns like Berettas and SIGs, revolvers, striker fired guns, etc. Tons of dry fire will help, especially if you use a Mantis X.