CCW Guns

[Grakken]

Please share your thoughts on good firearms to use for CCW

Do they make good, small 9mm semi's? If you could also list why you think the pistol/s you mention is/are good, that would be appreciated.

Im thinking of maybe a sig 232 (.380)?

Haven't been able to find a 9mm small enough, at least, I don't think.

I prefer 9mm only because I have thousands of those rounds and would prefer if I didnt have to start hoarding another caliber.

[iareConfusE]

You've never seen a sub-compact glock before?

[The Competitive Shooter]

Check out the Glock 26. Reliable gun, small package, decent capacity. Very concealable and comfortable in an MTAC. There are smaller guns, but you will sacrifice capacity. My .02.

[paul0660]

How small is small?

[SJgunguy24]

Check out the Glock 26. Reliable gun, small package, decent capacity. Very concealable and comfortable in an MTAC. There are smaller guns, but you will sacrifice capacity. My .02.

I carry a G26 in a Cross Breed Super Tuck. I disagree with the capacity argument, the 26 is 10+1 which in CA is the limit unless you had mags pre 2K. I carry a 17+5 for a reload.

[Grakken]

You've never seen a sub-compact glock before?

Yes, Ive seen them. I like their size too. However, I want to know all my options.

[paul0660]

I carry a 17+5 for a reload

What does this mean, please?

[Grakken]

How small is small?

Well most sub compacts are a tad bigger then what I had in mind (that glock one tho is pretty small)?

Maybe something in the realm of the Sig 232? or walther PPK...but in 9mm.

[Shenaniguns]

I'm carrying a Full Size M&P 9mm, but have a M&P Compact 9mm that will replace it when I pick it up next week and add it to my CCW.

[Bullwinkle]

Check out a Kahr MK9 (not a PM9, or you might be frustrated with unreliability). I have an MK40, and you'll be hard-pressed to find anything thinner and more compact.

If you can find an off-list Kel-Tec P11 on the used market, those are good concealable weapons with more ammo capacity than the Kahr, but not nearly as nice a trigger and a little more difficult to control due to the lighter weight. [I own a P40, which is the .40 caliber version.]

Some people think these next suggestions are too bulky (i.e. fat) for CCW--compared to, say, a PPK--but I disagree; sitting side-by-side in a display case they seem smaller than a Sig P239 to me. I'm talking about a Bersa Thunder 9 Ultra Compact or a Firestorm Mini 9 (essentially the same gun). I own a Firestorm Mini 40, and I've grown rather fond of it; the more I shoot it, the more I love it. Your biggest problem here is finding a good holster for it, but they're out there.

And since I mentioned it, a Sig P239, although I suspect that's bigger than what you're looking for, right?

Then there's the 3" version of the XD you can check out also.

CZ 2075 RAMI.

MKS Hi-Point?

There are plenty of 9mm CCW guns out there, even in CA. If you really want to know everything available to you, print out the roster (sorted by caliber) and then just go down the list of 9mm guns.

[k1dude]

Kahr PM9. Mine has been 100% reliable out of the box. Same with another guy I know.

[El Gato]

had a ccw for 30 years... don't need it anymore as my leo status works better...but keep it around like a pet I've had it so long....

have also been doing ccw classes with our business for about longer...

short and cute are hard to shoot...you brought the gun to fight with not wear it as a fashion accessory ...which doesn't mean you shouldn't carry something that looks nice by the way just sayin'... most people buy a light gun because they don't want to be bothered with carrying a fighting gun...you ccw to fight with a gun...

now...

if you is a doc who wears scrubs...carrying a 1911 and 2 extra mags in your scrubs can be a challenge...

so run the numbers...what's the risk...what range....can I get first round hits every time with my chosen gun..is it an effective caliber...etc...

personally

I carry an airweight 38 around the house and as a fashionable accesory typ 2nd or 3rd gun...but I carry a steel frame 1911 and extra ammo as my primary off duty weapon...or a glock 20 10mm and at least one extra mag..full size if you please and I do....

so....
I started with a seacamp .25acp 30 years ago when I didn't want to be bothered...then I had to point a gun at someone at 0200 ish and was glad it was a 1911 45acp...the seacamp got sold and someone is happy with it... personally...

I carry the gun to fight with it...and that determines what I carry....
and since I can't carry a rifle/shotgun most of the time..I usually carry a gun I feel comfortable fighting with... steel 1911 or glock 10mm or lately a sig 45acp...the full size not the compact ...

YMMV....

[k1dude]

had a ccw for 30 years... don't need it anymore as my leo status works better...but keep it around like a pet I've had it so long....

have also been doing ccw classes with our business for about longer...

short and cute are hard to shoot...you brought the gun to fight with not wear it as a fashion accessory ...which doesn't mean you shouldn't carry something that looks nice by the way just sayin'... most people buy a light gun because they don't want to be bothered with carrying a fighting gun...you ccw to fight with a gun...

now...

if you is a doc who wears scrubs...carrying a 1911 and 2 extra mags in your scrubs can be a challenge...

so run the numbers...what's the risk...what range....can I get first round hits every time with my chosen gun..is it an effective caliber...etc...

personally

I carry an airweight 38 around the house and as a fashionable accesory typ 2nd or 3rd gun...but I carry a steel frame 1911 and extra ammo as my primary off duty weapon...or a glock 20 10mm and at least one extra mag..full size if you please and I do....

so....
I started with a seacamp .25acp 30 years ago when I didn't want to be bothered...then I had to point a gun at someone at 0200 ish and was glad it was a 1911 45acp...the seacamp got sold and someone is happy with it... personally...

I carry the gun to fight with it...and that determines what I carry....
and since I can't carry a rifle/shotgun most of the time..I usually carry a gun I feel comfortable fighting with... steel 1911 or glock 10mm or lately a sig 45acp...the full size not the compact ...

I don't disagree with your logic and experience, but as an LEO, you can get away with a bit more than a layman can without causing problems.

The way I look at it is ANY gun is better than NO gun. So even a peashooter is better than a rock.

I'm also a skinny guy, so if I carried a full sized weapon, it would be painfully obvious to everyone that I was carrying. That could get me unwanted attention and become problematic. I want to be far more discrete than that. So I have no choice but to carry much smaller weapons that I can hide well. I imagine many women have the size problem as well.

It's pretty amazing how accurate the PM9 is with some practice. I've seen people point shoot it with incredible speed and accuracy. I hope to get that good.

If I could get away with a full sized weapon I would. It would be my preference. But it just doesn't work for me.

[rgs1975]

I've had two guns that I'd regularly carry in public.

First was a Sig P230 in .380. It was light, slim, manageable and accurate. Ammo was pricey and I always had the worries of .380's supposed inadequacy in the back of my head. I sold the gun and don't carry it anymore.

Second is a Glock 36 in .45. It's light, slim, manageable and accurate. Everything the Sig was. Ammo prices aren't bad. There are more SD ammo types to choose from than .380. Lastly I do not worry about the effect of 45 at all. It's my go to carry gun now.

[Bizcuits]

Get a glock19, glock26 or 228