Torn between two guns I'd like to carry.

[bombadillo]

Let me start this and preface it by saying I just sold 2 really nice high end guns to do this, but I am using my money for various other guns, and it leaves me with $500 to spend on a pocket style gun or at least a CCW gun. I owned an LC9 by Ruger awhile back and honestly I think I can say it was the gun that shot like **** more than anything, but it is what it is. I had others shoot it and they couldn't group for GARBAGE with it. I'm wondering whether to give it another try for $349, or go for a $50 more expensive gun and get a Rock Island Armory "Officers" 3.5" model in .45acp. I already have a 2 full sized 1911's and I already have a Kahr CW9 for CCW but I'm looking for a decent CCW gun. At this point I'm slightly leaning toward the RIA only because it is a more potent gun and you get the same round count. It is a bit bigger but thats not too much of a concern. If you were in the same boat, would you go with a 9mm you already have or go with a RIA as a larger caliber and know its going to work but cost you a bit more....

[manuelcardenas77]

So your saying the 9mm isn't going to work?

[Norcal Industries]

rock island.

[bombadillo]

So your saying the 9mm isn't going to work?

Not at all, I just had one before and it didn't work. I'm wondering whether I should give the LC9 a shot again and buy another, and keep all my CCW weapons in 9mm, or get the RIA in .45acp even though its a little larger.

[nicki]

consider the following

If you had to use the gun, consider the following:

1. A carry gun must be reliable and one you can shoot well. A gun that you shoot poorly with under range conditions is going to be a whole lot worse in a real gunfight.

2. Stopping power is what you need, my preference is a 45.

3. I assume that your other 45s fit your hand, my 1911s are my favorites, the ones that have that natural, it is part of me feel.

If you get the kahr, you have a carry gun that has a different feel than your other guns. In a hostile situation you will be operating under extreme stress, fine motors skills are gone, you will operate under gross motor skills and your body will go into muscle memory when operating your carry gun.

If your carry gun and your insktinctive gross motor skills reflex to a different gun, you use of you carry gun will not be smooth, it will be rough.

[bombadillo]

I think you misunderstood. I already have a few 1911's, and a Kahr CW9. The maybe was either a commander 3.5" 1911 or a Ruger LC9. I know the LC9 is WAY different but more or less do you guys think I should give it another chance.

[X231]

I have an LC9 and really like it for EDC. I'm not that great of a shot but even so my groupings are acceptable to me. If the long trigger pull is throwing you off try the Galloway hammer/trigger bar mod. Shortens the travel by about half.
For me to carry a gun it has to be comfortable. I don't even feel the LC9 in my Crossbreed most of the time. I find myself checking to see if it's still there. I have a Sig 239 and although I really like it as a shooter it's not as comfortable for me to carry as the LC9.
What distance are you shooting? Accuracy is always nice but I don't plan on any long range gun battles with a carry gun .. I'll run and hide if I have that much distance.

[bombadillo]

25 feet was my max with it. I was barely making torso shots. I also have my kahr and make fist sized froups at the same distances. That's why I wondered if I I just got a bad gun. It was 2 or 3 others also.

[Supertac916]

Personally, I'd go with the RIA .45 vs. another 9mm that your not accurate with. Your Kahr could be your primary during the summer and your RIA during the winter. It's a larger frame gun, but you have heavier clothing to hide it. Also, have to consider that during the winter people wear heavier clothing, so it's nice to have the mass of the .45 round should you ever have to use it in a self defense situation.

I usually carry my Glock 23 or HK P2000 in .40 during the summer and I have a full size Kimber Gold Combat during the winter. I thought about getting a Ruger as well, but heard the same things as you have.

[X231]

25 feet was my max with it. I was barely making torso shots. I also have my kahr and make fist sized froups at the same distances. That's why I wondered if I I just got a bad gun. It was 2 or 3 others also.

That is not good. I would have sent it back to Ruger. Maybe you could rent or shoot a friends LC9 and see if it's better. Mine certainly is. If you like the gun overall it's worth a try. Maybe check out a Beretta Nano? Can you tell I like small carry guns?

[BlackDrop50]

Maybe you just got a bad LC9. Maybe it's you. One of my buddies got one and first mag I shot out of it, grouped into a quarter/half dollar size hole at 21 ft.

He couldn't shoot it for crap and thought it was the gun until I shot it.


The SR9c has a better trigger but is slightly bigger and thicker due to double stack mag. It shoots just as well but I almost prefer the grip/size/handling of the LC9.

[bombadillo]

I loved grip/size and all the ergos of the LC9, but like I said, it was me, and 2 or 3 other people who couldn't shoot it either and all of them are proficient shooters. I feel like that one was actually the gun and I don't say that often! Most times I think you need to adapt to characteristics of the gun etc but NOBODY could hit anything smaller than about 12-14" at 21 feet.

[bombadillo]

That is not good. I would have sent it back to Ruger. Maybe you could rent or shoot a friends LC9 and see if it's better. Mine certainly is. If you like the gun overall it's worth a try. Maybe check out a Beretta Nano? Can you tell I like small carry guns?

Thats not on the roster is it?

[stangman86gt]

you could always go with the kahr's smaller brother the pm9 if you're looking for a smaller gun than the cw9.
Fits in the pocket quite easily and it's not much lighter than your cw9, but it is lighter hehe. Then the only drawback is the price is more than your budget

[bombadillo]

They also make a cm9 now too.its only 350 but not rostered.