Looking for advice

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qwert65

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When I started ccw I carried a full size 1911, down here in Louisiana though, and working with hi-strung horses(and clients) makes concealing it either painful or not practical(tuckable holsters I can't draw fast enough) so I pretty much wind up with a j-frame or lcp. I would prefer a service caliber though.

Now I'm a .45 guy all the way, and if it was professionally acceptable for me to open carry everywhere I would only have my 1911 and blackhawk.

So, I've recently decided I can try another method of carry(pretty much the only thing left is shoulder though), get a smaller .45 or get a different gun in a smaller service caliber(prob 9mm)
I've rented a glock36 and didn't care for the trigger or the blockiness. I've never shot a smaller 1911 but understand they can be unreliable. I've fired my police officer buddy's glock40(not sure which model) I didn't care for the snappy recoil.

So some questions;
Are 40's all that snappy?
How's the emp? Reliable?
The little glock 9mm how concealable are they?
The xdM? Are the smaller then the emp?
Any smaller reliable .45's out there?
Any ideas on a better way to carry? My job involves wrestling with horses, squatting quite a bit(joint injections) lots of bending over, and dealing with clients. I get sweaty and get blood, dirt , etc on me all the time.
Currently I just carry in the car at work and slip my ccw in a pocket. I have emergencies somewhat frequently so I'd prefer something to slip on or off.

Any advice is appreciatted.
 
In my limited experience, anything smaller seems to be inherently less reliable. Now, that doesn't mean they are that unreliable. It just means that there's a trade-off that's either acceptable or not. For example, the Kahr PM45, Kahr P45/CW45, Taurus PT145, and Taurus PT745 are about as small as you're going to get in a .45acp. If you expect them to be as reliable as your full-sized 1911, then you'll be disappointed. Kahr has to be treated like a baby and Taurus just as the normal problems that a "budget" handgun typically has (ie, quality control).

As you move up in size, you generally get more reliability. For example, the Glock 36, Glock 30, XDM45 compact, M&P compact, etc, aren't nearly as small as those previously listed, but should be more reliable. You should definitely give the XDM45 and the M&P a try if you don't like the Glocks.
 
Are 40's all that snappy?
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Quite frankly, I've never understood the .40 being snappy. Now, I did learn to shoot handguns with a .44magnum, making everything else seem less by comparison. However, comparing my Glock 22 to a full-sized 1911, I think the 1911 has more recoil and makes it a little harder for follow-up shots. I don't feel like either is a problem for me, but I can't understand why a .40sw is supposed to be more snappy then a .45 or compact 9mm.

How's the emp? Reliable?
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No experience with the EMP, though I've only heard good things.

The little glock 9mm how concealable are they?
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Comparable to a small revolver, a little more concealable than the EMP, but certainly less concealable than your LCP.

The xdM? Are the smaller then the emp?
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They are 0.5" longer overall with a 0.8" longer barrel, though, they are 0.5" shorter as well. About the same.

Any smaller reliable .45's out there?
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See my above post. The smallest .45s (basically Kahr and Taurus) can have some issues. That said, I really like both of them. Concealability and reliability have a certain correllation to them, though, as a general principle in my experience.

Any ideas on a better way to carry? My job involves wrestling with horses, squatting quite a bit(joint injections) lots of bending over, and dealing with clients. I get sweaty and get blood, dirt , etc on me all the time.
Currently I just carry in the car at work and slip my ccw in a pocket. I have emergencies somewhat frequently so I'd prefer something to slip on or off.
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Anything I say here would probably be futile. You may just need to experience several different methods or find someone with a similar job.
 
I love my EMP-9, it's pricey but it's worth it. Unlike practically every other subcompact 1911, the EMP was designed from the ground up around shorter cartridges like .40S&W and 9mm. It's a very reliable gun in my experience, every EMP owner I've talked to loves this little gun.

.40S&W does have a bit of a "snap" to it, at least compared to 9mm. But the EMP-40 is a steel framed gun IIRC (the 9mm is alloy), it probably won't be bad at all. I know the 9mm EMP is a joy to shoot.
 
How do you plan to conceal a different gun?

You've asked about the Glock (26?), the EMP, and for other suggestions. Are you looking to pocket-carry this gun? Those choices will be at the top end of comfortable pocket carry, as would the Khar pistols (which would probably be my next recommendation).

If you think drawing from a tuckable IWB is too slow, drawing from a jeans pocket can hardly be considered faster. (Unless by "tuckable" you were actually think

Most of these guns are still most comfortably carried in a belt holster of some sort, and I don't think there are many (any?) pistols that carry more comfortably in a belt holster than a 1911 -- though if the weight bothers you you can certainly go lighter.
 
On the 40S&W "snappy" recoil;

What weight bullets did you shoot? I have found the cartridges with 180gr bullets a lot less snappy to shoot. Many people carry the 165gr 40S&W ammo. Those can take a bit of getting used to.

Try the glock 23 (mid sized) glock 40S&W with cartridges loaded with 180gr bullets.
 
Thanks to all for the replies.
Sam1911, when I pocket carry I carry my lcp in my watch pocket(it covers the trigger guard) my j-frame either just int back pocket(if going to be standing up) or in a desantis iwb.
I would look to carry the bigger gun iwb but with a holster I can slide on and off.
I finally settled on a galco iwb for my 1911 but I can't take it off or on and my shirt constantly would ride up over it(I used a goodie and it was fine but too hot here for that)
 
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