CCW Pistol advice

from my experience start with a 380 pocket pistol and work your way up. I started with a 357 snubnose for carry and wasnt able to carry it ALL the time. With a 380 its always on you. And after you pick up a bigger carry gun you will be so used to the 380 you will carry it with your new piece, it becomes like making sure you leave the house with your cell phone or wallet. just my rant

Well, if you like 45, and like light and thin, you can end your search and buy a Kahr PM45. That's going to be the smallest and lightest 45 you'll find.

In my opinion, the smaller the better, for urban wear, so long the gun is at least sort of adequate. I like .38 snubs. You said no revolvers; very well. There are, these days, plenty of 9mmP compact pistols that fill the same niche, including Beretta's Nano. I mention the Beretta because you presumably like Berettas. Or you could go with any of the other 9mm compacts from Kimber, Springfield Armory, Ruger, etc., etc.

I suggest this class of pistol because you will not be inclined to leave it at home due to its size. The small 9mm's are smaller than the smallest .45's.

+1 on the Kahr .45. I'd also look at the new Ruger LC9.

LD

My suggestions are
S&W--CS45
S&W--CS40
S&W--CS9
S&W--3913 or 3914--9mm
All are out of production but all are great concealed carry guns and available.
Good luck

S&W M&P 9c in an IWB holster, or a Ruger LCR in your pocket.

There are tons of options for .45s under a grand, even excluding beretta and glock. Springfield XDm (my personal favorite), S&W M&P, Sig, CZ-97, FNP 45, Ruger SR-series, and several 1911s. I'm not sure if you can find HK pistols for under a grand, but they're too pricey for my personal taste.

If you want a revolver instead, get a Ruger SP101 or Ruger LCR.

If you want something smaller to pocket carry, get a Ruger LCP.

Dan Wesson CCO
Colt CCO
Dan Wesson Guardian or VBOB
Kahr K9, Mk9, PM9, P9
HK P7, PSP, etc.
S&W M&P 340 revolver
Kahr P380

Happy hunting.

Ruger has a couple of options that are relatively slim and lightweight full size pistols.

In 9mm is the SR9
http://www.ruger.com/products/sr9/index.html?r=y

In .45 ACP, the P345
http://www.ruger.com/products/p345/models.html

I'll just rattle off what I know and like that falls within your criteria.

Open to 1911s? Colt Defender/New Agents tend to be around $800 or so and they make great CCW weapons. They're thin, lightweight, and pretty small (though not pocket carry small). They're available in .45 or 9mm, I've got a New Agent in .45 and love it.

I've also got a Springfield EMP in 9mm, another great 1911 but they go for over $1000 in most places.

DA/SA fan? My father carries a Sig P239 in .40 S&W (also comes in 9mm or .357SIG). They also generally go for around $700-800 or so, and his has been extremely reliable. They're single stack guns, so they're a bit thinner than that Beretta of yours.

In the striker fired category... Had a Springfield XD40 Subcompact that was my daily carry for over a year, super reliable and pretty small (though thicker than my 1911s). Only cost me $500 when I got it, they're probably a bit cheaper now. Only sold it when I got the 1911 bug to buy my EMP.

It might also help to acquire a decent belt and holster. My PX4 (granted its only the lowly 40 S&W) isn't heavy at all.

Depending on how you dress for work, you might be able to do the Px4 subcompact -- would be a good addition if you already have a Storm .45 as the feel should be about the same, just in a subcompact package.

In jeans or chinos with an untucked polo shirt or sweater, I can comfortably conceal a Glock 26 IWB on my hip. But if you have to a wear a tucked-in dress shirt, you may have to go with a pocket .380.

New convert here to the Ruger LC9.

Inexpensive
Concealable (very flat)
Accurate (amazingly so)
8 round capacity
External safety (if you feel the need)
Crimson Trace compatible



first mag thru the gun

Colt commander. Im sure with your service exp that would work for you

davers said:

Oh yea..almost forgot, I've heard a lot of bad things about 1911 pistols. FTF, FTE, etc etc. I bumped into someone at the range who had a Kimber, and he called it his Sunday range gun. Even after he had work done to it, it had too many failures to be considered for CCW. Is that everyone's experience with 1911's? I'd had to spend all that cash on a handgun, only to have to spend a lot more just to get it to feed correctly. I know we only shot ball when I was in the Army, but I don't really remember having any failures...

Thanks again,

Dave

Click to expand...

Ugh, I'll let someone else handle this one...

davers said:

Oh yea..almost forgot, I've heard a lot of bad things about 1911 pistols. FTF, FTE, etc etc. I bumped into someone at the range who had a Kimber, and he called it his Sunday range gun. Even after he had work done to it, it had too many failures to be considered for CCW. Is that everyone's experience with 1911's? I'd had to spend all that cash on a handgun, only to have to spend a lot more just to get it to feed correctly. I know we only shot ball when I was in the Army, but I don't really remember having any failures...

Thanks again,

Dave

Click to expand...

That hasn't been my experience, though with all the different 1911s out there you're are going to find people who've had bad experiences with 1911s.

Mine have been very reliable, especially the EMP.

I like the Kahr P9 9 mm , I dont like the smaller ones like the CW9 , the grip is to small for me.

Kimber quality control is a hit and miss , buy one you can test fire and make sure is reliable if you really want a Kimber.

davers wrote,
...I've heard a lot of bad things about 1911 pistols...

...Is that everyone's experience with 1911's? ...

Click to expand...

Not my experience. My Colt has been very good.

There's always the Colt Officer compact .45 to consider.

Reliable, accurate, and sure won't be depreciating any time soon.

Simply
Shoot them, shoot them some more and realize that the smaller the gun
the bigger the round (or powerful)
the more recoil, better to hit than miss

So, once again, shoot them.

davers said:

Oh yea..almost forgot, I've heard a lot of bad things about 1911 pistols. FTF, FTE, etc etc. I bumped into someone at the range who had a Kimber, and he called it his Sunday range gun. Even after he had work done to it, it had too many failures to be considered for CCW. Is that everyone's experience with 1911's? I'd had to spend all that cash on a handgun, only to have to spend a lot more just to get it to feed correctly. I know we only shot ball when I was in the Army, but I don't really remember having any failures...

Thanks again,

Dave

Click to expand...

Cheaper 1911's are hit or miss. The best bet is to get a fairly pricey semicustom that would be worth investing in. Fixing it up to pure perfection as your tastes and experience grow. Then sending it off to a custom 1911 tuner that can put the finishing touches on it.

1911's from Dan Wesson, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson, SVI, and STI are extremely reliable.

For example my build (one step ata time):
Dan Wesson Valor (100% reliable)
Tripp mags
Cut thumb safety
Sensitized grip safety
Cut grip safety bar so it can be removed without removing the MSH.
Stoned all the guts smooth
10-8 .156 rear sight
Dawson .110" front FO sight.
Thick tac diamond VZ grips

Then I'll send it off to Severns custom for refinishing so i can beat on it some more with a finish that hopefully hold up ok.

Think long and hard about how you are going to carry and be realistic. Inside the Waistband, Outside the Waistband, Ankle Carry, Shoulder Holster, etc. Take a long look at photos like #22 above. See how far down the holster goes? Will you always dress in a manor that will conceal that? Or do you go IWB with tucked shirt and have to deal with pulling your shirt out then going for your gun? Lots to consider there.

Next, move on to caliber and action. Determine which of those you prefer or can live with. Everything involving conceal carry is a trade off.

Now you move on to size and weight.

By now you have narrowed the field down to fewer options which should make the decision process easier.

For starters, I like the suggestions for the S&W line; CS9, CS40, CS 45, 3913. All are single stack and definately not Glock. If you can live with Striker fired, look long and hard at the Kahr PM an Mk line, their smallest 9mms and the CW or K line, the next step up in size. Sig 239 is another great DA/SA single stack option but on the heavier side. Sig DAOs? Worked for Tom Cruise in Night and Day.

I also like the suggestion of starting smaller and working up to larger as you get better at carrying.

Oh and don't forget to check out the Holster Sub-Category at the top of the General Handgun Category. Scroll back a page or two and read several posts. Holsters are an entirely seperate tar baby.

Good luck!