Compact 9mm decision

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As far as my preferences for CCWs go, and yours may vary, they include a metal frame (aluminum/alloy for carry), double-stack, DA/SA with decocker, replaceable sights, and no rail.
The PCR ticked off all those boxes. Absolutely wonderful gun.
It's not the thinnest thing out there, though.
 
The PCR will be my next handgun. I've got the SP-01 Tactical and the Rami BD, and I love them both. The PCR should fit nicely in between them.
 
Ignition Override: said:
Theohazard: I've read that the 228's slide is manufactured from folded metal, where the heavier 229 slide is milled on a CNC machine. From Wiki (?) or a Youtube channel which is informed.
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I have a Sig P228 and an M11-A1 (a 9mm P229 with SRT & Siglites), the folded slide on the P228 is perfectly fine for 9mm while the milled slide covers all the P229 calibers.

Considering everything the OP is looking for including the .22 LR conversion capability, a CZ P-01 is an ideal choice that covers all the bases, mine is one of my favorite autoloaders, it works well for anything I want to use it for. If you come across one, either the older decocker model like mine, or the newer Omega trigger model that can be converted to either a thumb-safety or a decocker, I’d just grab it!
 
I bought a CZ 75 compact instead of a CZ PCR because I thought the weight difference between a steel frame and alloy frame wouldn't matter. I was wrong. I warned a guy on another forum that the CZ 75 compact was too heavy for me as a carry gun, but he went ahead and bought the 75 compact anyway, and a few years later is acknowledging that it's too heavy for regular carry. An outstanding gun in every way...but it's too heavy.

Oh well, I already have a fine carry gun in my not too small, not too big Ruger SR9c. Striker fired, so it has no second strike capability, but it has been 100% reliable for me after many hundreds of rounds. My main carry is a .380 LCP, but if I'd need something with more capacity or oomph, the SR9c is usually my first choice.
 
Thanks for all for sharing your experiences with the CZs. Jim, do you feel like you would still carry the SR9c over the PCR? I handled a compact and a P-01. I haven't found a PCR to look at, but there is a gun show coming up, so hopefully I can track one down there. The P-01 felt significantly lighter than the compact without sacrificing anything in terms of fit and feel. I would rather not have a rail on the front though.

Hoping to get to the range to shoot a few next weekend, and then there is a gun show that following weekend. Who knows, maybe I will get lucky there and find the perfect specimen.
 
The P-01 is outstanding, IMO. No, I haven't fired one, or even held one, but I own a rare CZ 40 P - which has the exact same alloy frame as the P-01 - and I like it's weight, and LOVE the feel of the grip. The only thing about my CZ 40 P is it has a slightly longer slide than the P-01, so it's not as concealable. Because of the longer slide, it's probably a tad heavier than the P-01, too.

I don't feel like I'd carry the SR9c over the PCR, they're both fine guns. I just already had the Ruger, so I opted for it when I carry a higher cap 9mm, and didn't bother buying a PCR.

I really like my CZ 75 compact (more or less the same as the PCR, but with a heavier steel frame), it is an incredibly well made gun, but not something I'd carry when there are better options. According to specs, the P- 01 weighs almost 5 oz less than the CZ 75 Compact, and the PCR weighs more than 5 oz less than the Compact. Doesn't sound like much, but it is after a day of carrying concealed. I should mention, though, the SR9c weighs another 5 oz less than the P-01. One other negative thing about the Compact - I have large hands, so the flat base plate on the mag sliced my hands. Had to buy mag extensions. Same problem with the PCR, I think. Oh, and I also changed the hard compact grips to rubber. Much better. I think the P-01 already comes with rubber, like my 40 P.
 
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I still believe your best option is the Glock 26. I carry mine with the pinky extension, once put on I never take them off. The gun conceals just as well with the pinky extension as without. So, in fact, all of my G26 magazines have Pearce extensions.

The gun is short, slick and fast to the first shot.
 
Small compact/large subcompact?

Kahr P9/CW9, S&W Shield, XDs.

You've kind of sized yourself out of the double stack preference. 8+1 ain't so bad.
 
I got one the other day that might work. It's a S&W Model 915. I think it's a police turn-in. It's obviously smaller than a full-sized pistol like a 1911 or my Ruger 90, but obviously larger than something like a G43. It has an aluminum frame, so it's not very heavy. There are probably other old S&W autos the same size. The place I got it from had dozens of them. I paid around $250 for it. It's DA/SA with a decocker safety.
 
I've been messing around with the new Ruger Security 9....For the money I don't think you could go wrong. It shoots well and has been 100% with three different loads though about 300 rounds so far.
 
After reading reviews for many months I started looking for a CZ 75 PCR today. Unfortunately everyone is out f stock at this time.
 
frogfurr said:
After reading reviews for many months I started looking for a CZ 75 PCR today. Unfortunately everyone is out f stock at this time.
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They are really hard to find, and when someone gets them in, it doesn't take very long for them to sell out of them.

Deguns.net gets about 25 of them in at a time periodically and they usually last about a week or so before they are sold out.
 
cfullgraf said:
Take a look at the HK P30SK V3. I got one a couple months ago and like it.

The decocker on the rear of the slide is a nice touch. The paddle magazine release takes a bit of getting use to.
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I bought one last year too and I love it so far. Only gripe is that the hump on the back of the grip feels funny to me, but it doesn’t affect my shooting at all. Very nice carry size for me and all of the features I like.
 
high country said:
Some considerations:
- double stack magazine
- good aftermarket support (grips, sights, holsters, magazines, etc.)
- compact size that is concealable, but not a huge compromise in med-large hands at the range
- prefer hammer fired decocker because that is what I am used to, but open to suggestions
- bonus points if a quality 22 conversion kit is available
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Take a look at the 9mm S&W M6906, there's usually several on Gunbroker. It's slightly smaller than the S&W M915 someone else mentioned. It's DA/SA, hammer fired, 12 round mags........meets ALL your criteria except for the "bonus points" .22 conversion kit availability. I started carrying S&W 9mm DA/SA guns like the Model 39 and Model 59 over 35 years ago, and eventually ended up carrying the "3rd Generation" M6906. It's been my primary CCW gun for over 20 years now. (I'm not a fan of striker fired guns either.) I bet if you tried the M6906, you'd like it.
 
I managed to get to the range for a little while last weekend. Their CZ75b was out of circulation for repairs, which was a bummer because I really wanted to shoot a cz to see if it shoots as well as it feels for me. I did shoot an assortment of compacts and subcompacts. The big standout was a glock 19, I really liked that little gun quite a bit and was about as accurate with it in a couple of magazines as I am with the P89 that I have had for over a decade (which isn't saying much, I need to shoot more...). I want to go look more closely at one, and try it IWB in a holster to see if I find it comfortable and concealable given the width, but the glock 19 is a serious contender. I would like to try a glock 26 to see how I do with that both with and without an extension. All of the subcompacts that I shot I really did not enjoy. It became clear that to shoot comfortably and accurately, I need my pinky on the grip, and the back of the grip needs to extend well down the lower pad of my right palm. But if I can shoot a glock 26 with a grip extension about as well as I did the 19, then I would have either option. The same applies to the SR9c, which I shot without the extension. The grip is too short, and they didn't have the extended magazine available, so I didn't care for it, but that may change if I can shoot it with the extension.

In lieu of the cz75b, I shot a springfield range officer 1911. Wow, those are really nice to shoot, definitely the most accurate I have ever been with a center fire, and darn close to my buckmark. In addition to the compact stuff, I want to shoot a 9mm 1911 and a cz75b side by side, as one of those may need to take the full size service pistol spot in my collection! Those are both too large to conceal I think, although they are both much thinner than the P89 or GP100, so maybe it would be worth trying those out in a good IWB holster to see. I definitely need to get my hands on a compact or PCR to shoot. The search continues... Thanks a ton all for the great input.
 
I went with the CZ 75 Compact. As a matter of fact, I have organized my entire system around the CZ. CZ85 is my range gun. CZ SP01 for the "night stand". CZ 75 Compact for on the go. All of mine are "safety" models, not the decocker.
This holster fits it nicely for on the belt:
IMG_1995.jpg
 
Jim NE said:
I bought a CZ 75 compact instead of a CZ PCR because I thought the weight difference between a steel frame and alloy frame wouldn't matter. I was wrong. I warned a guy on another forum that the CZ 75 compact was too heavy for me as a carry gun, but he went ahead and bought the 75 compact anyway, and a few years later is acknowledging that it's too heavy for regular carry. An outstanding gun in every way...but it's too heavy.
Click to expand...

I have an eaa witness all steel wonder finish that i carried a while. Pretty heavy pistol. You MUST wear a good belt. At the time I wore a 5 stitch wilderness instructor belt which worked but, but I've outgrown it in recent years. Hated the velcro on that belt...
 
high country said:
I managed to get to the range for a little while last weekend. Their CZ75b was out of circulation for repairs, which was a bummer because I really wanted to shoot a cz to see if it shoots as well as it feels for me. I did shoot an assortment of compacts and subcompacts. The big standout was a glock 19, I really liked that little gun quite a bit and was about as accurate with it in a couple of magazines as I am with the P89 that I have had for over a decade (which isn't saying much, I need to shoot more...). I want to go look more closely at one, and try it IWB in a holster to see if I find it comfortable and concealable given the width, but the glock 19 is a serious contender. I would like to try a glock 26 to see how I do with that both with and without an extension. . . . .
Click to expand...
I've started carrying a Shield more and more, but for ~4 years, a G19 in a Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe was my EDC. I've traded in the CBST for a Stealthgear Revolution IWB, but I still carry the G19 on a semi-regular basis. Obviously, I can't say for sure whether it'll be comfortable IWB for you, but I always found it to be very comfortable.

If the range's CZ75b is going to be back in service any time soon, I'd suggest that you hold out for a little bit and shoot that one. I've only ever shot one CZ, a CZ 75 Compact, and it was an eye-opener. I won't be trading my G19 in for one, but I sure as the world would not turn one down. That one was a real pleasure to shoot.
 
Love shooting and carrying my M&P 9C. I looked at the 2.0 compact. Like the new size (closer to G19), but those grips... would rub my skin raw or my undershirt to a holed mess.

On the range, my M&P9c is my best shooter. No idea why. Just is
 
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