New SD Handgun in my Future

The best CCW firearm I ever had was a Kahr CM9, I also like the S&W Shield, Sig 365 and Springfield XDS. All make great IWB carry firearms FOR ME! Again, this is for me and just my opinion.

There are so many great options available it makes your head spin.
Here is my current favorite. I would definitely buy any 9mm that I find that I like better, but I havent found it yet.

Ruger's SR9C
Ambidextrous safety and mag release
Rounded edges for carty iwb
Loaded chamber indicator
Adj sights
Compact 10rd magazines and extended 17rd magazines
Forward serrations on the slide
Accessory rail
Trigger block safety
Lightweight polymer frame
One thing I wish it had is second strike capability...it does not

One interesting characteristic of this gun is that anyone who has tried mine can shoot it well the first time, including me. That's why I bought it. I am very happy with it.

Best wishes on your search

Do you think your limited range is due to the compact pistol sight radius? If so, maybe an optic ready pistol would help that? Or a laser on it, I'm not usually a laser fan but worth considering in this case.

.380 at 25yds won't be much different than 380 at 5yds but your shot placement likely will not be as good which will make an round perform less.

If you're a 1911 guy maybe a light weight framed version of one of those and work to conceal it. Think about a 10mm version if more power is in your thought process here.

Tons of options for sure! In the end though I think a larger platform may be required to improve your hit capability with it. Little guns are a real challenge to shoot well, I don't think I would hit much at 25yrds with one either.

Personally I don't love the 380, but I do have a Glock 42. I have it because it's small so I can slide it into my pocket but it shoots very good. Honestly I've had several LCP's (LCP, LCP Custom, LCP 2) and they're very small but they don't shoot well, by that I mean they don't shoot like a bigger gun, they shoot just like what they are, a small gun with poor sights and trigger. The Glock 42 is worlds different, it's got good sights and trigger and shoots like a bigger gun than it is, but a good trigger and usable sights go a long way in extending the range of even very small guns. I like a bigger caliber, but a 380 in the right spot will definitely work. That's they key. The recent Texas church shooting ended when the bad guy got a 357 SIG bullet upside his head and while there's a lot of difference between a 380 ACP and a 357 SIG, a 380 upside the head is lights out, no doubt.

What I'm saying is, the 380 isn't the best choice but in this case I think the biggest weak spot is the gun. The LCP isn't bad but it's basically a belly gun. If you want something lighter than a 1911 but still capable of 25yd shots, it just depends on what you want and can afford. Yes I'm a Glock guy but there's plenty of other really good options like the S&W M&P 2.0, Ruger has some new options out, there are some inexpensive SIGs out there. It probably needs to have a decent trigger and a good set of sights on it, so go gun shopping.

I went from a 1911 (sig) to a glock 30 because it is much shorter in the grip but thicker. Conceals better, better capacity and cheaper. I can shoot the 30 better than most other semi's .
I have a g42 too, carry it if concealment is a top priority . it is a bit large for a 380 but is shootable. I can keep all 7 on paper at 25 yards, more than good enough for me. I even went swimming in the ocean with mine because I didn't want to leave it with my bag & towel. It was fine while I did replace the ammo, the rounds removed fired gun a couple months later when I tried them.
The caliber debate is nuts, find what you shoot well and then pick a bullet & velocity that you trust you'll be in good shape. I feel confident with a 380 if it's all my attire will allow, my tactic for using less powerful carry options does differ from my tactic if I were using a more standard service caliber. Depends on how you train.
Good luck

The S&W shield 9 is my go-to.

Catpop,
Do you have a range nearby that rents guns?
I would definitely look into that and try different guns and different cartridges. What works for me may not work for you. To me, it would be worth it to drive even up to 50 miles to shoot a variety of guns to see what I like.

I have purchased guns in the past on the recommendations of others only to find that I didn’t like them and ended up selling them out of frustration.

^^^ Good advice. Its one thing to get ideas and maybe a direction to head for but getting your hands on some of these guns and giving it a try for yourself is the way to go.

I am a revolver guy and decided that I would buy a S&W 642 without trying one first based on raving reviews on forums. I hated that little gun and couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

Catpop said:

I’m now thinking a new light weight SD that is much more readily concealable than the 1911, but still accurate to 25 yards.

I ask your suggestions. Thank you for your comments.

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I've had good results with my P938 Legion, and since you're used to 1911's...…………
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A snub revolver with a shrouded hammer in .38, maybe .44 if you don't mind carrying a $350 Charter Arms and paying the high price for .44 ammo.



Whatever caliber you get, the hammer must be partially exposed so you can cock it for a single action pull. While it's not a shrouded hammer and I have the fat black plastic grips on it, I can hit 8 inch plates at 50 yards with my Rock Island snub .38.

How about a lightweight commander? Colt makes a good one.

I second the vote for the SR9C. Best striker trigger out of the box. Very accurate and soft shooting.
Also the Sig P938 is a great choice to. Less rounds but very accurate.

Beretta APX which can be had for little over $300.

Catpop said:

Really? I’ve got one and really like it ———but I have not run a accuracy test on it yet! Don’t think it’s my 25 yard gun! Thanks

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I actually got rid of my 642 as well. I found the XDs pictured above to be easier to shoot fast, it carried more ammonia, and is more powerful.

The Sig is a way more fun gun to shoot than the XDs, and it carries easier too.

I don’t miss my 642 at all.

460Shooter said:

I actually got rid of my 642 as well. I found the XDs pictured above to be easier to shoot fast, it carried more ammonia, and is more powerful.

The Sig is a way more fun gun to shoot than the XDs, and it carries easier too.

I don’t miss my 642 at all.

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Have you fired the XDs side by side with the Shield 45? I fired my coworker's XDs in 45, and I own the Shield in 45, and I must say the Shield was a softer shooting gun. The XDs was more snappy.

Catpop said:

My recent “380 for Self Defense” thread was an awakening to me. Although it was primarily directed at a woods carry pistol against predators, the responses brought out a number of valuable lessons I had not considered.
1. Was how well “I” could shoot my .380 offhand. My ensuing accuracy test revealed for “me”, my LCP is a 10 yard handgun at best.
2. What range would I be confronting an attacker? Is 10 yards the max range it would be called to protect me and/or my loved ones?
3. Did it have the knock down power to stop the threat at 25 yards?
The recent shooting at a church in Texas may reveal more than it seems at first glance. Reflecting on this video, which I’ve watched over and over, leads me to the conclusion I may need a little more upgrade in my carry SD handgun.

I have an LC9, which after offhand accuracy testing, has proven itself as a 15 yard handgun to “me”.
My full size 1911 45 acp Kimber is an offhand 25 yard gun to “me”.

I’m now thinking a new light weight SD that is much more readily concealable than the 1911, but still accurate to 25 yards.

I ask your suggestions. Thank you for your comments.

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Both the Glock G36 .45 ACP, and SIG P938 9mm Para, will clean 8" easy at 25 yards, and 6" with a little work.




GR

I'm not a 9mm fan, but either the new single stack Glocks, or a G26 seem like a simple solution. I'm not really a big Glock lover, but I have a few (and carry them) because they just make sense.

Some of the more compact Sig pistols, P239 P224 or P225 are very nice.

Lots of options out there. Hope you find what works.

If you want to stay in the 1911 family then I'd look at the Colt Defender in either .45 or 9mm. They have the officer grip, 3 inch barrel and aluminum frame do they are not overly heavy. I have always felt 1911's carry really nice for their size and weight.

The G19 is great all around gun as well. It carries nice, has ample capacity, is light weight, has a plethora of holster options, and is easy to shoot.

"The recent shooting at a church in Texas may reveal more than it seems at first glance. Reflecting on this video, which I’ve watched over and over, leads me to the conclusion I may need a little more upgrade in my carry SD handgun."


IMHO that is statistically not the way to think about it. Your chances of being caught up in a mass shooting are microscopically tiny. Your chances of being mugged, carjacked, attacked by some crazy drunk guy, are astronomically higher. By all means carry the best/most gun you can carry, but realistically it will be short-ranged, sudden, and over very quickly one way or the other.

I've been down this road for years at a time, I've tried virtually everything available in a mainstream sense. I was always bouncing back and forth with capacity, conceal-ability and quick accuracy. No matter what, there is no such thing as a free lunch. If you want capacity and shootability, then conceal-ability will suffer, and so on.

I also do not do well with OWB carry, I have yet to find something other than a secondary cover garment to sufficiently conceal without obvious printing. I like a t shirt and jeans for daily clothing, work attire is generally a button up shirt, actually buttoned, or a polo. So IWB is MY best option.

What I have settled on, and this is the 3rd time back around to it trying to find the "perfect" carry gun, is a gen 4 G26. I'll carry other guns just because I like them, and most of the time its just around the house or a quick trip to the store, but if we are going to one of the nearby cities, the g26 comes along. I think I had previously searched for something else before simply because I got bored with a plain jane glock 26 for carry, but it is what it is. Simple, reliable, and shoots like a full size (in my hands).

Go with the biggest and most powerful you can comfortably carry. If it's not comfortable you'll tend not to carry it after awhile. I carry a LCR .357 magnum in my pocket. After all these years I really don't notice it there. But I never forget it's there.