Sold my Glock 43 & 36. What metal frame carry gun should I get?

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citizenconn

citizenconn

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I bought the two Glocks a number of years ago when I was first searching for carry guns. At the time I was primarily a long range rifle target shooter with a bit of hunting thrown in the mix, so my collection only included rifles and shotguns.

I've since acquired a number of 1911, mostly full size 5" models, but also one 4.25" Commander model as well. I've been looking at the Springfield EMP models as well as the Kimber Micro pistols with the intent to acquire a pocket/ankle pistol similar to the Glock 43 in 9mm as well as a carry gun in .45 ACP, both metal framed varieties.

I think I have ruled out the S&W CSX because it seems to have as much polymer as metal, and I don't want to go down the polymer road again. I am also not interested in carry revolvers at this time. I love single action revolvers, but not interested for carry. What would y'all recommend?

citizenconn
 
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I carry a Colt Series 70, and like it. Sometimes I throw a S&W Baby Chief in my pocket.
I like my Walther P4. A 9mm with aluminum frame, but not for carry.
You might look into 9mm aluminum frame pistols if weight is an issue.
 
Second vote for the EMP. I have a 3" and a 4", if I had to choose I'd take the 4". Another idea: I've become a great fan of the Beretta 92X Compact. OK, it is heavy, but it shoots very well, best DA/SA trigger I've found, The full-size 92FS/M9 just pushes the weight/concealability thing a bit too far. It has pushed my Glock 19 to second-choice for EDC.
 
Are there any 9mm metal guns the size of a Glock 43 besides the S&W CSX?

Oh, I just remembered the Kahr pistols. Ive never owned one though.
 
C-grunt said:
Are there any 9mm metal guns the size of a Glock 43 besides the S&W CSX?

Oh, I just remembered the Kahr pistols. Ive never owned one though.
Click to expand...
Sig P938. Mine has been fantastic as a primary CCW. If I were going to go .45 IWB with an ankle backup, I would (and have) opted for the slightly smaller P238 or Colt Mustang in .380. Ive had nothing but good experiences with all these similar platforms.
 
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I have a few metal-bodied 9mm guns that I think would fit your needs.

There is the Kimber Micro 9. Mine is a good shooter that didn’t kick hard and is easy to carry.

BC1BB3BD-AB29-434E-9E29-E143DC7A4112.jpeg

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The Kimber Ultra Carry II is much like the SA Ronin EMP. It is shown here with a 4.25” Ronin. The 3” or 4” 1911 with more size and weight than the Micro 9 shoots nicely and recoils even less.

D0861CFA-9445-4519-82D6-2B612DC88F96.jpeg

UC II
F6190200-8BAC-457D-877B-C763EDB294AA.jpeg

Ronin
6162333C-719A-4C7E-B98F-DD4A371C7278.jpeg

The CZ 75D Compact is a great carry option. Its a bit heavier than the Micro 9 but man do they feel good!

B1BD30AD-E3E6-4DEB-9C81-E324F4291A96.jpeg

The SIG P228 is my last one. This is another gun that us larger than the Micro 9 for CCW users but shoots extremely well.

86292BA4-69A1-460A-BE39-7371381FC47E.jpeg

Good luck with your search. :thumbup: When you find what you are looking for let us know what you’ve chosen. :)

Stay safe.
 
The EMP is a fine pistol. It will be in between a compact 1911 and the Kimber Micro as far as size and weight goes. I have several Star Firestar pistols which are just slightly smaller than the EMP but again in between a compact 1911 and the micro single stack pistols.

I also have a Sig P938 (same gun as the Kimber Micro). I like the Sig P938. It carries easily and shoot well for me. Plus it is smaller and lighter than a Glock G43 (which I also own). I know that Sig has cut back on the number of P938's they produce. You won't go wrong with the Sig P938 or the Kimber Micro 9. Both companies also make 380 versions too. One of the main reasons I went with the Sig over the Kimber was the fact that I could get the Sig with OEM night sights.
 
Check out the Beretta Cheetah 7.65 mm M81BB or FS, .380 M84BB or FS, or M85BB or FS or 9x19 M92X Centurion or Compact.

CZ P01 is good too.

I've had (or have) these or variants of them.
 
There are many varieties of small 1911 type metal pistols in 380 and 9mm. I got the Government 380 when my young daughter decided she was ready to move up from 32's.

I like the small Kahr carry pistols. I think they have one model in each caliber that is all metal. (Mine is polymer.)

The Beretta 80 series are great pistols, though larger than I'd prefer to carry. Mine are both surplus. The 380 was carried a lot, but the 32 looked almost new.

Colt Government 380

Colt Government 380


Kahr Model PM40

Kahr Model PM40


Beretta 84 And 81

Beretta 84 And 81

 
I’d avoid the 938 and Kimber micro, just don’t like the size/weight/recoil/capacity ratio compared to similar sized guns, especially polymer (for instance, I think something like the 365 shoots much softer in my hands over a 938).

If I was going metal, and CCW I’d look first at something like a CZ P01, or for thinner that EMP is a great lightweight option.

But I’ve found that every year I age, I want lighter on my belt if I can, and have largely abandoned even aluminum framed guns for carry.
 
The CZ line-up of down-sized 9mm.s (CZ 75 Compact, CZ 75 D PCR Compact, P01, P01 Omega Convertible) gives you 4 great choices in all metal construction. SIG has a couple of compact guns with their P229 Elite and the M11-A1, along with the micro compact P938.

As for a carry gun in .45 ACP I have typically preferred the all-steel Colt Combat Commander size gun. Any number of manufacturers and importers (such as Ruger, Springfield Armory, SIG, RIA, and S&W) offer a similar size gun and are of decent quality. Just a matter of finding one that suits your wants and needs and is within your price range.
 
C-grunt said:
Are there any 9mm metal guns the size of a Glock 43 besides the S&W CSX?

Oh, I just remembered the Kahr pistols. Ive never owned one though.
Click to expand...
The Kahr K9 is an excellent pistol with a really good double action trigger very reminiscent of a S&W model 15. It's much less punishing than shooting the G43. I don't have experience with any other Kahr models.

I just picked up a G36 last night. It seems like a really great pistol but I haven't shot it. It fills my hand better than my G43.
 
I like my Kahr K40. Recoil isn't bad. I also like your idea of the EMP. I trained with one (4") a couple years ago and really like it.
 
I'm pretty heavily invested in the Kahr poly platform, but if I had decided on a non-poly carry piece, I'd be looking at a Kahr K9 straight up.

You didn't say (or I missed...) how you intended to carry it, so the K9 may be too big. Kahr makes smaller framed pistols, the MK series, but I have a CM9 and a PM9 and don't draw and present them as well as I do the 1 round bigger CW9... so I only carry them when true concealment is a factor.

If you are looking for a .45, there are any number of compact 1911's out there. One that really caught my eye was the Colt New Agent, but I don't think they are making them any longer. Again, personally, I don't handle the small grip frame guns well. Before you make the decision to spend serious money on a new pistol, it might be worth test firing one (or something similar) to make sure you and it will get along.
 
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