New concealed carry pistol recommendations

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GarandMan94

GarandMan94

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Hi everyone,
I have a S&W Airweight Revolver and a .45ACP Kimber custom carry II.
i am looking for a low profile midsized pistol that i can conceal under a loose button up shirt. OWB is preferable but i want something slim enough and with smooth edges for comfortable IWB when necessary. It needs to be 9mm or .45ACP. It needs a minimum capacity of 8+1 rounds of .45ACP or 12+1 rounds of 9mm. A manual thumb safety is required because i like to carry with a round in the chamber and it makes me feel better :). Hammer fired is preferred but not required. I would like to keep it under $800 but $1000 is my firm Maximum.
 
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Go to the lgs "or a couple" see what they have.
You will get a lot of recommendations here but there is nothing like holding, feeling and seeing the price tag to help make up your mind what is best for you.
 
I LOVE my Glock 43X 9mm! It's compact, thin, 10+1 rounds, functions great and it accurate. I've got a kydex IWB CCW holster and a Blackhawk OWB holster that both work great!

If you want more rounds buy the Shield Arms metal mag release and the 15 round mags by them as well. I used these in my Glock 48 to great results.
 
Also check out the S&W Equalizer.

9mm, hammer fired, external safety, looks smooth enough for IWB, looks big enough to shoot well, 10, 13, and 15 round mags available.

Shield plus is on my list, but I am not looking for any thumb safety or hammer or OWB usage.
 
I think you should consider the Ruger Security 9 Compact. The photo shows mine in a shot I did for a Veterans Day post. 3.42 inch barrel. Ten round 9mm magazine or fifteen. Photo is 15. I carry OWB concealed with shirt or coat. If deep conceal is required I use 10 round magazine IWB.

Pistol has external safety. Easy to disengage and a bit harder to engage avoiding accidental engagement. Hammer fired with action that half cocks the trigger making trigger action smooth and easy. Hammer fired but shoots like striker fired. Very accurate. Only slightly larger than sub compact Ruger Max9.

I carried and used a M1911 in the Corps. I was ac45 ACP lover, but I now prefer 9mm. Less recoil and greater accuracy without losing incapacitation power. Give it a look. Want to discuss details send me a message. Semper Fi.
 
Tried a lot of different micro-9s recently and came away with the best one for me: the SIG P 365X. Feels great in my hand with very good balance and handling features. Trigger is nice and light, has a manual thumb safety, easy to acquire sights, and carries twice as many rounds as my Kahr CM9.
mRdSKTS.jpg
 
I have carried a full-sized 1911 under a “loose button up shirt,” OWB, in a Nineties-era Galco Avenger, and then in a Josh Bulman Forward Drop Scabbard. This is with no extended mag well, no extended ambidextrous thumb safety, and, for a best result, a modestly-sized rear sight, and an old-school grip safety, not the extended ducktail or beaver-tail type.

To be clear, not all “loose button-up” shirts are created equal. And, it helps to have some amount of meat on one’s shoulders and lats, and a relatively slim waist. I struggle to maintain that physique, these days, so I really need to use more-substantial cover garment, lately, such as a frumpy-old-grandpa vest, if I want to conceal a full-sized 1911, in an OWB rig. (I do not do well with large pistols in IWB rigs, due to a right shoulder that has worsening problems with its range of motion.)

Of the newer nines on the market, that meet the OP’s criteria, the S&W Shield Plus and SIG P365 Macro have my attention. (I do not plan to buy into any new pistol system, but like to stay somewhat informed.)
 
I recommend something bigger than a Hellcat or SIG 365 if you are going OWB.

When I do OWB, I usually carry a GLOCK 19, which is my issue gun, but prefer a BERETTA 92X Compact (try both the X and standard grip on the BERETTA for the one that fits you best). I like the BERETTA the most and shoot it the best, but that is me.
I also like the SIG 229 and SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD9 Sub Compact and the BERETTA 8000 and the STOEGER 8000..
The XD9 is the shortest of the three and has a GLOCK like trigger with a striker fired mechanism. but it shoots well and is reliable. It also does not have a manual safety.
The SIG 229 is a very good choice, but the trigger on the 92X is smoother and lighter in my experience, also the SIG has only a thumb operated decocker, not a safety. It does not need one..
The BERETTA 8000 and the STOEGER made copy of the 8000 both shoot well for me and have a manual safety. However, they both have a barrel that is only 3.6 inches and the slide is also short for that reason and a 15 shot magazine and full length grip. I do not find that concealing them to be a problem under my cover shirt.
I recommend all the above guns as I have carried them off duty and trust my life to them. They are all 9m.m. pistols.
There are other good guns, but I have not shot them, so I cannot recommend the

Most important, go to a range and try what you are interested in buying if you can. If will pay beg dividends if the rental fee shows you what NOT TO BUY.

Good luck,

Jim
 
GarandMan94 said:
It needs to be 9mm or .45ACP. It needs a minimum capacity of 8+1 rounds of .45ACP or 12+1 rounds of 9mm. A manual thumb safety is required because i like to carry with a round in the chamber and it makes me feel better :). Hammer fired is preferred but not required. I would like to keep it under $800 but $1000 is my firm Maximum.
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S&W M&P, pick a size and caliber. Most options available with a thumb safety, but not with a hammer.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/mp

HK P30S has a hammer, and has a thumb safety in full size, long slide, or compact SK size in 9mm https://hk-usa.com/product/pistols/

While you're at HK, the HK45 is available in full size or compact, both with thumb safety option, and they have a hammer.
 
Armored farmer said:
I'm gonna recommend the S/A Hellcat.
Ambitious thumb safety
Loaded chamber window
Fore and aft serrated slide
Good night sights
10, 13, or 15+1 capacity
Compact size
Cut for optic
100% reliable
Quality gun
Not cheap at $750+
View attachment 1114599 View attachment 1114600 View attachment 1114601 View attachment 1114602
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I agree. I thought I would throw this in. My Wife bought me a Hellcat for a Christmas present in 2020. It was less than $600.00 OTD. Have they realistically jumped that much? I can see an IMG_0606 (1).JPG increase, but over $150.00?
 

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Terry G said:
I agree. I thought I would throw this in. My Wife bought me a Hellcat for a Christmas present in 2020. It was less than $600.00 OTD. Have they realistically jumped that much? I can see anView attachment 1114818 increase, but over $150.00?
Click to expand...
You're probably right.
They may not be that much.
I bought spare mags and a holster and probably some ammo......I do remember the $750, but now that you mention it. There were extra accessories.
 
What are your thoughts on the SA-35, Springfield armory’s copy of a Browning hi-power?
I have rented Hi-Powers by before and have enjoyed them. Has anyone ever used one as a carry pistol?
I am seriously thinking about buying one anyway since the price is right and i love the walnut grips, it will fit well with my collection of WW1 and WW2 Guns.
 
GarandMan94 said:
What are your thoughts on the SA-35, Springfield armory’s copy of a Browning hi-power?
I have rented Hi-Powers by before and have enjoyed them. Has anyone ever used one as a carry pistol?
I am seriously thinking about buying one anyway since the price is right and i love the walnut grips, it will fit well with my collection of WW1 and WW2 Guns.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen one in flesh to this day and I've been looking too. If you find one then go for it. I settled for two Girsan MC P35 Hi Power clones. Hi Powers makes for great concealed carry guns. Easy to hide, easy to shoot and they're classy.
 
@GarandMan94 I can't think of a better time to look for a new higher capacity carry. The manufacturers have answered the call.
I am also debating on which carry pistol to add. I have been eyeing up the Shield Plus, but the Hellcat looks good also.
I have a couple of friends that have added Taurus GX4s to their carry options. I have shot them and like them at twice the price.
 
I don’t own one, but the M&P comes with the options you are looking for.

GarandMan94 said:
What are your thoughts on the SA-35, Springfield armory’s copy of a Browning hi-power?
I have rented Hi-Powers by before and have enjoyed them. Has anyone ever used one as a carry pistol?
I am seriously thinking about buying one anyway since the price is right and i love the walnut grips, it will fit well with my collection of WW1 and WW2 Guns.
Click to expand...

I carried a 1966-vintage Hi Power in a vertical shoulder holster for a couple of years. I found it to be just a bit too long to easily conceal on my waist OWB, so into the shoulder rig it was. When it got hot, which out here is 8.5 months out of the year, hiding it became a bit of a chore.

Like any full sized semi auto it was great on the range, but it became just a bit too much size-wise to let me be comfortable in all carry situations. I ultimately went to a S&W 4016 which was a tad shorter and easier for my frame to conceal without fear of printing in public.

Stay safe.
 
golden said:
I recommend something bigger than a Hellcat or SIG 365 if you are going OWB.

When I do OWB, I usually carry a GLOCK 19, which is my issue gun, but prefer a BERETTA 92X Compact (try both the X and standard grip on the BERETTA for the one that fits you best). I like the BERETTA the most and shoot it the best, but that is me.
I also like the SIG 229 and SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD9 Sub Compact and the BERETTA 8000 and the STOEGER 8000..
The XD9 is the shortest of the three and has a GLOCK like trigger with a striker fired mechanism. but it shoots well and is reliable. It also does not have a manual safety.
The SIG 229 is a very good choice, but the trigger on the 92X is smoother and lighter in my experience, also the SIG has only a thumb operated decocker, not a safety. It does not need one..
The BERETTA 8000 and the STOEGER made copy of the 8000 both shoot well for me and have a manual safety. However, they both have a barrel that is only 3.6 inches and the slide is also short for that reason and a 15 shot magazine and full length grip. I do not find that concealing them to be a problem under my cover shirt.
I recommend all the above guns as I have carried them off duty and trust my life to them. They are all 9m.m. pistols.
There are other good guns, but I have not shot them, so I cannot recommend the

Most important, go to a range and try what you are interested in buying if you can. If will pay beg dividends if the rental fee shows you what NOT TO BUY.

Good luck,

I like the Beretta 92X compact. It’s slick, accurate and very reliable. For me, it’s a little on the large size to carry, but not bad in the cooler weather. Here’s a look at mine. A1113C71-8C89-4D7F-BAE1-90DCEE2FFD0D.jpeg
Jim
Click to expand...
 
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