considering a new ccw piece...

Smith & Wesson M&P (the compact would probably fit your niche better)

Smith & Wesson 3913 (and similar models; most of these would have to be used, but the 908 is in current production)

Step up a size to the Glock 19. It is still not excessively large, but holds 50% more ammo and is more "shootable" than the 26.

CZ 75 compact models (alloy or steel frame, decocker or manual safety which allows "cocked and locked" carry if you wish, your choice)

Kahr (PM9, MK9, K9 are nice little guns)

UP the ante.. a bit

...

In the 900 buck range, you can go with either 1911, SAO, in 45cal or 9mm, far better than any 380 acp you have listed IMHO


Ls

Both are 3" easy CCW, and both pack a punch, and are great, point to aim shooters..


Colt Defender 45cal 7+1 or Springfield EMP 9mm, 9+1

For me its a Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro. It has passed all my expectations for a .45 this small and so easy to carry and use.

Well, I'd stick with a 45 acp...

And I personally carry a Sig Sauer GSR commander size, which I just love and it's easy in my opinion to conceal. course, you can just get a Colt 1911 commander, still keeps the 8 rd maximum load. (7 in the mag and 1 in the chamber). On the other hand, Sig now has a sweet smaller version of their P220 in 45acp, which I just purchased for myself for Christmas, it's a carry size. Also keeps the same amount in the magazine as the standard P220. Sigs are known for their reliability, and I personally found that they stand behind their product. Either one would be good, but since the 1911 has a safety, and the P220 doesn't, make sure what features you want so you don't mix them and then forget which style you have!
I am kind of sweet on Sig Sauer, think they make fine handguns.....(the HK I used to have was very picky on ammo, and the Sigs just eat up everything I put through them) Good luck, and let us know what you end up with! (price might vary, think my carry Sig was around $800, before taxes)

If you like revolvers I would get a S&W 442, 638, or 649 with CrimsonTrace grips and a good ambi pocket holster so it can go from strong to weakside depending on if it is backup or primary.

Kahr P9--I want one real bad.

More rounds than a revolver but less than a glock, but way skinnier than a glock.

Have to make another plug for the Taurus PT145. After seeing many high dollar guns hiccup at the range while this thing just kept eating whatever I fed it, it's hard to come up with a reas not to like it.

It is my main carry pistol.

I voted for a 340 & I carry the M&P full size .40 but I would also consider for a M&P 40c or a P99c...........

The greatest carry arm is the Glock 23. I'd vote for an M&P 40C or Glock 27 if I couldn't get ahold of a G23.

HMMMM.

First Glocks. Since your current carry gun is reasonable size, my picks would be the Glock 39, that's the 45 GAP that's the same size as the 26, the 29 and the 30.

I currently carry a 360PD, that, once you buy it, you can spend the balance of your funds finding grips you like, bobbing the hammer, etc. Power to weight, it's real hard to beat, if you like bullets heavier the 125 grains, in .357.

I look at Glocks, but, everytime I do, I dream of finding a CCO colt, or a Detonics CombatMasterVI, or the new Detonics CCO sized guns.

For 1911's, I don't want any shorter then a 4" barrel, and, I don't want to shrink the action below commander size. Seems you loose reliability, as was the problems with the Glock 36 when they first came out.

In my communist state, over 10 round mags are banned, so the advantages of the 9mm are moot, other then ammo cost.

If you want my idea of an ideal revolver, that would be about a 4" Ruger Redhawk, in 45 Colt, with a 45 ACP cylinder. 6 shots at combat range, and, I could load it up with 260 grain bullets, Gold Dots, in the 1200-1350 fps range, and have good penetration, along with spectacular bullet expansion, and, no threat of the bullet going off target line, hitting bone.
Check that. I'd rather go with the .500 JRH, in a BFR or Ruger,
that's just like these:


The BFR gave us a 430 grain bullet at 1350 fps.

Revolver: Ruger Sp101 bobbed (if you don't already own it).
Pistol: SW M&P in your choice of caliber (I carry the 9mm compact.)

Glock 26

In pistols my friend you cannot beat Glock (semis).
I voted Glock 26 9mm. You can easily conceal carry in arm holster or on ankle. The mag cap is 10, BUT 15, 17, and 31 rds mags will also fit when in the situation, and will fire like anything. I own bunch of Glocks and 26 is my favorite.

I recently bought a Glock 26. I also have a Taurus .357 snubbie, but trust me, the Glock is nicer. The Glock has soft rounded edges that don't poke you if you carry IWB. You're not "limited" to 10 rounds. You could also get a +2 or +3 base extension for the 10 round mag. If you pop a Glock 17 mag in the 26, it feels like a full size. As far as accuracy goes, I can make headshots with the gun at 15 yards all day. It's VERY accurate for such a little gun. Recoil is almost ZERO. You can tweak the trigger to your heart's content. There's thousands of aftermarket accessories. I compared the G26 to the XD sub compact and the p99 compact before buying it. My conclusion was the following:

The P99 has a mushier trigger compared to the Glock. It just doesn't feel as good. Plus the gun says S&W on it instead of Walther... what the hell is up with that?
The XD has a different trigger than the Glock. I wouldn't say better or worse, just different. The thing I disliked about the gun was it's larger, more open trigger guard. In my opinion, if I disengaged the grip safety (by leaning over the gun), it left too much play room for an object to disengage the trigger. On the Glock, this isn't a problem, because of the small trigger and humongous trigger guard.

The only advantage the XD would have over the Glock is if you lived in a ban-state like NY or MA. The XD can take modified Beretta 92 mags, whereas with the Glock, you'd really have to shop around for. Other than that, I'd buy the Glock in a second. I honestly believe that it is the perfect pistol.

On Duty I have to carry the issued "bottomfeeder" and I've owned a few different ones over the years.

Off Duty I can carry what I want. I started years ago with a revolver and still carry a pair of them on my own time. I carry either a 4" N-Frame, quite a big/heavy gun to pack around IWB. The other gun, that is fast becoming my Off Duty "Primary" is a 3" GP100. My BUG is a 442 that rides in the weak side pocket or on the ankle.

One thing to keep in mind, every bullet you fire in a self defense scenario has a lawyer attatched to it. Bad Guys tend to "beat feet" when their victim selection process proves faulty and their target fires back. You can never have too much ammo in a gunfight, but the chances of you needing more than what you would have in a 642/442 and the GP100 is almost nil. I carry two guns and two reloads for a total of 33 rounds on my person. I don't feel "hindered" by carrying a revolver off duty. In fact I prefer it over my Glock 19 because I shoot the roundguns slightly better.

I found the Glock 26 to be like carrying a brick. I much prefer the G19 if I am going to carry a Glock. In fact I find the GP100 to be more concealable because it has "curves" where a "bottomfeeder" has sharp angles. To me there is nothing wrong with a good revolver and I would carry one On Duty if the "powers that be" let me.

If you truely must have an autoloader I would consider the Glock 36, but mine was a true "jamamatic" I'm sorry to say. Another one I would consider would be the Kahr pistols in 45 ACP, or 40 S&W, but not the PM varients. If you want a PM I would only get the 9mm as I find the other calibers to be too "stout" for that size gun, YMMV. Kahr's have a nice D.A.O. Trigger that closely replicates a smooth revolver trigger.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide. Enquiring minds want to know.

Biker

I hopped on the Smith and Wesson 442 bandwagon, as you didn't have the 642 listed. I own a Smith and Wesson 642CT and could not be happier with it. After 20+ years of toting 1911's, I thought I would miss my trusty .45's - that never materialized. I still shoot them, but now carry my 642CT full time...

Snub-nose .38 special concealed hammer revolver.

Glock 26!
But if not then Glock 27!

Great choices.....

14 ounces, 3.5" at 25 yards accurate, 100 percent reliable, 9mm +P power, 13 rounds of firepower that fits in your pocket, and true DAO for safe pocket carry and instant readiness. The Kel Tec P11.

SPringfield Armory EMP. Fantastic, and only about $100 more than your budget.

I carry G34... I'm either wearing my coat since it's cold outside, or a white coat inside..so I can conceal the 34 just fine.

I also wear a shirt untucked that also covers well...

*drum roll* the glock 26 and the s&w x42

Click to expand...

Para Carry 9 LDA deserves a look if you are thinking of a 9mm. One a friend has is very accurate and appears to be jam free with everything he's ran through it.