Opinions on a new conceal carry weapon

9mmepiphany said:

If I saw that, I say it was the later.

I've know several folks who have gotten the .40, "because it was more power in the same sized gun", only to discover that there really isn't any free lunch.

The .40's steeper pressure curve and inertia , compared to the 9mm, especially in a polymer frame (because everyone wants less weight) does cause the guns to jump around a bit.

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If I had it to do over again I'd probably go CW9 rather than CW40. However, in addition to the CW40, I also own an XD40 SC. Neither one is going to be my favorite range gun but I have no problem spending a half day with either of them at the range. I've done full-day classes with the XD.

As was mentioned earlier, YMMV.

m&p40c or m&p9c

Both are a little larger than a glock 26/27 but carry 2 extra rounds.

Extremely reliable and with custom backstraps fit most anyone.

I pack a Colt defender most time jeans and T shirt Good holster and good belt The little 1911's conceal fine. If you going to carry you pretty well leave you shirt out . A defender with proper holster should work in cargo pocket. But that really a bad place to carry. Primary Pistol should be waist area. faster to reach. Not buried in a pocket.

40 has a lot more snap in recoil than 45 acp
I had a CW9 Kahr Wife grabbed it first day She has it now

40 has a lot more snap in recoil than 45 acp

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its velocity is also less affected by shot barrels than the .45

I've not shot a PM45 and can't comment on its recoil. I will say that my PM40 is not "fun" to shoot and would not be my choice for a range gun. I didn't buy it for a range gun. No I don't shoot it as well as my steel 5" 1911 .45s (much less felt recoil), but I shoot it well enough at the ranges I carry it for.

Like the OP, I wanted a larger caliber than 9mm, and after handling everything I could get my hands on, I chose the PM40. I agree that pocket carry is not ideal, but one of my criteria was that the pistol be pocketable. Again, the PM40 was the best I found.

-I feel like I'm becoming a broken record here-

But if you still want the .45 acp in a small package, I recommend you at least look at a glock 30. for a short, light gun it has little recoil. Like others have mentioned, the .40 is snappier than the .45. I even had to sell a Ruger I had because I didn't like the way it felt.

If you don't feel like you need the 9+ rounds a G30 offers, I would suggest a Defender style 1911. Honestly though, you can't go wrong with a 9mm either.

i use a supertuck holster with 5.11 operator belt (im no mall ninja, but for $30 ya just cant find a better belt IMO)

for a semi auto, im rather fond of glocks. with the above combo they all seem to disappear with ease. if i am concealing with just a t-shirt, i usually opt for the G27.

for a revolver i only own (and am VERY fond) of a ruger sp101. small and light enough that its not a pain to carry, but still heavy enough that .357 rounds arent a pain to shoot.

I have been carrying for about six years now.

I have been through probably 25 "candidates"...Glocks, XDs, a bunch of J-frames, some 1911s, and so forth.

I currently own three Kahrs, and I am not a "fanboy". My PM9 had the barrel peening issue that many of the early ones did. Kahr fixed it for me, right first time. I carried it for better than three years, and it is an absolutely reliable and accurate weapon.

I bought a P45 and have been carrying it for the last year and a half. Again, it is a 100% reliable and accurate weapon. I would carry either with confidence...but I am a .45 guy, so I'll stick with the P45.

A few weeks ago I bought a PM45. I have read good and bad, and this one is a bit ammo picky. It works fine with my two favorite carry rounds, Winchester Ranger 230 gr JHP +p and Cor Bon DPX 185 +p.

Some of the lower-priced target ammo was less cooperative. I will put some more rounds through it before I carry it, but I think it will work out fine.

Sure is a teeny .45acp.

My two favorite carry guns are a Kahr PM40 in a FIST IWB holster and a Keltec P3AT in an Aker pocket holster. Neither are range guns, they are both small and light for the caliber....much easier to carry than other options. I have one friend that hates my PM40 after shooting it, it's not for the recoil sensitive. They have both been 100%.

I have 2 Kahrs a PM9 that I pocket carry all the time and a P45 both with black slides and nite sights. The PM9 shoots everything no problem, I have a couple thousand rounds through mine. The P45 is very ammo sensitive (I think it has a short throat) I have not found any reloads that it likes but it seems reliable with factory stuff, I tried 5 different factory SD loads all worked well.

Maybe a nice j-frame? I got a 442 and its a pleasure to carry and not bad to shoot either.

I will be the lone detractor of Kahr in this thread. I stay very far away. My experience with a CW40 is the worst single gun I have ever had. It malfunctioned and broke in so many ways, I cannot even begin to list them and their customer service was horrific. If you really want a Kahr, I would recommend going with their all steel guns, as I have heard they are of higher quality overall.

FWIW, I believe the perfect carry gun arsenal should have at least one small frame revolver in it for just the scenario presented by the OP. .357 and .38+p are great calibers, and they can be had in very light weights. Additionally, the cylinder is the biggest thing to conceal, and it is on the belt with a very slim and easy to conceal grip shape.

I carry a S&W 640 in my pocket. Thats five rounds of a hollow point .357 magnum. I don't worry about having a gun with 13 rounds & an extra clip for my carry weapon (thats more of a home defense handgun, but then I prefer a 12g shotgun for home protection anyhow). If I have to pull out my weapon I assume my target is going to be in close proximity to me (3-8 yards) & if I can't get it done with 5 shots of the aforementioned rounds then another 8 wont help of a lesser or equal power.

It fits in my front pocket, easily accessible for me & the pocket holster conceals it. Think about a small snub nosed hammerless revolver (even a .38 Special will get the job done nicely with the correct ammo)

If you don't mind a little extra weight and like all metal guns, the Sig p239 in .40 might be a good choice.

On a side not, I'm getting the impression that several feel a compact .40 has more recoil issues than a .45

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Before you dismiss the .40 caliber, try to find an XD40SC to shoot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the recoil and the ease of getting off a second shot quickly. Mine has been absolutely reliable, fun to shoot, and accurate.

Get a belly band holster.Wear it over a tank top (wife beater),and under your T-shirt or polo.I wear mine up around my belly button. It conceals my .38sp and even my ruger 9mm just fine. I don't use it for my sigma 40ve, cause of safety issues.

What's too large? I carry a full-size steel 1911 year round in a Crossbreed Supertuck, including 100+ degrees.

Comfort is relative. A lot of it is in the mind of the carrier. Take a belligerent anti gun person, (I always imagine female with I say this, but it's probably politically incorrect,) and have them put on a Kel-tec in any method of carry you can imagine, and they will swear it feels like a tumor.

On the other hand, take a guy who turned 21 46 days ago, just got his permit in the mail, hang a Desert Eagle under his left arm, and he will swear he doesn't feel it.

There's a big difference between what you CAN carry and what you WANT to carry.

I have been wanting to ccw my full-size Sig P220 for some time, but was hesitant due to its sheer size and weight. Well, I finally took the plunge. I invested in an inexpensive Blackhawk IWB nylon holster, and tried it all weekend in a crossdraw position at 9 o'clock, going on 10 (I am right handed). The weapon concealed easily, and the position was very comfortable in all kinds of postions from walking to climbing stairs to sitting for hours in a car. I am sold.

I've found that exploring options with holsters is just as important as the gun itself. just upgraded to an XD CC 9mm from .380 pistol for IWB because of a good holster manufacturer.

I've found that exploring options with holsters is just as important as the gun itself. just upgraded to an XD CC 9mm from .380 pistol for IWB because of a good holster manufacturer.

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I agree with that. The same gun in one holster may be deemed inadequately concealed and rather conspicuous while it seeming disappears in another holster even with the exact same clothing. I have really come to appreciate the value of a quality holster.

Another thing when people talk about what does or doesn't conceal, is that people often have different ideas of what constitutes concealed. Some people are talking about (and may have very good reason for requiring) no hint what so ever that they have a gun and zero chance that anyone will ever get any indication that they are. Others don't worry about slight bulges or printing or exposure of lifted shirt. I know I find myself falling into both ends of that spectrum depending on the circumstances, namely where I am going.