ccw

What type of guns do you like and how much are you willing to put into a holster/belt/making sure you have suitable clothing? If you have a good belt, holster, and dress appropriately, the sky's the limit. if you work at it, you can conceal even full sized guns like a 5" 1911 or a Sig 226.

If price is a very limiting factor, police trade in Glocks are usually very good deals. If money is no object, buy a HK P7M7 and bring the HK guys to tears when they realize you actually carry the thing!

Personally I'm a fan of the Sig 228/229. It's a compact version of the 226 and has a great trigger and seems to fit my hand really well.

do you carry a backpack everywhere, you can fit an AK with a folding stock in there!!!

If you want something a little smaller, maybe a XCR pistol in .223

still to big? then we get into service pistols, 1911, XD, Glock, M&P Sig.

You can also go subcompact, I would not call those "pocket pistols"

What do you like? What do you have room for? What do you shoot good?

I'm still trying to get my CCW class soon, I see my dad's 380 ending up in my pocket alot, and if I'm "packing" then I'll bring the XD service model too. Service pistols are easy to hide... actually, might start talking myself into an XCR now, danget, not enough cash

try all four, see how they fit your hand

I'm with you on the money, there was a sig that I was going to settle for priced pretty cheap when I bought the XD. But I saved a little more and I'm glad I did. Hopefully you have some money set asside for ammo too.

Some Sigs, the SP2022 and 250, are $450 or less

AIM surplus had a few police trade in Sig 226s and 229s in good condition for under $400 a little while ago (I believe there's a thread about it around here somewhere…) but they ran out of guns pretty quickly. Other than that you can look for other used Sigs. If you look hard enough, you can find some good deals.

i got $450 for a gun but idk what gun to look at cz ruger glock s&w

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All of them. But take your time, and rent and shoot them if feasible. You probably won't find a new Glock or CZ75 for $450, but there is nothing wrong with a good used one. I personally own a Glock 19 and a CZ75 PCR and am delighted with both. (In fact they are the only two handguns I have left.) The Ruger SR9 has been getting generally good reviews, and I am intrigued by the S&W SD series.

Also, be prepared to spend at least 25% of the cost of the gun on a carry rig (holster, purpose-built gun belt and ammo carrier), and don't be afraid to buy some new clothing if necessary (e.g., pants an inch larger in the waist for IWB carry). Finally, although one of these guns will take care of ~90% of your carry gun needs, at some point you may find a pocket gun useful. But you can worry about that later.

I've been through just about every CCW in the world.....
Okay not every but lots ...Taurus PT709, Kahr PM40, CW9, P9, PM45, K9, CA Undercover .38, Ruger LCP, LCR, SP101, KT PF9, P3AT, Para 1911 , Sig P220c and as of yesterday a P290 which broke at about the 400round mark(nice )

So far, none of them has really worked out...I appendix carry so finding the right size is important. I've not been happy with these for many reasons: some of them have been too big, heavy or both, some too small, some I just could not get use too or shoot well. Way too many of these guns have had serious functional issues.
One pistol I have not owned for EDC is the Glock 26 and I've have no idea why....I guess I've been scared off by stories of it how hard they are to conceal and their size compared to all the slim options available now, but I've never tried one so who's knows, might be a great fit for me. Also, G26 probably the most reliable 9mm semi-auto ever made...

I've tried darn near everything out there.

I've whittled my CCW collection down to just these three which I think would make a good CCW quiver for many shooters:

-Glock 23 (set up for day with day sights)
-Fullsize 1911, Dan Wesson Valor (night set up with thick grips and night sights)
-Kahr P380 (box stock)

I carry those in Crossbreed Supertucks exclusively. But I've also made OWB holsters for the Glock and DW, but that's more for range work than CCW, except winter trips maybe.

I have room to also add something slightly smaller than the Glock. But haven't decided. Kahr PM9? Glock 26? S&W M&P 340 revolver? Dan Wesson CCO?

No pocket gun - From the choices given - Glock 19 or 23 (depending on your choice of cartridge). I did like the sr9c I shot as well as the CZP07 but did not stand out as a better fit or choice for us so we stuck with the G23.

glock 19 or 23. cheap, reliable, durable, and simple to work on.

Check out the S&W M&P9 compact, or if you want something bigger the M&P9 full size. They both carry very well.

I applaud your decision to not run for a pocket gun. They have there uses, but as a primary gun, if you can carry more, why not?

If you want to go slim check out the Kahr CW series.

If you aren't willing to spend a good chunk of that money one a decent carry holster and solid heavy belt, you'll likely give up on carrying anything fairly quick. The best carry gun in a $15 nylon holster and department store belt will sour you on CCW fairly quick.


I'd strongly consider a decent used gun, and a purpose built holster and belt. Should be able to still come in under your $450 limit if you choose wisely.

For the money I like my Kel-Tec P-11. It's been 100 percent reliable for approximately 2000 rounds... never a failure of any kind... and uses standard S&W Model 59 mags so, in addition to the 10 round mag (small print) I can carry a couple of 15-round back-up mags. The trigger sux but there are some work-arounds for that.

My suggestion would be the G19 or kahr CW9. Had both and they are good guns. Currently carrying a G36 awaiting my G19 back from the factory.

I think the Springfield XD(M) 3.8" Compact 9mm 13/19 Rd
are the best package going for the money and all you get with it in the case....Holster, magazines, magazine holsters, etc.

Nice package! and your close on the money! I think you can get these for around $500 And You have full Capacity and Compact ability in one box. Never been interested until my brother got one a few months ago. Nice! just all there is to it!

Here's another thought, check into layaway at your local gun shops. That would make your $500 go much further, even if it means you have to wait a bit to get the gun.

If you don't have kids, then this would also be your nightstand gun, right? You still should look into a quick-open dedicated pistol safe to be sure you ahve control over the weapon.

Also, do you want to get a gun you enjoy shooting as well as use for defence? Make sure that you can afford to feed it, too.

Just some additional things to keep in mind when looking for a CCW gun.

I suggested the Kel-Tec P-11 earlier... but if was going to spend $500 for a 9mm CC pistol then I'd probably buy either the XDM or M&P in compact configuration.

I recently purchased a full-size M&P .45 and couldn't be happier so far. I compared it to several other brands/models including the XDM-45. For smaller caliber handguns the choice would have been more difficult because much of my decision was based on grip size/feel. For 9mm grip size is less of an issue for me.

I'd give the Ruger SR9c a try. You can use the extra $$$ you didn't spend on the gun to get a decent CCW rig.

Used Glock 19
NIB Sig SP2022
Used/Surplus BHP
NIB RIA 1911 45 ACP

If I could have only one..... at the under $450 price tag.

SR40c/SR9c, G19/G23, M&P9/M&P40c

/thread

rellascout, where are you finding FN or Browning Hi Powers for under $450 (or did you mean to put up a pic of an FEG)?