ccw: Help please. :)

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SwissArmyDad

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Ok here's my fleet as it stands..

XD9 tactical - bedside gun
LCR .38sp - pocket carry gun
Victory .38 - just plain awesome old workhorse/collectable

I'm thinking of picking up a compact auto suitable for IWB/OWB/pocket carry as a gift to myself.

I know the LCR is a great choice, and is serving me well. What would you consider to be the J-frame/LCR of the small auto's? I'm restricted to certain models due to the state I'm in, so I've got a few top choices:

Kahr CM9? is that correct?
Ruger LC9
Ruger LC380
SR9 compact

I know there are probably others in the pocket to small 9mm, so post up your choice, if you would please.

I'm left-handed if it makes any difference.

I'm hoping to keep the weight/size as light as possible so that I'm actually compelled to carry it. I carry my LCR exclusively because it's very comfortable in anything I might wear. (the small gun you carry is better than the big gun you are not...bla...bla. It's true for me, though)

I'm also limited to 10-rd mags, so I'm not too worried about capacity. (I tend to feel just fine carrying my LCR with only 5, just for reference. :))

Price is not really a factor, as it seems like most rigs other than the Sig P238/938 are in the $500 or less range. (btw, I like sig in general, but it's probably too heavy for me to carry comfortably)



Thanks!
 
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Do you want 9mm or 380 ACP? A gun in 380 ACP will be much smaller than one in 9mm. I recommend one of each because they have different levels of concealability.

Take a look at several of the small guns in 380 ACP.
 
Ruger LCP is hard to beat. It's got terrible sights, a mediocre trigger (it's long and heavy but mine is at least smooth), and it beats the crap outta your hand, but you would be hard pressed to find a smaller, lighter .380 ACP. I'm also starting to look for a Kel-Tec P32, which is smaller, but shoots a smaller round.

In 9, I would say the Rorhbough R9 is the "LCR" of autos.
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're in CA?
I may be wrong but I think that LC380 is coming off CA's roster soon. Again, I may be mistaken. So if that's where you're headed, I'd look into it.
 
If price isn't a big concern the Rohrbaugh R9 is ambidextrous in a sense because there is no slide release and it has a heel mag release.
IMO it is the most comfortable 9mm to pocket carry and it is also the easiest for me to draw from the pocket.

Drawbacks include:

Price You are looking at paying $1,000 new for the cheapest model

Limited to std pressure ammo +P ammo is not recommended in the R9.

Ammo finicky In my experience, and going by the posts of other R9 owners, the R9 is reliable once you find a cartridge that it likes, but it can be finicky about which ammo it likes. My R9 doesn't seem to like 147gr Remington bonded Golden Sabres - I've only shot one box but I got "fried egg" primers and failure to ignite on quite a few. On the other hand, my R9 has no trouble with 124gr Gold Dots and 147gr Winchester Ranger "T" - RA9T.

No last round hold open No slide stop mechanism on the R9, more important IMO as a signal that you need to change magazines than anything else.
 
I'b give a plus one for the SR9c as a heavier dress carry pistol. Coupled with a crossbreed holster, it is very comfortable to carry at 4 o clock. It has proven to me to very reliable, and very accurate. The trigger is on par for the price range.
I have never shot one left handed so you may want to try it out first if you can. The only thing I don't like about them is the pop up chamber indicator.

A 380 lcp is a good smaller frame for lighter dress concealment. The trigger is way better than the Kel-tec p3at, " but the p3at is a very low standard". Again you should try one first. My experience with them has been right handed.

May want to give it some time and let the Remington R51 make it's release if it hasn't already. It looks to be a promising contender for a slim line 9mm.
 
Thanks all, so far for the input. And yes, Field tester, you're correct on my location. It's tougher to for 2a stuff over here (understatement, i know) but i try to enjoy the heck out of my past-time and fight the good fight at the ballot box.

The shops i frequent mentioned something about the roster and both the LC380/LC9. That must be what they meant.
 
Countzero, thanks for the R9 recommendation. I have to clarify, though, that in saying that price isn't a factor, i didn't mean I don't have a budget. I was more meaning to say that most of the pistols i listed seem to be in the $375- just under $500-ish range

I can afford anything up to and around 450-500-ish, not including tax and DROS, etc. Whats great is that there seem to be a lot of great choices in that range.


As far as .380 vs 9mm, i think i'd prefer 9mm simply due to the fact that i already buy it for my XD. I once owned a Bersa Thunder in .380, though, (Gave it to my dad, who traded it for something else. And now their off roster [facepalm]) and while i'd have to stock another caliber, if i fell in love with the way the gun felt and shot, I'd ve perfectly fine ccw'ing a .380 as far as power and performance with some of the new bullets available like golden sabres and dpx.
 
Out of the ones you listed I would have to pick the XDS followed by the Kahr although my personal preference would be to have them in .45acp
 
thanks mnhntr. I really like the XDs, too, especially since I'm intimately familiar with the controls, sights, takedown of my XD9 tac. I just recently found out that it's not Cali-approved. Dang!

I was also was really considering just getting a sub-compact XD9 to take advantage of being able to use my tactical's mags, in a pinch, but I honestly think it might be a bit too thick for me to want to CCW it all the time, and that full size mag only gets me 10rds (though I do have 6 mags, and i LOVE how reliable and shiny they are..haha).

Definitely an option, though.
 
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I recently picked up a Sig P938. It's a great CCW because of it size, weight, and quality. It's my first Sig Sauer, but definately won't be my last.
 
Kahr CM9? is that correct?
Ruger LC9
Ruger LC380
SR9 compact
Click to expand...

Any of these would work for you. Consider the Taurus 709 slim, also. I'd go with the LC9 over the SR9 and I wouldn't consider a .380. Why carry a .380 when a 9 will conceal in a pocket just fine? I never quite understood the logic in that. Guess folks buy pants with tiny pockets or something. Me, I buy pants with pockets big enough for a .38 special snubby revolver which is what I carry the most now days.

I've owned a Kel Tec P11 since 1996. It was the first pocket 9 offered. I've been happy with it and haven't fixed what ain't broke. It carries 10 rounds in the mag, 12 in available mags, and is only 1" wide and 14 ounces unloaded. Has a long, smooth DA trigger which I like. But, if you can't shoot DA, probably not for you. The PF9 has a shorter trigger and is flatter and 2 ounces lighter and only gives up a few rounds for this. Were I to buy another pocket auto, the PF9 would get a hard look.

Just pick the one you like, try 'em, see how they shoot and handle for you.
 
I have had a Kahr P9 Covert for about a decade and have been pleased with it. I am not fond of pocket carry for a number of reasons but the PM9 or similar CM model offer 9mm in a compact pistol of good quality and American manufacture. Considering the small sized 9mm available, I don't see the need to go to something smaller. During unpleasant encounters, I have never wished I had a tiny gun with little ammo and unusable sights. I don't go by the old saw of, "Any gun is better than none, a sharp stick, a rock, etc..." If its something you will need to defend your life with in the worst of circumstances, why carry a tiny pistol in a minor caliber?...Go to a range that rents guns and try some out. Pick what you can carry concealed daily and you can shoot well under less than ideal conditions and buy it...Then, practice with it.
 
I've only shot 2 off of your list so that's all i can give a report on.

I bought the LC9 for a carry gun. Found it to be a bit snappy so i put a pachmyer grip sleeve on and that made it manageable and also helped it fit my hand better. Trigger pull was a bit long for my taste(double action trigger).Sights were OK but not great. Groups were good(center mass) up to 10 yards, never tried it further, just defense distance. Concealed very well in the waist band. I don't carry in the pocket so i never tried. I put 500 or so rounds through it before i sold it. So i think i gave it a fair chance.

Bought the SR9c after it. Very controllable even one handed. I've shot it both left and right handed and still reached the safety and mag release no problem.Sights are good,also adjustable. Held center mass at 25 yards with full mag (10 round mag) not rapid fire but not slow either. Conceals well in the waistband w/o the finger extension on the mag, I shoot it better w/o it anyway. I can have the 17 round reload here,but i think you can get it with 2 10 rounders. Very satisfied with it.

just my .02
 
Would you all say that a laser sight like a Viridian or Laser max is a helpful improvement to the LC380 or LC9's rudimentary sights?

I'm also thinking of adding one to my LCR. I generally consider it to be a gun that I am going to be firing at 7 yards or less, and so I tend to focus on point shooting or shooting reflexively. Wondering if a laser would be helpful with this?

(I'm also pretty darn good with it utilising aimed fire, but I don't think it's realistic to think I'd have a chance every time to line up the sights.
 
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