PM 9 is great. I would also add the LCR . 38+P. despite it feels like it is blowing up in your hand. I cannot imagine what the LCR .357 feels like.None or any one if them depending. My normal carry is a PM9, but ust got a Smith 3913. But if i didnt already have a carry 9mm, any if those listed work, just a matter if personal preference.
.40 cal has a very unpleasant snappy sharp recoil just the opposite of the .45 ACP recoil.I owned a KAHR CW9 and have the GLOCK 26 and S&W Shield and I would not choose any of them for myself.
The problem with all three for me was the unpleasant recoil. I could shoot them and have shot the even small RUGER LC9. I just do not want to again. I shot 50 rounds through all 3 and I just knew that I would not want to shoot them again.
I am not saying that any of them are bad guns. I carried a GLOCK 19 or 17 on duty for about 5 years. I also own a SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD Sub Compact and it is fine as a shooter and very concealable in a pancake holster because of the short slide/barrel and grip.
I found that it was just heavy enough and had a large enough grip area with the short 13 round magazine to be pleasant to shoot and easily controlled. When I shot the GLOCK 26, I used the GLOCK 10 round magazine and the GLOCK 19 15 round magazine. With the longer GLOCK 19 magazine, it was like night and day for me.
My duty weapon is a .40S&W and I am usually one of the top qualifiers, so it is all relative on the recoil question. Some of the people I work with have bought .40S&W WALTHER PPS pistols which are in the same size range, but they rarely shoot their pistols. I want to be able to put a couple of 50 round boxes at a time down the range with whatever I am shooting or carrying.
It all comes down to your individual recoil tolerance. I have discovered mine is not as great as it used to be.
I recommend that you try a gun rental with each one and see which works best for you.
Jim
Same size as a G-23 40. cal except alot less recoil.Glock 19
I notice a preference for the no thumb safety. Why is this? Is it the fear of forgetting to turn it to fire at the moment of truth, or something else? I own a Shield, with thumb safety, and have thought of buying one without just because I see this mentioned, figured I better ask why.I have a few bills & $$$ issues but plan to buy a NIB S&W Shield 9x19mm with the "no thumb safety" format later this year.
It's small, easy to carry, easy to field-strip & clean & has lots of holsters/parts/gear for it.
I'd add Trijicon HD sights & maybe Metalife or Cerakote(SOCOM blue & or the darker grey color).
M&P Shields are very popular.
Last summer(2014) I worked on a site with a small town LE officer who told me she wanted a new Shield to replace her Glock 26 9mm that she used off duty.
The other models are good too but the "no thumb safety" Shield 9x19mm has a lot to offer & can last years.