9mm for carry

[SouthronBoy]

For the most part, I'm a .45 guy. I grew up with the 1911, and that's what I shoot best. I can't conceal one though, and don't keep one handy for HD, because of overpenetration issues.

I mostly carry a Kel-Tec PF-11 or a Taurus .357 loaded with .38 +p , and .357 in a speed loader in case things get really ugly.

I don't feel undergunned with either the 9 or the .38.

 

[IdahoLT1]

My carry gun is a Kahr CW9, carried IWB and loaded with 115gr. Hornady critical defense rounds. I carry it because the 9mm is the best bargain for a true conceal carry firearm. Its recoil isnt much and because of its size, you can get more rounds into the same size or smaller/lighter gun(i.e. the CW9 has a .9" width, 5.9" length, 4.5" height, 15.8oz weight and is 7+1; the CW45 has a a width of 1.01", 6.32" length, 4.8" height, 19.7oz weight and is 6+1).

I doubt i will ever need to pull my gun for SD, so i would rather have a lighter smaller and more comfortable gun(if you dont enjoy carrying it, youre likely to stop).

If im going to be spending my time outdoors like in a park, forest, along the river etc. i will open carry my S&W 1006 10mm. I wont carry it if im going to be around alot of people(i.e. neighborhood, store, outdoor event)

 

[HippieMagic]

I think it is fair to say a .22LR is the ideal plinker, 9mm is a good first gun, you will end up with a .40 and .45 eventually, it doesn't really matter what you carry, and a gun beats a knife when the SHTF but in all fairness you should carry a knife too...

A gun is a gun honestly and I don't see anyone laughing at you because you just shot them with a 9mm rather than a .45.

 

[armoredman]

Hippie, I started with a 22, had several 44, 45, 40, 357, now I ended up with 9mm...guess I am just bass ackward.

 

[AJChenMPH]

I decided on 9mm because I wanted a caliber that I could practice with cheaply yet still had decent stopping power. My discreet weapon is a Taurus PT-709 Slim, otherwise if I can dress around it (and I try to most of the time) it's a Glock 19.

By the way...back in my EMS days, I worked a call (summer of 1997 in Harlem/NYC) where a guy took a single .22 round under the collarbone and died. For the record.

 

[Dr_2_B]

Yeah, I've become a bigger fan of the 9 over the past few years as well. Most of that is the improvement of bullet performance, but part of it is the availability of more reliable information about the 9's performance.

 

[lgjhn]

Carry what you're comfortable with and can shoot accurately. Shot placement is everything. IF you can't hit em, you might as well be unarmed.
I often carry a 9mm in either a KelTec PF9 in the pocket or a CZPO1 IWB....sometimes both.
I've also been known to carry a full-size S&W .45 M&P in a shoulder rig with a .38 snub as a BUG on the ankle. It depends where I'm going and based on my risk assessment at the time.
IMHO, 9mm ammo has come a long ways in the past few years for SD use and I would not hesitate for a moment to rely on it if need be. OTH, those big old holes that .45 makes are verrrrrrry impressive.

 

[GeezerwithGuns]

I carry a BHP or CZ75B during the Winter (because of size and concealability). I like 9mm, shoot the round very well, and do not feel "undergunned" whatsoever. With the right holster, the bulk & weight of either is not bad at all:

Hi Power:




CZ 75B:

 

[RSVP2RIP]

My 9mm of choice is a 9x23win, but I do like my BHP and feel that bullet selection is what gets most people into trouble with it. A 124gr bullet like the Rem Golden Saber, Winchester SXT/Ranger and Speer Gold Dot are all top picks. "Exotic" fang-puss and crap like that, as well as FMJ should be avoided.

 

[G27RR]

The CW9 is great for concealed carry. I love mine and it's my primary carry weapon. Extremely comfortable and still one of the major calibers.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I think it is fair to say a .22LR is the ideal plinker, 9mm is a good first gun, you will end up with a .40 and .45 eventually, it doesn't really matter what you carry, and a gun beats a knife when the SHTF but in all fairness you should carry a knife too...

A gun is a gun honestly and I don't see anyone laughing at you because you just shot them with a 9mm rather than a .45.

My first gun was a .22lr pistol, after that I got a .45 and carried that for a while. After deciding the .45 was too big I got a MilPro in .40. I've now settled on carrying a 9mm Glock. 9mm is easier to shoot, cheaper to practice with, and I greatly appreciate the higher magazine capacity.