A Can of Worms... CCW in 9mm you thoughts

[MG2TX]

First let me say I know there is no final answer to this question and I am sure that most people who carry a 9mm have selected the gun they consider to be the "best" Carry pistol.

So, in your opinion, what is the best 9mm handgun for daily concealed carry? I'm looking for a small,thin,light,but powerful 9mm concealed carry. I own a few pistols but they are all large frame pistols, Springfield XD, Colt 1911. All pistols are concealable depending on the persons height weight and amount of clothes they are wearing but for me 5'10" 160lbs and living in Texas both those guns are next to impossible to carry comfortably and unnoticed.

Criteria... As stated before, I want a compact pistol in 9mm. 1911 style, DAO, Striker, polymer. Whatever. Preferably 3-3.5 in barrel. With Night sights. All pistols welcome although obviously since I am posting this in the Autoloaders section i would prefer an auto. Price I would like to keep under $1000 but that is not a deal breaker.

Ok let the comments and opinions fly.

 

[JEB]

no first hand experience but i have heard nothing but excellent things about the kahrs. maybe a pm9 or a cw9, both are way under you $1000 limit which would leave you lots of cash for a good holster **caugh caugh crossbreed supertuck caugh** and plenty of ammo.

 

[BIGBANG]

I'd go with a ruger sr9c, i front pocket carry it in cargo shorts most of the time, plus it comes with 2 mags. A ten rounder and a 17 rounder as a backup, its thinner than my 1911 and shoots amazingly accurate for a compact. Plus its only just above $400 depending on your area, great gun at a good price, and with that thousand dollar limit you can get about 2,000 rounds of practice ammo at the right places. The only downside I've came across is the lack of holster options available for it right now, hence why i front pocket carry it alot, I've had to use a holster or a G19 when i use one and it fits and holds fine.

Just my opinion, whatever you do try it out before you buy it!

 

[DawgFvr]

After myriads of weapons and boxes of holsters, my primary carry is a 9mm and it is the Glock 26 carried in a MTAC holster. Reliable 10 + 1 that I find accurate and feeds on any kind of ammo.

 

[W.E.G.]

Glock 26 w/ Glock +2 extension FTW.

 

[Z-Michigan]

You're casting a very wide net. Any of the subcompacts would potentially be fine. Decide how small and slim you need it to be. Really, really slim, look at Kahr, the newish Walther, Kel-Tec PF9, the new Ruger knockoff of the PF9, maybe a 1911 Officer's model. A bit thicker, G26 or Ruger SR9c, with the latter seeming the thinnest of any doublestack subcompact I've handled.

 

[mongo4567]

I would vote for a Kahr PM9: tiny, thin, light, reliable, and a great trigger. It is a great choice if you want to pocket carry, great IWB or in a belly band too. I have a PM40 and love it.

 

[AZ Five seveN]

Most people would say either G19 or M&P 9c. I'd start there.

 

[MG2TX]

Ok i know there are tons of options. to give you an idea what i have been looking at. The Kahr PM9, Springfield EMP, Para Slim Hawg, so on and so forth. Something slim. Although when carrying i will have some type of round, hydro-shock or the likes but i would like a pistol that is as reliable and accurate as possible.

 

[jdenny21]

I carry a Springer EMP in 9mm in an IWB holster. It's a tad heavy than than polymer guns of the same size, but with a good holster it's not noticeable. In the past I have carried a glock 33, and H&K P7M8 and personally find I shoot a 1911 style pistol better than anything else out there.

I also recently purchased a Sig P238 for my wife, and I was absolutely amazed at how accurate that tiny 1911 is. I will be carrying it in the summer in a pocket holster, very sweet piece.

 

[Pilot]

For me, the HK P7 PSP fills this role, but if you want polymer I'd go Glock 19 or 26 or perhaps the Walther P99C or PPS for slimness.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Keltecs both the P11 and PF9
Um, and what 9mm are you talking about
there are a number

Personally, I like the CZ-82, you can get Meprolights for it, and it's one of the nicest shooting pistols, and the NARROW Snout (only the grip is wide) makes it easy for IWB carry.

 

[bri]

Hit the range and rent a couple, see what you shoot best.

I went with a G26 for carry because I shoot glocks fairly well. The G26 shoots like a much bigger pistol and can be very accurate.

 

[clance]

I currently carry a Kahr TP9 that I just stick in the beltline of my pants. I don't worry about corrosion as the pistol is stainless and polymer (yes I do maintain the weapon) , it's thin and weighs next to nothing even loaded. It's approximately the size of a Walther PP while the P or K series is roughly the size of the PPK/s so easily concealible even on a small frame person.

I feed it a diet of Federal Hydro-Shoks +P at 147gr, never had a failure of any kind even when using cheap practice ammo. If the 9mm isn't your first choice in defensive rounds, Kahr also makes these models in 40 S&W and 45acp.

I personally like the Kahr due to it's no nonsense approach to a defensive firearm by "not" having a bunch of safety levers or buttons that need to be grip, flip, squeezed, etc... before the weapon is capable to be fired. It's very simple, you point the weapon and squeeze the trigger (which is a true DAO). And while there are cheaper alternatives then the Kahr. You have have to ask yourself how much is your or the life of a love one worth? A number of Depts have identify Kahr as their Depts. only choice of a Backup/Off-Duty pistol which pretty much sold me on the gun.

To give you an idea of the size of the Kahr, the Spyderco Police model at the bottom open is 9-1/2" and 5-1/4" long when closed. I would strongly suggest that you think about a good knife backup!

 

[harmon rabb]

Personally, I like the CZ-82, you can get Meprolights for it, and it's one of the nicest shooting pistols, and the NARROW Snout (only the grip is wide) makes it easy for IWB carry.

If you take off the grips of a cz-82 and look at the frame, it's like .9" wide. If someone would make a set of aluminum grips for the cz-82, the width of the grip would be under 1".

 

[fullhouse]

I live in Texas (and have a CHL) also and wear light clothing most of the time and cant carry the wide guns.
Recently the weather got cold for about 2 weeks and I was able to carry my Glock 23.
A Kahr CW40 is what I carry all year round under a T shirt or Polo shirt.

 

[rbernie]

I carry a larger gun when I can (CZ-75B, mostly) and a PF-9 when I can't.

 

[wbwanzer]

Used S&W 3913. Single stack. DA/SA with decocker.

 

[TikiG]

I was in the same boat till I held a Mil Pro PT111. Then I didn't have any more questions.

 

[rellascout]

What is the budget?

If have the cash its hard to beat the SA EMP in 9mm. NIB they will run you $1050 or so.

If you are on a budget look at the Kahr CW9 and the new CM9. The CW9 can be had for under $400 the CM9 will be just over $400.

 

[jonboynumba1]

I've carried "a lot" of different guns (ask my wife-LOL) in 9mm sub's some of the best I'd say Keltec PF9 (can't be beat for $300) GLOCK 26 (one of the few subs you can dump 10K rounds through and just have a reliable broken in flawless deffensive tool...just as reliable as the bigger GLOCK's...a little thick....wish they made a single-stack 9...but it's not too bad. There's the sig single stack as well (239) heavier and just as wide as the 26 with less capacity...but probably the best shooter of the bunch. best blend of weight quallity and capacity goes to the 26 best most comfortable ride IWB the PF9 and best overall gun at the range is the sig followed by the 26 w/ 3.5# connector and some polishing.

 

[Steve H]

Has anyone taken a good look ant the new Kimber Solo? Looks like it may be pretty nice as a pocket gun.

 

[rellascout]

Has anyone taken a good look ant the new Kimber Solo? Looks like it may be pretty nice as a pocket gun.

It is brand new and the reports I have seen have reported a lot of teething issues with the gun. I would wait on that one until we see more of them in the marketplace working flawlessly.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I'm looking for a small,thin,light,but powerful 9mm concealed carry.

Last Friday I impulse bought a Ruger LC9. I happened to be in the store when two were delivered. Actually I never not heard of the gun before but I liked it right away. ($400 OTD) The size, weight and caliber looked good for pocket carry.

Size compared to the Beretta 21A 22LR.


I make it a point to never recommend ANYTHING and I am not recommending the LC9 either but for your information I will tell you how the gun has performed.

Take into consideration, when viewing the targets, that I'm 73 years old, with 73 year old eyes and a shaking hand. So the gun is far more accurate than the targets show.

I have shot the gun every day (7 days) since I bought it. I have used a variety of bullet designs, factory and reloads. As of yesterday, Thursday, the gun had fired over 600 trouble free rounds (I did have a couple ammo caused misfires).

Friday I shot about a hundred rounds as soon as I got home (home range).


Saturday, just having fun fast shooting at paper and steel targets.





I like to shoot small handguns (standing) at a little distance. The target is a 2x2 foot steel plate.
52 yards. 50 rounds. The gun did good but I missed 3-4 shots.





What I don't like about the gun.
Ruger is too cheap to include two magazines with the gun.
I do not like a magazine "safety" or lawyer lock.
The trigger is the typical long DA pull common to these type guns. I don't like these long DA triggers but I understand why they are used.

There's a thumb safety. Ruger made it small and stiff to move so it wouldn't accidentally be moved to ON but it is easy to move Off with your thumb without changing your grip. IMO the safety isn't necessary with that long trigger pull but it's there if you like a thumb safety. I've used it a lot in practice with no problem.
Use or not, your choice.

What I like.
The gun has good sights and is very accurate. 1 1/2 inch, ten yard, eight shot groups.
Reliable. The gun has been totally reliable with a mixed bag of 600 rounds.
Small enough to fit in many front pockets.
A fair size caliber.
8 rounds instead of about 6 in most pocket size guns.
The gun looks and feels good.
I can see the gun as a lady's purse gun.
Not much kick.

I like the gun so much that when I can get a spare magazine it will be my primary pocket gun replacing several good .380 pistols.

 

[heeler]

I recently bought a Kahr PM9 with night sites for that intended purpose of concealed carry.
Now if I could just get off the damn fence and decide on the endless list of holsters I have been looking at I should be good to go.
My micro 380 for all those other times I want slim and really light.