Best carry gun for a newbie?

[usnavymasterchief]

I own a Kahr K40 (.40 cal) and I like it very much. Mine is all stainless and as previously mentioned, is a little heavy but not that bad. Much like the Glock, it has no "controls" to mess with your head in an emergency. Mine has Trijicon night sights which I most highly recommend. It has been said that a Kahr is put together like a Swiss watch. Mine runs 100% and is my every day carry gun. I also have a Glock 33 (.357sig) which is a great piece also but I do believe the trigger action on the Kahr is superior to the Glock. Also the Glock grip is like holding a 2X4 in your hand because of the double stack magazines. BUT, in all honesty, I would not recommend the Kahr or the Glock as a newbie's first carry gun. They are both fine guns but very easy to make a serious or even deadly mistake with. The light trigger action is the problem here. A newbie could easily shoot himself or someone else accidently, whereas on a D/A piece like a revolver you have to take a deliberate action to pull the trigger and fire the gun. If you can find a Glock with a "New York Trigger" you might be better off. A N.Y. trigger is set around ( I think ) 7# while a stock Glock is 5# this was required by NYPD to help prevent accidental discharge when drawing from a holster.
In an earlier post to you I said get a Glock 9mm and as other posters have said, there are better guns available but dollar for dollar I believe that Glock is the way to go for you. For me, I prefer the feel of all metal guns with the Kahr coming out on top in the moderate price range. Keep in mind, in the world of semi-autos, $500.00 is only in the lower half of the moderate price range. Mine has an MSRP of $733.00 and that's not considered expensive but it is to me.
Good luck in your search, go to a range that rents guns, try a few and find one that feels good to you.

 

[joey93turbo]

Now I'm gettin some good info

Is it possible to take a Kahr or Glock and have a shop put a 7# trigger on it?

 

[Gary H]

Joey:

I'm getting the impression that you haven't done much shooting. Find a range that rents out guns. Many times, you pay $10, or so to rent as many as you want. You just take one at a time. Nobody and I mean nobody can tell you what gun is best for you. I have had many Glocks. I have now sold some and have others in the safe. It isn't that I don't like them, it is just that I don't consider them safe next to my bed, but perfectly good from a holster. I shoot a 1911 and H&K P7's a bit better. You need to try. My dad just settled on a P-99 and for him it is the perfect carry gun. I gave him a Kahr K-9, offered a Glock, a P7M8 and offered to buy him a Valtro, but after shooting MANY guns, he found the Walther P-99 to be his gun. He wasn't comfortable shooting the Kahr and racking the slide. Now, he really likes his Smith & Wesson M66 and LadySmith M60. He is just getting into the Walther and calls me every day to tell me how he loves the gun. You might hate the Walther...try them first.

 

[joey93turbo]

I definately plan on going to shoot the guys recommended to me in this thread if I can find a range near me tht does that. That's going to be the deciding factor for me, the feel and how well I like the gun. I'm just trying to get some recommendations so when I walk in I'll have an idea.

Someone also recommended a used Kimber, what about those?

 

[usnavymasterchief]

Yes a good gunsmith can make a modification to a Glock to give it a heavier trigger action. Go to www.glocktalk.com and you'll find out everything you want to know about Glocks, pro and con.
The Kahr has a trigger slightly heavier than a Glock but is much smoother and doesn't have that funky "ping" that the Glocks have. IMHO Kahr is a better gun than a Glock, I own both but I aint no expert, that's just my opinion

 

[joey93turbo]

Yeah I really like the things I'm hearing about Kahr's. I'd like to shoot a couple models, a couple glocks, and a sig 229 like they recommended earlier in this thread. Any comment on the Kimber?

 

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

Joey,

The Sig was what I first had in mind when I mentioned a simple DA/SA gun with no safety.

The 239 or similar sized 225 are fantastic handguns in most every regard.

I would tend to shy away from the Glock because the trigger is a little intolerant (it's light.) Same with Kahr, which have also gotten too pricey of late (they used to be around $300). The Springfield XD compact also tends toward too light a trigger.

Someone mentioned that CZ PCR again, which is nice.

The basic S&W autos, like the 908, are compact and reliable, and not much over $400.

And I would still consider the bargain RAP 401.

Do a search on any of those guns and you'll hear many satisfied buyers.

 

[cslinger]

Kimber makes great guns but........and I know I am going to get a lot of flack for this........but.........the smaller 1911s always seem to be more prone to malfunctions then other models of gun. I am not saying they are jam-o-matics just that they tend to be more likely to hang up. They will also be pricy even used.

The Sig you want to look at is a P239 in whatever caliber floats your boat. It is stone reliable, as accuarate as a full sized gun and very very thin. Personally I think the thickness is harder to conceal than a guns over all size.

I have heard enough bad about the polymer Kahrs to at least be a bit wary. I have heard little to no bad about the steel ones.

Your best bang for the buck is going to lie with Glock or one I forgot to mention the Springfield XD compact. This little guy is a 9mm the size of a G26, maybe a tad bigger but can be found in the $400-$450 range. Good little guns with a little more built in saftey then a Glock with the addition of a 1911 style grip safety. Personally I feel the trigger is better than a Glock also.

By the way has anybody mentioned a Jframe sized revolver. Mine sees alot of carry.

 

[joey93turbo]

Awesome man, I'm gonna go around to a few gun shops this weekend and check out some models. Is there a reason you didn't recommend the Kahr?

 

[cslinger]

I didn't not recommend KAHR, I just don't have enough practical experience with them to really give them a yay or nay. I know the steel ones have a pretty bullet proof rep but they seem to cost more than a Glock when I see them.

Simply as a cost benefit analysis I really think that Glocks and the XD are probably the most concealed carry auto you are going to get for the money and I would probably say Glock wins out due to it's extremely durable tenifer finish.

Now on a personal note.......I don't really like Glocks. I had a G30 that was a spectacular gun and I did like it but it the trigger doesn't do it for me and I am really more of a fan of double/single action decockers ala SIG, CZ 75BD,PCR,P01 etc.

Glocks are good guns, very good guns. Just not my cup of tea but my unbiased gut reaction is that they come the closest to meeting your original budget while at the same time providing you with a superior firearm, especially for your intended purpose. I also feel that you could find a used Glock for a very good price and still have a great gun without much worry if it will work.

Now my biased answer is get the SIG P239. In .40 I think that is one of the finest CCW autos out there. Trigger pull is heavy enough to be safe but very smooth and SIGs are the only guns I have ever shot that have NEVER malfunctioned for me.....well that and AK-47 varients but it's just not fair to compare reliability to an AK.

 

[joey93turbo]

Sounds to me like I really need to be checking out this Sig P239...

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Double action .38spl for the newbie.

 

[CWL]

If you want a bigger, full frame gun, then a CZ-75, Ruger P-series semiauto would fit into your lower-end pricing reqs.

For a bit more, Kahr and Glocks.

I like the trigger on my stainless K9 much better than the 3 Glocks I've owned (still have 2), but I think that Glocks will wear better in high-humidity/wet areas. If you are gonna be in OR, that should be seriously considered.

My stainless Kahr came NIB with rust stains and I'm not the only one, while I've never seen more than holster wear on a Glock frame.

 

[MJRW]

Joey,

The Sig P239 has always been the #2 gun on my list. I just have yet to find one at a price I want to pay. I'm a cheap bastard and it is purely want, it doesn't fill a need. It is an excellent piece. But don't overly concern yourself with the size of the gun. Width, weight, and grip length to me are far more important in concealing than the overall size. I find I can conceal full size 1911, glock 19, j-frame, and a bersa .380 about the same. Heck, once all at the same time. Holster, carry position, and attitude are far more important than anything else in concealment. This is something for you to consider when shopping. I would suggest this method of approaching gun purchase:

1. Find all guns by all reputable manufacturers in your price range.
2. Pick them all up and decide which ones you like.
3. Shoot those guns in calibers you are considering and decide which ones you like.
4. Compare features on all guns and have a few that you would like to buy. This is where the size of the gun finally comes into play.
5. Go to a bunch of shops or a shop you know and trust or someone you know knows and trusts. Play with the guns remaining on your list.
6. Go home. The one you think about the most is the one you should get.

 

[joey93turbo]

That's some really good advice. When I get home tonight i'm going to make a list of all the auto's in this thread that have been recommended to me and begin to research each of them. I think the best caliber for me would probably be 9mm since it's a relatively cheap round and I'll also be using this gun to take up in the woods and shoot.

 

[joey93turbo]

I picked up a gun mag on my break and I was looking at a couple guns. Just wondering what people thing about the Springfield Ultra-Compact 1911-A1 and the Kimber Ultra Carry II?

 

[Futo Inu]

In your price range with your criteria, SelfProclaimedExpert hit the nail on the head. Other recommendations are nice, but not in your price range. The springfield xd in 9mm or .40 is good if you're willing to up the ante. You can in fact put a "New York" trigger (8 lbs), or a New York Plus (12 pounds) pretty cheaply and easily on Glocks. But you said you wanted manual safety, and Glocks don't, so......

 

[joey93turbo]

Yeah I'm sorta shying away from Springfield now cause of some of the quality issues I've read about on here.

I would like a manual safety but it's not a requirement.

 

[Sheslinger]

Make sure you check out Walther P99. By far my favorite handgun ever. You might hate it but try to check it out and shoot if possible. I haven't seen them for rent but you might know someone who owns one. At the very least go to a shop and play with one.

Other than that, check out compact Springfield XD in any of the calibers. I like them better than Glocks... (covering head, running away, dodging stones).

As far as external safety goes, it's your choice after all, but, to me, manual safety is an extra thing to remember in a stress situation when you have to react almost on instinct and I'd rather draw the gun and pull the trigger.

Just my two cents worth.

Sheslinger

 

[MJRW]

Why the compact 1911s? Full-size isn't that much more to conceal.

 

[Logistar]

You might check out the Taurus PT-111 Pro. It is pretty small and light... 9mm 10+1!! .... should be in your price range. It has a manual safety as well as a keylock. (I think you said you wanted a manual safety.) I love my PT-111. Accurate, perfectly reliable at around 750 rounds so far.

That said, there were some complaints about some of the earlier models and customer service may not be the best. -Might be worth checking into if you are stuck at around $350 and want a new semi-auto. I would want some feedback from the newer models first though.

Logistar

 

[joey93turbo]

I was just looking at one cause it looked pretty small.


I think I've narrowed it down by now. The contenders are:

1) Sig P239 (dunno which caliber)

2) Kahr K9 (maybe K40)

3) Glock 26



I'm going to the gun store this weekend to check them out and hold them. If the Sig feels good that's probably the one I'll end up getting. What caliber do you guys recommend for carry and recreational use?

 

[J Hoss]

Glocks and Sigs are good. Consider the Walther P99. If you shop around, you can find them under $500

 

[Ky Larry]

Don't rule out the smaller CZ's (PCR, Compact 75B, P-01) in 9mm. IMO they shoot as well as anything costing twice as much and are reliable as any off the shelf gun made. Also the KP95DC Ruger is a very good value. There's a $40.00 rebate on the Ruger right now. My local gunshop has a KP95DC for $320.00 NIB .When you get your rebate check go to Wally World and get 400 rounds of WWB and have some fun. My $0.02 worth.

 

[cslinger]

Well the SIG 239 shines in .40/.357 SIG. It is a little big for a single stack 9mm. Walmart seems to be selling 165 grain .40 ammo for $15/100 which ain't bad.

If 9mm is where you want to go, figure say $11/100 then I would go Glock 26. 10 rounds, itty bitty, stone reliable and have I mentioned ugly, but I say that in a good way.

KAHRs I would also suggest a .40 since you are limited to single stack and a relatively small ammo supply.

Now I am only making those suggestions based on the economy of size in the guns mentioned. This is not a 9mm vs .40 issue. I carry a single stack 9mm quite frequently loaded with +P 124 grain hollow points so I am comfortable with it. I do admit to feeling a bit better armed with the .40 capacity being the same but it is strictly a personal feeling.

LET ME SCREAM THIS!!! I AM NOT STARTING A CALIBER WAR. EITHER 9MM OR .40 QUALITY AMMO WILL DO THE JOB.