Best CCW auto pistol, 9mm or larger, easy to conceal ...

[Stealthfixr]

Question for Kahr shooters ...

I read in the last Gun Tests (I realize their not held in the highest regard by many) where they compared a Kahr P9, Glock 26 and a SA XD9 Compact, the Kahr showed wear on the rear slide guide after just a couple hundred rounds. It seems the read slide guide is polymer, not metal like a Glock, and therefore (supposedly) not replaceable.

Have any of you seen any wear issues with the polymer Kahr's? Seems the size is right, the price a little high, and it would certainly be easy to conceal. How is the long term reliability and durability? Did Gun Tests just get a bad framed Kahr?

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30498

Seems the thread above raises some of these questions, but does not refer to the Gun Tests review. Any thoughts?

 

[Stealthfixr]

Kahr Polymer owners--speak up!

I've boiled down my choices to the Kahr PM9, Kel-tec P-11 and the Sig P239. There is a huge price disparity between the Sig and Kahr as compared to the Kel-tec (and my P-32 has been great). The Kahr is the smallest of the three by a good margin. The Sig gets rave reviews (and fits my hand very well), but is seems to be a little too large to be concealed anytime, anywhere. I want this pistol to be one I will not hesitate to carry.

Of course, the Kel-tec P-3AT is an option if I comprimise on the caliber choices, and very easily concealable.

Which is more important, concealability or muzzle energy?

Do the Kahr's have quality issues as described above, or any other relevant issues?

Is the Sig easier to conceal than I am thinking, just not as a pocket pistol?

Thanks all for your inputs!

 

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

You said "best", yet didn't include the flat, accurate, reliable, ambidextrous and safe HK P7.

The Sig 239 is a bargain for a smallish carry gun.

Kahrs, XDs and Glock 26s are even smaller, but absolutely require holsters for chambered carry. The Sig is nicer quality, the P7 nicer still.

 

[VG]

So, there may be more choices than are in this poll--I am just trying to capture what I've read as the most common CCW compact/sub-compact guns.

I love my SIG P220 but find the P239 too big and unbalanced to be all-the-time concealable. I like the P225 better. I attended the Sigarms CCP course and had a chance to fire a P239 in .357SIG in low light, and it looked like a flamethrower. I was also concerned with the spotty QC and customer service of Kahr. Glocks are good pistols but are too ugly to buy with your own money.

The S&W 3913 is an extremely popular pistol and is TDA. But I bought the 6.25", 20.8 ounce S&W CS9, another extremely popular choice.