Caliber and small auto choices...see text and give your opinions...

[Harold Mayo]

I have been carrying either a BHP or 1911 in a VM-2 for a while but have decided to carry something smaller. Have done some research online but still looking for opinions.

My choices are limited to the following pistols in the calibers given:

1. Kahr PM9 (in, of course, 9mm)
2. Kimber Ultra Carry or SA Micro Compact in .45 ACP
3. SA Ultra Compact in 9mm
4. Kahr P9 (again, of course, in 9mm)

Different strengths in different guns, of course, but still would like some opinions.

My biggest decision is actually not gun but caliber and barrel length. What do the above calibers do in the guns given? I've never worried about expansion from decent hollow points out of a BHP or 5" 1911 but what happens with a 9mm out of a 3" barrel? .45 ACP out of a 3" barrel? Or 3.5" in those calibers?

 

[P95Carry]

Harold - can't be a huge help but - you may be interested to see some figures for ammo out of 2.9" R9 barrel - I did quite a lot of ammo evaluation and this here is data I have tabulated.

There are links top of that page to some other test data - plus some expansion pics.

Hope it might help some.

 

[Morgan]

How are you planning to carry it?

I've long been of the opinion that if you're carrying on the belt, a full size pistol is best. If I'm going smaller than full size, it's going in a pocket.

That said, my choice from your list is the Kahr PM9. Load it with 124gr +p Gold Dots, stuff it in a pocket holster, and off you go.