CCW suggestions.

[epijunkie67]

I own several pistols but have decided to get a new concealed carry weapon and wanted to get some advice. I have several different pistols right now that would make fine CCW except I would like get something with more capacity. I'm an average sized guy with smallish hands and find most double stack guns too wide for comfort.

I have a Para LDA that shoots like a dream. However I find I don't carry it because of the weight and it's at the upper limit of what I consider "concealable".

I have a Kahr PM9. On the smallish size but comfortable for me to shoot and I love the size.

I have a Kahr K40. Good size, great round, comfortable grip, but still small capacity. Also steel frame so a little heavier than the polymer stuff but still lighter than the Para LDA.

I have a Kahr PM45. Also comfortable, light, awesome caliber, and great gun. If it held 12 rounds in the same sized grip it'd be the perfect carry gun.

So I'm looking for a polymer semi-auto in at least 9mm, preferably .40 or .45, that holds more than 8 rounds. 10 would be OK, 12 would be nice, and 14 would be great. The slimmer the profile the better. It must be dependable.

Suggestions? Am I going to be forced to go to a full double stack mag or is there someone out there making slim profile high capacity light carry weapons?

 

[beeenbag]

i think the double stack kel tec p11 feels like a single stack. it is only 1" wide and you can get flush fit 12 round mags. this gun carrys great i think. i alternate between it and my g19, p11 when i dont want to know i have one on.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I hate to admit this because I consider myself a 1911 guy...

But I do love carrying my glock 19. I don't have large hands, either. I still don't like the trigger. But its accurate and comfortable once you become accustomed to it. It does seem bulky, but for some reason it works well for ccw on a narrow guy like myself. I'm 5'10", 175lbs and I can conceal it in a t-shirt and shorts all day long. Not an overly baggy or long t-shirt, either!

 

[jon86]

I'll recommend a glock 19 as well.

However, I don't know if you've done this yet, but have you considered carrying the PM45 IWB with the PM9 in a pocket holster as a BUG? I think that would be a pretty good setup. Unless of course you've got the "itch" to buy a new gun, which is great and I totally understand.

 

[Japle]

Another vote for the Glock 19. I carried one for about 6 years and just receintly switched to an XDm 3.8 9mm.
The guns are about the same size (I used a G17 mag in my G19), but I like the trigger and the adjustable grip size on the XDm. I also have sorta small hands and find the XDm very comfortable.

 

[Nushif]

I have several different pistols right now that would make fine CCW except I would like get something..

I like your attitude. Let's be honest here. You want a new gun. 8)
What are you eyeing?

 

[armoredman]

Slim and higher capacity poly 9mm? CZ SP-01 Phantom. I actually AM carrying one concealed right now, it can be done!
Well, you could try a CZ 2075 RAMI, it only looks chunky.

Whatever fits you, amigo.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I carry a G26 but hear good things about the Ruger SR9c and S&W M&P 9c all about the same size and double stack. Those rounds have to fit in something and if you want 10 or 12 of them its going to be a double stack magazine.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Glock 23.

.40S&W

1.18"

21oz.

13+1

 

[killchain]

G19 or a Kel-Tec P-11 for conceal carry.

Or, if you wanted to be like me, you could conceal a full size Beretta 92 for a year.

Hey. I was new.

 

[epijunkie67]

I like your attitude. Let's be honest here. You want a new gun. 8)
What are you eyeing?

Lol, I know it kind of does sound like that but I'm really not looking at anything in particular. I poked around on line and it looked like Glock was going to be my most likely option but I've never really liked their feel.

I've been doing a lot of online reading about shooting incidents and a common theme I keep running across is people emptying their weapon while the threat is still active. Sometimes because it is a dynamic fight with movement and sometimes because of multiple targets. I'm coming to feel that 14 rounds of .40 is better that 7 rounds of .45.

Up til now my ccw criteria has always been "small and light". I'm starting to feel now that "smallish but with a good capacity" might be a better way to go.

 

[CZguy]

Concealed carry has always been a trade off. You want the stopping power of a 12 ga. but the easy carry of a .380.

I think that if you don't aim your shots, it will take more. Well aimed shots in a reasonable sized caliber shouldn't take more than two or three.

No matter what the magazine capacity, I would always carry a spare.

And if you just want a new gun, ignore the above and get one. I'm all for getting a new gun, for the smallest of reasons.

 

[Ben86]

You're probably going to have to go with double stack. It's not a big deal, it's really not that much more burdensome. My primary CCW is my full size S&W M&P45. Right pants, shirt, belt and holster and it's no big deal.

If you get a single stack with 10 rounds it's probably going to have a large grip. Those rounds don't get any smaller in the magazine.

I suggest the Glock and S&W M&P compact line. A glock 19/26 in 9mm or 23/27 in .40 should do the trick. Also, I've heard that the SR9C is a pretty slim gun for a double stack.

 

[sigmashooter]

Sigma .40 (SW40VE)
Light, compact, 14+1. Conceals SOB ITP = Invisible.
Trigger is DOA, (feels like a revolver) won't shoot yerself in the ass while drawing weapon! (No safety, ready to run!) It WILL, however, stop whatever is in front of it. I don't have large hands by any means, but wrenching all my life makes the trigger pull a non-issue for me. (Google the Sigma, and there's LOTS of hate for the trigger pull, but I think folks expect a match-grade custom 2.5lb trigger is great for all guns; Not So.)
This gun goes BANG every time, no matter how cheap the ammo. (I've run thru 1000rds of everything I could find so far)
And... It's CHEAP!

 

[mongo4567]

I would vote for Glock 19 or 23 depending on your caliber choice.

 

[Skylerbone]

There are several schools of thought on ccw. Mine says if by the time the pistol is empty you have not succeeded in stopping the threat you should already have retreated to a safer distance, choose your battles more carefully and reconsider whether or not you SHOULD carry.

Not to be flippant but every projectile sent down the barrel has the potential to mame or kill. It is a huge responsibility not to be taken lightly. I have always thought of the second mag. as one to use in the event of malfunction. Same with BUG.

No doubt there are other opinions, all of them with valid points. To me, any of the Kahrs you listed seem ideal. As the owner of an M&P 9c I can honestly say I am green with envy when looking at the oh so slim Kahr line-up.

 

[CZguy]

No doubt there are other opinions, all of them with valid points. To me, any of the Kahrs you listed seem ideal. As the owner of an M&P 9c I can honestly say I am green with envy when looking at the oh so slim Kahr line-up.

Good point. This time of year I carry a CZ RAMI, and as much as I like the single/double action, it's tough to beat a Kahr for comfortable and truly concealed carry.

 

[JQP]

Kahr P9, PM9 or CW9.

I was a skeptic, bought a CW9, and am a believer now.

They're at the top of the tier when it comes to quality, reliable and truly concealable weapons. The only competitor, as far as I'm concerned, is the Walther PPS.

Purchasing a Kahr was the best decision I've made. Ultra reliable, and in contrast with a G19, which I own, it's far more concealable.

 

[Skylerbone]

Quick pic I took of my M&P 9c and my father's Kahr CW9.

It may not seem like a lot to give up but in person it was night and day. The weight difference also gave Kahr the edge with the Smith nearly twice the weight. Carry two Kahrs, buy a new range toy and you will be overcome with contentment.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Ultra reliable, and in contrast with a G19, which I own, it's far more concealable.

But which would you rather fight with?

 

[JQP]

But which would you rather fight with?

Being somewhat resistant to change, I had a hard time coming to the realization that when it comes to a CCW, I'd rather fight with the one I'm more likely to have on me than the one I left at home.

And the Kahr is far more likely to be had on my person than the G19, to be absolutely honest.

Everyone else's mileage may vary, but the Kahr goes with me to places the G19 never would, especially in hot weather and summer clothing.

 

[REAPER4206969]

If you can't conceal a compact Glock in a T-shirt, you're doing it wrong. I CCW a 23 plus two spare mags with no problem at all.

 

[epijunkie67]

But which would you rather fight with?

And this is the crux of my issue. I have several quality firearms that are designed for concealed carry but they all have low cap magazines. Now, I totally agree that the gun you carry is infinitely better than the one you don't. However, carrying a gun you aren't confident in is a false confidence.

Example: I have a keltec P3AT and have carried many times because it is so light and small. Beats the .45 I'm leaving at home, right? But I recently read the story of a guy who was involved in a store robbery and had a nice light pocket gun on him too. And when crunch time came he realized he wasn't willing to pull it because he didn't have enough faith in it's ability to effectively stop the threat.

Story ended well with the bad guy leaving but it got me to thinking. Would I be willing to pull my .380 and believe in it? If the chips are down obviously I'll pull it, but do I have faith in it? And I'm forced to admit that no, I don't really have faith in it. Multiple targets, targets that are across the room, targets wearing heavy winter clothing. I realized that although it makes me feel better having it on me because I'm carrying "something" it's in truth a false confidence.

Obviously the pm45 is a much better option even though it is much bigger. The only issue I have there is the capacity. I agree that you don't want to be randomly spraying rounds down range. But the real world isn't as neat and clean as a training scenario. If I'm in subway and two guys come in and start herding everyone into the back room I'm going to want more than a 5 shot revolver. In the multiple assailant scenario I'll take the 14 round mag over the 7 round mag every day.

 

[Mr.510]

XD45 Compact? I've carried one daily for a few years. 10+1 with a 13 round reload.

 

[Ben86]

As the owner of an M&P 9c I can honestly say I am green with envy when looking at the oh so slim Kahr line-up.

To me the extra width is worth the added capacity. My pm9 is a bit more concealable IWB than my M&P9c, but it's more so about comfort with the pm9 to be honest.

I find 12 rounds more comforting than 6 rounds.