Choice of Handguns

[Bedfordtec]

My good buddy is a coin dealer in Virginia and attends many shows. He has a CCW and carries a polish clone of the Makarov (forgot the model). He wants something better to carry.

What are your recommendations and why:

Glock 42 (380)
Glock 43 (9MM)
Ruger LCP (380)
S&W Model 38 (humpback and Perf. Ctr/+P)
S&W Model 642 (Perf Ctr/+P)

My recommendation is a Glock 42.

Am posting to both the Revolver and Automatic pages.

Thanks for your input.

Jim

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Ruger LCP- small, slim, light, stupidly easy to conceal. His line of work, concealment is vital

 

[cfullgraf]

My Glock 42 is ammunition sensitive. It’s a safe queen for the most part.

I have an S&W 638. The shielded hammer is a good idea but mine is difficult to cock.

I have a 442 and 642. I worked with them for a year or so to get comfortable with the double action trigger.

A 437 has a conventional spur hammer and is easy to cock or shoot double action. With mine, the hammer spur can get tied up in the pocket when trying to draw the pistol.

My 642, 442, 437, and 638 are machined to accept moon clipped ammunition.

I’d rather carry a revolver than a Glock.

 

[bearcreek]

My good buddy is a coin dealer in Virginia and attends many shows. He has a CCW and carries a polish clone of the Makarov (forgot the model). He wants something better to carry.

What are your recommendations and why:

Glock 42 (380)
Glock 43 (9MM)
Ruger LCP (380)
S&W Model 38 (humpback and Perf. Ctr/+P)
S&W Model 642 (Perf Ctr/+P)

My recommendation is a Glock 42.

Am posting to both the Revolver and Automatic pages.

Thanks for your input.

Jim

What level of training has your buddy had? What is his body type? What carry method does he currently use and does he want to continue the same?

 

[ontarget]

Have your friend check out the LCP Max.
10/12+1 capacity, decent sites, not a horrible trigger, and very concealable.
Mine is utterly reliable with any shape of jacketed bullet, and hollow points.
I have many CCW worthy guns, but every time I try to switch things up, I always find myself going back to my Max.

 

[Pat Riot]

How much experience does your friend have with handguns?
If his only experience is shooting and carrying a Makarov pistol I would steer him towards a similar type pistol. Mag fed with a safety lever.

 

[JeffG]

My Glock 42 is ammunition sensitive.

That has been my my experience. My Glock 43 is a gem, no malfunctions, 9mm is a capable round.

 

[Bazoo]

What's wrong with the gun he has? As long as it functions and he can shoot it with reasonable accuracy, I wouldn't just drop it and get something else.

Considering what he already has, I'd get a 642 as a compliment to it.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I'm not much help here. Bullet design has come a long way in the last few decades, but my prejudices are still such that I wouldn't carry anything smaller than 9mm Luger or 38 Special, and I'd be picky about the loadings I carried in those calibers. Note that I carry 9mm and 357 all the time, depending on the day.

Among those? I'd go with the Glock 43 (though I never shot mine well) and I'd consider one of the smaller M&P Shields over it.

 

[Armored farmer]

I've been perfectly content with my old gen1 LCP.
The LCP Max is much better.
Better sights, trigger, capacity, slide stands open after last shot.
The Max is just enough bigger that you don't have to shoot it like a squirt gun.

 

[bassjam]

How does he intend to carry? The .380's are great for a pocket but the Glock is a very large .380 so for pocket carry I'd opt instead for one of the LCP variants. I still like my original LCP because it hides so well in my pocket, but the LCP II and Max are both good guns as well.

Nothing wrong with the G43 except again it's a little large for the capacity but I think it's still a fine choice and seems to have a proven record.

Between the revolvers I'd go for the 642 because I'm a believer in that one should always practice DAO with a revolver and having the capapbility to use single action tempts one at the range to instead practice singe action to get tiny groups and feel better about one's self. If you shoot and dry fire enough DAO and focus on a smooth trigger pull (not staging the trigger) you can get groups almost as small as by shooting single action. Plus, if pocket carrying less pocket lint will get inside the 642 and it's easier to get a higher grip without the external hammer in the way.

 

[King Medallion]

1911 45 ACP all day every day, Colt Ruger Sig, take your pic.

 

[unclenunzie]

Among the revolvers I'd pick the 642. For an autoloader the G42, for it is lighter, easier to shoot than the Polish piece being blowback. It will be easier to feed quality ammo, but has for me a curious combination of strong recoil spring and rather slick slide serrations. Reliability of mine is 100% with gold dots.

Another good choice is the LCP MAX for reasons already stated above.

 

[Spats McGee]

Mod Note: This one was posted in both Revolvers and Autoloaders, so I have merged the threads and done some very minor thread cleanup.

 

[Mostly Lead]

He wants something better to carry.

What are your recommendations and why:

Better ballistics? Better options for holsters? Better ____ ?

Double action revolvers are always my recommendation. The assumption is that they don't know firearms, don't understand the mechanics and don't have enough range time planned to develop their skills. If the person knew firearms, they'd be choosing their own instead of asking me.

The DA revolver order of operations is simple - point and squeeze... (*or whatever words describe these actions best for you)

 

[Gary H]

I would suggest that your friend..not you.. go regularly to a range where he can shoot a variety of handguns. Also, take some handgun classes using his present handgun. If he were really interested in this topic, he would be the one posting.

 

[bangswitch]

Commander-size 1911, he can chose what caliber he'd prefer. Lots of choices, mine is .40S&W.

 

[W.E.G.]

Nothing more reliable than a closed-hammer revolver.

About the only thing that can go wrong with the revolver is allowing the "meat" of your trigger finger to get behind the trigger during the trigger-pull. If you let that happen, you might cycle the cylinder, but fail to reach the break-point of the trigger. Under stress, it might seem like a misfire. So you gotta practice with it to make sure you don't have a messed-up finger position when you're firing.

All the guns mentioned in the OP will work.

The hardest thing about shooting somebody is MAKING UP YOUR MIND to shoot them the right way. Its not like target shooting.

 

[CDW4ME]

My opinion:
Glock 42 (380) - 2nd pick from these options, 9mm > 380
Glock 43 (9MM) - 1st pick out of these options (A Sig 365 even better)
Ruger LCP (380) - 3rd pick from these options and a big step down from 1st place to 3rd.
S&W Model 38 (humpback and Perf. Ctr/+P) - tied for 4th place and capacity deficient versus the others, which are not abundant in capacity.
S&W Model 642 (Perf Ctr/+P) - tied for 4th place and capacity deficient versus the others, which are not abundant in capacity
I've owned everything on that list but the Glock 42. (The revolvers were not performance center, but I've got the gist of it)
A Glock 43 is much easier to shoot quick & accurate versus a LCP 380 which while not pleasant is not as punishing as a snub.

 

[Tilos]

Because your short list of optional guns contains some revolvers, I'm going to recommend some others that offer more rounds than the revolvers, are slimmer, but have all the safety aspects of revolvers.

Before the striker fired wonder nines took over the market, DAO autos where very popular and are still available on the used market as well as new LEM or DAO triggered HKs.
So, no de-cocking levers/safeties and a hammer you can thumb when re-holstering during practice.

Not all inclusive, my short list would be:
Sig P250
Sig P239 DAK or DAO
HK P30SK (V1) LEM/DAO
SCCY CPX-2 Gen 3
Any Kahr (striker fired but long pull DAO like trigger)
JMO,
.
Edit: My list here is not a recommendation, but more of safer guns (for me) that should be sourced and tested. before purchasing anything.
.

 

[JERRY]

G42 and stay with FMJ.

 

[fastbolt]

I stopped recommending specific off-duty handguns to people at our agency, and to people in CCW classes, many years ago. Whenever someone came to me asking about what gun they should buy and carry, I told them I couldn't make such choices for them, and they needed to take into consideration their honest assessment of their skills, and then become familiar with any guns they were considering.

It was easier to suggest they try different guns if I, or any of the other instructors on-staff, already owned examples they were considering and we could let them try them on our range. Or, they could go to one of the public ranges that rented guns. More often than not, a few minutes on the LE range might change or confirm the thinking of our people, especially if they did some demanding drills using them.

How could someone who doesn't know your friend, and his experience and skillset, think to recommend a gun?

 

[CapnMac]

I'll echo @CDW4ME in at least putting an eyeball on the SIG 365 series.

The plain-jane 365 in 10 round 9x19 are common as rentals to try out. Your friend might find more utility in the 12-round 365X or 365XL. If they are willing to search the shows, they might find one of the 380 variants of the 365, if that's something that floats their boat.

Now, maybe the SIG is not for them. There are plenty of pistols out there, and getting Goldilocks is possible. But, it does make giving a single one answer far more difficult.

One thing the 365 SIG series will offer, though, is once you have the fire control group, you can customize to the extent your desire (and wallet) allows.

 

[doubleh]

I will echo Pat Riot and Bazoo. 'Nuff said.

 

[Rexster]

it would be interesting to know why your friend needs something “better” than the Polish pistol he is already using. I recommend six slips of paper, one for your friend’s current carry gun, and one for each of the choices that you have listed. Put the slips of paper into a hat, shake ‘em around, and pick one.

OK, seriously, see fastbolt’s reply post.