Compromise 9mm gun for both range and CCW or don't compromise?

[Purgatory]

thanks purgatory, that's a little quicker than my method.

No problem. I quoted just like he was for a while 'til I decided to play with all the options there in the reply box and figure it out.

Now, posting PICS is another story.

I can get 'em to load as thumbnails, but still haven't figured out how to place them nicely into the text of the post.

I'll figure it out in time, I guess.

 

[Sky]

Just a thought: If you get a mid-size Glock something like a 23 .40 cal you can get a 9mm barrel and a couple of mags for less than $150. That gives you two guns in one a 40 and a 9mm. Think you can probably find a used Glock in your price range. Just an option I chose for some of the same reasons.

 

[oneounceload]

. plus ccw 9mm guns are smaller than .38special revolvers.

Maybe, maybe not. How are you planning on carrying - pocket, IWB, OWB? Different things are possible depending. I prefer pocket, so a hammerless snub seems to fit in my cargo shorts pockets better

 

[ATBackPackin]

When I was looking for my concealment weapon not to terribly long ago I determined that ,besides the obvious of being reliable, there were two things I was mostly concerned about. The thickness of the pistol and the length of the grip. I wanted a pistol that was thin so I was willing to compromise round count for a thinner weapon. As far as the grip, I wanted one I could get my whole hand on yet not too big so it would be difficult to conceal. I didn't want to change how I dressed to carry. I often wear thin, modern cut polo shirts, short sleeve button downs, and tailored long sleeve button downs so not a lot of room to play with. On the other hand I wanted a grip big enough that it wasn't uncomfortable to practice with at the range.

I came up with three pistols that fit in my price range.

Bud's prices

1) Walther PPS 9mm $602
2) Kahr CW9 $406
3) Taurus 709 Slim $352

I have to admit that some of the negative talk about Taurus and the fact I wasn't crazy about the trigger deterred me from it. I was down to the Walther and the Kahr. The fact that the Kahr had everything I needed for $200 less than the Walther, I chose the Kahr CW9.

I have approximately 1200 rounds through mine and for a concealment pistol I could not be happier. With two full mags and one in the pipe it gives me 15 rounds which I think should be enough. I'm not going into combat. At the range, I can put 300 rounds through my CW9 quite comfortably and I love to shoot it.

I will say however that I am a big fan of the PPS as well.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Shawn

 

[RKRCPA]

S&w 3913

 

[wesessiah]

No problem. I quoted just like he was for a while 'til I decided to play with all the options there in the reply box and figure it out.

Now, posting PICS is another story.

I can get 'em to load as thumbnails, but still haven't figured out how to place them nicely into the text of the post.

I'll figure it out in time, I guess.

as long as they haven't changed the standard vbulletin coding [.img.]pic url here [/.img.] minus the periods should work... if a red x pops up below this post it works. i'm a mod on another vbulletin forum, so i'm familar with a lot of the vbulletin tech/long way of doing things...

 

[bsg]

i have always been a w german Sig enthusiast. however... my favorite subcompact is the G26; no compromise there....

 

[Purgatory]

Thanks, Wes.

Works great. 'Preciate it.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The compact versions of full size service automatics are easier to carry while still retaining most of their counterparts's shooting qualities. I like the Glock 19, S&W 3913 and M&P compact, and the CZ75 PCR, of the ones I've tried.

 

[Ben86]

+1 for the Kahr cw9. Not to big and fat for CC and not to small for range time. 9mm is also one of the cheapest and most plentiful centerfire pistol calibers to shoot.

Glock 26 is also a good CC/range gun, but if you think you are going to put the grip extension on it, just get the glock 19. I've never understood why people buy a gun with a shortened grip and then extend it. If you don't want a gun with a shortened grip, get the full grip.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Now the question is which 9mm for both the range and CCW?

Get a Glock son. It's the best for both range and carry.

Yes a 26 or 19. Sturdy enough to last 100,000 rounds. And you will get GOOD with the very gun you pack.

I use a 26 for practice and carry a nother 26!

Deaf

 

[GRIZ22]

Why a G19 instead of G26?
G26 is smaller than the G19 thus better for ccw?


The size difference between a G26 and a G19 is only about a half inch in length and height which is meaningless as far as size goes unless you are trying to fit it in a specific size box. It does make a difference in shootability though and as an instructor I've seen people who shot the 19 well unable to hit anything with the 26. Yes they could have learned the 26 but were unwilling to devote the time.

If you want one 9mm handgun my vote is for the Glock 19. Not too big, not to small, easy to conceal, easy to shoot well.

if you think you are going to put the grip extension on it

I could never see the sense in this. The grip extension makes the grip of a 26 the size...of a 19!

 

[armoredman]

CZ PCR, great first CCW and range gun, plus the Kadet Kit allows the use of 22lr as well.

 

[Jim PHL]

To the original poster: the KelTecs, although good choices for concealed carry guns, are not really a compromise because of their small size and very light weight. To many people - not all, this makes them not so much fun as a range gun. (Not that they're not fun to shoot, maybe just not ideal for a LOT of shooting.)

I'll post another vote for the S+W 3913 (or any of the S+W single-stack, 9mm "39-series" pistols). Though they are too tall and too long for pocket carry, they are nice and slim for comfortable belt carry. The aluminum frame keeps them light, though not quite as light as the Glocks, XD's, etc. Their 3.5" barrel is only 1/2" to 1" shorter than most "full-size" pistols, giving them good site radius for easier accuracy. I wanted one for a long time before I actually got one, now I have 3.

I find them big, heavy and accurate enough to be great range guns, while still being small, slim and light enough to be great carry guns. I was going through the same decision as you and feel like I've settled on a design that, while if course compromising, can still fill all my needs. I like the idea of carrying the gun I shoot the most.

 

[mustang_steve]

A P11 is fine...they tend to be affordable, relaiable and plenty accurate for defensive purposes. It's not going to be a 50yd tack-driver though....it's not a competition pistol and never will be. It's designed to save your hide, which is a far simpler task than picking off a pingpong ball at some odd distance.

In some areas, particularly areas where it's hard to recover a firearm used in self-defense, it makes better sense to have one of these instead of having to recover a $700 firearm as well. I live next to one of those counties...thus refuse to have a carry firearm over $300 in value, as that's what I can scrounge up to replace my firearm if I had to use it in that county (and consider my old one lost as the lawyer fees to recover it would be more than 5 P11s).

 

[doc2rn]

I would get a Sig 226 Dark Elite!

 

[larryh1108]

+1 on the Kahr PM9. I find it fun at the range as well. Slim, light and easy to conceal.

 

[Quoheleth]

I really, really like my Ruger SR9c. I carry it with the flat mag floorplate for tucked, IWB, EDC, but the +1 floorplate is easier to handle. I use that for range use. It comes with a full-size 17 round mag with an adapter - makes it feel like a Commander - which is also OK for range use.

This is a great shooting gun. It's slender enough for carry, has an outstanding trigger, great sights, and is an excellent dual-use range/CCW gun.

Q

 

[wesessiah]

i didn't think about this in my earlier posts, but the walther pps should fit your criteria. i now see someone else on this page mentioned it... the width is .91" compared to the kel tec pf9's .90" so a difference of one hundredth of an inch. a lot of websites say it's 1.04" but that measurement includes the controls whereas the pf9's measurements don't include that.

edit: just make sure it's not an earlier model with the old slide stop spring.

 

[searcher451]

Take a good look at the Walther P99C. It's a terrific pistol in all aspects: accurate, dependable, 100% reliable, etc. You also can use the full-sized P99 magazines in the compact version (you can get a connecting sleeve for $20 or so), which effectively turns it into the grand-daddy version -- great for extended practice on the range and perfect for concealed carry.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Bersa 9mm is a good choice 13 round mag(compact model) DA/SA trigger accurate and reliable. around $350 Other wise go with the Kahr I like my CW-9 also

 

[c919]

For me, the Walther PPS is the perfect non-compromise carry gun. It is hands down the most comfortable gun to carry (that I own), and it's a ton of fun at the range. It's super accurate, super reliable, and super easy to shoot.

You should definitely consider it.

Also, Kahr PM9's are pretty similar and they are equally as well made.

 

[orionengnr]

The things that make a good carry gun are diametrically opposed to the characteristics that make a comfortable, easy to shoot range pistol. There is no way around it--if you only want one gun for both range and carry, there will be a compromise. Which is more important to you?

I have owned and carried a P11, a G-23 and a G-19. Tried a G-26 as well. Yeah, I have also owned about half a dozen j-frames, too.
Note the use of the past tense on all of the above.

If you get a good Kel-Tec, your luck is better than mine. I had four and had multiple issues with each. Wasted a lot of money and time trying to make them right, and lost more (nearly) giving them away. Trigger on the P-11 was terrible compared to pretty much anything else. K-T will never again see a dime of my money.

Glocks--they work well, shoot okay, but I could never get comfortable with a double-stack anything on my hip. For pocket carry, absolutely no way. Like putting a piece of 2x4 in your pocket.

J-frames...they are actually longer end-to-end than some semi-autos. Their trigger is also heavy and long (obviously) and they are not easy to shoot well. By the time you get into the ones that are light enougfh to carry frequently, they start to get nasty to shoot...an AirLite in .357 is the ultimate expression of this.

For pocket carry, I go with the Kahr PM9. I can put 300 rounds through it in one range session. It is thinner and shorter than any J-frame. Far lighter and thinner than any Glock. Lighter, thinner, far more reliable than the P-11. Better trigger than any of them. No, it's not cheap, but you can find a used one for ~$500.

I also owned a Springfield EMP for a while, and it was a gem. Great 1911 trigger, small, reasonably light, and just like a diamond, it was pricey. That is a $1000 gun, and it's compromises include high price, 24 oz weight, 9+1 capacity.

Lots of neat stuff out there. Try everything you can and go with what works for you.

 

[T191032]

Not being an "expert" on the matter, I would say something with a single, consistent trigger pull that feels comfortable in the hand and on your body. That could be a GLOCK (which fits your hand best - mine likes the 17/22/31 "full-size"), an XD/M, M1911, "DAO"-type from a number of different sources, SR-9/C.

Concealed carry is/ can be a lifestyle changing thing for ya.

Personally, would suggest a 9mm Parabellum/.38 Special base line.

Good Luck!

//

"I live in VA and recently got my ccw. I currently own a Ruger Mark III for range plinking. I like shooting at the range. I find it fun and relieves stress."

Yea, shooting is good for relieving stress. What part of VA?

 

[mustang_steve]

There an a P11-like firearm that has a far better trigger, it's just you'll hear as much hemming and hawing about it as well, which is the sccy. It'd be hard to find a DAO witha smoother trigger in factory shape. Downside, it gets as bad a rap as KT did in their early days.