CDNN does not list firearms on their site, only in their catalog. You can download the catalog as a pdf (warning: it's BIG) but after the Virginia Tech shootings, CDNN took handguns out of the downloadable version and I don't know if they've been put back or not. If not, you can only see handguns in the paper catalog, which they send to anybody who has ordered anything from them. You can ORDER from them without a FFL, but they will only ship to a FFL.
As for picking a carry gun, keep a couple of things in mind. You're going to need a holster, which can make or break the whole carry experience. Get the wrong one (for you) and you may dislike the process enough that you'll stop carrying completely. You'll also need a sturdy belt to support the holster and gun (unless you go with a shoulder holster, which is a whole different question.) Build these items into your budget.
You will want to put several hundred rounds through your carry gun to be sure it's perfectly reliable with your choice of ammo. And unless you already have excellent handgun shooting skills, you are going to need to PRACTICE A LOT with your new gun before you'll be safe carrying it. Remember that the only acceptable form of gun control (for most of us on this forum, anyway) is being able to hit what you aim at. And hitting what you aim at becomes progressively more difficult as the size of the gun shrinks.
SO -- if you're going to need to shoot a lot, be sure that the gun you get is one that you CAN shoot a lot. Personally, I have not found a concealable (on me) 9mm Luger gun that I could shoot more than a dozen or two shots before my aging hand and wrist started to hurt. Had a KT P-11, and have tried a friend's (polymer frame) Kahr and both were loely to hold and easy to conceal, but became uncomfortable after a couple of magazines. The Glock 26 is OK for me, but it's pretty chunky. I personally would not think of even trying a 40 or 45.
What I choose to carry is a Makarov, which I can shoot all day without discomfort and so can practice a LOT (yesterday I put about 400 rounds through several of those guns, about half drawing from concealment and engaging silhouette targets at various distances.) Because of the practice, I am VERY comfortable AND accurate with that gun out to 50 yards on silhouette targets - it may not have as much energy as a larger caliber (although it exceeds the muzzle energy of +P 38 Specials out of my 2" S&W revolver) but I am as certain as I can be that I'll put the rounds where I want them every time.
You need to pick a gun that you can do that with too. If it turns out to be a 380 instead of a 45, so be it. (Just beware - some 380s are nasty to shoot too - I've read that the Walther PPK, for example, is no fun for more than a few rounds.) The only way to find out economically what will be comfortable for you to shoot and conceal is to borrow or rent as many different guns as you can before you decide to buy one. Keep an open mind in the process - what everybody else recommends may NOT be what's right for you.
As for picking a carry gun, keep a couple of things in mind. You're going to need a holster, which can make or break the whole carry experience. Get the wrong one (for you) and you may dislike the process enough that you'll stop carrying completely. You'll also need a sturdy belt to support the holster and gun (unless you go with a shoulder holster, which is a whole different question.) Build these items into your budget.
You will want to put several hundred rounds through your carry gun to be sure it's perfectly reliable with your choice of ammo. And unless you already have excellent handgun shooting skills, you are going to need to PRACTICE A LOT with your new gun before you'll be safe carrying it. Remember that the only acceptable form of gun control (for most of us on this forum, anyway) is being able to hit what you aim at. And hitting what you aim at becomes progressively more difficult as the size of the gun shrinks.
SO -- if you're going to need to shoot a lot, be sure that the gun you get is one that you CAN shoot a lot. Personally, I have not found a concealable (on me) 9mm Luger gun that I could shoot more than a dozen or two shots before my aging hand and wrist started to hurt. Had a KT P-11, and have tried a friend's (polymer frame) Kahr and both were loely to hold and easy to conceal, but became uncomfortable after a couple of magazines. The Glock 26 is OK for me, but it's pretty chunky. I personally would not think of even trying a 40 or 45.
What I choose to carry is a Makarov, which I can shoot all day without discomfort and so can practice a LOT (yesterday I put about 400 rounds through several of those guns, about half drawing from concealment and engaging silhouette targets at various distances.) Because of the practice, I am VERY comfortable AND accurate with that gun out to 50 yards on silhouette targets - it may not have as much energy as a larger caliber (although it exceeds the muzzle energy of +P 38 Specials out of my 2" S&W revolver) but I am as certain as I can be that I'll put the rounds where I want them every time.
You need to pick a gun that you can do that with too. If it turns out to be a 380 instead of a 45, so be it. (Just beware - some 380s are nasty to shoot too - I've read that the Walther PPK, for example, is no fun for more than a few rounds.) The only way to find out economically what will be comfortable for you to shoot and conceal is to borrow or rent as many different guns as you can before you decide to buy one. Keep an open mind in the process - what everybody else recommends may NOT be what's right for you.
