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First concealed carry, what to buy?

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Since you are in college I'm guessing money is tight. One of my sons carries a Kel-Tec PF-9 which is a light single stack 9mm. He has had it for 3 years now and after the break-in it has been completely reliable. His PF-9 likes 124gr Speer Gold Dot ammo.

I carry a S&W J frame revolver daily loaded with 135gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 Special +P ammo.
 
Everything mentioned in your OP is:
(a) built by a reputable manufacturer;
(b) small enough to CCW comfortably; and
(c) chambered in an acceptable* cartridge.

Personally, I like something a little bigger, but my daily wardrobe will allow me to conceal just about any handgun I choose. There's nothing wrong with your selections. Over the last 5 years, I've carried everything from a .38 snubnose revolver to a full-sized steel pistol. These days, I carry a G19 IWB about 90% of the time. For me, the G19 falls into that Goldilocks category: Not to big, not to small, but just right. Other selections in that category might include the Ruger SR9c, S&W MP9c, or a 1911 Commander. Frankly, getting out to a range to shoot them side by side really ought to be your next step.

* = There's lots of debate about what is considered "acceptable," but I think it's generally conceded that 9mm and .40 both fit in that box.
 
The trigger on the LCP isn't good for targets, but the gun is very good for CCW. However, pocket .380s can be brutal on your hand, especially one as light as the LCP.

Pocket guns are nice if you have big pockets. They do a lot better in hip pockets than cargo pockets. I like my LCP and my LCR for this purpose.

Otherwise, size is less important. In general, a single stack or compact is easier to carry. For a first gun, there are plenty of single stack 9s out there from reputable manufacturers.

The important thing for me, with your first CCW, is to get an action you trust. How do you feel about manual safeties? Some people will only buy handguns with them. I only buy handguns without. That way I never wonder if the safety is on or off. Or, are you fine either way and willing to adapt? If you prefer one style over another, it can help you narrow your choices down.
 
IMO, there are many great guns in every size and caliber and type you could want. When I first heard Illinois was going to have to allow concealed carry I came out of a 30+ year hiatus as a hand gunner and started looking for my "Soul Mate" CCL gun and so did my Wife.

The first thing we bought? Range time and rentals...in 2013, she and I shot *every* possible gun once we shot a few rentals and got some parameters. We limited caliber to 9mm and smaller as we found immediately that .40 and up simply beat us up too bad and made fast/accurate follow ups impossible. Then we narrowed the field even more by trying to conceal various guns and figured out where to carry, in what holsters, and all that.

We bought a lot of guns and resold them if they didn't work - we rented and borrowed dozens of pistols and bought a lot of ammunition to test and then I started hand loading again. The first thing to buy in your search for a CC gun is range time and some rentals. The next thing might be some training...the best gun will rise to the top with experience and only after shooting quite a few.

VooDoo
 
I just picked up a Beretta Nano BU-9. Uncle Mikes size 4 pocket holster and it stays in the front pocket of my jeans. Comfortable to shoot, accurate as the shooter to 25 feet. My previous carry was a full size M&P .40, which I love but is a bit large for everyday carry. Being able to pocket carry is a big plus
 
Lots of good choices out there. For your first, I'd probably stay away from the teeny-tiny pocket pistols, like the LCP and the Pico.

These are all good, so I'm only mentioning the cons, not the pros:

  • Glock 26 -- kind of chunky.
  • Ruger LC9s -- a bit light for the caliber, so snappy to shoot. (Get the Pro model if you don't want a thumb safety or mag disconnect safety).
  • SIG P938 -- single-action only. That bothers some people.
  • Beretta Nano -- a bit top-heavy.
  • SIG P239 -- on the large and heavy side.
  • Glock 42 -- only a .380, not a 9mm
  • SIG P238 -- single-action-only, .380.
These are all easily carried and not too small to be comfortably shootable. I left the Glock 19 off the list because although it's concealable, you have to work at concealing it. It's as large as the SIG P239 and thicker. Others may not share my opinion, but that has been my experience.
 
Don't buy the gun you want to carry, buy the gun you want in a gunfight.

...then buy a good belt and holster to carry it comfortably.
 
Train first, buy later.

Attend any two to five day defensive handgun course. You will learn what you need in a handgun during the course. Your shooting and tactics skills will greatly improve. The school or instructor should have suitable guns available.

However, if you *must* have a handgun *now* (for whatever reason), a Glock 19 Gen4 is the default semi-automatic choice. The reason is that it's an excellent balance between size, capacity, shootability and concealment. It is not difficult to conceal. The 9x19mm cartridge is effective for personal defense and is mild enough for training. It does not need anything done to it except to change the sights. Even then, the plastic sights are serviceable for awhile.
 
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All_About_Guns said:
I don't "need" one right now... I just "want" one right now! Ha
Click to expand...
Wanting a new gun sounds like a good plan to me ! LOL

I have carried a lot of different guns over the years but always seem to come back to my J frame. I have carried everything from a full size 1911 to a Kel-Tec P-32. I shoot them all often so I'm very familiar with them, just be careful not to change too much so as to be confused under stress if you have to use the gun.
 
One pistol previously m&p 22. Now that's a beginner gun. I'm pretty good with it. Grew up shooting my father's 1911.
 
I have a glock 42, Sig p938 and a glock 27. I never carry the glock 27 because it is just too big for Florida weather and concealed carry. The glock and the sig are perfect for me or my wife.
 
I carry a Ruger LCP with a laser and an IWB
clip holster. No actual holster just a clip. You
don't even know you have a gun on.

Zeke
 
I've tried and carried the g26, p229, M&P 9c, PT145....all were a bit wide for my taste. Those big machines drove me to the LCP for several years, until I finally picked up a Shield about 1.5 years back. Now there's no turning back to those thick as a brick "conceal carry" pistols.

I did look at a bunch of G19s yesterday so I may have to relent and buy a CZ p-07 just to have something that size again.
 
OP, its simple; just read forums, watch YouTube and decided which elitist pocket of gun culture you want to be associated with...[emoji13]
Also if you have any gun nut friends that you want to stay on good terms with then find where they stand on the steel/vs/plastic and semi auto/vs/revolver issues.
 
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What is a beginner gun? Don't overthink it, find one that feels good in the hand, settle on a calibre capable of doing what you want it to do, don't go too small or too big, get a holster and belt designed for it, and don't buy junk (a price range of $350-$650 should cover excellent revolvers all the way to HKs).

Once you settle on it, shoot it and become good with it.
 
How do you plan to carry and conceal it?

Pocket. IWB with an untucked shirt over it. IWB with a tuckable holster? OWB with a shirt or jacket always over it?

For my work day I can't hide a G19 successfully. A small 380 or Ruger LC9s in the pocket works. I found the Shield is too large for the pocket but excellent for IWB. If I am going to go IWB then I might as well get a double stack M&P9c or G26.
 
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