Good 9x19 concealed carry pistols.

[BrandonFromTampa]

I have recently received my concealed carry permit. My only pistol is an enormous smith and wesson model 65 which I carry in an in-the-pants cross draw holster that is disguised as a cell phone case. I love my revolver, but carrying it this way, the barrel reaches almost down to my knee, the hammer tends to dig into my love handles, and sometimes the gun sticks out at weird angles leaving a suspicious imprint in my pants, requiring adjustment especially when I've been sitting down and then stand up, so driving anywhere and then getting out of my car without looking suspicious is difficult.
I would like to get an autoloader for concealed carry. I've been trying to do research, but there are some questions that the gun reviewers don't answer. I am especially interested in the Ruger SR9, the Kahr K9, and the Sig P6. I want to know what the High Road Folks think. Here's what I need.
1. I'd like it to be 9x19. It is a very common round that is accurate and adequate.
2. It needs to be concealable. I have a powerful and reliable handgun already, but often times I go places unarmed because it is a pain in the butt to carry. My pinky finger hung off the CZ Rami; it was too small, but the K9 was a perfect fit. I'm looking for a gun about that size, without to many switches and levers on the side to dig into my skin.
3. Reliability. Many gun reviewers shoot guns without cleaning them to determine reliability, but all the experts seem to say that most gun fights involve only what is in the gun at the time of the shooting.
I want to know which guns are sensitive to limp wristing. Some autoloaders can be held in a loose pincer grip with the thumb and forefinger and will cycle entire magazines. Some jam every shot. In the videos I saw on Youtube, the Glock was really bad, the Beretta 92fs was acceptable--the reviewer suspected the magazine, the Bersa .380 thunder was good, and the Sig p239--which is too expensive--was good. I don't have a limp wristing problem. But if, let's just say, I get hit in the face with a 2x4 as I'm pulling the trigger, it would be nice to hit the ground with a round chambered. If you take a second, it's easy to imagine scenarios where this could be important.
And in a weird survival situation I want to be able to feed the gun as many different loads as possible. You never know what is going to be available and what is going to be impossible to find.
4. Accuracy. An inaccurate gun is not a fun gun to shoot. And it is possible that you might have to make a long shot with a concealed carry pistol. Probably not with robbers and professional criminals, but maybe with a rampage killer or something like that.
5. Recoil. I like magnums and .45's; they are cool, and I seem to handle recoil pretty well. But if I can get a gun back on target faster, than that is nice.
6 Price. I'm looking for about $600 as a limit. Otherwise I think I'd get Sig P239. I still might just postpone so that I can save my cash and get one. Are they worth it?
I'd appreciate any help. What do y'all think about the Ruger SR9, Kahr K9, and Sig p6, or is there maybe a different gun that works just as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[SniperStraz]

I'm not going to be one of those rude jerks that says "DO A SEARCH!"
There are many good CC pistols in 9mm. Too many to list here. I'm sure you'll get a lot of good info here but try using the search function. Its on the top right side of your screen. This topic has been discussed many times.

 

[Snowdog]

I cannot say enough in praise of the K9. It's a compact-yet-stout pistol with the accuracy one would expect from a full-size handgun. Mine has been 100% reliable for the past 2K rounds (I had some issues with the unresized American Ammuntion garbage in the beginning due to the K9's tight chamber). I did replace the recoil spring at around the 1.5K mark just to be safe, though it wasn't showing any signs of needing it.
It's a substantial design that hasn't the slightest issues with +P ammunition. It was originally advertised as being designed around hot Corbon ammunition.
Mine has seen plenty of Winchester's 127gr "+P+" fodder and is still tight as ever.
The only drawback I can think of is the weight. Again, though compact, it is a substantially solid pistol and it weighs like one as well at around 25oz, IIRC.

Price? I paid around $500 for my mine with factory electroless nickel (only offered for a short time before stainless became available), but this was in '96. It's hard to believe I've been carrying this K9 for 13 years already; how time flies!

 

[Wyo_F-A]

I would look into the Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact 9mm. It is a really good gun that fits my large hands quite nicely. The only drawbacks I saw were that the finish seemed to wear off in the holster easily, and mags were hard to find for cheap (sub $40). As for accuracy, it shot great. Both my wife and I were consistently able to achieve high quality, consistent, shots at distances of 5-15 yards.

I paid less than $350 out the door for the handgun new, and then another $80 shipped for two more mags.

 

[GRIZ22]

My only pistol is an enormous smith and wesson model 65 which I carry in an in-the-pants cross draw holster that is disguised as a cell phone case. I love my revolver, but carrying it this way, the barrel reaches almost down to my knee, the hammer tends to dig into my love handles, and sometimes the gun sticks out at weird angles leaving a suspicious imprint in my pants

A less expensive alternative while you search for your auto is to get a decent strong side holster (De Santis Speed Scabbard or something similar) on a proper belt and that would seem to solve most, if not all of your problems with your S&W. I don't think you're fooling anyone with what you're carrying if you carry in a "cell phone holster" that size.

In the videos I saw on Youtube, the Glock was really bad, the Beretta 92fs was acceptable--the reviewer suspected the magazine, the Bersa .380 thunder was good, and the Sig p239--which is too expensive--was good

You Tube is entertaining but I would not make a firearms selection or rejectionbased on someone's demonstration on You Tube. Glocks are as reliable as any of the guns mentioned here (maybe more so). All of the guns mentioned so far are all very good and you need to figure out what you want. You say the S&W is too big but a few of the guns you mention (92FS, SR9, P6) are as big or bigger than the S&W. Look around, read a bit, & rent a few guns if you can before you make the decision.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I have a P6. Very solid and accurate.

On the plus side, most of them have holster wear already, so there's no worries about finish loss.

Pachmayer did a run of grips for them several months back. Might do another, might not. I got a set. Thay make the pistol more "grippier".

They may or may not feed all brands of hollowpoint, so, you would have to try several to find what it will. Or just leave the first out as an HP followed by ball.

 

[Davionmaximus]

I think your selection was already made when you said the K9 fit your hand perfectly. Buy what fits YOUR hand...

 

[CZ223]

I am a big fan of Glock pistols

so I would have to recommend the the G19 ( I have the G23 and the G32 which are the same size). In addition to the Glock I would also recomend that you check out the S&W M&P as well as the compct Springfield XD. I did not like the XD that I bought but that was just a personal preferance thing, it was a fine gun and went bang every time. The M&P can be configured to fit just about anyones hand. MY sister has the 40 and the 9 and she like them both though I have yet to shoot them.

 

[chupacabrah]

I recently got a Glock 26 (my first glock, not first autoloader). I've never really been a fan of the glocks, but this little thing is impressive. it was $40 cheaper than the m&p compact, and $60 cheaper than the xd9c. shoots great in a small size, and accepts the higher cap glock mags (ie. g19, g17, g18). pinky under the grip is the way to go, and dont have to worry about all those extensions and things.

I also have a Keltec P-11 that I like, it's also pretty small, but w/ a DAO trigger.

 

[j21blackjack]

I agree with the Glock 19, I bought one after my PT-145 failed me. If, for some reason, you need convincing that Glocks may be the most reliable handgun made, here is an extensive and brutal series of tests on a Glock http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462537

 

[hinton03]

+1 on the K9. I have a Glock 32, a Colt DS, a S&W M49 and a Colt Commander all suitable as a CCW and I always end up with the K9 in my holster when I head out the door.

I am overseas right now, but when I return I will be carring my K9.

 

[Pilot]

The current crop of HK P7 German police trade ins are a great deal and a good choice for CCW.

 

[usp9]

...but the K9 was a perfect fit

What more do you want?

 

[MJZZZ]

You might try the Rami again, CZ has a 14 round mag with an extention that gives a full size grip. I currently carry a Rami BD, but opted for the shorter 10 round mags and curl my pinkie under the butt while shooting.

 

[Walkalong]

The Springfield EMP should be mentioned here. Excellent guns.

 

[possum]

all the guns that i ccw are in .40 howvere you will get them in the same exact size in 9mm. glock 19 xd service model size, sc kahr's there are many great options but the above are the ones i do or have ccw.

 

[hank327]

I too have a Kahr K9 in electroless nickel that I bought back in the 90s. It's a great little gun and I've never had a malfunction with it.Besides whatever cheapo FMJ ammo that I can find to practice with, I've fire Corbon 115 grn +P JHP, Speer Gold Dot 124 grn +P JHP, and Federal 115 grn 9bp JHP thru it and all worked equally well. It's quite an accurate little piece and the DAO trigger is very smooth, in fact it's a lot like the DA trigger on your M65. As mentioned earlier it's a solid little pistol but I don't find that a negative as I don't try to carry it in my pocket. The weight also makes the K9 a very soft shooter. I carry mine in a Kramer IWB #2 on a good gun belt on my strong side at about 4:00 o'clock. With that carry rig it just disappears and is extremely comfortable. Also as you may have noticed, the K9 is considerably thinner than any of the double stack pistols and the Sig 239 as well.

Look at one of the police return H&K P7s as well. I think one can be had at around the $600 mark. I've had a P7M8 since the 1980s and its wonderful. Very compact and flat for the caliber, very accurate with an amazing trigger and perfectly reliable. I have never had a problem mastering the squeeze cocker manual of arms but I've read of some people who just couldn't get the hang of it.
As it is an all steel gun it is, like the Kahr K9 a solid piece. The one possible downside IMO is that you'll have to have a holster custom made for it. (I'm not aware of an of the shelf holster for the P7)
But lots of holster makers offer a model for the P7, it will just take you a little longer to get a holster for it.

 

[RugerDoug]

I only have one semiauto pistol and that is a Glock 19. I tried holding the 26 and did not like the way it felt in my hand. I like the longer grip on the 19. It is a littel thicker than some of the thinner single stack models out there , so many good choices out there. My other carry gun in warmer weather is a SW 442.

 

[Clipper]

The Kel-Tec PF-9 is an excellent pistol at a great price with a lifetime warranty, and it's made right there in Florida. What more can you ask for?

 

[Frog48]

How about a Springfield XD or Glock, in a subcompact size...?

 

[waterhouse]

If you don't mind the weight or the squeeze cocker a used P7 is in your price range, and they make pretty nice concealed carry guns.

 

[gglass]

My vote is for the M&P 9c. This is an awesome firearm and the hottest seller across the country.

 

[Devon]

+1 on the KelTec PF9, light and thin, much better trigger than the P-11, priced right, and accurate enough with 8 rounds in a paper plate at 50 ft.

 

[BrandonFromTampa]

The Glock is right out. My friend had a Glock that was a jammer. Any company can make a lemon, but when he called Glock USA they told him that he could not use practice ammunition in it. He had to use high pressure defensive rounds, and that he needed to watch for limp wristing. I want a gun that'll eat anything. And I am not going to bury my gun in sand, or throw it in a bucket of water, or shoot it 15k times without cleaning. Those things are cool, but that isn't what is important to me. I want a gun that is hard for me to mess up when I find myself in a nasty situation. Anyone can avoid limp wristing at a range, but when people are shooting at you, or when you get knocked down, or when you get shot, you might mess up. I want an autoloader that a ten year old girl can shoot. Too me that is so much more important than torture tests. If it's a tactical rifle, show me the torture, but I'm only going to use a pistol when I suddenly find myself in a nasty situation. The gun is going to be clean, and I am probably only going to get to fire what is in the magazine. What is the gun that comes closest to guaranteeing me the entire magazine regardless of what I do to mess it up?

 

[CTPistol]

Glock told your friend that he cant use "practice ammo" in his gun huh?





sorry, dont believe ya there......lets keep things realistic.