Help deciding next concealed carry

[AUhiker]

I’m looking to get a new ccw gun. Currently I’m carrying a glock 43 and it’s a great gun, I just would like something a tad bigger that has a higher capacity. Really a longer grip to get a good firm grip on but not so big it’s hard to conceal. Micro compacts are easy to carry but not the best shooter. I’m looking at the glock 48 since it’s basically the same frame just a larger scale but it only holds 10 rounds. The hellcat pro was the other option and it holds 15. I know shield makes the 15 round mags for the glock but I’m not big on aftermarket parts on carry guns. I prefer to keep them stock that’s just me. Then I seen where Taurus just released the gx4 carry which peaked my curiosity. I always like to get on here and get everyone’s opinion before buying. I’m open to suggestions from all thr members!

 

[Kleanbore]

Try them out and then decide.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I tried the G43 and found it just a tad too small for a good grip. Just picked up a Beretta APX A1 Carry and love it. With the +1 baseplate it fits me like a velcro glove and point ability is excellent.

Carries just as easily as my P938 but much easier to get good hits with and has an extra round of capacity. Ya, its only a single stack, but with the doubles I have to adjust my grip to reach the mag release. Im ok with 8+1 given how easy this thing is to carry and shoot.

 

[InTheSwamp]

43x

 

[.308 Norma]

I’m open to suggestions from all thr members!

For shooting, I like my Sig M11-A1 a lot. For carry though, I prefer my Glock G19.
I know, I know - G19s are boring. Mine's as reliable as reliable can get though, and I shoot it pretty well.

 

[MarshallDodge]

For striker fired, the Sig P365 seems to be popular. For hammer fired, I like the HK P30sk.

 

[tuckerdog1]

You might consider the CZ PCR.

 

[AUhiker]

The 43x has the same frame as the 48 so I would rather have the longer barrel of the 48. I held the p365 and i didn’t like the way it felt in my hand. Never held a cz but I’m goin to look into them.

 

[Pat Riot]

If you go with a 43X you can use holsters that you used for the G43.

Also, you could add a round to you G43 magazines by swapping the factory spring with a Ghost Inc +11% spring and a Pearce +1 mag extension.
The Ghost spring uses thinner wire. It gives you just a little more room so the slide rides nicely over a full magazine.
Your 43 could hold 8 rounds. 1 in the chamber and 7 in the mag.

 

[trackskippy]

Best thing to do is, try and find someplace that has a bunch of different guns and try out as many as you can. Talking about this might point you in a direction, but the only way to know if its right for you is to shoot it.

The gun you carry, should be the one you shoot the best with, not the one thats easiest to carry. Contrary to what you often hear, you can carry pretty much anything without much issue, even full size guns.

 

[Armored farmer]

I carry the Hellcat.
I like it.....but dont love it.
100% reliable
15+1 is great, I often don't carry a reload.
The sights are great imho.
The trigger and trigger placement is....meh....not so great .
Two different ppl have shot my Hellcat and bought sig 365s.

 

[WisBorn]

I went down this path a few months ago.

I actually had it narrowed down to the Hellcat or S&W Shield Plus.
I went into my LGS and handled both. In addition I picked up a Kimber R7 Mako. As a lefty I like the ambidextrous slide release and magazine release on the R7. In addition I like the texture and night sights. So I bought it!
As @.308 Norma mentioned look at the Glock 19. There is a reason why it is the best selling handgun. They work, they work really well.

@Kleanbore said it best, try out as many as you can and then decide.

 

[Gork10]

When I carry a 9mm, it's been a CZ PCR. 15 round mag, accurate, reliable, and fits my hand well. Lately, I find myself reaching for my mc-p35 pi more. All the same reasons at the PCR. Fits my size XXL hand even better.

 

[bannockburn]

For a micro size 9mm. I tried as many as I could find. Started with the SIG P365X ; my first choice as I liked everything about it. From the comfort of the slightly larger grip frame to the sweet trigger, the large capacity magazine and the night sights, it had everything I was looking for in a CCW.

Next up were the two Glocks: the G43X and the G48. Liked them for the same reason as why I bought the P365; they just felt "right" in my hand.

Then there was the M&P 9 Shield Plus and while it was not my first choice it was certainly a great runner-up choice! It pretty much was on par with the other three in terms of size, weight, and features like a higher capacity magazine. With the slightly longer magazine, it also had a grip frame that was just as comfortable and ergonomic as the others.

 

[Old Dog]

I shot the 48 a fair bit before I settled on the 43X; for me, the longer barrel made virtually no difference, as it's intended for a concealed carry pistol. I do favor the P365 XL as a concealed carry piece over the other comparably sized pistols (43X/48, S&W Shield, SA Hellcat) as I feel its ergonomics and trigger are better than its competitors, not to mention it's 12+1 standard and you can have a spare 15-round mag. I will say I love the Hellcat's sights, they're excellent.


The 365 X and XL are great choices with the excellent X-Ray sights, excellent trigger and terrific ergonomics.

Alternatively, and worth a hard look, the SIG P320 X Compact is a bit bigger, but with a truly nice trigger (I think one of the best out of all the striker pistols) and holds 15+1 rounds standard.

 

[sparkyfender]

I carried a Glock 48 quite a bit this summer. 10 rounds, but I would throw an extra magazine in my pocket.

 

[tdbmd]

I’m looking to get a new ccw gun. Currently I’m carrying a glock 43 and it’s a great gun, I just would like something a tad bigger that has a higher capacity. Really a longer grip to get a good firm grip on but not so big it’s hard to conceal. Micro compacts are easy to carry but not the best shooter. I’m looking at the glock 48 since it’s basically the same frame just a larger scale but it only holds 10 rounds. The hellcat pro was the other option and it holds 15. I know shield makes the 15 round mags for the glock but I’m not big on aftermarket parts on carry guns. I prefer to keep them stock that’s just me. Then I seen where Taurus just released the gx4 carry which peaked my curiosity. I always like to get on here and get everyone’s opinion before buying. I’m open to suggestions from all thr members!

I went with a Hellcat Pro for something with more capacity than my Kimber Micro9 or Kahr PM9

 

[Agsalaska]

I have a H&K P30SK. Has a 13 round semi flush magazine and is a great pistol. I consider it a superior gun to any Glock designed for carry.

 

[Riomouse911]

I went to the 43X MOS for a couple of reasons.

I had used Glock guns for duty for the previous 14 years, so the manual of arms for the gun and the Safariland holster I bought were practically identical when I went to the 43X. To me, this is an important consideration for folks who ccw, as you really do revert to doing “what you best know” when the lizard brain takes over during a life-threatening situation. Swapping lots of different guns/styles/actions, etc. can put you in a difficult situation if your brain reverts to fighting with a revolver when you are carrying an auto (just an example).

As I age a red dot sight is making more sense, and the MOS models are already milled for one. (I have a micro dot on order, it should be here soon so I can install it and get to work learning the new sighting system. ) Again, not changing much with the operation of a gun should help me to transition to the new sight.

I live in a 10-round State, so the 11 on board the 43X carries from the factory falls into the rules here with no question. There are reliable aftermarket metal mags/mag release products for the 43X/48 that will bump them to 15-odd rounds for those who live where it’s legal and prefer more on tap in their ccw.

These were my reasons. The above advice to try out a bunch of different guns is good stuff. Only you can decide what feels best, shoots best and fits best for your situation. Truly, all we can do is toss out our ideas for what may (or may not) work for you.

Good luck!

Stay safe.

 

[CapnMac]

We live in an age that if not golden, is gilded beyond human ken.
There are so many options to find the exact right compact (or mid or full size) self-defense EDC that they are beyond enumeration.
So, there are many, many roads, to "Goldilocks."
This makes it tough to say "this one" or "that one" is the ideal, not when you can select to fit almost as if a suit made to fit.
Even just simple, gross, discriminations, like size, or price, or capacity, each need an individual to sort out the calculus of it.

My SIG 365X is a "just right" for me. With the factory-installed Romeo Zero sight, it might be too rich for some. Or, other may not be keen on an RDS. Size and weight are not absolute predictors of things like felt recoil or comfortable grip. Again, only the shooter can actually know.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Glock 43x works for me.Carry other Glocks from time to time.Im in a 10 rd restricted state so my capacity is limited.I do love my 43x for ccw.

 

[AUhiker]

I went to the 43X MOS for a couple of reasons.

I had used Glock guns for duty for the previous 14 years, so the manual of arms for the gun and the Safariland holster I bought were practically identical when I went to the 43X. To me, this is an important consideration for folks who ccw, as you really do revert to doing “what you best know” when the lizard brain takes over during a life-threatening situation. Swapping lots of different guns/styles/actions, etc. can put you in a difficult situation if your brain reverts to fighting with a revolver when you are carrying an auto (just an example).

As I age a red dot sight is making more sense, and the MOS models are already milled for one. (I have a micro dot on order, it should be here soon so I can install it and get to work learning the new sighting system. ) Again, not changing much with the operation of a gun should help me to transition to the new sight.

I live in a 10-round State, so the 11 on board the 43X carries from the factory falls into the rules here with no question. There are reliable aftermarket metal mags/mag release products for the 43X/48 that will bump them to 15-odd rounds for those who live where it’s legal and prefer more on tap in their ccw.

These were my reasons. The above advice to try out a bunch of different guns is good stuff. Only you can decide what feels best, shoots best and fits best for your situation. Truly, all we can do is toss out our ideas for what may (or may not) work for you.

Good luck!

Stay safe.

I agree 100 percent. I don’t rotate my carry guns I just have one and stick with it my G43. Ive decided I want something a tad bigger with more capacity and to aid in handling and shoot ability. I’ll train and stick with that gun year round. I have range toys and my one carry gun that’s the way I prefer it.

 

[MikeInOr]

XD mod 2 sub-compact in 45 acp.

With the extended 13 round magazine it shoots like a full sized pistol. It is by far the best compact grip I have ever used. It really does feel like a full sized pistol with the extended magazine.

With the 9 round flush magazine it is very easy to conceal.

Best of all, it is .45 acp! Time to put your big boy pants on and stop playing around with silly little 9mm's.

To be honest, I usually carry a 9mm micros most days. My XD mod 2 is for when I go to the big city or out in the woods. I carry 230gr .45 Gold Dots which is a lot more bullet than the 124gr 9mm Gold Dots I carry in my micro 9mm's. Personally I will always prefer making bigger holes over carrying more rounds. If you are paranoid, carry an extra magazine.

The biggest issue you will run into is having to put up with your Glock trigger after getting used to the excellent trigger on the XD mod 2!

When I go to the range I don't practice with my XD mod 2 like I do my micro 9's. I shoot the XD mod 2 for fun, because it is such a great shooter... after I am done putting in due practice time with the 9mm's!

 

[hey smepl this]

Probably too small for you but I love my new Canik Mete MC9. Shoots way better than my Hellcat did.

 

[Old Dog]

It is by far the best compact grip I have ever used.

Gotta appreciate how it's spelled out on the grip... that that's the "Grip Zone."

On a serious note, I've got no problems with Springfield Armory pistols -- the Hellcat is one I've T&E'd and it's a cool little guy. Plus, I can tell you that Croatia is an awesome country to visit, Dubrovnik is lovely and the people are friendly. I highly recommend it. Oh, and they make some nice pistols there, too. Slovenia is another cool place to visit, and there's some great pistols being manufactured there as well.