Help me decide and share some input

[Ajlepisto]

I am in the process of beginning to regularly carry concealed.

I have a CCW in WA state and will be getting my OR one as well.

I currently have a Taurus 24/7 ProC (9mm) but I want to get a new gun. I'd like to stay with a 9mm because the recoil is extremely easy to manage and I don't want to have to buy different types for various guns because it's confusing, and frankly, I'm not really a huge gun buff. I enjoy shooting - but I am not someone who will carry 24/7 and have a backup on my ankle or something, like I know some people will.

So, that should help shed some light on my mentality. I have looked at a few guns and tried them for grip size and I have a few things that are a must.

1. Double-stacked mag. Not only for the increase in capacity, but mainly because I have extremely long fingers and large hands and the extra width makes a HUGE difference in comfort. I realize this sort of takes away from the comfort in the concealed area, but I am 6'3" and around 210 lbs so I can probably put most frames in my waistband area without too much of a bother.

2. Under $500. I don't have a huge budget and I can't spend a ton on a firearm. Obviously the best bang for my buck...even if it is used. I have thought about police returns and stuff - I just don't really know where to buy them, and things like that.

So basically, I'm looking for a good idea for a gun or maybe a nice school of thought to consider.

Guns I am thinking about:

Used Glock 17
SigSauer P250
Springfield XD
Used SigSauer 226


Thanks for the input! I've done a bunch of reading and looking and feeling, but I almost feel less sure the more information.

 

[gordy]

Well you can't go wrong with any of the guns you listed.
I myself would go with the sig 226. As I like the DA auto. I grew up shooting S&W revlovers, It is what I am used to.
The glock would run 2nd. My brother has a XD and I just do not like it.
It is a fine firearm, Just not to my liking.
As I have not shot a sig 250 I will not say anything, Someone else will, you can count on that.
Your choice in the 9mm is a good choice. Nothing wrong with the 9mm,
I have shot it for over 30 years and it has come a long way. I like the heavier bullets like the 147 hydrashocks.
I am not to fond of the 40S&W, I just don't understand the hipe.
Might just as well go with the 45acp I always say. But someone will jump all over that also.
Stay with the guns you like and are used to, you can't go wrong.

 

[JohnBiltz]

You don't want a Glock 17 for concealed carry. While it can be concealed its big. There's reasons why Glock made compacts and subcompacts and they all come down to the 17 being too big for EDC. Get a G19 or G26 instead. I like a G26 but you have big hands and may prefer a G19.

The Sig 250 has had problems and that is why it is now a bargain. It also recently failed a government test for reasons of reliability.

The 226 is a fine gun but its heavy and again its a service sized handgun. Its also going to be challenging to get one in your price range.

The bigger the gun the harder it is to carry, the harder it is to carry the more it gets left at home. What you want is a compact or subcompact double stack. Beretta, Glock, S&W and Ruger all make good ones pretty much in your price range. Personal preference on which one you like the most but all work reliably.

 

[Sapper771]

I would also recommend a Glock 19 or a 26. I have both of them and they are excellent carry pistols.

When you say that you dont plan on carrying all the time, why not?

 

[Lawdawg45]

"You don't want a Glock 17 for concealed carry. While it can be concealed its big. There's reasons why Glock made compacts and subcompacts and they all come down to the 17 being too big for EDC. Get a G19 or G26 instead. I like a G26 but you have big hands and may prefer a G19"

John is giving you excellent advice. With the 19 or 26, you can use the 17 magazine. A wonderful feature of the Glock!

LD45

 

[gunsablazin]

The Glock is in your price range, and is a very reliable and easy to shoot pistol. A guy your size could conceal a 17, but as others have stated, the 19 is a little better for that.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

Before you pick between a Glock and the XD, SHOOT both. I was going to get the Glock, based on brand name. When I was deciding on a carry piece, I did this:
1. Load 2 rounds in each gun
2. Lay them on the bench
3. Pick up and fire without using the sites, double tap.
4. See which one is most on point

In a SD kind of situation, you might not get time to aim. This is what made me go with the XD, I was on target naturally. The angle between the grip and barrel is a little different between these two guns, I tended to shoot high with the Glocks.

Little SIG experience, so I'll let someone else comment.

I paid $530 for my XD, it came with 2 - 16rd mags. Another $60 for a Galco Summer carry holster, easily worn @ 4o'clock.

Whatever you decide, PRACTICE! Put on the clothes you usually wear, and practice drawing from conceal. Wearing a gun doesnt help if you fumble when you need it most.

 

[jackpinesavages]

At your size you will conceal the G17 just fine. Run about 500 rounds through it for acclimation, develop your feel for their great trigger reset, and have fun!

 

[broken]

go shoot a glock and a smith m/p, m/p wins for me if i had the money,had a glock,its gone,guess what, me and my wife now shoot a sw9ve sigma,much more comfortable grip for both of us.i know there not for everybody,trigger is not bad as i hear.ruger sr9 in compact to midsize is nice too.friend has it,but the m/p takes the cake for me.

 

[Bigkrackers]

If it's just between those guns I would say either a Glock or the Springfield. I'm not a fan of the Glock because it doesn't fit me well but it's about the most reliable gun out there. I do like the XDm's had the opportunity to shot a XDm 5.25 Competition series last weekend and they are a very nice gun and extremely accurate which makes it fun to shoot. The 5.25 is out of your price range but I think the XDm's fall in line.

I also just bought a new CZ PCR for under $500 that is just awesome to shoot. Never had so much fun shooting a 9mm.

 

[Plan2Live]

I'm going to ditto what MyGreenGuns said about the XD's tendancy to naturally "point" and hit where I am looking/intending without the full sight sequence. I just bought the XDm Compact and it just does that naturally for me. But your hand may be different. Try them all if you can. The XDm is probably a tad more expensive than $500 but the XD should be close to your budget.

 

[Ajlepisto]

Wow, lots of great replies.

I think I may have made a mistake, and I think I was meaning the Glock 19, not the 17. I have a hard time keeping track of the Glock model numbers. I used to have a full-size Glock in .40 S&W (whatever number that is, I think 22). I liked the weapon and I liked that it didn't have a lot of external things for it to hang up on. It felt "smooth" in my hand and I just like the extremely practical design. Maybe that makes me boring?

I will say though - while at the store, the guy behind the counter seemed really sure that I would rather have a Sig than a Glock, because he doesn't like composite guns. I personally, don't mind the idea of a composite frame. He also said that a lot of the Glocks guide rails? tend to break since they are plastic and not metal. I haven't heard much about this before so I was a bit skeptical.

The S&W M/P or the Sigma is another gun someone here mentioned and that is a great idea. I completely forgot about that option. I will do a bit more research into them.

Also, thanks for letting me know about the SigP250. The local store was selling it for $419 and I was thinking it was a great deal, but if it's known for problems I don't want to save 80 bucks and get something I will regret.

Lastly, to answer the question about me not carrying a lot...I may change my mind, but it takes me a while to get comfortable carrying a loaded weapon. I'm a safe person but I am just not used to the thought of having it on me all of the time and I get hyper aware and sensitive to things like printing, or bending over and having part of the holster or something show. I just don't really want to attractive any undo attention to myself and I realize it's mostly a mental thing. I think after I get more comfortable I will carry it more places. It reminded me of learning to drive. I was almost nervous the first time I carried because I don't have anyone else around me who does, and it was a little intimidating. Growing up in a non-firearm family, I pretty much learned and taught myself most things and this is just another step in my growth in terms of weapons. I just want to take it slow and make sure I am confident and comfortable with the particular situation and firearm before I incorporate it fully into my lifestyle.

I also tried out the Ruger SR9 but for whatever reason it didn't stand out to me. Maybe I will give it another chance. I think I want to stay away from the sub-compact category (to address the Glock 26 recommendations) because those guns are just too small for me to shoot comfortably. Like mentioned, I do have a Taurus 24/7 Pro C and when I shoot it without the extended magazine it's tough for me to control easily since literally half of my hand is hanging off the bottom. I will probably be shooting the same weapons with my wife, which is another reason for the 9mm and the ease of use. We're both fairly new to regular shooting and looking for a good path.

The last thing is, I am thinking of joining S&R or the Sheriff's Reserve here locally and I am required to have a weapon for the ladder. They haven't given me any caliber restrictions (haven't said I would HAVE to use a .40, like they have issued) so if I could find something I could also carry as a duty weapon while in the Reserve training and such, that would be great.

Am I asking for too much in terms of an affordable compact weapon? I'm thinking there are plenty of options, it's just a matter of finding something that works right.

Thanks for all of the responses! And yes, I am completely open to new ideas and new gun suggestions. Don't think at all because it's not on the list it's because I don't like it. It's most likely because I don't know about it!

 

[Bigkrackers]

I don't know about the majority of gun buyers but I don't regularly seek the advice from the person behind the counter, even though they generally love to give their advice unsolicited.

I do my research before I go to my LGS. I go though sites like this one and I check reviews and I ask people who might own the gun I'm interested in. I see if I can rent the gun and shoot it.

A good place to get an unbiased review is Gun Tests. If they have tested the gun I'm interested in I give their review a lot of weight.

Best thing to do is try and shoot the gun's your interested in even if it's a bit out of your price because you have an excellent chance of finding a good used gun. So don't automatically ignore a $600 gun because it's out of your price range.

 

[Jeb21]

A 9mm glock should never give you a lick of trouble. However, of your choices, the used Sig 226 appeals to me the most. The only down side is that Sig magazines can get expensive $40-$50.
BTW I have a M&P 9mm and it is a wonderful gun but since you already have a polymer gun, I would go for a Sig 226, especially if you can get it for under $500.00