Here's how I did it

[TarDevil]

Criteria for selecting my all around SD handgun:

Research
Did a bunch of it.

Caliber
1. Effectiveness – I set my own “hard-deck”… YMMV.
2. Affordability - I wanted .44 or .45, but I also wanted to shoot a lot (for fun and proficiency).
3. Accuracy – Nuff said, but I needed to hit and hit well.
4. Ease of use - My shooting hand is arthritic and I have carpal tunnel. See #1 & #2.

Gun
1. Accuracy – Yeah, there’s a difference between caliber accuracy and gun accuracy. It had to be accurate in MY hands.
2. Concealment – Small enough to conceal, but not so light to violate Caliber rule #4.
3. Safety – I’m ok without a safety in guns with revolver-like trigger qualities, otherwise I wanted one (and I know a bunch of guns are touted as DAO, but a short-pull 5 lb trigger doesn’t cut it for me no matter how many internal safeties it has, DAO or not).
4. Versatility – A gun that could serve many roles in a single platform.
5. Price – I wouldn’t go so cheap to risk my life, but I ain’t rich either.
6. Availability – I had to “try it on” first.
7. Support – Had to come from a source known for taking care of their customers.

After narrowing my choices down to a half-dozen I read a lot of reviews, forum discussions, YouTube videos, and magazine articles.

I visited shops and found the final two that felt most naturally in my hand.

I made my choice, and the only question I asked on this forum prior to purchase is, “What’s a fair price for this gun?’

My choice was the Ruger SR9c. I’ve added other guns/calibers and will continue doing so, but the SR9c will be on my hip or nightstand for the foreseeable future. It has been perfect for me, but it won’t be for everybody.

Anyone else care to share their selection process?

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

I bought an sr9c because i wanted one.... that was the only research i needed..great choice man... ive put somewhere around 20000 through mine already... itsa great gun

 

[9mmepiphany]

I made most of my selections in the days before the internet and before their were handguns that you could rent to try out at a range. So it was mostly trial and error.

My advice today, after 40 years of carrying a handgun, to new shooters is to:
1. Get training in how to shoot, so you'll have a better idea of how a gun should "feel" in your hand. I've found that folks often have a distorted idea of how "comfortable in the hand" relates to "fit's correctly to improve shootability.

2. Define how the gun will be used and decide which trade offs, between control and concealability, you are willing to make to achieve that goal.

3. Narrow your selections and go rent/barrow the guns to see which shoot the best for you...related to point #1...the one that will allow you to shoot fastest while holding 2"-3" at 7 yards

 

[AFDavis11]

Oogle, buy, shoot, carry . . . repeat . . . Pause briefly whenever happy.

 

[wmtrp]

I have two sr models and love them both. The first one i got was the sr9c and the second was the sr40c. I like the two because they are the same platform and are the same size. I train with one and it is the same for the other gun, dont have to try and remember different stuff for each gun. I have shot the 9 more but they both fire the same except for the cal and the recoil. Great guns and are reliable. I cc the 40 and my 9 is in the night stand. I think people tend to over look these guns because of the price. I have held a lot of guns and shot a few others at the range and found these are dependable as any and as accurate as any. I would be hard pressed to replace them with anything else. As a side note I also carry from time to time a 38 special colt police positive.

 

[usp9]

My carry history started 38 years ago with the only gun I could afford. Since then I've only carried a couple other guns. When I find one I like, I'll stick with it, shoot regularly and try to become as proficient with it as I can.

I buy a lot more guns for my collection than ones I consider as carry worthy or would potentially test as a carry gun. Those I've bought as carry guns, or potential carry guns must, must, must be reliable. I must be able to shoot it naturally and smoothly so ergonomics and the controls are very important. Good sights are nice but not as important as natural pointability. Cost is much less a factor these days. Concealability is important, both the size and weight. How safe do I feel with the gun's features, trigger and design?

I've looked at a lot of guns over the years. A few have stood out really great carry guns. Currently I use a HK P2000sk. This is truly a magnificent firearm. I also use a Seecamp. For what it is meant for, the Seecamp is, IMHO, peerless.

My carry guns over the years have been;
1975 Charter Arms Undercover,
1977 Astra Constable,
1987 Seecamp
1991 Beretta 84f
2008 HK P2000sk

Except for the Charter Arms, these are all guns I'd carry today without hesitation.

 

[sidheshooter]

My process was decades of serial ownership.

That said, snub revolvers (in several frame sizes) kept on popping up in rotation over the years. I ended up keeping a decent number of them as they came through.

OMMV.

 

[JRS950]

Shot with my son, tried his 2 and found that I shot the M&P better and it fit me. bought one and have not looked back.

 

[Delford]

Friends got me to take a CC class. I was 60 at that time. Qualified with a Beretta Neos. The instructor had 82 guns available but I brought. 22lr ammo which at the time was available and cheap. After that I researched based on caliber and tried several of the instructor's guns over the next few months. I found a .45 that fit my hand well and was slightly used which made it more affordable. I have put over 1500 rounds thru it and still enjoy shooting it. It conceals well altho I don't carry daily due to work rules. My 2nd purchase was a Neos which is fun and cheap to shoot when ammo is available. My 3rd purchase was a barely used Remington 870, which is really fun to shoot, for home defense. I had researched the fire out of which shotgun to buy and got a really good price even in the current market. It fits like it was custom made for me and hope every one else has as good luck as I have had.

 

[bainter1212]

Well, you can't go wrong with Ruger cust service. Reputation for reliability can't be faulted.

 

[Girodin]

I find it odd that the op didn't mention reliability. Perhaps it was an unstated assumption. Reliability is the number one factor and starting point for me. I don't care if it is a death ray that weighs 4 oz and it can hit a flea at 50 yards. If I'm not highly confident that it will go bang when I want it to, I'm not going to consider it for carry.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

I usually do in-depth voluminous due diligence, consult my horoscope, get my palm read, shake the bones, and then go buy another Makarov.

 

[chuwee81]

I agree with op's points:

1. ammo availability - the easier to source, the more you can practice with it.
2. Price of ammo - you have to be able to afford to practice.
3. How many rds can the gun fit - the more the better (i cannot practice like LE or military - i have to buy my own ammo) so i might not be as proficient as them in a high stress situation. The more ammo that i can fit in a gun the more odds i'm stacking in my favor.
4. Handling - can i handle the recoil well. I have tried 40's, 45's and found out i can do better follow up shots with 9mm.

Actually if you look at all the reasons above, i narrowed my caliber of choice to 9mm.
gun of choice, i chose the pt92 -cheap, reliable, has similar parts to berretta 92 and M9, also has rail so you can attach a light. Comes with 2 mags, a 17 rd and 19 rd mags.
I'm on my 2nd Pt92. Bought one a while back, sold it, regret it and found a deal on last year's black friday. Took it to the range twice so far and never been happier.

 

[Hanzo581]

I didn't go through all that analysis but I ended up with a SR9c for carry as well. I shoot this pistol the most accurately of all I own (the trigger is superb) and it has never had a bobble of any kind in the hundreds and hundreds of rounds I've put through it.

 

[Armored farmer]

Tardevil........
Success often comes from having a good plan. I like your due process of choosing a ccw.
My son bought a Ruger SR9c. It is a great shooter. I think you made a smart choice.

 

[TarDevil]

I find it odd that the op didn't mention reliability. Perhaps it was an unstated assumption

You are right... I was remiss. Kinda touched on it in #7, but definitely is important.

Currently going through some soul-searching with my son. A while back he came to a bit of caliber reckoning, cataloged in this thread, but to his chagrin went shooting again this weekend and found he was way off with his XD, but could knock the heart out of the target with a friend's Glock 23.

"Get a GlocK," I told him (I personally don't like Glocks, but it ain't about what I like).

"Maybe I can get some instruction to help me shoot my XD better?"

"Yeah, but why not START with the one you shoot best?"

He's coming to the realization that the best gun for him isn't the one he wants, but the one he shoots best.

Though this thread really isn't about the SR9c, that's the gun I shot best and met all my other criteria. I'm as confident as I can be that I'll do my best with this gun. My son currently does not have the best one holstered. He needs a plan, himself.

 

[RBid]

When I'm considering a firearm, I spend a lot of time checking out forums (especially brand-centric fan forum subforums) to see what people are saying about their experiences with them. When you have enough testimonials, it's pretty easy to recognize pattern vs anomally. As an example, go to kahrtalk and look at the P and CW subforum. The thread titles and what people are talking about in those areas will give you a good idea of what's "normal" with the pistol. When there are a lot of threads like, "Failure to Fire? Help!", a particular pistol probably has issues. When most of the threads are things like, "Which holsters are you using?", it's a good indicator that the typical ownership experience is positive.

I used to also spend a lot of time handling things during the shopping process. Having managed a shop, I've now handled most semiauto pistols extensively.