If you had $300 dollars to spend...

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I have a Kel Tec P-11 that I use for warm weather carry in a Smartcarry belly band. It conceals great, and once I learned the proper way to put it on, it's easy. As far as the P-11, it is an adequate handgun for concealed carry, but it will punish you a little with recoil as you practice.

I also have an XD40SC for cool weather carry. I use a Fobus paddle holster on my right hip. I recently bought a Quest IWB leather holster, but I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet, so I can't comment on the functionality of it yet. The XD is a great pistol. It's easy to get on target for a quick follow-up shot, less felt recoil than the P-11, very accurate, and a pleasure to shoot. The only downside, is that it is harder to conceal, and heavier than the P-11. But if I was in a gunfight, that would be my first (pistol) choice to defend myself with.

I am considering the PF-9 as another possibility for light weight clothing carry. Or maybe a Charter Arms in .44 Special.

The only way to make an intelligent decision, is to go somewhere you can shoot the pistols you are interested in, and compare them for how they shoot, felt recoil, how they feel in your hand, and how accurate you are with it.

Good Luck:)
 
If it were my I'd trade in my XD40 and use the extra cash to get a M&P45c or possibly a commander-sized allow frame 1911. But, that's just me.

If that wasn't an option I'd go get a Bersa .380. Had one years ago and I still regret selling it.
 
If I wanted another small carry option and I only had a J frame, I'd get a Taurus TCP or a Ruger LCP for $300

I'm very happy with my TCP. ~350 rounds so far, with lots of +P stuff, no problems
 
I carry a J fame most days but when you need something really small I carry a Kel-Tec P-32. Sometimes you just need something tiny so I bought a Kel-Tec...
 
I can’t remember how many times I have tried to find a better carry gun than a J frame. I have bought and sold a bunch.
I don’t want to say anything negative about anybody’s choice of carry gun. But I would vote for getting a bunch of ammo
and practice practice practice. If you need another carry option, try an inside the waist band holster.
Works for me.
Steve
 
agree with RSkent. have a S&W j frame 3 inch barrel., wish wsa the shorter barrel. also have Ruger sp101, much better shooter. To each his own, something like that.
 
It's the same deal here in Florida, hot weather, light clothing and difficult to conceal a weapon. I'm going to go against the grain here and suggest a new gun. Instead of the kel-tec take a look at a Ruger LCP. Just drop it in a pocket holster of your choice and you'll never be without a weapon.
 
Centaur
The LCP is the gun I am trying out this time. It’s not working out as well as I had hoped. It was a bit unreliable at first.
The last couple hundred rounds have been quite a bit better. The man in the brown uniform delivered a thousand shiny
new bullets to my doorstep. We will have to see how it works out after a little practice.
Steve
 
$300 will buy a basic reloading setup and a lot of cases, primers, bullets, powder, and books to get you started.
 
It sounds more logical to get a decent concealment holster for your xd40 and try carrying that setup to see if it works before you drop much more money on a new gun. If it turns out that you don't like it because it's too heavy, or big, or whatever you still need a decent holster for the gun anyway.
 
Holster and gear for what you already have and ammo with whatever's left over. It's easy to get ahead of yourself collecting, but I do like to have a holster for every gun I own.
 
Every new person who gets a CHL should be required to conceal a 5" 1911 for 6 months before carrying any other gun.
Once you do that a gun as small as the XD SC .40 feels like a cell phone on a belt.
 
It's easy to get ahead of yourself collecting, but I do like to have a holster for every gun I own.
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So true. I recently realized how many concealed carry guns I have bought and wonder why.

Every new person who gets a CHL should be required to conceal a 5" 1911 for 6 months before carrying any other gun.
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If that were the case, in my hot climate, most people would get frustrated and stop carrying altogether.
 
+1 for the reloading gear. Getting the fire the guns you already have for $0.05 a round can get you to remember how much you loved them in the first place.

Plus it gives you a little something to do in your off time.
 
Quote:
Every new person who gets a CHL should be required to conceal a 5" 1911 for 6 months before carrying any other gun.
Click to expand...
If that were the case, in my hot climate, most people would get frustrated and stop carrying altogether.
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I have carried a 5" 1911 for more years than I care to remember -- including in some very hot places.

I designed my own holster for it, which makes carry under a T-shirt practical and comfortable.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=126731&d=1283015677

This holster allows you to tuck in your shirt and wear it directly against your skin. The leather backing keeps the gun butt from gouging your hide, and also protects the gun from sweat and body acids. In addition, it has a "button" or leather cam that engages the safety lock and keeps the gun positively on safe.
 
It is my opinion that you should fill out your rigs.

You should have at least six magazines per gun and realize that magazines are expendable items that slowly degrade. You can buy extra baseplates, springs and followers to extend the life of your magazines. Twelve to fifteen is better for the carry rotation since you can dedicate a bunch for practice only. Get 30 if you remember the 1994 ban. I like to have four or five magazines "checked out" into the carry rotation at any given time.

Each gun should have at least two or three holsters (different missions) and two single magazine holders (singles so you can put only one on the belt to maximize concealment).

Holsterwise, I like a leather IWB holster for strong side, an OWB strong side leather holster with retention, and a kydex IWB for training. I'll get Safariland ALS 6377's and 6378's for open carry from opticsplanet.net (they were on sale for less than $30).

You should also have at least two gun belts: one in black and one in brown. Don't be a goof and walk around with a black gunbelt showing and brown shoes (or vice-versa).

You'll also need belts that work with your holsters. For example, it's impossible to carry in the appendix position using a Comp-Tac kydex reinforced belt. I have to use a different belt for that since I have to move the belt buckle over to one side. I generally use the Comp-Tac belt for strong side carry and heavier guns and the other belt for appendix carry.

Additionally, you may want to standardize your belts on either 1.25" thickness or 1.5" thickness. Inch-an-a-quarter looks better with nicer clothing when you're not carrying and the belt is exposed. Belt's 1.5" or wider look good for casualwear. However, many brands of jeans have loops that are either very tight with 1.5" belts or don't fit at all.
 
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Nice design, looks hot as hell though.
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Not hot at all. I do a 5 mile hike every morning, including about 700 feet of climbing, while wearing this holster -- even in July and August.

The key is, I can wear it under a thin T-shirt. Try other holsters witout the backing and you find you need an undershirt at least. And that's a layered approach -- hotter than a single thick garment.
 
Are the KelTec PF9 and Charter Arms revolver quality guns suitable for concealed carry and the training needed to do so in a proficient manner?

I have my opinion, but it's for you to decide.
 
Yeah pretty much nobody is going to recommend buying yet another gun over buying necessary items for the guns you already own.


I generallly figure on 300 dollars for holsters etc per each new gun I own.

The last gun purchase I made last week was...

1500 for the gun
350 dollars for holsters and mag carriers
300 for mags

so yeah, my advice definatly would be to put down the crappy kel-tec and its "wallet holster" and get yourself some real gear.
 
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