I'm looking for a carry gun.

[Andrew Wyatt]

I'm getting close to 21, and i'm looking for a carry gun. while CCW is legal with the permit, which is easy to get in the county, my college has a "no weapons" sign on campus, which is not of the requisite size and does not cite any laws, however, they do have a policy of removing any student caught with a weapon. I do not know if this pertains to CCW holders or not, but better safe than sorry. Concealed means concealed in my case, at least at school.

I already have a .45ACP GM that's going on my permit, and i can sweet talk my dad out of his iver johnson TP22 for use as an always gun, but I need a medium sized gun.


I've looked at a smith and wesson ladysmith 3913, a bunch of j frames, a CZ-52 (not in the size range, so i'd have to carry it in my backpack, my school has lots of open areas between buildings, and there's almost always interveneing cover between me and people, so it would serve a function) and a newer smith 2 inch shrouded hammer .44 special revolver ( i didn't catch the model number).

I'm a 1911 shooter, and i have small hands. none of the glocks i've handled and fired fit me, so they're out of consideration for me.

What other pistols should i look at and/or try?

 

[Wanderer]

Try a Kahr K9 or K40. They are simple and reliable, as well as concealable and accurate. They are within most people's price range too. They come in .40 cal and 9mm, bigger than most pocket guns.

 

[jercamp45]

I have not been to a schoolin a looong time, but....

I have heard that it is a FEDERAL Offense to pack a firearm at ANY school!
That said, the Kahr's are good and so are the smaller 1911's.
Jercamp45

 

[tiberius]

Here's my take.

I really like pocket pistols. The new king in this area is the P-3AT, but I don't think it is legal in CA.

I also stick a S&W M60 .357 is my pocket at times if clothing allows.

If you are not gonna carry your weapon in your pocket and decide to carry on the belt, then you simply do not NEED a new gun. A 1911 is just as easy to conceal on the belt as a compact. I have gone from a j-frame to a S&W 3913, to a lighweight Officer's model. They are all great guns and I carry them frequently. However, I also carry a Colt GM either IWB or in a Panckake and it carries and conceals just as easily as the others. It is heavier, of course, and this could be an issue for you, but it does not affect concealibility.

For reference I'm 5'10", 175# so I'm not large framed.

For full disclosure, when I belt carry I usually carry my Colt LWOM IWB since I have it and it is so much lighter than the GM. But, I probably wouldn't buy a new one for this purpose if I didn't already own one.

 

[cordex]

it is a FEDERAL Offense to pack a firearm at ANY school!

Untrue, but check local laws.

 

[JJohnston015]

Kahrs point like 1911s, and they "grip smaller" in all dimensions (I'd kill for a single action version with a thumb safety, personally). Last time I was at 2nd Amendment in town, they had several variants, including a PM9, at the west end of the long display case, top shelf.

 

[Correia]

Since you are already a 1911 guy, why not take a look at something like an STI Ranger or LS series. Then you have the Kimber Ultra carrys or the Springfield Micros. This way you are sticking with a consistent system, and they are not that much larger than something like a Kahr. Reliability with all of these guns is much better than the old school chopped down 1911s, plus you already know how to diagnose and fix any 1911 problems that may crop up.

 

[Correia]

And one more thing, big negative heck no on the back pack carry. You'll find out pretty quick that you are in and out of that bag a ton during the average day. Plus it will soon be overloaded with pounds and pounds of books and other garbage. Plus it is almost impossible to keep it under your control 100% of the time.

 

[clubsoda22]

may be agains college policy, but no federal law prohibits you from having a gun at college.

Do you like revolvers or auto's? From your selection, It seems like you're a revolver fan. I don't own any revolvers, but have been itching for a little snubbie with a big bore.

Personally, I like charter arms and taurus. The charter arms bulldog only weighs 21 oz, has an exposed hammer (oh well, i like it) and fire 5 rds of 44spl. The taurus titanium, weighs slightly less, around 19.5 oz, can be got in the slightly better 45LC loading, has the exposed hammer i like, but costs nearly twise as much. Both look nice.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

Probably state law is what you will run afoul of, Which can get you CCW permit pulled. Here in Texas you cant carry or have a firearm within something like 400 ft of a school.
Gerald

 

[tiberius]

Atually, in Texas you just can't carry into the school buildings - "premises". A CHL holder can carry in the parking lot, roads, sidewalks, etc.

 

[DigMe]

Probably state law is what you will run afoul of, Which can get you CCW permit pulled. Here in Texas you cant carry or have a firearm within something like 400 ft of a school.

If you have CHL it's legal to carry and have a firearm in your car in the parking lot of a school (see definition of "Premises" in section 46.035). That comes in handy if you want to drop your kids off without breaking the law or for people who work at a school and want to have a gun in the car at least.

brad cook

 

[Standing Wolf]

How you carry is entirely up to you, but I wouldn't carry a gun in a back pack except on a hike through the woods, and even then, I'd have one in a holster on my belt: it's just too easy to become separated from a pack.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I have heard that it is a FEDERAL Offense to pack a firearm at ANY school!

You heard wrong. in california, CCW holders can carry on the premises of schools.

I'm going to head on down to Second amendment and handle all of their kahrs.


I'm mostly worried about some of my classes where i have to sit on stools instead of chairs with backs, as itt's real easy for the pistol to print.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Andrew,

You said you are a 1911 shooter with small hands. You also mentioned a bunch of guns I've never handled....so I'm not sure if this recommendation is in line or not.

For a smaller-than-1911 CCW gun, I really like the Colt Mustang Plus II/Government .380 models. They operate the same way as a 1911 and are very easy to conceal. This keeps your training and handling instincts intact for your main weapon (1911).

These guns can be carried cocked and locked, just like a 1911, with the same "safety swipe" motion for drawing and firing. They can be easily concealed in a pocket.

I would recommend against the Pocketlite (bad triggers) and standard Mustang (too few rounds) models. Also, the Pony DAO models have a reputation for bad triggers as well.

The downside of these guns is they tend to be expensive--$400+++. The upside is they hold their value, since Colt isn't making any more of them.

Also, if you get one and want to trick it out, here is a link for the acknowledged Colt .380 Guru: McDougall Firearms

Best of luck with your quest!


Peter

 

[TamThompson]

So, as I understand it, as a CHL-holder in Texas, I can:

1. Drive through the UT-Austin (university) campus carrying a gun.
2. Walk around in the UT parking lot carrying.

But not:

1. Go into one of the buildings while carrying.

But now, if I want to take a UT Informal Class, which is run by UT but meets off campus, say outside somewhere, can I carry during the class? The issues I see are: it's a class run by a school.

Sorry to sound picky, but if I'm in Travis County, the prosecutors are probably looking to snare me!

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Snake eyes: I'm actually seriously consider getting one, if i can find one here, as they're not on the list, which means i'd have to get it through a face to face transfer.

I'm a tad leery of sticking a cocked and locked single action auto with no grip safety in my pocket, though. if i do get one, i'm limited to holster carry.


I'm mainly looking for a thin pistol that's light, though a shrouded hammer revolver is high on the list, too, as it opens up more carry options.

 

[MrPink]

My three favorite carry guns are:

- 1911 (so we agree here)
- HK P7 (single action trigger like the 1911, very safe carry with the squeeze cocker)
- S&W Centennial (340 or 642)

Don't be intimidated by the cost of a new P7. Refurbs and used guns can be had for 6-700.

 

[sleepyhead]

Have to echo MrPink on the H&K P7 -- bought one this year and it is the sweetest gun I have ever shot. But if you can't afford one, consider the Star Firestar. I don't think they are still importing them, but you can get one LNIB on gunbroker.com for $300. Heavy but very compact. All steel construction, single action, extremely pleasant to shoot.

 

[V-fib]

I like revolvers for CCW and I would recommend a SP101 .357 3â€. A very dependable gun. And if your worried about printing get yourself a smartcarry holster and nobody and I mean nobody will ever know your packing. I have a paddle holster and a shoulder rig also but for total concealment I always go with the smartcarry. I can even carry at the beach with only a swimsuit on and have total concealment.



http://www.smartcarry.com/

 

[TamThompson]

V-fib, I have that gun (the Ruger SP101 .357mag w/3" barrell), and I refuse to ever give it up, although I prefer to carry my Glock 30 (I like the 10-shot capacity and the lighter weight.)

I do have an IWB holster for the SP101, though, in case of emergency and for at the ranch. It's not a full holster, so the barrell pokes out. I found out the hard way a few weeks ago how HOT that barrell can get when you put 50 rounds through it out in the August heat--couldn't re-holster!

Love that gun, though. It's my downstairs desk-drawer gun, loaded with 125-grain Speer Gold Dot hollowpoints. It would be an extremely bad idea for the ex-employee who threatened to break into my home and kill me (three years ago) to actually try it.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

is the kahr P40 pocket carry able?

 

[Newton]

Pity about the P-3AT as that would be my choice, loaded with 90 grain Hydrashoks.

If it has to be a pocket pistol, a .38Spl ultralight J frame may be the answer, it works for many.

I'm not sure what small pistols are still legal in Kali, from what I read hereabouts you may be reduced to using harsh language and a picture of a policeman in the Gay Pride parade for personal defence.

 

[TamThompson]

Newton,
ROFLMAO!!!

 

[TamThompson]

Andrew,
Well, let's look at the specs on the Kahr P40 from http://www.kahr.com/review_ap_0402.html:

3.5" barrel--decent enough for accuracy
6" long--a bit longish, but maybe OK in the pocket
25 ounces in weight, which is 1 lb., 9 oz. (They don't say if that's loaded or not.)

Hmm...I think the weight would kill it for me. Heck, I even notice the weight of the 9.5-oz. (fully loaded) Keltec P32 from time to time.

But why not go to a gunstore and ask them to let you see how one feels in a holster in your pocket? Be advised that it'll be a bit heavier loaded (they are NOT going to let you put a loaded, unbought gun in your pocket, I don't think.)