Yeah. I like revolvers in general, and I like the Rugers, but if this is going to be my only gun...not sure if I want it to be a revolver, especially at the weights these plastic 9mils are running.I'm partial to a Ruger LCR 357 or Ruger EC9s. Both are light and concealable. An extra mag or speed strip will give ample ammo capacity for an emergency. Slip either into a small pouch in the belt and it won't alarm anyone.
Look at Kel-Tec PF-9. Lightest 9mm I know of, extremely reliable, very small and thin, 7+1, DA only. Well under $300.
How about a 13.6 ounce pistol, and a hundred rounds of ammo adding only another 12 ounces?
Kel-Tec PMR-30 holds 30 rounds of .22 magnum
What you should be thinking about is what is it stored in.
I had a good friend who had to go to an emergency shelter after hurricane Katrina,,,
He was questioned and searched at the door of that sports arena.
They found his poorly hidden handgun and promptly confiscated it,,,
So that's what I think I would be worried about.
I used to own a PT99. Phenomenal gun. Loved it. It was my "training gun" from when I competed on the squadron pistol team. (They wouldn't buy ammo for us to train with or let us use gov't owned guns.) I really like the frame mounted safety over the slide mounted. I probably would never buy a Taurus again, however, because I realized, much later, that I was just lucky to get one of the few "good ones." Taurus' reputation for hit or miss quality (more often miss) has kept me away from them. (If I could get my exact PT99 back, I would do it, but it was stolen from the guy to whom I sold it.)Stay safe DB.
Once things return to normal, if you're still thinking about this....You've said you like the Beretta 92FS. However if you want to keep costs down, have you considered a Taurus PT92? Nearly the same gun, and can be easily found for under $300.
Tuckerdog1
But I am still thinking about this. The number one lesson I have learned from this earthquake is that procrastination is your enemy and time is not your friend. There are so many things that I procrastinated on that, if this event had been on slightly worse or we had been less fortunate) I would be in some degree of a bind.
How often that is forgotten.Good point. Also, perfect is the enemy of good.
The answer to what carry handgun is best is usually the Glock 19, but since you want an external thumb safety, which I think is reasonable unlike most Glock-o-philes,
Too late indeed, but I will mention that just today I acquired a Springfield XDE single stack 9mm with a hammer and a manual safety. Very flat profile, 3" barrel. First shot and carry condition can be either single action or double action first shot, single thereafter. Has a decock position incorporated in the safety lever. This gun was featured in an article in the Dillon rag some months ago.