Looking for a 9MM for CCW - Recommendations?

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Hi currently I have an H&K USP .40 Compact and I do carry it occasionally. While I love this gun, it is expensive to shoot and a little on the bulky side for me.

Im looking to buy a 9mm, something thats a little more compact than the H&K I have. Im looking at something with a nice capacity as well. Currently I was thinking...

Glock 19 Gen 4
Glock 26 Gen 4
Beretta 92FS
FNH FNX-9

A buddy from work shot a Glock 27 and he warned that it was a bit difficult to use since it was such a small gun. He said it was hard to stay accurate and maintain a good grip.

For fun, I was also looking at the tiny KelTec PF9 which my friend really likes

Im probably headed back to the gun show tomorrow. Bought a Ruger Mark III today =)

Your thoughts and recommendations are greatly appreciated =)
 
I picked up a Gen 4 Model 19 yesterday. I was going to buy the Gen 3, but after handling both the Gen 4 just felt much better to me. I took it to the range today, and put 300 rounds through it. Absolutely, wonderful pistol to shoot. I love it! I've heard stories that there have been problems with the new recoil spring set up in the Gen 4 19, and possibly ejection issues. But, mine ran everything I put through it without a hiccup, and it has the 03 recoil guide in it. I shot 115, 124, and 127 grain bullets...no problems and strong ejection even with the somewhat light 115's I shot. Accuracy was excellent! It hit where I pointed it, and was exceptionally good with Winchester Ranger 124 gr. NATO FMJ and Ranger 127 gr. +P+ HP's. The trigger pull is a little heavy, but seemed to lighten a bit near the end - nothing that can't be addressed with a quality after-market trigger kit anyway. Therefore, the Gen 4 19 would get my vote. It's definitely small enough for CCW with an ample round count, and the one I have is an excellent shooter.


ETA: S&W M&P's are pretty nice too. You may want to add them to your list of pistols to check out.
 
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According to a place I went to one time, the highpoint C9... I wanted to laugh in the short ********** guys face, but thought better of it seeing how he did not look the kind of person you want to P off. All that said I would go with the Walther. I have a .40 P99, but the PPS looks nice, and soon the PPQ will be out... Just may break the wife's change jar for that.. I must say, if you cant afford a nice gun, the C9 would be okay, just break it in first and get more mags, and maybe start lifting some weights a little.

(wifeofbleys said i was being snarky :( )
 
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Keltec PF9 by far...it may not have the "rep" of the other guns you were looking at but I owned a parkerized one and it was awesome. Nothing is better than taking your weapon and putting it in your front pocket. No more being uncomfortable while sitting at dinner, movies, etc. I love it. It shot very well but is one angry little pistol. Go with the PF9....cheaper, excellent quality, light and small. Nuff said!

Sapp
 
PF-9 here, too. It can go easily anywhere you go, so it will always be there. As was mentioned, it is not a "range gun", as its low weight and small size make it unpleasant to shoot for extended sessions. However, if you do your part, it is easy to get on target, and get back on target for each shot. The P-11 Kel-Tec holds three more rounds and is a little easier to shoot, but it is a little harder to conceal, and reportedly has a rougher trigger.
 
Easy

Without even reading the replies I'd say G19 in Gen 3/4. There is no perfect handgun for CHL/Home defense duty, but the G19 comes pretty close. Its one of two handguns I pick for Hurricane evacs 'cause I know it will always go bang.
 
I have the G19 and G26. I'd be very happy with either one as a carry gun. I think anyone who is considering one of those guns owes it to themselves to look at a steyr. They are lesser known in the states, but IMO they compare very favorably to the glock.

The Berretta is bigger and heavier than I would like for an every day carry gun when it doesn't really offer me any notable advantage over the G19. The FNs have a good rep but are not particularly small either, or so it seemed to me the last time I handled one.

Nothing is better than taking your weapon and putting it in your front pocket. No more being uncomfortable while sitting at dinner, movies, etc.
Click to expand...

What your really saying is that you find nothing more comfortable. Pocket carry has a lot of trade offs IMHO.
 
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I carry a Glock 19, and think it is one of the best choices in terms of reliability, and capacity vs concealability. The G26 would also be a good choice.

If you go with a Glock, strongly consider Gen 3 over Gen 4--the mechanical changes for Gen 4 were made to solve reliability problems that the .40 S&W versions had when being run with a light on the rail, but the 9mm guns never had problems.
 
The Beretta is going to be large and heavy, people carry them though ( as well as full size 1911's) so it's up to you. For compact 9mm I carry a Glock 26 with a 10 round mag in the gun and at least one 17 round spare magazine. I would also feel fine carrying a Springfield XD9C, Smith and Weson M&P 9C, or Kel-Tec p-11. It's totally objectionable, but I dont like the lower capacity guns like the PF-9 or the new Ruger LC9. I have no problem concealing my Glock even when wearing loose fitting track pants or swim shorts with just a T-shirt.
 
If your looking at the Glock, you owe it to yourself to handle a S&W M&P Compact. Best ergonomics of any polymer framed pistol IMHO. Reliability on mine has been flawless and at 22 oz, it's not hard to pack. If you search the net, you'll find several forums dedicated to the M&Ps.
 
You might want to add a Walther P99C AS to your list. Exceptionally compact and not at all hard to shoot well IMO.

100225_DSC01792.jpg
 
PF9 is an excelent pistol. Its small, light, and shoots easily. If you are concerned about the lower mag capacity, the PF11 is very similar, and holds a few more rounds, just a little bit wider in the grip, and the trigger is reputed to be not quite as nice, but its a true DAO.
 
All the choices mentioned here have been good, but you might as well toss in the Ruger SR9c and the Taurus PT709 "Slim." The SR9c is a G26 competitor that is cheaper, has a better trigger, and smaller in every dimension that matters for carry. The 709 is a PF-9 competitor that blows the PF-9 out of the water in terms trigger, recoil control, and fit & finish (then again, it is like $100 more than the PF-9, so it better offer something more for the extra price).

And while we're at it, why not toss in the Kahr PM9, the lightest and smallest of the bunch? (no, i'm not counting the rohrbach).
 
Something else to consider should be the S&W M&P and perhaps the SD9. I particulary like the SD's front night sight at no extra cost. Of the guns on your list, I lean toward the Glock 19. I've owned mine nearly 12 years (obviously it is not the "latest and greatest" version). I've owned a mini-Glock (27) and have never quite been able to ascertain what "niche" it fills; it is too large for pocket carry yet not substantially easier to carry belt holstered. The Beretta 92, while a fine gun, is excessively large and bulky for the little cartridge, even fifteen of them. I have no experience with this FNX-9.
 
I have an early Kahr K9 that I really enjoy. It might not have the high capacity you're looking for but it is a very nice, accurate, easy to shoot small gun. Plus when you get the "blued" version, it's still stainless steel.
 
I highly recommend the Kahr PM9. The Kel-Tec PF-9 has also served me well as a carry gun, but the PM9 is a step up in quality and shootability. Both of them are far more easy to carry than any Glock. 7 or 8 rounds is enough for me. But sometimes, I add a backup 9mm pocket gun.
 
Just as an update to this post, I also bought a Kel-Tec PF9 for times when the Glock 26 is too big, or I need something lighter (running for example)...

Its the hard chrome version. Here are a few pics of both the guns.

5466330968_ac969b32d6_z.jpg

5465725569_da276335f1_z.jpg

5465721497_7423467b77_z.jpg

5465693067_292eaace98_z.jpg

5466310730_116e65587a_z.jpg
 
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