Looking for a good carry pistol, any experienced carriers?

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piff

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Hey guys, looking for a nice cheap carry pistol, in 9mm or .40.

Ive been looking at H&K 9mm or .40, Berreta 92fs, glock 19 or 23.

any other suggestions, really just looking for a nice concealable firearm, dont want anything to bulky or expensive.

Thanks ! All post are appreciated.
 
not bulky and not expensive. Taurus 709. Mine works great after a trip to the repair shop. It's easy to carry, light, and shoots great. Again, I DID have to send it in to taurus to have the trigger bar adjusted for light strikes.

But it now shoots reliably and is an easy carry. It's upper class clone, the Walther PPS is probably a better gun, but it's 250.00 more expensive.
 
looks decent also just saw the thread on the ruger sr9, definitely going to check that out also, thanks for the feedback.

anyone else?
 
SR9 is slim but still quite large for CC.... and the trigger is HORRIBLE. I would suggest looking at the taurus line of milleniums and the Kahr lines. They pack the biggest bunch for the smallest and most comfortable package while maintaining the FUN FACTOR and ability to shoot accurately. Not much to compromise.. and both are available in 9,40, and 45 calibers.
 
I dont have one so I am going on second hand knowledge but if you are looking for the lightest, cheapest and smallest option the Kel Tec PF9 may fit the bill. You can buy a new one for less than $300 and they weigh less than 13 ounces. I have a friend who has one and he really likes it. I do not know about reliability as a whole though. I have read about some failure to feed issues but those may be worked out. If you want to spend more ($600 range) then the Kahr PM9 is not much bigger than the Kel Tec and it is a quality product. It weighs less than 16 ounces and is about as small as it gets next to the PF9 unless you go to the ultra expensive Rohrbaugh R-9. Size & weight may not be that big of an issue for you though. If not you have alot more options. I just purchased and LCP 380 for everyday carry. My reasoning was that it is small enough that I can carry it in any situation I can think of barring being in swimming trunks, lol. My Sig P228, while a great shooter is just to big for me to carry on a daily basis.
 
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How many rounds do you feel like you need? If the answer is over ten, then a double stack gun is going to be de riguer. If you think you can get by with less than ten, then a Commander sized 1911 is an exceptionally nice gun to carry.

Also, what is your experience level? Do you require a DA/SA or DAO gun? What is the climate where you live? How do you normally dress? all these are considerations when chosing a carry gun.

Many people find a .38 or .357 J-frame in a pants pocket to be an easy and effective carry method. However, you did not list those calibers, and it seems you may be against a five shot revolver........

FWIW, I have carried a .40 HK USPc, a Beretta 92FS, and for a short time, a Glock 26. All were a bit too fat for me. All are good reliable guns though. Your mileage may vary.
 
I carry a G19 daily. I also have a G23 that I am starting to carry more and more.
 
Just out of curiosity, do you shoot either caliber equally well?

By the way, H&K, Glock, & Beretta are NOT cheap handguns. Between these three brands, I'd personally ignore the Beretta; avoid the H&K because of its high price and narrow frame, and go with the Glock.

If I were a new pistol shooter (Which I am not.) I'd, also, choose 9mm over the much harder and more difficult to control 40 S&W round.
 
The gun that you will carry with you and can shoot well is the best gun for you.

If you haven't already, go to a local range that offers handgun rentals, and try out as many as you can. You may find out that what you THOUGHT was the best gun for you really isn't, and something you weren't considering suits you much better.
 
Well i have gone to the range a couple times, rented a glock 17, h&k usp 9mm, and a sig 229. out of the three i REALLY liked the feel of the h&k, glock was alright, and the sig didnt do much for me. BTW i have a pretty big hands so im not really looking for a small pistol like ttheel suggested. Xavier i havent completely ruled out revolver either, i rented a .38 special and loved it, fit my hands perfect.

I did more research on the SR9 and im really liking it so far. Pt1911, do you actually own one? is this just what you have learned from use? If anyone owns one please post some crits about it.

Thanks guys really appreciate everything.
 
Piff, many people eventually arrive at a pocketed J frame as an effective solution.

Reasons I like a j frame in the pocket include:
1. It's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.
2. I never have to wonder if a round is chambered.
3. It will fire with the muzzle pressed into ribs.
4. There is no safety to disengage.
5. I never have to worry about keeping it covered.
6. I can discreetly have my hand on my gun while assessing a situation.

If you go for a J frame, I advise against the ultralights, especially in .357. Just my two pesos.

A .45 on the hip is admittedly a superior weapon in most cases, but the ability to have your hand discreetly in a firing grip on your weapon, as well as being able to jam the muzzle into your attacker's ribs and fire again and again in a ground struggle is a decided advantage. For this reason many savy men have carried a J frame in a pocket even when they had a sidearm on their belt. Something to think about......
 
I carry a Glock 26 quite a bit, it can be a bit heavy for pocket carry in some of my pants, I then switch to an IWB holster.

One aspect that helped me decide on a Glock 9mm was that all the magazines are interchangeable. So, I carry a G17 magazine as backup and have the 33rd mag for fun at the range.
 
G19 or G23. Relatively inexpensive ( ~$520 new or ~$400 used), reliable, high capacity and no frills. If you want something to just work and not have to be messed with Glock is the way to go. I have a G19 (so does my wife), 36 and 30 that I carry. My 30 has taken over as my main carry with 10+1 of 45 ACP + a 13rd G21 mag for a reload, 24rds of 45ACP is comforting to have in your pocket. :D
 
My carry weapon of choice is the CZ 75D, PCR. It is the perfect blend of size, weight and firepower, 15 rounds of 9mm. 3.9 " barrel, 1.7 lbs, fits my hand perfectly, shoots like a laser, utterly reliable and is sexy as a pistol gets. My other choice would be the Glock G19, not the G26 though, I really don't like the "feel" of subcompacts or their accuracy at ranges exceeding 10 yards. I was carrying a SIG P232 until I got my CZ PCR, the CZ is now my daily beater and one of my favorite range pistols. Go to http://czusa.com for more on this incredible weapon.
 
I also own an SR9. It can be carried IWB fairly comfortably if you use a good belt and holster. It's fairly thin, but it is big. It's not too heavy to carry, but you'll need, obviously, a shirt for an iwb carry, or a jacket for a shoulder holster. It's about the same as carrying a 1911.

The trigger is actually not bad on the post recall models. It is a tad chalky, but it pulls the same every time it's pulled and the gun is extremely comfortable to hold and shoot. Mine has been 100 percent reliable.
 
A Glock 26 or 27 depending on your choice of caliber. A Kahr PM9 is very easy to conceal, mine has been completely reliable and very accurate.
 
welcome to thr.
personally i carry either a glock 23, or a sa xd. the xd is by far my favorite handgun that i have ever owned shot or trained with. mine has over 17,000rds through it and it is still running strong.

i high;y recomend the glock 19, and the xd service model. for a real small compact and slim handgun i also suggest the kahr k series. all teh above are reliable, accurate and easy to shoot well.
 
There is no answer for you.

We're all shaped differently, we all dress differently (from choice and locale), and we all have different carry preferences.

What works for one of us, may not work for anyone else.

You'll need to borrow a friend's gun and see how it fits for your carry preferences.
 
Any of the stainless framed Kahrs would do well for you, I think. I have an Mk40 which has been a great carry gun for me. I have a polymer framed TP40 which has not been so reliable, unfortunately, and I have heard of other people having problems with the polymer Kahrs.
 
I see a lot of different pistols in your future. I had a G 23 and liked it a lot. Pretty compact fairly concealable always reliable and I could shoot it well. I will however second nalioth's post. Just becuase it worked for me doesn't mean squat. Just keep renting and borrowing you'll find what works best for you. Keep us posted.
 
What Xavier said in post #11. After carrying many different set-ups and styles I arrived at those two: a 1911 IWB in confortable with a good holster, and you have a fight stopping round (.45, .38 super, 9mm). When not that I carry a J-Frame in a pocket holster. I personally do not fin the Smith Airweight .38 to bad to practice with, but honestly I do not notice a steel gun one in my pocket either. My favorite snub (of many) is my Taurus 85.

This one looks really cool, Smith's new Pro Series
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...selected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=

Here is my current carry set-up:

CarryOn.gif
 
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Thanks for all the posts guys, ill keep you updated on my purchases. Learned a lot from just this thread so again, Thanks!
 
what i like/carry might not be for you. that said, i carry either a 9mm EMP or Kobra Carry. i used to carry a G26, but grip was too small for my hands (2 fingers). also carried a CW9, but hated the trigger.
 
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