New carry option, need opinions

[FilJos]

Hey folks,

I have been carrying for about three years now, and I am looking to expand my stable into something a bit more t-shirt and shorts friendly. I currently carry a Glock model 30 (Compact [yeah, right] double stack .45). For carry in the winter it is great, but I want something a bit smaller and lighter for summer carry or those occasions when I need to wear a suit or something.

Along those lines I have been looking at a few different models and I want to know what those who have carried and fired them think.

My first choice was the Kahr PM40, or possibly the P40 Covert, but I dry fired one at the shop to get a feel for the trigger and it sure seems to have a long and stiff pull.

The guy behind the counter wanted me to try the XD40, and I liked the trigger pull, but felt that it was overall bulkier than what I was looking for.

I also handled a Kimber Ultra carry, which felt great, had a nice trigger pull and pointed nicely, but was heavier and, Ooo, pricey.

My last thought was to get a S&W340 or 360 in .357. Save a little money, light weight, maybe use that money saved on a pair of lasergrips.

I do not want to carry anything smaller than a .40 or .357, size and power wise.

 

[thales]

*


Have you looked at a Kel-tec P-40 or a S&W CS40? Both no longer made because the recoil is a bit nasty, I guess.


*

 

[pax]

How does a Glock 27 feel in your hands?

pax

 

[.41Dave]

Get an S&W J frame and a good pocket holster and you are good to go anywhere you are wearing clothes.

 

[FilJos]

How does a Glock 27 feel in your hands?

Well, I really like Glocks, but I am looking for something a bit slimmer. I haven't totally written it off yet though.

 

[TX1911fan]

I carry the 340. It's great, you will definitely forget its there. You can shoot .357, but you won't like it. I've deiced to stick to 38spl +P.

 

[bpisler]

There's the G-36,Taurus has a new single stack
45 but i can't think of the name.Kahr makes a
small 40 and 45.

 

[usp9]

Smaller than a KelTec,
lighter than a Guardian,
the uber reliable Seecamp. Small enough to carry in your swim suit, looks great with your Brooks Brothers, and really does disappear into shorts pockets, (you don't even need the tee shirt).

 

[johnny blaze]

I had the same problem as far as the weight and size. I tried several different ones, but they were just too heavy and too large, even in the compacts.
I finally found what I was looking for in the Taurus PT 145. It is light (23 oz) and small. It is also made in 9mm and 40 (PT 111, PT 140). These are all the Millennium Pro series.
The Pt 145 shoots remarkably well for such a short barreled gun, It feels a little awkward when you handle it not loaded. As soon as you insert the loaded mag, it balances out really nicely, and it will hold 10 rounds. This is the first Taurus that I have ever owned.

 

[dairycreek]

As long as you are looking for suggestions let me try something just a bit different for concealed carry summer or otherwise. That being the S&W 327 which IMHO is one unique weapon.

A 21 ounce 8-shot in 38spcl/357! As a specialty gun it will be somewhat spendier than the run of the mill S&W handguns but it is a winner. Uses moon clips for the 8 rounds of 357/38 ammo and carrying the gun and an extra loaded clip will give one 16 rounds of 38/357 and that is some pretty good firepower.

I have fired this 21 ounce lightweight with full bore 357 and while I am not going to put several hundred rounds of this stuff through it at the range, it was not all that bad to shoot. Certainly stellar for concealed carry. Give it a thought.

 

[TOADMAN]

The Glock 36 is very easy to CC and easy to shoot..

 

[bulbboy]

Very interesting - I've never seen that one before!

 

[camper]

Recommed the Kahr series. I like the PM9 or 40.

 

[cslinger]

The question of what is the best for all around carry was answered many many moons ago with the .38/.357 JFrame. As another poster mentioned you can take it anywhere you wear clothes.

Excellent reliability
Powerful cartridge
Super easy to conceal
Super easy to wipe down after carry
Will shoot no matter what awkward position you might be in
Disappears in a pocket
Lots of ammo carrying/loading options (single rounds, speed strips, speed loaders, moon clips)
Easy to unload
Super easy manual of arms you point you click, you repeat
Will fire from a pocket
I could go on.....

Now revolvers have their cons like any tool but for basic non-military or LEO defensive firearms it's hard to beat the ole' Jframe sized revo.

I carry one these more then any other firearm.

 

[Hogfan1911]

I had a Kahr K40, later traded it for a P40 for the lighter weight. I like it a lot. The K40 fit my hand better & was easier to shoot, but the P40 is much more comfortable as the day wears on. With a little practice I've gotten almost as fast on my follow-up shots with the P40, & it's just as accurate. As far as the Kahr trigger pull, both of mine didn't seem too bad at all. Of course, it's a very subjective thing. But I had my Kimber for a couple years before the Kahrs, & I adapted to the Kahr's DAO fairly quickly. Maybe the one you tried at the store was a bad apple or something. You said you tried a PM or a Covert, right? Haven't tried one of those myself, maybe the short "two fingers on the grip, one underneath" makes it feel heavier? Just a thought.....

 

[Minator]

Ruger sp-101 and a + they dont have an internal safety lock(hiliary hole)

 

[FilJos]

Dairycreek,

You said that you have fired the SW 327? How is the ballistics and accuracy out of that 1 inch barrel? Overall I like it, but wow is that thing short.

Edited to add:

And isn't the cylinder a bit bulky?

 

[cookekdjr]

I like a S&W airweight for pocket carry.

 

[BsChoy]

Either a S&W 642 or if you want to stay with the 45 acp. a G36 will actually hide much easie and still give you 7 rounds of 45 to shoot. I wore my 642 yesterday and I always forget I have it on by the end of the night

 

[ARTiger]

Here's a Colt Defender.

7+1 Single stack .45 ACP, 3" barrel, light weight alloy frame.

Really flat, hides well, light and can't argue with 8 rounds of .45 ACP.

 

[chaim]

Would the Taurus Milennium Pro be larger than you want? I think they are a great size (similar to the Glock 26/27 so a little smaller than the 30), concealable yet still very shootable. Mine has been quite accurate and reliable (640 rounds with no problems and nearly half of them have been various hollowpoints) and it is very well made. I am very pleased with this purchase. If you don't like a DAO trigger the new 24/7 Compact is basically the same gun and available with a SA/DA trigger. If you want smaller than the standard M. Pros, the PT745 is a single stack version of the .45acp M. Pro.

If these are larger than you want my best friend owns a Kahr PM9 which he is very happy with. I definately want to add one myself sometime. Look for the Elite trigger (though that may only be available with the steel guns, I'm not sure) if you aren't crazy about the trigger. Most Kahr triggers I've tried were very nice for DAO triggers.

I'm a huge 1911 fan but I'd avoid any with a smaller than 4" barrel. The smallest 1911s tend to have a reputation for reliability issues. Will yours be bad if you buy one, not necessarily, but it seems that it is more likely than average to cause problems. Stick with a 4" gun like the Kimber Pro Carry.

I'm also a big fan of J-frame sized revolvers. They are small, relatively to very light (as low as 12oz for the little scandium monsters to about 25oz for an all steel, beefy, .357mag Ruger SP101). With .38s and a steel gun they don't recoil TOO badly (start with mild .38s while getting used to it). The rounded design is very natural and thus conceals better in a pocket than a comparable sized/weight auto with its straight lines screaming "gun" through your pocket. The one thing to look out for is that they are probably the hardest guns to master so you will need a lot of practice.