New small pistol ?

[dog gone it]

Just passed my carry permit class today. Yeehaw !!!
Anyway I got a score of 100 on my shooting test and I can shoot fairly ok I guess. Ive shot pistols a few times in my life but I grew up shooting long arms mostly. I dont know my different weapons as well as I should. I now want to start carrying for reasons of self defense from humans and possibly a rabid coyote, bad dog, etc...when I go walking.
Im looking for a pistol that is pretty small and easy to carry around, even maybe a shirt pocket on my overalls.
Also very important is the EASE of disassembly to clean and then reassemble. Of course I want dependability but I dont think I want a revolver because I was thinking that the cylinder would be too bulky. The Ruger .22 LR that I have now is great for plinking, practice, etc...but it is very much a pain in the rear-end for me to take apart and reassemble because of my disability.
So I need easy to clean(disassemble&reassemble), dependable, and would like to have a common caliber like 38 ??? You tell me.
Thanks

PS...I just watched a video on breakdown for a Ruger LCP 380 that a police officer suggested and it looked easier than my Ruger Mark III

 

[Pipe Smoker]

I love my aluminum frame .380 SIG P238. Very compact & light (15oz with empty mag). Very reliable, even with JHP, and easy take-down & reassembly. Even easy to take out its firing pin and extractor for cleaning. Good trigger, considering the gun's purpose. SAO, with 1911-like controls. Excellent fit & finish, inside & out. Soft recoil, & good tritium sights (drift adjustable).

 

[Wildfire]

I carry a TCP .380.
one of the lightest made. Won't break the bank and shoots well.
I get 2" groups at 7 to 8 yards at what I call semi rapid fire.
10 oz empty.
Fits in most pockets. Easy take down and no gadgets.
Locks open on last shot.

 

[FL-NC]

I would recommend the Ruger LC9 if you wand a DA pistol.(slightly bigger than the 380, but in 9mm). More power, more choices in ammo, more ammo availability. I like striker fired, so personally I would opt for a Glock 43 or S&W shield 9, but different strokes.

 

[dog gone it]

Thanks for all the help.
I think I opened up a can of worms for myself. But I also feel like I might be better prepared when I go look at some pistols in person later.
I like all three suggestions so far and have watched videos of the break down and I think I like the Ruger LC9 the best so far when it comes to break down and price. I do believe I would like to stay around 500 dollars or less if possible. If it means that much better quality and dependability then maybe up to 700.

I really dont know if I want single, double or double action only ??? I will have to research that some more.

I also forgot to mention that I will be in and around water a lot. I might even end up falling down into the water...Not on purpose of course but its very possible. I didnt know if this would effect someones decision on a different gun and/or ammo.
Thanks

 

[Tallball]

LCP = pocket sized

LC9 is bigger and not really pocket sized

 

[dog gone it]

Thanks Tallball I will keep that in mind.
Ive also been told that I still need to consider the revolvers as they have really redesigned them for better concealment since Ive seen them last. Im 52 years old now and I still have my Smith n Wesson 357 for the house but wouldnt really consider carrying it around a lot as its very heavy.
I think I will be better educated when I visit the sporting goods store. I have already read so many different articles with different options that my head is spinning.
I might like the small snag free, laser grip, revolvers but thats a different forum topic - Just saying.

 

[huntsman]

Don't rush your choice and shoot some first if you can.

I'm 5 years now carrying my LCP and no reason to change up now.

 

[jeepnik]

Glock 42. It's a .380 acp. A bit larger than the LCP which makes it easier to shoot, yet still a good size for concealed carry. More than enough for dogs, coyotes and two legged critters.

 

[Reloadron]

So many guns. Here is what I suggest. Find a local gun store and handle several hand guns. Look for what seems to fit your hand the best and what you are comfortable with. Many ranges offer rental guns affording you the opportunity to try a few guns and see what you feel is manageable recoil. You want a caliber you can manage with ease and comfort that is also good at stopping bad guys or bad dogs.

Consider this, your life can lie in the balance of the gun you choose for carry, you want reliability. Once you narrow down a very wide field to several models begin to research the reliability of those guns. When you consider budget consider your life could lie in the balance.

Just My Take....
Ron

 

[Coyote3855]

I've got a Kahr .380 that's been very reliable, easy to disassemble, great trigger. But even the economy model is more expensive than most of the other small .380s.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Small lite weight 7+1 rounds weight less 10 oz loaded. Only one . That the KelTec P-32 shirt pocket or pants . I have 4 in house hold . A have been 100% perfect from day one Preferred carry of wife and daughter's . I got my own also.

 

[dog gone it]

Wow I wasnt expecting so many responses and great info with suggestions.
I see I have my homework cut out for this old retarded country boy.
Im going to slow down, search, read, take a trip to town and look and hold some different models.
Thanks again

 

[Tallball]

I am 50 and old school. I keep a medium-frame 357 near me when I sleep. If I didn't live in such a safe area (and didn't have two giant dogs) my 12-gauge coach gun would be within reach as well.

For carry my preferences go like this:

44 special snubbie in cooler weather - coat pocket or well covered by coat or long heavy shirt

38 special 2" hammerless snubbie - in back pocket if I am not going to sit down - perfect for walking the aforementioned dogs in any weather or rambling around the woods or whatever

micro 380 for everything else - it fits in a shirt pocket while driving or any sort of pants or shorts pocket otherwise


Here is my 38 snubbie. It has a lightweight aluminum frame and I removed the hammer spur. It is light and easy to carry. Getting it out of a front pocket while seating would be a bit of a problem, but that is probably true of any front-pocket carry. I very much prefer it to my LC9, but I am also a revolver guy.

 

[weblance]

Have a look at the Kahr CM9. Its the same size as most small 380s, but chambered in 9mm. Why spend $7 more per box of 380, and get less performance than 9mm. Its stainless and polymer, with a stainless magazine, so water and moisture wont be much of an issue. Its a great pistol, and is usually a few dollars less than $400 new.

 

[kozak6]

The Ruger MK series is unusually difficult to field strip. Most other pistols are much simpler.

Think about what size you want to carry, how much capacity you want, and how much horsepower you want.

You probably will want to stick to one of the big name brands. Ruger, Glock, S&W, Kahr, Springfield, etc.

 

[C0untZer0]

Also might want to look at the Remington RM380, although its another pistol where you have to pull the slide back until the pin lines up and then push the pin out with a plastic rod or something. Although if you listen to Hickok45 the RM380 disassembles super-easy.

I'm used to the same takedown with my R9 but some folks might find it difficult. I do think its a little more difficult than a CM9. With the CM9, the take down pin protrudes a little bit on the right side and once the slide is aligned, pushing on that pin will cause the slide stop lever to pop out a little ways and once that is done you can grab it with two finger and pull it out.

 

[HexHead]

Glock 42. Soft shooting, accurate, better trigger, easy to break down. Super reliable.

 

[bannockburn]

I second the notion of looking at a Kahr CM9. Small and compact for a 9mm. along with a decent DAO trigger.

 

[Ibmikey]

Sig P238, Sig P 239 (9mm), Glock 42, Glock 43 (9mm) and Kimber Micro in that order. I have all of these pistols and rate accordinng to size/comfort, reliability and accuracy I Left out the Mustang because the sights stink.

 

[gandog56]

Class? You needed to take a class? In Alabama we don't need no steenking classes.

 

[dog gone it]

Yes he told us that. There only around a handful (7 -9?) states that dont recognize TNs permit carry laws and they are mostly blue states. Were are good with the laws of AL but Im not sure I like the idea of not being a bit more educated to the reason why we pay the fee that we have to pay and be at least given a few pointers on so many topics he covered. All I can say is the same thing he did "know your own States laws".The carry while traveling can be a grey area in some situations but ignorance of the law...u know.
Thanks again to all for a greater selection as well as personal advice.

 

[Winkman822]

I'd say stick with something chambered for at least 9mm for personal protection. A .380 will get the job done in a pinch, but there are plenty of small 9mm pistols out there that will do the job better and be as easy to carry, though YMMV as far as how easy you find them to be as a pocket gun.

Some good ones to look into are as follows (in no particular order):

Ruger LC9s
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield
Walther PPS (or PPS M2 if you prefer a traditional mag release)
Glock 43
Kahr CW9

From my own experience, the Walther, Smith & Wesson and Glock are all stupidly easy to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning and maintenance.

 

[Tirod]

If you plan to shoot with it more than a magazine, the owner reviews (not gun rag writers) of recoil and trigger pull are more important than takedown. You will be shooting it far more than cleaning it.

I can shoot 50 rounds out of a Kahr CW380 and have a pleasant time. Two mags out of a first gen LCP not so much. Later LCP's have better triggers but recoil is a lot sharper.

Pocket carry guns range from the LCP up to and even thru some small 9mms. What holster it goes in also influences it's bulk and weight. The padded pockets like the Nemesis are ok but add bulk, the thin kydex holsters are often "boned" so much they can literally print what gun it is. A single side holster like the Recluse can be a better choice, especially since it has a trigger retention block on it. Most of the pocket guns have a long DA pull with no safety. They range up to 12 pounds and too many force you to nearly touch the frame to let it off.

Go try dry firing them at a cooperative gun store - it's how I passed on considering some already mentioned. Long heavy triggers aren't my cup of tea anymore - too much carpal tunnel.

The major choice is between .380 and 9mm, there is plenty of ammo out that greatly improves the performance over the last 20 years. Ammo that uses Hornady XP bullets seems to top most shooters lists.

As for disassembly, it goes to recoil spring tension. Some are much higher than others. One specific issue is that the lower the tension the more likely the gun has sharper recoil. It's a tradeoff - I chose the stiffer spring because that model was also softer shooting, where the real benefit it. It's up to you where your tradeoff is, but a gun can be taken down without holding all the parts in your hands. A wood jawed vice does the trick. Some, like the LCP, practically require a tool to get the pin out, but even in the days of issue 1911's we often used an issue Scripto ball point with steel tip to prod the slide switch out. If it's a carry gun scratches are part of life.

In order of importance I'd put trigger pull, length, then recoil as the top features to pick from, and then having a slide held open by the last round. Not having to rack the slide to get another mag in is a significant benefit when your hands aren't what they were. It's a great help practicing at the range and if you need it in self defense. You immediately know the mag is empty, instead of guessing about your round count.

It's really a narrow range of options, too small and recoil can be difficult, too large and you can't pocket carry it. Within a hundred dollars top to bottom in price, put the features ahead as a cheap carry gun without them is how they did it. It will be unpleasant to shoot and won't help reloading it.

 

[pblanc]

I think you first need to select a caliber before you go looking at different models.

I know that there are many people who carry and trust .380 Auto (AKA 9mm short, 9mm Kurtz, 9x17mm) pistols for self defense. Personally, I do not and would not.

There is no doubt that .380 can be deadly, as can even smaller calibers. But the .380 cartridge tends to lack enough muzzle energy to reliably expand jacketed hollow point self defense ammo, and when such ammo does expand, it tends to underpenetrate.

9mm (AKA 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger, 9x19mm) is a much more potent self-defense caliber and nowadays one can find very compact and reliable 9mm Para pistols that are almost as small and easy to carry as the smaller .380s.

There are many other factors to consider such as trigger mechanism, striker versus hammer-fired, safety or no safety, etc.

Assuming you choose to go with a 9mm Para, striker-fired, subcompact pistol there are many choices. Three that I would specifically recommend are various Kahr models such as the CW9 model, the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield (both already mentioned by Winkman 822), and the SIG Sauer P320 subcompact.

The Kahr pistols have long, smooth trigger pulls that many feel add some insurance against an accidental discharge in a tense situation.

The M&P Shield can be had with an external, manual safety if that is important to you.

The SIG P320 is slightly larger but offers considerably greater ammunition capacity.