Recommend a newbie a practical carry weapon

[Deus Machina]

All I can say is DO NOT BUY THE PHOENIX. There's a reason they're known for not firing, or flying apart--because they fail to fire and sometimes fly apart. Often in as few rounds as it takes to test defensive ammo.

Best I can say is hit the gun shops and hold stuff. You'd be surprised on what you can conceal, or what refuses to hide on your body.

My vote is for the P11. Will be the easiest to shoot and the most substantial one there. The P32 would run second, and even if I wouldn't feel unarmed with a .32, I also wouldn't recommend it if you can carry larger.

I have nothing against Hi-Point, but I guarantee you there is no comfortable way to CC one of their guns, and I can absolutely guarantee that--if you're practicing with it as you should--a Phoenix will malfunction badly on you within a year.

The other guys are right--check the used bin. Plenty of 9x18's and such for cheap, and even the occasional decent .38 revolver or S&W Sigma.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

KT P32 (I'm not a fan of shooting pocket size .380's)
KT P11
CZ82
Rossi 3" .38

I have and carry each of those and didn't spend over $250 on any of them.

I have and will trust my life to each.

The one above that gets carried the most is the P32. With having a little practice now, I can put all 8rds in a 3" group at 7yds very quickly, and it eats anything I put thru it. I prefer Fiocchi 73gr FMJ's for feeding reliability and penetration. I usually carry a 9, 40, or 45, but there are times I'll throw on some shorts and run to the corner store and the P32 goes in the pocket. Most of the time I'm carrying a service size weapon, the P32 is in the pocket as a BUG.

 

[Nar]

I speak for the used bins, I have both a S&W .38 and a Sig 226, both i got for 250, also i have used a hi-point, they arn't bad, but they arn't going to be a good carry gun, the bersa and sigma both look like they could be good, though by now you may have bough one already. and I can't speak for kel-tec, never had one.

 

[TexasGunbie]

Look hard enough and you can get a used glock for 400. But the answer your question, look into Taurus if you only have 300 bucks. Don't go too cheap, better to have a pocket knife than a jam-o-matic gun.