Searching for a new carry gun

[Frank44]

You might want to take a look at the S&W M&P 9c and 40c, 12+1 or 10+1 with the 40. Most do not have thumb safeties. These guns seem highly regarded by a lot of people.

 

[short barrel]

I went through that, sort of. I loved the number of rounds in the 9mm, and I loved the 1911's simple and classic concept, and I bought too many plastic striker fired guns looking for the best carry gun.

I settled on a revolver. I've been okay with the limited rounds now for several years. Although we can imagine all sorts of scenarios where multiple rounds would be needed, the truth is it won't come up. Unless you are a policeman or a soldier, 5 or 6 rounds will be enough. Of course I can't say that as a matter of certainty, but I'm aware it almost never happens that a civilian will get in a real shootout where numerous bullets are exchanged.

It's my opinion that the perfect balance between easy of carry and sufficient firepower is a 3" .38 revolver.

That's just me though. I'm old; I grew up with revolvers, and regardless of the many benefits of the autos, I'm settled in my mind as to what will work for me.

 

[bannockburn]

If the Glock 19 is not to your liking then maybe consider the Ruger SR9c or the CZ P-01 for higher capacity 9mm.s that are a more compact size for CCW.

 

[snooperman]

If you do not want a single stack, the H&K USP compact is a fine gun.

 

[FM12]

Get a Browning High Power or BDM and be done with it. Thank me later.

 

[fxstchewy]

I think the Glock 30S would suit you fine, it is a little shorter in both length and height compared to a Glock 19, at the minimum you will have 10 rounds of 45acp in a nice shooting gun. you can use the 9 round short mag for carry and the Glock 21 mag for backup and/or HD.
You could carry it OWB in something like a Mitch Rosen or even the Glock Sport holster and get excellent concealment.

 

[JDR]

Carry the gun that you shoot accurately and reliably; 9mm defensive ammo is so much better than it used to be; my Gen3 Glock 17 fits the bill in so many ways.

 

[tomrkba]

Get a Browning High Power or BDM and be done with it. Thank me later.

I wish Browning Hi-Power MK III pistols were available new for the old price around $600. I also wish I could get factory magazines for them. But, Browning has been trying to kill off the gun for a decade and their latest strategy if jacking up the price is working on me.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Since beginning this search, I have spent a fair amount of time at several gun stores handling various subcompact 9mm automatics. They were:

-Beretta Px4 Storm
-CZ 2075 RAMI BD
-Glock 26 Gen 4
-H&K P2000SK LEM
-SIG P224
-SIG P250
-Springfield XD.

Some thoughts on each:

Beretta Px4 Storm: I almost didn't look at this one because it looks like a hair dryer. I know, I know, looks aren't everything, and there are some truly ugly guns in that list, but the appearance of the Beretta is really off-putting. Nevertheless, at 13+1 capacity it merited a look. The manual of arms is virtually the same as the Beretta 92 series and the trigger was reminiscent of it as well. I'm a big fan of my M9 so this is a good thing. The safety/decocker on the Storm is shorter and harder to manipulate than on the M9 though. Overall, I feel as though I should like this gun more than I do...but I just couldn't get past the looks. Paint it pink and slap a Revlon sticker on it and you'd never even know it was a gun.

CZ 2075 RAMI BD: I have been trying to like this gun for years. I like almost everything about it. It's got what I consider to be the best trigger in its class, in both DA and SA modes. The grip is OK, although I wish it felt more like my CZ 75B. But I've never seen a carry pistol in more desperate need of a melt job than the RAMI. Sharp edges everywhere. And because of that, I've never been able to bring myself to buy one.

Glock 26 Gen 4: I am a long-time Glock skeptic. I've never owned a striker-fired pistol, never liked the idea of a trigger that light without a manual safety. I still don't, and that's the only thing keeping me from buying this gun. With the Gen 4, Glock has made the ergonomics work for me. The finger grooves don't pinch me any more and my hands fall naturally to the controls. The grip angle is much better than it ever was before. I like this gun, I really do, and I almost brought one home today. I may yet. But that light trigger...any gun can bite you. Glocks will bite you faster than most. If the design doesn't quite live up to the Perfection motto, it certainly demands it in gun handling.

H&K P2000SK LEM: This is the gun I wanted to like and in the end regretted that I didn't. I have a couple of USPs that have really grown on me, so I had the idea that I could standardize on the H&K manual of arms for carry guns - P2000SK in summer, USP in winter. Unfortunately the little gun didn't hold up its end of the bargain. The grip was a little awkward and the magazine release is far too small. The price tag is a little high too but you have to pay to play with an H&K. The LEM trigger, about which I've read so many good things, didn't impress - long and indefinite. I'd rather have the standard H&K DA/SA trigger, which isn't exactly an award-winner but at least I'm used to it. Roll on the VP9 and VP9SK - if I can get my head around carrying a striker-fired gun.

SIG P224: A shrunken version of the classic P-series SIGs, the P224 was easy to reject, mostly because of a spotty reliability record to date and those truly awful E2 grips. I've felt sandpaper that was more pleasant. Throw in an astronomical price tag and it never had a chance.

SIG P250: This gun has a DAO trigger that just won't break and a frame that feels like it will. The joke about GM in the bad old days ran, "Body by Fisher, interior by Fisher-Price" - and that could just as easily apply to SIG's polymer frames.

Springfield XD: I like the XD family conceptually. Combining a striker-fired trigger with a grip safety is genius - you get all the advantages of that trigger system with a layer of safety that no other striker-fired pistol offers. However, I've never liked the way they feel in my hand, top-heavy with unpleasant recoil characteristics.

At the end of all this, there's no clear choice, I still don't have a new carry gun, and I don't quite know what to do next. If I'm going to buy one of these guns, I'm going to have to compromise...and I don't know what compromise to make.

 

[Hometeached1]

I have the heavier NY-1 spring in the Glock I own that brings the pull weight to about 8 1/4lbs new and 7 1/2lbs after being broken in. It only cost $2 so it's cheap and it's also easy to install.

So if you get the G26 you might want to look at it.

Hope this helps.

 

[tomrkba]

As mentioned before: the Browning Hi-Power MKIII is a very, very concealable gun. It's something about the grip in relation to the slide that makes it hide more like a Glock 26 than a Glock 19. The only downside to the Hi-Power is that it needs gunsmithing work out of the box. It needs dehorning, night sights, and a beveled mag well. It also desperately needs a trigger job and the removal of the magazine disconnect. The dehorning and magazine well beveling require refinishing. All this work adds to the current $900 price tag. This is the advantage of the polymer framed striker fired guns: they're ready to go out of the box.

Other than the Hi-Power, take a look at various S&W M&P pistols with thumb safeties. The Shield, a single stack gun in 9mm and 40 S&W, may work for you (the original version includes a thumb safety). The S&W M&P 9 Compact is a compact doublestack pistol with good capacity.

Also, the Ruger SR9 gets rave reviews from their owners. Michael Bane talks about his frequently on Downrange Radio. Both the standard and compact versions have ambidextrous thumb safeties (they advertise them as 1911 style, which may indicate placement rather than form). The Ruger SR9C may be what you are looking for and is priced at $380-$425.

 

[JWH321]

Given the criteria you set out, its pretty hard to beat the Glock 19 or the M&P 9c or 40c models. They do just about everything with a minimum of fuss and the will stow on your hip with minimal bulk. They shoot straight and reliably and they do not cost a fortune.

I recently picked up a Sig 2022 that seems to fit the criteria pretty well, but its too new to recommend it. Its great so far, though.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Love the Hi Power. The thumb safety disqualifies it from consideration as a carry gun.

The NY-1 (or even NY-2) trigger in a Glock 26 might be the answer.

 

[stonecutter2]

I'm not willing to trade capacity for caliber. I'm moving in the opposite direction - I'm trying to gain capacity and I'm willing to sacrifice caliber for that.

-a lot of nice low-capacity guns have been suggested, but they don't suit my purposes. I've got a P6 and it's a great gun but I'm after more rounds.

I guess I'm not sure why you're so determined to have so many rounds on you. How many situations have you been in, or know of others being in, where they were carrying and thought "Dang, I should have gotten a higher capacity pistol...."

How many bullets are you anticipating sending towards someone responsibly? A P6 holds 8 rounds, correct?

I mean, it's totally your call. Just be sure you're focusing on the right aspects, and give it serious thought.

Consider how often you're truly going to "need" that many rounds in your carry piece. Now consider how important it is for that carry piece to be comfortable and convenient so you wear it every single day.

6 rounds of 45ACP you carry every day are better than 17 rounds of 9mm that you sometimes don't carry.

 

[ScarLata]

Quote:
__________________________________
Originally Posted by snooperman
I just bought a new Sphinx Compact SDP 9mm and at 29 oz I plan on carrying it soon. Good luck on your search and have fun.
__________________________________

Let us know more info about it. Thanks

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Stonecutter, the statistical case for higher capacity is laid out in this thread, which I strongly recommend reading. Different assumptions can be examined using this calculator. While the odds are that I'll never need a gun at all, I choose to carry one, and I want to carry the most capable one I can in my circumstances. My circumstances are such that I've been carrying a five-shot revolver in my pocket most of the time. I want to carry more gun than that.

Come the winter I could probably conceal a howitzer, but the forecast from now until October is 90-plus degrees with oppressive humidity. That, with my other requirements and preferences, limits my choices, and leads me to think that a subcompact doublestack 9mm is the best fit for me. Unfortunately I'm not completely satisfied with any of the guns in that class, so I'm going to have to re-evaluate the guns and/or my requirements.

 

[Chocolate Bayou]

I carry a Colt Defender in 9mm.It holds 8+1. I took off the Hougue grips and put on VZ slim grips. Stainless slide w/alloy body is light and easy to carry IWB or OWB with right shirt. If you don't mind your magazine sticking out a little, I have Wilson Combat mag that will allow you to carry 10+1. Shoots excellent, but does have the thumb safety as all 1911's do.

 

[mongoslow]

look at the shield 9mm, pick up a few 9 round mags with it load the first one up 9+1, it hides good shoots soft and is pretty dang accurate, the Bersa BP9cc is real nice too with a better trigger than the shield.

ok lied to you they are 8 round mags,just looked at my wife's pistol thought it held 2 more rounds then my .40 but its just 1 more