Small Carry Gun for under $500

[NinjaFeint]

I am looking to buy a small carry gun and need one under/up to $500 before taxes to leave me money for a holster. I am looking for suggestions in any caliber .380 and up. The only thing is it needs to be thinner than a Glock 26 and no larger dimensionally. So what should I be looking at?

PS. I am ok with single, double or "safe/pre-cocked" action.


Edit: Got a good deal on a lightly used PM9, thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[19-3Ben]

I would go with the Kahr CW9. Either that, or if you want REALLY small, the Ruger LCP.

One of the best values in the market. Where in CT are you?
If you are up near Newington, Hoffmans has LCP's for $269.95 right now.

Of course, the guys at Hoffmans are jerks and I won't support their business, but if you go down the street to Newington Gun Exchange, the guys there are fantastic, and they will match Hoffman's prices.

 

[MikePaiN]

Kahr CW9 ...got mine a few weeks ago. It is 100% reliable(my main requirement), accurate, comfortable, thin and has the awesome Kahr DA trigger
Mine was $454 out door. You wont find a better CCW under $500, I'd say you'd be hard pressed to find a better one even if you wanted to spend more than $500..


edit:
Wow, 3 Connecticut people....this one came from Newington Gun Exchange.

 

[NinjaFeint]

I am in manchester. Anthony's Collectibles in Windsor Locks will match Hoffman's so I haven't been dealing with them lately. I bought my first gun at Newington too but Anthony's just opened and has fantastic ammo prices so I have been going there.

Do the Kahr's need frequent spring changes?

 

[NinjaFeint]

Kahr CW9 ...got mine a few weeks ago. It is 100% reliable(my main requirement), accurate, comfortable, thin and has the awesome Kahr DA trigger
Mine was $454 out door. You wont find a better CCW under $500, I'd say you'd be hard pressed to find a better one even if you wanted to spend more than $500..


edit:
Wow, 3 Connecticut people....this one came from Newington Gun Exchange.

Cool to see some new england shooters, right?

 

[MikePaiN]

Do the Kahr's need frequent spring changes?

No.
They are very high quality guns, made for concealed carry. Break them in with 200 rounds of FMJ, clean, lube test your carry ammo and you'll be good to go for a long time.

 

[MikePaiN]

btw: Kahr has recently released Trijicon night sights for the CW line
http://www.kahrshop.com/

 

[NinjaFeint]

No.
They are very high quality guns, made for concealed carry. Break them in with 200 rounds of FMJ, clean, lube test your carry ammo and you'll be good to go for a long time.

Thanks I will check one out. I don't mind the LCP and it has it's purpose but its not desirable.

 

[Morrell]

Get a P64 in 9x18. Will cost about 160.00 and will last forever! J&G has them right now.

 

[steveracer]

I really like the S&W 3rd generation guns in that price range. The 3913 (TDA) and 3953 (DAO) are very nice sizes for carry and can be had all day long for about $400. They hold nine rounds of 9mm, and will shoot +p+ without any changes. They conceal very well, as they are slim and flat.
I really like the steel-framed Kahrs, but I found the polymer guns to beat the shooter up a bit. Keep in mind that I shoot a 3" barreled .44 Mag routinely, and well, so this is no small consideration.
The K-9 is a fantastic gun, and shoots GREAT. Right at the top of your price range.

 

[JamisJockey]

One of the Kel Tec 9mm's.

http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/p11.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/916612838/Guns/Pistols/Kel-Tec-Pistols/223-Type/Kel_Tec_Model_P_11.htm

And you'll have plenty left over for a good holster, some mags, and a case of ammo.

 

[kragluver]

I second the motion on the P64. Buy two, they are small and inexpensive. The P64 filled the nitch for the small carry gun in my cabinet very well. If you do get one, replace the hammer and recoil springs with those made by Wolf.

 

[DasFriek]

Personally,id go CW9 or Taurus PT145 as both are about the same exact size.I only like .45's as a main carry gun no matter what size it is.
The Kahr CW.45 is also very close to the same size and cost as both of those.

For a .380 i highly suggest the Sig P238.

 

[G27RR]

If you're switching from a Glock 26, I think you'd be pleased with a Kahr CW9 as others have mentioned. I just switched from a Glock 27 last week to a CW9 because I wanted something thinner. Very pleasantly surprised by the Kahr. I've been wearing it around all week and I hardly notice it's there any more. I always noticed the Glock as it tended to dig my side a bit. The Kahr is also much better in terms of printing. I've been wearing it around people I thought would notice I was carrying, but no one has so far.

 

[andrsnsm]

LCP is small and reliable, I am not a Kel-Tec fan, take a look at the Sig P238 if you want a great shooting micro .380. I would also consider trying to find a good deal on a Glock 36, Walther PPS, or even consider a Taurus SLIM (9mm). I am not a big Taurus fan but it appears to be a nice sized handgun.

 

[commygun]

Kahr CW40. Great economical concealed carry.

 

[stainone]

XDSC

a little nice gun xdsc 9mm 13rds SWEET!! thats the fkush mag extened mag 16rds

 

[AJChenMPH]

I would also consider trying to find a good deal on a Glock 36, Walther PPS, or even consider a Taurus SLIM (9mm). I am not a big Taurus fan but it appears to be a nice sized handgun.

I have a Taurus 709 Slim -- the reviews are mixed when it comes to reliability out of the box, as well as shooting WWB for practice, but if you get a good one (and I did), it's a great gun for the money. Very accurate (though they tend to shoot a little low, but the sights are adjustable), 7+1 in 9mm.

It also carries very well, especially IWB -- I was able to reuse the Galco SkyOps holster that came with my Glock 19, and have carried with absolutely no one suspecting that I was carrying.





MSRP is $459, so you should be able to get it for quite a bit less than that.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Id defianetly go with the CW9. I bought one and unfortunately, it was stolen. Given a opportunity to reconsider my origina; purchase, i bought another one.

Personally,id go CW9 or Taurus PT145 as both are about the same exact size.

Just nitpicking here but the CW9 is notably smaller in every category. Its .35" thinner, .225" shorter in length, .625" shorter in height and 6.4oz lighter. The PT145 is has the same dimensions as a G26 and is a little heavier. I'll put it this way, my CW9, fully loaded 7+1 weighs about the same as the PT145 does unloaded. The PT145 has a firepower advantage being a 10+1 .45ACP but with those 11 rounds of heavy .45ACP added on to its 22oz frame it will suffer a severe weight disadvantage for everyday conceal carry. 11 rounds of .45ACP will add almost 8.5oz of weight to the firearm.

Kahr CW40. Great economical concealed carry.

The .40S&W has alot of recoil in a lightweight gun like the cw40. You can easily notice the recoil difference between the .40S&W and 9mm in a service size firearm. Just imagine what the recoil difference is like when the gun weighs 1/2 as much as the service size pistols.

 

[Four Knives]

Taurus 709 - great choice at about $370
They don't shoot low - the factory simply does not take time to adjust the sights before they are shipped out.
With 9 rounds, you can adjust the sight to perfect POA/POI
Much better build quality than the Kel Tecs

Kel Tec PF9
Very thin and very light, but only marginally so vs. the Taurus
Sights adjustable for windage only, unless you want to shim or sand the rear sight.
Can post respectable groups when slow fired, but I've never seen anyone put good groups together rapidly
If you shoot a DAO revolver well, you'll shoot well with the KT, but for most the trigger is the worst thing about them

Polish P64 is cheap and is thin and well built
Drawback is a horrid double action trigger - even with a hammer spring change, which is a MUST DO, (only about $8) the DA pull is easily 18 lbs
Single action is very nice, but since they can't be carried cocked and locked, it's a moot point, as your first shot will be horribly heavy
They're cool guns, and I recommend buying one, but more for the history and solid build than for carry
They also use 9x18 ammo so you'll have to stock up, rather than having the convenience of picking it up at wal marts and the like

From Kahr Arms website:
http://www.kahr.com/PA-1B/review_ch0905.html

Kahr Arms emphatically states that the recoil spring must be replaced after 3,000 rounds. I suggest more frequent change if +P or +P+9mm ammunition is fired

As far as mixed reviews, each of the pistols above have mixed reviews as it pertains to reliability; even the expensive MK and PM series of Kahr which will run over 600 have all kinds of detractors.

Get the 709, spray the pee out of it with brakekleen before you shoot it, and allocate yourself 9 'sight in' rounds before you even put it into action and you'll be a happy camper.

 

[AJChenMPH]

*laugh* "shoots low" vs. "factory doesn't adjust sights" = the shooter adjusting the sights either way. You're also 100% correct on cleaning it before shooting it the first time -- I also did that and haven't had what I consider to be a gun-related FTF/FTE (one failure to cycle so far, and that was because I didn't have the mag fully seated when loaded 7+1).

 

[IdahoLT1]

From Kahr Arms website:
http://www.kahr.com/PA-1B/review_ch0905.html

Quote:
Kahr Arms emphatically states that the recoil spring must be replaced after 3,000 rounds. I suggest more frequent change if +P or +P+9mm ammunition is fired

Just for clarification, youre saying that shooting $600 worth of ammunition and then buying a $9 part should be considered as a detractor for anyone considering a Kahr?

 

[Four Knives]

I thought it was a good distinction to make.

When you hear a gun 'shoots low' it implies there's nothing to be done about it, even though you did mention the adjustable sights. My intent wasn't to offend or be argumentative...apologies.

Either way, the point is made, I was simply highlighting that it's not a negative.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=462066&page=3

 

[Four Knives]

Just for clarification, youre saying that shooting $600 worth of ammunition and then buying a $9 part should be considered as a detractor for anyone considering a Kahr?

Nope, I'm just clarifying the question Ninjataint asked about frequent spring changes.

No other autopistol I own comes with a recommendation to change my recoil spring at 3k except for my MK9, so for me that is comparatively 'frequent'.

As far as Kahrs go, however, I think the CW line is the best based on price point - PM and MK models are nowhere near worth the pricing they sell at. They're good guns certainly, but not worthy of a 700 price tag.
You picked well with the CW.


ETA:
I have a sense the CW might be a bit larger and heavier than the 709, but I haven't checked the specs and don't have extensive experience with that model.
That said, of the guns spoken of here, I'd pick the CW as a good option to look at and would be my 2nd in line.

 

[NinjaFeint]

I am ok with spring changes every three thousand rounds...I just wanted to make sure it wasn't every thousand or less. I am off to go put my fingerprints on some guns, the 709 and the CW9.