Suggestions for a new CCW pistol?

[ceetee]

I learned to shoot a handgun using an old Model 19, and my very first self-defense handgun was an original no dash 686 I picked up back in the 80's. I carried that revolver for a while, but soon bought a compact .40 (a CZ100). I carried the CZ for nearly 10 years, but never really warmed up to it that much, so I up and sold it a couple weeks ago. I figured, heck - I could always just go back to toting around that 686, you know? Well... either I'm getting old, or gravity is getting worse, but danged if that big clunky revolver doesn't feel just like a boat anchor tucked inside my belt...

I'm thinking about looking around for a new CCW weapon. Keeping in mind my following opinions:

Metal....................is better than.........plastic
Under $500............is better than........over $500
Over 10 rounds.......is better than.........under 10 rounds
Adjustable Sights....are better than......fixed
DA/SA/decocker......is better than........DAO/safe action/whatever
Reliability...............is key.

I suppose common wisdom of the 2000's would say, "Go pick up a nice G19." I've never shot a Glock, and though I'm not wholly averse to the idea, I know there are scads of other options on the market. CZ has some nice compact pistols as does Beretta, FN, and some others. I'm not exactly unarmed, so I'm not in a real hurry to pick up something new, but I do have a hankering to add a compact 9mm to my "arsenal". I can't think of a better place than right here to ask for suggestions.

 

[test drive]

Bersa UC in 9mm 40cal or .45acp.

 

[Jed Carter]

CZ 75D PCR 9mm is my CCW of choice 14+1 3.9" barrel aluminum frame makes for a good choice. I would use Novak style sights vs Bomar type adjustable in a CCW. I am testing a SIG RCS 1911 7+1 .45ACP to replace the PCR just thinner in the grip) but the PCR is still my daily beater for now.

 

[K-Rod]

+1 Bersa

 

[towboat_er]

CZ82

 

[docnyt]

Your requirements seem to point in the direction of a SIG, whether a 2022, P226 or similar.

 

[jeepguy]

i would say a used sig p228 or p229 in 9mm or cz pcr. forget the adjustable sights and get night sights, like the siglight night sights are very good.

 

[loneviking]

Sigs have the hammer and decocker, and the bigger Sigs like the 228/226 have good magazine capacity. I have a Sig P6 which is a 9mm, very slim single stack mag with 8 in the mag and one in the pipe.

Another choice to look at would be the older S&W's. There were a bunch of models made that had hammers/decockers with 12 to 14 round mags in 9mm and small size. Go to Gunbroker, put in S&W in the semi-autos and do some looking. The S&W's are often very inexpensive, well cared for police trade ins. I forget the model number but there is a S&W out there called a 'shorty-forty' that is a .40 cal that might fit the bill for you.

 

[Winkman822]

Another vote for Sig...though they are going to be over the preferred $500 price point. Another alternative would be an HK USP DA/SA/Decocker (I think it's designated V1 or V2), but that is going to be over $500 and plastic rather than metal.

 

[abuelo]

Consider Springfields XD or XDm. They have an excellent reputation and have more configurations than Carter has pills.