Time To Vote! I Can't Decide :)

[The_Armed_Therapist]

These are my top 10. I'm not too interested in having other options brought up, seeing as I tried to start with everything and have narrowed it down to this point. However, if you feel very strongly about one not on the list, feel free to make your argument!

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Oh and feel free to argue for or against any on the list!

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Walther PPK - Its just a neat little pistol! Try and hunt down an older one if you can, The newer ones are ok but they just dont have the class. imho

 

[HDCamel]

PPK
I don't much care for anything else on the list...

 

[gazpacho]

For the longest time my go to ccw was a S&W 340 PD. It's superb in a SOB holster at the 4 o'clock position, and easily concealable with any untucked shirt.

I have never been comfortable with any of the IWB holsters I've tried.

None of the subcompact 9mm pistols I've owned concealed better than the 340, and none were small enough to pocket carry.

I've pocket carried Keltec P32s for a long time, but wanted a better cartridge. I did own a P3AT, but the trigger broke in the first 50 rounds and I could never come to trust the design. I don't trust the Ruger LCP because it seems to be a P3AT clone.

I finally got around to buying a Kahr P380. It slips into a pocket easily, is very controllable in rapid fire, and is very well built. It actually fits my hand better with the short mag than the extended mag. The P380 is now my go to ccw.

 

[jfrey]

Wife had a Taurus PT111 and it was a good little gun. I didn't care for it too much but she liked it. She never shot it that much and traded it on a shotgun for one of the kids.

I had a CW9 and liked it. Small, light, fairly accurate. It didn't like reloads much so I finally traded it on a G19. Sometimes I wish I had it back.

 

[wow6599]

Kahr CM9. I bought a PM9 for my main CCW before the CM9 came out. I then bought my wife a CM9 when I found one to replace her Bersa as her purse gun - nothing wrong with the Bersa, just too heavy.

The CM9 has been more reliable than my PM9 that cost me about $200 more. Great trigger, light, accurate and carries very well in a pocket, IWB or OWB.
YMMV

 

[Dogguy]

None of the above.

I own both the Walther PPK and Bersa Thunder 380. Nice guns, I like them both. But....

...look at the Ruger PC9.

 

[WardenWolf]

None of the above, and buy a Polish P-64. Better gun, and a better round than the .380. It was the Polish military and police handgun from the 1970s up until 1993. Costs around $160. Compact, lightweight, accurate, inexpensive, and ammo is cheap. A quick spring swap dramatically improves its recoil and trigger pull, and you can dress it up with some fancy wood grips if you want. It field strips in 2 seconds. Pull the trigger guard down, pull the slide to the rear and off.

My father and I both carry these pistols. I've shot both it and the Bersa .380, and the P-64 is definitely the better gun. You wouldn't think a milsurp would be a looker, but these are typically in excellent condition and dress up very nicely with some Marschal grips. They're much more reliable than a commercial PPK, and the round they shoot, 9x18 Makarov, is more powerful and cheap. Silver Bear hollowpoints are around $11.50 a box of 50, or $10.50 for FMJ. They point very instinctively and are a great choice for self-defense. Only drawback is the small sights, but a bit of SiteGlo paint helps there. The natural pointing and the top strap's checkering largely makes up for the sights, though. It gives you a nice flat surface to aim along.

These guns are TINY. Very thin, and only slightly longer than a PPK. Short handle (allows for a full grip), easy to conceal.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I wonder how long till someone complains and then suggests a Glock.

 

[SSN Vet]

You have to answer a couple personal questions, and that will drive you towards the correct answer for you.

1. Do you want to pocket carry?

Most of the guns on your list are not suitable for pocket carry for small to medium large people wearing normal pants. The PM9 or the CM9 in a good pocket holster would fit the bill for pocket carry nicely.

2. Are you comfortable carrying a CCW piece that does not have a manual safety?

If not, scrub the Kahrs off your list.

3. Are there good quality holsters readilly available at decent prices for the method of carry and model of gun you are interested in.

Some guns are difficult to find holsters for and it's not uncommon to have to waite months (close to a year in some instances) if the only holster you can find is one of the very popular brands (i.e. Milt Sparks, etc..)

 

[kokapelli]

Which one would I choose for what purpose?

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I want something IWB that imprints less and is more comfortable than the Glock 22 that I carry 75% of the time. I carry a Kel-Tec P32 the rest of the time, but don't like it.

Pocket carry would just be a bonus, but I don't think it is necessary for me. I'm more interested in something smaller and more concealable that would also be OK to shoot at the range. I also prefer either .40 or .380, though 9mm and 9x18 are OK, too.

I just barely ruled out the Polish P-64. It was heavy and quirky (mag release, very stiff safety). Considering I'm Polish, that was one that hurt to rule out

I'm more comfortable w/out a safety, but if one has a safety, I'll probably just ignore it for the most part.

 

[LCPor9mm]

None of the three pocket guns I carry were on your list, so I voted for the Kahr CM9 based on what I've read on this and other forums and from people I have talked to that own them. I have handled most of the guns on your list and like the feel of the Sig P238, however it is chambered in .380 and I would prefer a 9mm or higher caliber for CC.

 

[Nushif]

Bersa .380 ...

A whole lot of gun. For not a whole lot of money. Wife had one for a while. Nothing but good vibes.
Alternatively an all steel Kahr would be my second choice.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Would add Walther PK380, based on others' comments (I don't have one. Yet.)

 

[allaroundhunter]

I love the Sig P238. It is a very compact gun, but a very soft shooting .380. Sights are, IMO, some of the best among guns of its size. The recently produced ones are much more reliable than the first batch and I like that it has the 1911 manual of arms. If you are to get it though, you will most likely need to use the manual safety b/c I would never recommend carrying any SAO weapon "cocked and UNlocked".

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I never carry with a round in the chamber.

I love the PK380, but it is too big. Unfortunately, it would be the biggest in length, width, and height compared to all of those above.

 

[daytodaze]

The only weapon on you list that I have experience with is the ppk, so I didn't vote because I'm biased.

The ppk I shot was a really cool gun, though. It was very accurate, even beyond what we thought was its effective range. It wasn't 100% reliable, though. Maybe because it was new, I'm not sure. The guy who owned it moved to a state with questionable gun laws and sold it, so I'm not sure how it's shooting today.

 

[WardenWolf]

daytodaze, pick up a Polish P-64. They're almost identical to the PPK in appearance. I held one alongside one. The P-64 is about half an inch longer but the overall profile is the same. The P-64 IS 100% reliable. The commercial PPK's are notoriously bad.

I mentioned it earlier, but I'll say it again: the P-64 is smaller than the Bersa, thinner, and fires a hotter round. It's steel, so it weighs the same as the larger Bersa, but it's still very lightweight. It also costs $100 less than the Bersa. The ONLY thing the Bersa has on it is 1 extra round capacity, 7+1 versus 6+1. I carry mine safety off, round chambered, as does my father. The pistol has a decocker safety, and is single / double, so it's ready to go.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I never carry with a round in the chamber.

I always carry with one in the chamber. Compare the time it takes to draw and put rounds 2 rounds on target with regarded to drawing and racking vs drawing and shooting. The results will scare you. Remember that a person just casually moving towards you at 6 miles an hour is moving at 8.8 feet a second. To each his own, though.

I really like the trigger feel on the kahrs. They shoot really comfortably when compared to pocket pistols. Just a better fit to me. However, I never plan on pocket carrying one. For me, it is a good solution for a small, slim, lightweight, single stack 9mm that disappears when carried IWB or OWB under a tshirt.

 

[rich642z]

I have the Ruger LC9 I carry with 4 extra magazines and,al though the trigger is long pull,it is a smooth shooting handgun for what I need it for. 95% of the time it's my primary carry.

 

[jh9x18ky]

"I never carry with a round in the chamber. "

Save some money and buy a blue gun.

 

[Girodin]

I take it this is to be a primary carry gun?

I'd go with a 9mm over the 380s for a primary carry gun. They offer more reliable penetration, and cheaper practice ammo. I then would select the Kahr CW9 of those one your list. It is small enough to easily conceal and large enough to shoot and run well. I believe Kahr is higher quality than Taurus.

 

[wlewisiii]

Only one on there I'd want is the PPK. Pure class and they shoot well for me. I'd prefer an older blue one personally, but I've nothing against current production.