Very Specific Criteria

[Guy Smiley]

I'm looking for a new CCW handgun (revolver or autoloader) based on very specific criteria; let's see what everyone comes up with. If it doesn't meet EVERY requirement on this list, please keep it out of the discussion.

• No form of active safety (i.e. thumb safety, manual trigger safety).
• Passive safeties are not desired but still acceptable (i.e. passive trigger safety, beavertail/grip safety).
• No integrated key lock (i.e. Smith & Wesson's infamous "Hilary Hole").
• If it has a loaded chamber indicator, it should NOT be like Ruger's ridiculous, People's Republik of Kal-ifornia, pop-up nonsense. It's a gun, not a turkey.
• Must be in current production.
• Must be made by an American company NOT owned by another company outside the country (i.e. Kahr).
• American designed, centerfire calibers only.

 

[Texan Scott]

Ruger and Charter revolvers come to mind.

 

[Guy Smiley]

Agreed. I own an SP101 snubbie and am quite fond of it. I typically run Buffalo Bore 38 +P 158 gr lead semi wad cutter hollow points in it. I don't have much experience with Charter Arms. I hear mixed reviews. I've often eyed the .44 Special Bulldog as a possible purchase, though.

 

[OptimusPrime]

LCP.

 

[Guy Smiley]

I've got one of those too. I carry it in a MIC Holster and it absolutely disappears IWB. I plan to send it out at some point to CCR to get a Cera-Hide job done on the slide.

 

[Jim Watson]

I like the Kahr P9 but that is a funny foreign caliber. And do you think foreign owned?

OK. I will read the catalogs so you don't have to.

S&W Plastic M&P Compact .40.
It has a passive trigger safety but can be had without magazine safety, thumb safety or key lock. And the official G-man caliber.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Then get a second LCP. Yosemite Sam style.

 

[Cryogaijin]

Sccy Cpx2?

 

[Guy Smiley]

Oh, man. I hadn't considered the M&P Compact .40. That's going on my to-buy list! Maybe right after my second LCP and 11-gallon hat!

 

[jonnyc]

KelTecs fit the bill.

 

[fastbolt]

If your "revolver" consideration includes a Centennial-style 5-shot J-frame, S&W offers some current production model variations made without the ILS (lock), specifically No-Lock versions of the 442, 642 & M&P 340.

They may not have made any recent production runs of the new style 40/42 (grip safety, though).

They might have others, but I don't keep up with all of the revolver model variations & production runs.

 

[420Stainless]

I like the Kahr P9 but that is a funny foreign caliber. And do you think foreign owned?

OK. I will read the catalogs so you don't have to.

S&W Plastic M&P Compact .40.
It has a passive trigger safety but can be had without magazine safety, thumb safety or key lock. And the official G-man caliber.

I didn't think Kahr was foreign owned so I checked the website and it looks like the parent company is a manufacturer of CNC machines and, I presume, is a foreign based corporation. Not that I care, but it does look like it is foreign owned. I had thought it was owned by one person up until just a few minutes ago. Still love my Kahr and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

 

[Guy Smiley]

Yes, and oddly enough, Kahr was founded by Kook Jin "Justin" Moon who happens to be the son of The Reverend Dr. Sun Myung Moon.

 

[Guy Smiley]

The .32 and .380 Kel-Tecs would be acceptable to me but not the 9mm ones. 9mm was not an American designed cartridge. I've owned a P32 before and I must say, never have I owned a lighter or thinner pistol. I think Beretta's new Pico is actually thinner, but then we run into that whole foreign company thing.

As for the SCCY, I loved everything I read up until the part about them only being available in 9mm. I know it probably sounds a bit odd and maybe even elitist of me to be so picky. Still, I appreciate the suggestions and love a good gun conversation. Keep the suggestions coming and thanks!

 

[420Stainless]

I thought Justin Moon was the owner until you pointed out otherwise. Learned something new today. I'm not at all bothered by his family, but I was not aware that he wasn't the owner.

 

[Guy Smiley]

Yup, nothing about his family bothered me either. The only concern I had is that his company is a subsidiary of the Tongil Group in South Korea. I'm glad that Kahr is here providing Americans with good jobs, but I also want my money to stay here in the states. If not for that, I'd pick up a PM45 no questions asked.

 

[Guy Smiley]

If your "revolver" consideration includes a Centennial-style 5-shot J-frame, S&W offers some current production model variations made without the ILS (lock), specifically No-Lock versions of the 442, 642 & M&P 340.

They may not have made any recent production runs of the new style 40/42 (grip safety, though).

They might have others, but I don't keep up with all of the revolver model variations & production runs.

I'd considered all of these too. The M&P 340 has always interested my mind but not my wrists. I shot one of those once and can't imagine shooting the 2-ounce-lighter 340PD!!

 

[Luger_carbine]

Curse that bastard Georg Johann Luger and his non-American parabellum cartridge !

Curse him I say !

 

[Jim Watson]

Interesting, I thought Moon, jr was the proprietor with no connection to Moon sr's church or the old country. I won't part with my CW9 on account of it, though. After all, it says NRA right on the side.

But the M&P C is a good little gun and available in .40. It has made a convert out of the past president of the local chapter of The Gun of the Month Club.

Agree with Luger carbine. The Kaiser has the last laugh.
Why can't we be shooting something home grown like the 9.8 mm Colt?

 

[Guy Smiley]

Haha. I'll admit, it's a more than proven round and I probably should omit it from my list of no-no's, but I suppose everyone has their own personal quirks about firearms. My grandfather didn't believe it was a real gun unless it was made of blued steel, for example. He would likely have had a fit seeing all the polymer framed guns on the market today!

 

[Guy Smiley]

Interesting, I thought Moon, jr was the proprietor with no connection to Moon sr's church or the old country. I won't part with my CW9 on account of it, though.

But the M&P C is a good little gun and available in .40. It has made a convert out of the past president of the local chapter of The Gun of the Month Club.

I only wish that Glock Tech made a MIC Holster for it. They make one for the Shield, but I think the dimensions of the trigger guard are slightly different. No biggie, I'd probably just carry it in a Remora.

MIC Holsters, Clip Draws, and Remoras tend to be the only holsters I use.

 

[5Wire]

I'd recommend any of these: H&K P7 PSP (1st photo), P7M8, P7M13 "squeezecocker" pistols. However, none are in current production and they were not manufactured in the U.S. Hard to improve upon.

All shots are single action. The ejector doubles as a tactile and visual loaded chamber indicator. The front grip is a cocking lever which requires a firm squeeze to cock the striker. Relaxing the grip decocks the pistol. It is probably the safest semiauto to carry with a chambered round. See "Continuous Motion Principle.

The barrel is fixed and has a very low barrel axis. The action is a gas retarded blowback. It is extremely accurate in any of its several configurations.

The P7 PSP and the P7M8 are easily concealable, if a bit heavy. Not much bigger than a S&W 642.



They are pretty expensive but reliable and durable.

P7PSP

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P7M8




P7M13

 

[rcmodel]

A Colt Single-Action Army in .45 Colt fits all your criteria.

See how silly your criteria is!

rc

 

[C0untZer0]

Carl Rohrbaugh's 380

It looks like this but it's chambered in 380 ACP:

The name is a little iffy though - it's not American, its German, it means "dweller by a stream where reeds grew" in German. So I don't know if that's a deal breaker for you or whatever...

 

[Guy Smiley]

A Colt Single-Action Army in .45 Colt fits all your criteria.

See how silly your criteria is!

rc

I've carried a Ruger Vaquero several times and never felt undergunned. I'm not as good with one as other firearms, but I still like my odds with full house .45 Colts screaming out of the barrel!