What should I carry?

[xxxleafybugxxx]

I have my CCL on the way... now I'm just trying to figure out what to make my pocket pistol.
I was originally thinking like a cz82 or maybe a p64, but after looking at the LGS, I saw a Beretta Nano i liked.
What would you guys think?
Does anyone here carry milsurp handguns?
Does anyone here have experience with the beretta nano?
Let me know what you think!
P.S. I'm going to the Indy 1500 gun show a week from Sunday, so I'll more than likely pick up my concealed carry weapon then.

 

[cls12vg30]

If you're looking for a pocket gun, there's a lot to think about. I'll tell you about my experience over the last 10 years in North Carolina, as a working I.T. professional. This may more may not be relevant to you.

My primary carry is a Kahr CM9. I normally carry it IWB under untucked polos or button-downs. In the summer months, when I can get away with baggy cargo shorts, I can pocket-carry it. Otherwise it's too bulky for pocket carry, and 9mm's don't come much smaller than that.

When I need to deep-conceal pocket-carry in work-suitable slacks or jeans, it's a Kel-Tec P3-AT in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. If I was to buy a pocket .380 now, I'd look hard at the Ruger LCP, S&W Bodyguard .380 or even the Taurus TCP. None of those were available at the time I bought the Kel-Tec, and I haven't been convinced that any of them are better enough to justify a change from a gun that I've become familiar with over a period of several years and over 1200 rds.

IMHO the Kahr P380 is much too expensive for a micro .380, their pricing point for it makes no sense at all. The newer Diamondback and I.O Hellcat .380's seem to be unreliable crap from what I can gather. My KT has been reliable for several years, so long as I keep it clean. Any pocket-carried gun requires extra effort to keep it clean by nature.

I'm a long-time Makarov fan, my first carry gun was a Bulgarian Mak, and I carried an FEG SMC-918 for a long time and sometimes I carry it to this day. The FEG is very similar to the P64, it's a PPK-clone in 9x18, but Hungarian-made, and harder to find.

A P64 will be a more comfortable carry gun than a CZ82 due to its smaller size. The CZ is big for a 9x18, largely due to the double-stack magazine. That's not to say it's not an excellent weapon..it is, especially for the price (still not as cheap as they used to be! ) The P64 is going to be much more suitable for pocket carry, though. It's thinner, shorter and lighter. It has a 6+1 capacity as opposed to the CZ's 12+1, so you definitely have to take that into account, but those extra rounds do take up space and mass, especially in a pocket.

The Nano is of course a new design, so it has many technological advantages over the old Eastern Bloc milsurp guns, at least in theory. I've never shot a Nano, but I've heard good things. I looked at them a couple years ago when I went from 9x18 to 9x19 for primary carry, and I chose the Kahr CM9 instead. I've been very happy with it after about 2 years and about 1000 rds....of course now the Sig 938 is catching my eye.....big bucks, though.

 

[xxxleafybugxxx]

It may just come down to size... does anyone know what is smaller between the beretta nano and the p64?

 

[cls12vg30]

As I recall, the Nano is maybe slightly larger than the Kahr PM9/CM9 and the Ruger LC9. There's also the Kimber Solo, which is a similar size. The Sig P938 is smaller, but being all-steel rather than polymer-framed it's significantly heavier, I would call it just about on par with the P64 in most dimensions. You're going to be hard-pressed to find a 9x19 pistol that's more compact than the P64, which is of course a clone of the Walther PPK. The most powerful PPK is chambered in .380. A gun that size chambered in 9x18 is actually a very good package as far as power vs. size. That's one reason I carried my FEG for so long. The P64 is still going to be quite a bit heavier than any of the polymer-framed subcompact 9x19's, though. An FEG Pa-63 will be a bit lighter due to its aluminum-alloy frame, but it has a longer slide and grip than the P64.

 

[Scrubber3]

Get a S&W shield and be done with it. If you want a .380 get a Glock 42 or Ruger LCP of you want tennie tiny. The trigger on a Kahr is one of the worst I've ever felt. Hands down. The manufacturer recommends you fire 200 rounds for it to work properly too. I know lots of folks on this forum like them, I have no idea why. I'd get the nano over the Kahr, but after the prior mentioned.

 

[moxie]

IMO the Shield is a bit big for pocket carry, although perfect on a belt.

In addition to those .380 autos, check out the J-frames like the 442/642 or the Ruger LCR in .38Spl. They fit nicely in a right or left front pocket of most pants and shorts in a suitable pocket holster.

 

[camsdaddy]

I think you should handle as many options as possible. Be sure to wear pants like you will normally wear and use to carry. Ask the vendor if you can try it in your pocket. Dont just see if it will fit. Be sure to try to draw from the pocket as well.

 

[tarosean]

Go to the store and see which small pistol you can operate the controls easily with. Those itty bitty safeties, etc. Can be a pain to maneuver. Rent as many as possible then make your decisions on the ones that feel and shoot best for you.


Personally the smallest I would go is Walther PPK or the new Glock 42 sized. Not exactly pocket pistols but are easily concealed and a little more comfortable to shoot.

 

[Water-Man]

If you want a pocket pistol in 9mm you should look at the Kel-Tec PF-9.

It's a good up-close personal protection gun and it's reliable.

Kel-Tec also provides great customer service.

 

[Milt1]

Since you are just getting your CCP and are asking about a suitable handgun leads me to believe that you may be new to this environment. My suggestion is if there is an indoor range near you where you may be able to rent & shoot several pistols would give you a clearer picture of what might be suitable for you.

 

[srtolly]

Since you are just getting your CCP and are asking about a suitable handgun leads me to believe that you may be new to this environment. My suggestion is if there is an indoor range near you where you may be able to rent & shoot several pistols would give you a clearer picture of what might be suitable for you.

Much agreed.
Pocket carry isn't for everyone either, I carry owb cuz I'm not comfortable with any other carry. That's not to say I don't carry other ways a times, I like my KelTec PF9 for pocket carry when I have to.

Guess I'm saying don't settle on pocket carry till you can really try it out, maybe you know someone with one of the fine firearms mentioned that you could try out.

 

[jad0110]

I think you should handle as many options as possible. Be sure to wear pants like you will normally wear and use to carry. Ask the vendor if you can try it in your pocket. Dont just see if it will fit. Be sure to try to draw from the pocket as well.

That is the absolute best (and cheapest) place to start. You'll likely find that your initial choices, when combined with a holster, will be too long for pocket carry. Most pockets simply aren't deep enough, though you can always make them deeper. Once you narrow down to a few types that feel good to you and conceal well with what you wear, see if you can borrow or rent something the same or close to what you seem to like.

 

[bannockburn]

I tried the Beretta Nano and the Kahr PM9 at the same time. Bottom line the PM9 just felt better, more comfortable in my hand than the Nano. Check them all out on your local gun shows to find the one that bests suits your needs.

 

[huntsman]

When it comes to pocket carry try shooting the little plastic guns first, anything made of metal try pocket carrying first.

 

[clance]

I have my CCL on the way... now I'm just trying to figure out what to make my pocket pistol.
I was originally thinking like a cz82 or maybe a p64, but after looking at the LGS, I saw a Beretta Nano i liked.
What would you guys think?
Does anyone here carry milsurp handguns?
Does anyone here have experience with the beretta nano?
Let me know what you think!
P.S. I'm going to the Indy 1500 gun show a week from Sunday, so I'll more than likely pick up my concealed carry weapon then.

If you have to ask, get a revolver!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Please slow down or it may cost you a lot of money replacing the handgun you buy.

There are a lot of tradeoffs with small guns. They are easy to carry but harder to shoot well. If you're new to shooting you may not like the usually excessive recoil you get from a very light pistol.

Like mentioned above, you may want to find a range where you can fire different handguns to see which you like best. There are so many variables just looking at the gun can't tell you if you will like shooting the gun. Since practice is a must you will have to like shooting the gun too.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You should carry what feels best in your hand, provided you can shoot it well.

You should also be prepared in the future to spend the money on a carry gun that works better for you, than what ever you pick first. It is rare that a person picks their optimal carry gun on their first go around.

Also, find a sales person who listens to you. A good salesperson sells you what you need to fit you and your needs. There are a lot of sales people out there who suck, and just try to sell you what they think is cool.

A handgun, and particularly a carry piece, is a very personal decision. There are a ton of fanboys out there who will tell you this brand or model is great, or a perfect carry gun, or their gun runs "flawlessly" (I'm so sick of that word on this forum). The bottom line is that you may find a gun that fits your hand perfectly, you shoot well, but until you've run several hundred rounds through it, and it has run without major issue, you need to be prepared for the fact that it may take you awhile to acquire a gun that works all the time.

Just handle a lot of guns, consider customer service reputation of the company you buy from as well as the gun itself, and be patient with finding the right gun and the amount of money you may end up spending. It took me several years to figure out what worked for me.