What would be your general recommendation for CCW?

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Well I'm glad a few people see the question I'm asking, instead of trying to disect the question and use it to "enlighten" me. I'm well aware that there are different hands and preferences, I just wanted to see what the starting point would be that you would build off from.

Psyop might have said it better than me. If someone walks into a gun store, which one would you hand him first and say "how does this feel?"

Here is another simple truth almost everyone chooses wrong the first time. I doubt one in ten of us who carry are still carrying their first gun. If you add in first gun in first holster and belt and I doubt its one in five hundred.

So true! I started on a XDm compact in .40, but I've since changed to an M&P compact in 9.

I'd also like to point out that most of the easily-concealed pistols (such as the Ruger LCP, for example) do not fit the hand very well at all (too small to get a comfortable grip) and do not shoot very well due to sharp recoil and the poor grip. So I agree, it isn't always "what fits". Although I don't carry my LCP much anymore because I don't like practicing with it at the range.
 
I honestly think many of the previous posters are way overthinking this. The OP was obviously not looking to actually base a first gun purchasing decision for himself or someone else on the results of this post so all these qualifications and counter arguments seem pretty pointless. Its just a hypothetical question as to which gun we might chose, all other factors being equal. :rolleyes:

So what would your catch-all answer be?
I'd probably agree with you on the recomendations for the Glock 19. Its got a lot going for it, small enought to be easier to conceal but not so small as to be hard to handle, good capacity, chambered in a competent SD round, reasonably easy to shoot to combat accuracy. With proper training and assuming the hypothetical individual didn't have especially tiny hands it should serve anyone reasonably well. :cool:

For someone who wants something reliable, low-maintenance and with an easy manual of arms, it's tough to beat a quality snub revolver of some kind.
Unless the carrier had a specific need for a pocket gun, I would not recomend a snub nose, particualarly as a first or only gun. Even with normal pressure rounds they can be tricky for new shooters to handle and the short barrel and minimal sights make them hard to shoot accuratly. Now, a J-Frame with a 3 or 4 inch barrel and good sights (like the S&W Model 60 for example) is another matter. ;)
 
Skribs said:
If someone walks into a gun store, which one would you hand him first and say "how does this feel?"

I'd answer the same way I'm answering here.

I begin the conversation with several direct questions.

  • How will you carry it?
  • How often will you carry it, and for how many hours at a time?
  • How much experience do you have with shooting, or even any at all?
  • Let me see how big your hands are . . . How strong are they? Any hand or wrist issues?
  • How mechanically inclined are you, and how much effort are you going to put in to learning how it works and maintaining it?
  • Will you practice with this gun every month? How many rounds?

Depending on those answers then we’ll actually start looking at guns.


Don’t take this the wrong way, but only the young and inexperienced think a big question like this can be answered simply and easily.

Once you get out, meet people and do this sort of exercise with regular folks you’ll find people who have really small hands, arthritis, mothers who have kids hanging all over them during the day – you know, just basic life stuff – then you’ll understand there is no universal starting point.

mdauben said:
Its just a hypothetical question as to which gun we might chose, all other factors being equal. :rolleyes:

Yeah, except that we're not all equal. We're all different.
 
Like others i don't agree with the premise of the question but i would have to say a small .38 revolver is hard to go wrong with.
 
I'm not asking for myself. I'm not asking for answers like "it depends on the shooter" or "what fits your hand". I'm asking, if someone wanted to know what they should buy for a self defense pistol, with no other qualifiers, what would your catch-all recommendation be? Would it be what you carry, or would it be something more newbie-friendly?

Personally, even though I don't own a Glock, my catch-all recommendation would be a Glock 19, because it has a decent balance of traits, and lots of aftermarket support (including parts, training, gear, etc).

So what would your catch-all answer be?
1. S&W Model 12
2. Colt Cobra
3. Glock, S&W M&P, Spr. XD or equivalent Ruger pistol.
 
I would recommend a snub nose revolver and emphatically point out the stupidity and danger associated with any Glock.

That has always been my advice.

If I get a few more parameters, such as prior experience or safety skills, then I typically point out that Glocks are simply a bad choice, but an option for the well trained.

I usually emphasize safety for the first carry gun. Revolvers first, then heavy double action pull autos, if they have some gun experience.

The lack of safety is the second most likely point that will remove my personal right to carry, so it's important to me.
 
I test shot alot of ccw guns before I purchased. I started with a pps 9mm, then got a jframe and just olast week a shield 9mm. Do I need 3 ccw guns -nope, but the wifey said go for it so I did. I have also taken conceal carry classes and and additional/enhanced shooting classes to sharpen my skills. I also shoot weekly....


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Okay...first off, make a list of the handguns that appeal to you for whatever reason. Just a wish list. May include revolvers and semi autos.

Next, go to a gun show or a gun shop where you can at least handle some of these handguns and see if they feel "right" to you.

If you can narrow that list it down a bit, perhaps you can spend some time at the range, and if possible, try a number of different handguns to see if any of them really work for you.

If you have to pay a nominal fee per gun, and buy ammo, that will still be the best money you will ever spend.

It is unrealistic to expect that you can root through hundreds of guns to find "the one" in one day's research.

If you can find something that fits your comfort zone for manual of arms, you shoot it reasonably well, and you can see yourself being able to conceal it...you are well down the road to success.

There is a good chance that you may later see something else, try it, like it better, and move in that direction. IMHO, that is fine, and is a natural progression. There are a lot of temptresses out there. :)

When I got my CHL I had a Glock G23. I shot it fairly well (qualified easily) but never found a way to conceal it effectively or carry it comfortably. My CHL instructor was a big fan of J-frames (and their equivalents) so I went on a j-frame spree for the next year, trying a number of j-frames in .38 Spl and .357 Mag, steel, alloy, Scandium...Spent a fair bit of money on that experiment, but in the end, j-frames were not right for me.

Found a Kahr PM9 and all was well for a while. Then I found a Kel-Tec P11. Four extra rounds in a similar sized gun...what could go wrong? Maybe the fact that it was heavy, had a terrible trigger and was unreliable....for starters.

Went through Kel-Tecs, tried more Glocks, tried revolvers in larger calibers in Scandium and steel frames...tried more of this and more of that.

I won't try to add up all the money I spent trying this and that for a period approaching ten years...but for the most part, I bought used at reasonable prices, so when I subsequently sold them, I didn't lose a lot.

The search For The Perfect Carry Pistol has been, for the most part, enjoyable. I can tell you where I am today, but a year or two from now, circumstances may lead me somewhere else. What works for me is immaterial to you.

And unless you have a fair bit of time and money to spend, my method may not be viable for you.

What you really want is what works for you. How do you get there? Again, the best advice I have is to try everything you can lay your hands on. Buying ammo is cheap compared to buying firearms. Find friends or other THR members to shoot with, swap pistols for a mag, do what you can to experience as many options as you can.

Ooops... I almost forgot. I think there are two types of people out there.
Type A buys what he likes best, but keeps reading magazines and online reviews, and is forever looking at the next greatest thing.
Type B buys (for example) a 642 and is happy for life.

I think you know where I fall in that example. :)
If you are a type B, you are blessed, because you will have peace of mind, which I will never have.

Not that I am complaining. :)

Happy hunting, Rich
 
Still looking for my EDC

been at it a while
have a CZ82 that floats in and out of rotation

have a P32, yeah, it's a bug, but it's also the one gun I have on me when I leave the house for sure, no matter which holster or gun I have, it's in my pocket.
 
I would recommend a snub nose revolver and emphatically point out the stupidity and danger associated with any Glock.

That has always been my advice.

If I get a few more parameters, such as prior experience or safety skills, then I typically point out that Glocks are simply a bad choice, but an option for the well trained.

I usually emphasize safety for the first carry gun. Revolvers first, then heavy double action pull autos, if they have some gun experience.

The lack of safety is the second most likely point that will remove my personal right to carry, so it's important to me.
And I would say get a Glock and a snubbie is what you carry when you can't carry a better gun. Which I guess pretty much explains why there are gun forums and so many different gun makers.
 
I do not do catch-all recommendations. One thing I do is ask how of their own auto maintenance is performed themselves. A person who cannot change their own car's oil and spark plugs would probably not keep an autopistol properly maintained, IMHO, so that indicates a revolver.

Some folks have little hand strength, so would be poorly-served by a heavy DA trigger pull, whether auto or revolver. If hand strength is not due to a chronic health issue, of course, I recommend strength training.
 
Like others i don't agree with the premise of the question but i would have to say a small .38 revolver is hard to go wrong with.
Actually that's both true and false to a point. While I agree a J frame is a very good carry handgun it's not for the novice for several reasons.

The DA trigger on a small revolver is hard to master.
The very short sight picture multiples mistakes and the novice will make mistakes.
Light revolvers enhance felt recoil making follow up shots more difficult.
Because of the enhanced felt recoil many won't practice as they should.

There are more but I think you get what I mean. While the revolver is simple it's not easy to shoot. Like I said, they are difficult to shoot well leading most who don't shoot them well to believe they are not accurate, not true of course. IMO J frame revolvers are not for the novice but for a more experienced shooter.
 
Cee Zee said:
But I have to say that "looking sexy" has nothing to do with why I would buy a gun.

What is wrong with buying a good looking pistol that also serves as a CCW?

For example, IMO a H&K USP, Beretta M9, or Smith&Wesson M&P pistol is very sexy. They also happen to be very good CCW handguns. 1911's are great pistols too, but may require a bit more knowledge and experience to use as a first CCW pistol.

On the flipside of that, if we didn't care about how our CCW's look then we should all carry Glock's, Keltec's, Taurus, or Hipoint's. Nothing against those brands, but some of us can agree they are not the best looking.

Going back to my very first CCW pistol purchase a few years ago, I had a choice between 3 guns: Glock19, M&P9, and XD9sc. I went with the M&P because it looked great, fit in my hands well, very well-balanced, high-quality and finish, and is American made. I'm sure the same can be said about the Glock and XD, well except they are not American made.

It took me about 3years to warm up to a Glock. I now carry a Glock19 and also shoot it in 3-gun. But if someone gave me $500 to buy another pistol right now, I would buy and M&P9 in a heartbeat.

---

So on the topic, I would recommend in random order:
1. M&P9 (with ext safety)
2. Ruger SR9c
3. XD9sc
4. Glock19/26
5. USP9c
6. 38Revolver
 
Don’t take this the wrong way, but only the young and inexperienced think a big question like this can be answered simply and easily.

I took someone shooting last night who had never touched or fired a gun in her life. We started with a .22, then tried an M&P that was too large for her hands before renting CZ-75 which was much more comfortable for the shooter.

She held my Gen 3 Glock 19, but the grip was too large so we didn't fire it; it was still a starting point, just one that was quickly dismissed. Point being there's a huge swath of difference between this thread, which is narrow in scope with certain unrealistic parameters, and the real life business of introducing a new shooter to firearms.

I would recommend a snub nose revolver and emphatically point out the stupidity and danger associated with any Glock.

I take back what I said earlier about this being a civilized discussion with no one coming into the thread and bashing on another brand. It's interesting that as long as it's directed toward Glock it's okay, but multiple posters were complaining about non-existent comments where those of us who suggested that brand got smacked down for non-existent bashing of 'everything else.'
 
Hopefully other states are the same, but in KY CCDW courses, we're actually legally required to teach a block of instruction on choosing guns for carry students and prohibited from making an endorsement of a particular selection. Without looking at the book at the moment, we have to discuss and display (at least diagrams of) 1911s, S&W semi autos, revolvers, and Sigs (I may have missed one or two) as part of the class.

That way the guys that typically say J-frame for every woman or Glock for every man don't lead as many folks down a bad first choice (for them) path.
 
A couple of comments:
1) No matter how careful you are, your first gun will probably not be the one that you stay with long term. (My first purchase was KelTec P11 - exactly what I thought that it was, worked fine, however, after extended range time uncomfortable hand from harsh re-coil and long hard trigger hampered accuracty)
2) I have tried wheel guns on numerous occasions and they are just not something that I would ever want to own or carry. Too front heavy, having to manually remove spent shells, low round count, and uncomfortable grip shape.
3) 1911 pattern guns are easy for beginners to shoot at the range, but there is a lot of things to remember for safe carry and lots of things needed to keep the gun in best condition. Also, probably not really best choice for ccw. So, not on my recommendation list.
4) There is a lot of different opinions on what is best gun for people with small (or fat hands with short fingers). I have tried a lot of different guns, including CZ75B (least best fit), Barretta 92FS (good), Tarus PT92 (good), M&P 9 (OK), Styer (OK), Barretta PX4 (good), Ruger P95 (very good), and Glock. Glock G3 26 and Glock G4 17 are my current best of breed picks. Suspect that Ruger SR9 and Caracal C are also good choices but have not shoot either.
5) I am in the "simple" no extra manual safety or other distractaction for a SD weapon. At best case you will be under a lot of pressure, and the fewer things that can go wrong the better.
6) Practice with .22LR (like Ruger MKiii 22/45 or SR22) is a very good place to start the shooting habit/training. First make shooting fun and peasurable experience so that the new user will actually practice after the "new" wears off.
7) Find a range that is a friendly place for new shooters and offer classes, shooting leagues, fun events ..... (Locally, ShootSmartTX.com is one good example). Renting a lane by itself is only one part of the equation.
8) Stay with 9 mm. Smaller gives you more expense (ammo price) and no real difference in recoil. Larger gives you more expense and need for more skill to carry and only marginal (if any) more stopping power. A DE 50AE is not a good choice for carry.
 
The whole time I would be talking to the "customer" I would (in my head) be thinking of a sub-compact 9mm or a compact .38 special. S&W and Glock come to mind.
 
So what you're really asking is.."What gun is so universal that anybody could shoot it". Duh. A .38 revolver. Anybody who's watched TV knows how to load it and fire it. An expert could do very well with one, a beginner would probably get a shot, or two, off.
 
Um, except, I won't touch one, not for CCW, my curve is nonexistent
I learned on autos, what I know, wheelie guns aren't even on my horizon

*well, except maybe for a 'Hand of God' or an inexpensive brass frame C&B (these are BP guns BTW..)
 
Another answr you don't want to hear. The perfect carry gun is one that fits your hands well, is the largest caliber you can comfortably manage in the largest frame size you will consistently carry and be able to conceal. All this varies with body shape, effort put into carrying the gun and willingness to learn to control recoil.
 
We just can't shift this discussion from hardware to mindset, can we. So be it.

When I decided to carry a gun, I didn't shoot a whole bunch of guns or study ballistics tables; I did my kind of research--talking to experienced CCW-ers. After a couple of months of contemplation about why I wanted to be armed and realizing I had my head in the right place, I bought a 642 and applied for my Virginia CHP. I guess I'm the one guy in 500 somebody noted; I still carry that 642 almost exclusively.

Still, I recommend now that new shooters try as many guns that meet their criteria as they can get their hands on, but note they need to know their criteria first. Trying guns that will prove ill suited to a given shooter's needs is a waste of time and too often leads to an inappropriate choice.
 
In Texas you will want to qualify for ccw using a semi-automatic, since if you do not you can not carry a semi-automatic only revolver. With a Semi-Automatic qualification you can carry either.
As far as maintenance I do not think that you will ever find a gun that requires less or is easier to maintain than a Glock Gen3 or Gen4. Fewer parts than most (all?) and very easy to field strip (or complete disassembly, using one small tool). Also, Glocks can take a lot of abuse and still work every time.
Now, I agree that you probably will never show your Glock to your friends to brag about how good it looks or how much it costs.
 
If they really want a carry gun either a Glock26 or a Ruger LCR.
Want a handgun for the house then it's a Glock17 or Ruger GP100.
And I'd push in the direction of the revolver, to me they are somewhat more
idiot proof...at least for a firearm.
Dave
 
my answer would be just a vage as the question is.

I would simply say anything between .22 and .45 and from a company with a good reputation. With more info we could narrow it down from there.
 
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