When guns can't be compared side by side.

[Ignition Override]

How would you determine what is optimum as a potential carry gun (in the future), when you often can only read about various thicknesses/lengths?

Having never owned a handgun and with sporadic exposure to random types, for example I rented a Bersa Thunder, but have no idea how different a Bersa 9UC, Makarov. Cz-82 or Sig 232 might feel inside an internal waistband holster. I might not even like this manner, IF the decision is made To carry.

Maybe in a hot climate a smaller 'fanny pack' can be low-profile, and is what many guys who tuck in shirts ultimately do to conceal their first handgun?

 

[MedWheeler]

We just keep buying guns until we find one that works.

(What did you think of the Bersa?)

Tucked-in shirts limit you pretty much to "tuckable" IWB holsters, pouches like the Sneaky Pete ones, and pocket-carry.

Trust me, many of us have multiple carry guns that have replaced others that have replaced others that have (and so on and on.) We also have drawers full of holsters that didn't quite work out.

 

[tarosean]

Trust me, many of us have multiple carry guns that have replaced others that have replaced others that have (and so on and on.) We also have drawers full of holsters that didn't quite work out.

Pretty much. I dont think I can even recall the amount of combinations Ive tried...

 

[2wheels]

We just keep buying guns until we find one that works.

Trust me, many of us have multiple carry guns that have replaced others that have replaced others that have (and so on and on.) We also have drawers full of holsters that didn't quite work out.

This.

You make a judgement call based on the information at hand and pull out your wallet and hope for the best...

As you go along you gain experience, you learn what does and doesn't work for you, you get to try out different guns and holsters, and chances are you won't end up with the same gun/holster combo you started out with... But it's all part of the journey

Good luck!

 

[huntsman]

Having never owned a handgun and with sporadic exposure to random types, for example I rented a Bersa Thunder, but have no idea how different a Bersa 9UC, Makarov. Cz-82 or Sig 232 might feel inside an internal waistband holster. I might not even like this manner, IF the decision is made To carry.

out of this list I recommend the Sig p232 because it has a good reputation as a carry gun with both civilians and LEO's. IMHO a carry gun should be the most quality you can afford, of those on your list I would consider all the others second tier guns compared to the P232.

Holsters are relatively cheap try an OWB first and use it for about 6 months of regular carry then decide or you could buy cheaper OWB and IWB at the same time and switch back and forth a couple weeks of carry at a time, but I believe your full time carry holster should be of good quality and a popular brand .

 

[herrwalther]

This is why used firearms will never go away. One of my first carry handguns (but not the first) was a Ruger P94 in .40S&W with CTC lasergrips. My carry holster at the time was a Blackhawk nylon IWB holster with attached mag pouch. Somehow the holster always turned on the grip laser when I carried it with the master switch in the on position. And anyone who has carried a Ruger P series knows that is one thick slide to have against your side all day. As a result I didn't carry it much or shoot it much either. Sold the Ruger but still have the holster, not much market for used holsters.

 

[Ignition Override]

Range USA in Bartlett TN has a rental Sig 232, but it has been broken for several months because being a free factory demo gun (he told me in Sept), Sig-Sauer will Not send them the replacement part. ...at least not within a seven-month or so waiting period.

He also said that at any time, about half of their rental guns need a spare part.
At random recently rented a Ruger LC- (9mm), but did not like the long trigger pull: this pull seems ok in my SKS rifle.

MedWheeler: The Bersa Thunder seemed perfect, really nice trigger etc, and even with no formal handgun training or consistent exposure to any type, got a nice small group at about twenty feet. In contrast, I still don't quite like the snappy recoil of my two friends' (CCW) Polish P-64s in 9x18 Mak.
My goal is to somehow find access to a Sig 230/232 before getting anywhere near making a decision in the next year, and would like to handle a Bersa UC 9mm and Czech CZ 82, maybe a CZ 75.

 

[David E]

Decide what you want the gun for FIRST. Then choose a caliber. If for defense, the 9x19 is a good place to start.

.380's, especially blow-back .380's like the Bersa, aren't much fun to shoot and are as large as a 9mm that's easier to shoot. 9mm being more effective than .380 to boot.

If you want to carry. There are many ways to accomplish that.

Consider a Kahr poly frame 9mm.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Medwheeler has it right.

I have spent a lot of money experimenting with different carry guns and carry system.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Ditto the "buy 'em - shoot 'em - sell 'em - try another" method. I have spent hours and hours reading and comparing pistols. I have handled and shot Springers and Glocks and Berettas and Sigs until I'm blue in the face but the proof of what works is to buy 'em and shoot 'em.

I'm not to the point of selling any of them because they all appeal in some good way. Finding the perfect carry gun will take some more time and money but I have a very close second and third all picked and I'm comfortable.

VooDoo

 

[Teachu2]

As time goes by, your needs and desires may change - along with other factors. My first CCW was a 6" S&W .357 Magnum built on the .44 Mag frame - a Model 28. Carried it in a shoulder holster. Then a 2.5" m66. Then a string of 1911s, S&W 4506, more 1911s, and now a variety of poly pistols in 45acp and 9x19.

The hard part is deciding what's important to you, and what factors are disqualifiers. I recommend the largest gun you can confortably carry concealed and shoot well. If a gun is too big, you won't carry it. If it's too small, you won't shoot it effectively.

You think picking a gun is hard - wait until you get to holsters....

 

[Ignition Override]

One of the friends who have carried a Polish P-64 for years heard my question about whether a fanny pack can be an easy solution on which to fall back.
An IWB carry method might not be comfortable with mostly tucked-in shirts.

His comment about fanny packs seemed to indicate that most guys don't like the look, fashion or whatever, at least at a gun range in northwest MS.
Would certain fanny packs on a US city street (far from tourist areas) indicate to many people that a handgun is inside?

 

[TennJed]

I frequent Range USA in Bartlett. Nice people there (just don't buy any guns they have for sale. They are waaaaaayyyyyy over priced)

I recommend really considering the platform. What do you like. Thumb Safety or no Safety? Hammer or Striker? What kind of trigger (DA/SA, DAO, ect).

To me a lot of the experimenting people do come down to the basic platform. When it is all said and done, a slight difference in length and width doesn't make a lot of difference. You can find a good holster and learn to carry most guns. If you can narrow down the type of gun you want first, you can make a better choice up front.

For example, the Bersa Thunder you referenced has a slide mounted safety/decocker and the 9UC has a frame mounted. They operate in opposite directions. The CZ-82 is a DA/SA trigger and the Sig 232 is a DAO. That means the CZ will have an extra long trigger pull on the first round and an extra light on the other. The 232 will have a consistent trigger pull

I know your exposure to handguns are limited. I suggest trying them out at the range with 2 things in mind. Safeties and trigger type. Look at those things when renting the guns and pay attention to the function of those while shooting. Have you tried the range on Lamar? I have not. I wonder what kind of rentals they have.

 

[MedWheeler]

Ignition Override, your response to my question about whether or not you liked the Bersa was what I expected. I was very impressed with mine when I got it. Carried it for two years, in an IWB holster worn between the belt and pants (known as "inside-the-belt" carry.) I still own and enjoy shooting it, and it's a lot nicer in the hand and at the range than my current EDC, a Kel-Tec PF9.

 

[huntsman]

the Sig 232 is a DAO.

No, it's got a decocker

 

[TennJed]

No, it's got a decocker

my bad. I knew it is different from the usual slide mounted safeties on those "style" guns, but I guess it has the common sig decocker

 

[Ignition Override]

TennJed: I've never heard about the range on Lamar, and it would be out of the way.
But if they somehow have a rental Sig 232 which actually functions, I would go try it out.

Being a lefty might indicate the need for an ambi. handgun, but this seems excludes most types.

 

[huntsman]

If you're a lefty then the Sig is it.

European mag release and no safety to fuss with are both a plus for a lefty and the decocker really isn't an issue (at least it wasn't for me, I'm a lefty) the only real issues I had with mine was a 10lb DA trigger seemed very stiff if I didn't shoot the gun a lot and it was too heavy for pocket carry, but hang it on the belt and it was unnoticeable(blued model).