Which of these subcompacts would you get?

[srtolly]

I have a PF9 with almost 700 rounds through it without problems. Easy to conceal almost anywhere. That said about half the time I carry my Makarov in 9x18, I'm kinda weird like that.

 

[WinThePennant]

In this order (from your original list):

Glock 26

S&W Shield

Sig P250 SC

Forget about the others.

 

[biogenic]

Walther PPS

Indeed...

 

[red rick]

S&W Shield

Thin more comfortable too CC with a IWB holster and less printing.
Good trigger.
Priced reasonable.
S&W warranty and CS.

 

[RinkRat]

I love my g26 that would be my first suggestion.

Second would be the shield. Which I'm waiting my turn inline on.

I had a pf9 but sold it. The trigger was pinching my finger and the first time I cleaned it right out of the box the parkerized finish started flaking off. I called KT and I sent it back and they refinished it. But it was a spotty job at best and was still flaking off. They said if I sent it back .... again .....they would charge me to have it redone so I sold it before the finish became too flaky and I'm putting that money towards a shield as soon as my LGS gets around to my order inline.

 

[bannockburn]

I would also go with a Kahr PM9 over the other models listed. Very compact, great sights, and a decent DA trigger pull.

 

[barnett]

PPK. Shoot one. You'll see.

 

[316SS]

The only reason the PPK is on the list is that I have a fetish for steel, and for traditional double actions.

Price IS a factor; I don't want to pay for anything more than pure functionality.

CZ 82. /thread

 

[click clack]

I would love a PPK. And a Shield.... And maybe a G26 haha. But if only allowed one? I would probably go with a Shield. It would be a nice compliment to my m&p9c

 

[FrankCastleThePunisher]

Walther PPKS

 

[powder]

None.


G36, yes.

 

[gym]

I have had 4 of them,
the walther, the pf-9,
lc9,
glock 26
If only allowed one, I would get the 26, or the lc9. The walther is a 380 and is hit and miss, although I did have one on my NYC license for 18 yrs, it did have slide problems several times.
And the pf-9, I put more time in getting that gun to run right than any other, stay away from them, there are good ones and bad ones, it's that simple without getting into a whole conversation about it.
If you get the lc9, get the laser built in, I have the lasermax, and it is dead on at any range out to 25 yards.
The Glock 26 is the best of the lot, but as you know it has no safety, and if it's your only gun, you may find times when it may be hard to carry. Only if you carry with a round in the tube, "which I do on all my guns". If you can wear a OWB, or have a good IWB holster that you trust, then go with the Glock,10+ the +2 addition, and 1 in the chamber gives you 13, . The lc9 is only 7+1. The lc9 is the easiest to carry, it fits in my front pocket, I recommend changing the trigger to the short throw RTK. It makes it a much better gun. Not only decrease the travel, but adjust the front and rear trigger play, making it easier to stay on target and fire faster. I would not get a 380 under any circumstances as your everday carry, maybe as a backup gun, but then you could get an lcp which giives you the option of pocket carry.

 

[TennJed]

The 380 has no place being compared to a 9mm, unless you reload for a locked breech model, such as the Keltec P3AT, or the little Sig or the older Star Pony, or the Colt Mustang. You left out the best of the pocket 9's, the Diamondback DB9

Opinions on the best pocket 9 are just that, opinions. The Diamondback DB9 seems to have had a lot of reported issues.

 

[gym]

The lc9 "by the way" is gaining in popularity. There are far moe good reviews on it now that they addresses the trigger issues. I am particular and called Rugger about the trigger slop, they explained it adequetlly, although it could have been fixed by their engineering dept. instead of RTK, "who came out with and exellent replacement". The problem was that they found that, "guys were firing a couple hundred rounds at a sitting". The guns interior frame would expand and cause the trigger to seize. Instead of re- engineering the trigger "like RTK did" they just left in extra play to avoid this from occuring.Thus the slop. It's fixable and the gun is dead on accurate with the trigger fix.They also did this for the PF9 and several other guns with sloppy triggers. You guys with some of these guns may want to look at RTK's web site and pick one up for $40-55.00. It changes the gun into something you want to shoot.

 

[edwardcii]

For reliability, G26.

Like others, the G26 is bulky. When I carry it IWB, I never forget it's there. I am on the look for an alternative carry that's thinner. Thinking about the Kahr CM9 - but it's reliability and customer service (at least from what I've read) is a little concerning.

Based on reviews, the shield seems like it may be a very good pick. Thinner than the G26, from a good platform (M&P generally has solid reviews), and a good company.

Only advantages I see for the G26 are reliability (the platform has been around much longer, and the horror stories are much fewer and far between compared to other brands and models) and capacity (I carry 17 extra rounds in a G17 magazine). I will probably never sell my G26 unless I am really hurting. It is one of my only firearms to never have a malfunction (I have had a few FTE or ftf in most other firearms, even in other glocks, although not enough to make me worried. less than 0.1% for anything I still own or carry, which is good enough for me).

 

[Water-Man]

The Caracal sub-compact is supposed to be available soon.

Might want to take a look at it before making a decision.

 

[meanmrmustard]

it's had plenty of kabooms in .40, and plenty of "limpwristing' problems, too. I trust no gun out of the box, and to turn down by far the smallest, lightest, very low cost 9mm's over perhaps needing a fluff and buff indicates you aint very serious about this. The Glock is no pocket gun, never will be. No double stack mag gun is much of a pocket gun, or Keltec wouldn't have bothered to make the single stack PF-9. the pocket 9 offers up to 400 ft lbs. the typical 380, 150 ft lbs. the typical 380 jhp won't expand in flesh. neither will anything under 100 grs, fired from a 3" barreled 9mm. the CorBon 100 gr PowRBall load, tho, is a good round. 1300+ fps in 3", almost 400 ft lbs, and real expansion in flesh and blood. Much, much better than the 380, and the plastic nose helps it feed reliably, too.

What's your point, exactly. Glock subbies suck? .380 sucks? I'm not drawing a conclusion between these two very differing subjects.

The Glock 27 is manageable, and the Gen 3 is sans issues. It pockets quite well, thank you. Mainly in winter, but nonetheless.

As for .380 vs 9mm, I'll not argue. I've no use for the ACP, where a 9 is better, cheaper, and did I mention cheaper? Alas, where's the proof of the lack of expansion of a .380 on flesh? Who's flesh, and what's the distance? What load, speed, barrel length? Is there a clothing barrier? These are just a few variables that matter.

 

[Capt. Ct.]

If it isn't for the pocket then the Glock 26 gets my vote.

 

[RinkRat]

I saw these cobra gun skin holsters at the gun show last weekend and bought a couple of their IWB X2 and X2s holsters both were $25. ech got um for my g26 and g30. They are very well built, comfortable, and quite a bargain too for a nice quality leather hostler.

I can use them for a OWB also by just feeding my belt through the belt clip, thus instead of putting the holster inside my pants I put it outside between my pants and belt, if you understand what I'm describing. It rides tight and will conceal nicely under a winter jacket or even under a loose T-Shirt. The one with the thumb brake I think will be better for this carry but they are both made of a thick heavier quality leather so both should carry OK like this too.

http://www.cobragunskin.us/main/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=35

 

[EastKY_DO]

Put me in with those who haven't had a problem with their PF-9. I own & have carried a Ruger SR9c, a Kahr CW40, J frame S&W, SP-101, Makarov, SA XD45c, Glock 19, KT P3AT, as well as bigger autos & revolvers. The one I find myself carrying the most is my humble PF-9. It works, it's thin, it's light & it's a 9mm, not a .380.

Based on my experience I recommend it. YMMV

 

[maseden]

The PF-9 has been perfect for my needs. It fits into the roles and places I need better than any other gun I've tried.

 

[Warp]

I would, and did, get the Glock 26. I am extremely happy with that decision.

 

[Noah]

I have some trigger time on both a PF-9 and a Shield. PF-9 is snappy, but not at all painful. Shield shot like a full size M&P, and has a great trigger. I have never seen either FT-Anything. Kel-Tec is cheaper and lighter, but the Shield is a nicer gun and a much better shooter. Of the ones I have experience with, I'd pick a Shield.

That said, *personal opinions incoming* have you thought about a compact vs a subcompact gun, like a Glock 19 or a S&W SD9? Hardly any bigger, just as easy to carry IWB, and more firepower and control. Esp. vs any of the single stacks. No one ever wished they had brought LESS gun to a gunfight. I say bring the most gun you can tolerate, and if that's a Glock 17, 1911, or Sig P226, S&W M&P, whatever-all the more likely you won't be out gunned. These also are great plinkers, sidearms, and house guns. Like I said, 100% my personal opinion, and if you will carry a single stack and would ever leave a full size gun at home for a run to the grocery in the evening, get the smaller gun.

 

[Warp]

I believe the guns a size up, say a Glock 19 vs a Glock 26, are noticeably more difficult to adequately conceal.

 

[Tirod]

Shield over Nano, it reportedly has a better trigger and also a slide stop, plus a safety you can either use, or ignore.

LC9, not so much, still the long trigger pull. I don't care for it on the LCP and would sell it to finance the Shield.

Glocks are nice, I've got a 1Gen 17. If I actuallly used it daily, then a 26 would be the natural backup. Since a CCW gun will likely be the primary handgun, I don't have to spend extra. I can get the Shield at a better price. All I have to do is wait until January, when the supply catches up, and buyers run out of money. New guns will be announced at SHOT, and the guys who change guns faster than they change their underwear will move on to the next Gun of the Month.

By then, enough road tests will be out to show how it really performs, which is already good. No hiccups yet, unlike some of the others.

If it's CCW, it's polymer, and double stack isn't really the point. That's for a combat handgunner, not discreet carry in an office environment. As long as Glock refuses to make a single stack, they don't have a grip on the genre.