Concealed Carry Gun Choices
 

My wonderful wife wants to buy me a pistol for Christmas. It will be for personal protection with a concealed carry permit.
I am looking at a S&W M&P Shield in 9mm. What do You all carry?

I personally dont like striker fire. I am a 1911 guy. I carry a officers model. Because its a single stack magazine its going to be thinner than most other models. But it weirds some people out to carry a gun around on them with the hammer back.

As mentioned I dont like anything that doesnt have a hammer, but that doesnt limit me to 1911s. I am a big Sig fan. Their 229 line with DA/SA action is a fine performer. And because the first trigger pull is DA you dont have to walk around hammer back. I carried a 229 for a while, but prefer the slimmer lines of the 1911. HK has several comparable models. Some have both a DA/SA trigger and a safety which the sig doesnt.

Kel-Tec 9mm w/12 round clip. No safety, No hammer to pull back. You have to squeeze the trigger to fire. Wont fire if dropped, kicked, etc. Very compact & lite. Lots of LO's use this model as a second carry. I have put maybe 150 boxes of ammo through this thing & never a single misfire. It does take a bit to get used to due to its small size. Really stings when you cook off a round. I carry it all the time & have never had anyone know I had it on me.

My wife carries an M&P Shield 9 mm and I carry an M&P Compact 9 mm. Both are excellent choices IMHO.

Definitely carry with hollow points. Full metal jacket 9mm can zip right thru your attacker with minimal stopping power, exit your target and continue on to innocent bystanders behind them.

Your wife sounds awesome.

Eric

The Shield is a good choice. I would go down to your local gun shop and put many different models in your hands. Some of the CC firearms can feel small if you have big hands. With many models, there isn't enough room for your pinky. Too uncomfortable for some.

It's important to choose something that you're comfortable with.

Ruger LCP 380 in a pocket shot DeSantis holster. Imprints like a wallet in front or back pocket and you don't have to pull it from the holster to shoot the weapon.
http://assets.academy.com/mgen/57/10...jpg?is=640,640

t-9
 

tec 9mm =30 round clips. only problem is not easy to hide. LOL Seriously tho You cant go wrong trying out several Hand guns at one of the Gun shops that has indoor/outdoor ranges each gun fits/feels different. Large Variety.Good luck

I carry either a commander length 1911 in .45, or a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. Both are similar in design and function and are dead nuts reliable.

Britt

Here's 2 pages on it. I asked this question about a year ago because my wife and I have our WI and UT CCW permits. She wanted a pistol of her own.
Tell her to go in to the local range and fire all types of guns for herself. Sales are final where I buy,so what you like might not be what she or the next guy likes.
The guy at my store refused to sell me a gun for my wife. He said he's been doing it long enough to know better. I kind of agree now.:D

Old thread-
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ghlight=pistol

All S&W's are good
Don't limit yourself to one gun or type.
Different clothing and cover can dictate the carry option you may use.
I am a average size person However I have a holster back area carry for S&M MP9 18 shots. Also a back carry holster for Glock 17 another 18 rounds
They aren't the easiest to get to however.
I like my Kahr CW9 for front carry. Its slimmer than all S&W's Glocks etc only a inch across the slide. and its high quality It hold 8 rounds. one chamber and 7 mag.
I also have S&W 642 air weights which are alloy construction so very light, but 5 rounds hammerless
Search Hickock45 on Y-Tube for conceal carry info the best dude on the net for info
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cijFTIfDfwU

Has a series of conceal carry videos

My wife's carry pistol is a S&W Bodyguard .380 and I am considering getting one too. I currently have the XDS 9mm, but even at 6'4 I find it cumbersome to carry. I want something smaller.

I will be watching this thread to see what new firearms are out there.

Ruger LC9S Pro. 'nuff said!

Kahr CW380 with a Crimson Trace laser. It will drop in the front pocket, or hip pocket and just disappear. It is turning into my primary carry gun. When going into any of the gun free zones (church, hospital, or government building), it is easy to stash in the door pocket of the truck.
Other carry gun is a Glock 30, also with a Crimson Trace laser. I carry that in a Smart Carry holster. The Glock is to big to carry in a pocket. And I do not want to bring attention to myself in the parking lot or garage putting it back in the holster.
For your wife, check out the Flash, Bang holster.

It depends on what you mean by concealable, but to me, small 380 fits the bill, and can fit in jeans pocket if needed. I have James Bond stainless Walther PPK small 6 shot not 7 model for shorter grip (better concealable).

I to have the S&W 380 bodyguard. Mine has the laser pointer, real nice, a button on both sides, works for me being left handed and no need to aim. My then when I got it 17 year old daughter shoots it so it will work for anyone. Choice of extended clips to, longer for at home and normal for carry.

As others have said its a good idea to try to at least hold and possibly shoot your candidates. Most ranges have guns for rent. Go around the the ranges and see if they have firearms you think might fit your needs and rent them.

I dont say that I dislike striker fire just to sound cool. I just cant hit anything with them. Its weird, but you put a glock in my hand and I am all over the place compared to my Colt. So I prefer my triggers to go "click" not "ssspppprrrrooooiinnk" :D

Also everyone is mentioning automatics, which is what I carry too. But I have carried a S&W J frame. Worth looking into.

Yes
 

Ditto.

Thank you.
I went through all this in the thread I posted above. What works for you, what you like, and fits your hand might not be what your wife needs or likes.
Take the wife to the range to shoot a variety of potential models,then let her make the choice. We're talking about a potential life/death choice here,correct? Don't worry about what the flavor of the day is.
I.E.-Personally I would never recommend an auto for CC,but that's just me.

Something else to consider.

I found that the slides on some of the pocket pistols are almost too small to get a proper grip to rack em back. The Taurus TCP was such a one for me. Plus, it's easy to grip it in such a way that the slide tears into the webbing between your thumb and index finger when a round is fired.

Glock 29, maybe change out the barrel so you can shoot hard cast. I don't know that would have stopped the San Bernardino shooters but even with body armor a 10mm hard cast to the chest has got to have an effect on you.

Or you could play for real and open carry a Redhawk.

Concur. I'm a small guy with small hands. The Ruger LC9 with crimson trace is easy to conceal, and easy to grip and fire.
The crimson trace makes it very easy to quickly acquire the target without having to visually locate the sights. Bought mine many years ago so I don't have the "s" model or the Pro version. Still love it ...

Ogre

If she's going to throw it into her purse and leave it there, I'd get her a small revolver. 38 of some kind. Load it with +p+ ammo and teach her how to use it. A revolver will be less likely get all funked up and unusable from all the dirt, dust, lint, make-up and crap that resides in a purse.

I carry a Steyr M40.

I think some of you may have mis-read my original post. The gun is for me, she is paying for it.

ruger LC9

Does she have one?? If not, looks like both of you could do with some range time/testing & both of you should get one.

I use an M&P shield 9mm. I keep it loaded with the extended clip so it fits my hand better (catches the pinky finger). I think it shoots like a larger gun.

S&W 642 with a trigger and spring job.

I love the Shield;my father in law has one,and I plan on trading in my Keltec PF9 towards it.

That will be my summer carry.

For this time of year,I cc my Glock 30.I`ve had this gun since the late 90s,and it is my favorite.

The shield may be going on sale next week for under $400 with two clips and either a $25 or $50.00 gift card. It will have the 7 shot and 8 shot clip. I think that is the one I am going to go with.
I will let my wife try it and if she likes it I will get her one down the road a little. Or, I may give her this one and get me another one.
We do not have our CC permits yet but both of us have revolvers. Mine is a Ruger 357 blackhawk and hers is a S&W 38 special. I carry mine in my truck but she leaves hers in the nightstand.
I had a leo try to find mine one time and he looked everywhere in my truck but never did find it. However, I can get to it in a matter of seconds if the need should arise.

That will be my next carry gun. I was looking at the kel tecs (pf9, p11) because I already have a PLR-16. I was OK with them. Then I played with an LC9, and realized how ergonomically superior it was. LC9 felt like a part of me. Wife has a 357 Ruger sp101, and it's like jewelry that goes bang. I carry a Ruger P95DC. Its blocky and not ideal, but it is durable and simple. I want something a little more comfortable and compact, which is why I will get the LC9.

I don't worry about printing. I open carry just to the right of my belt buckle, but I partially conceal by maybe pulling a little shirt over it if I am feeling sassy. I hate iwb holsters.

A few of you posted that you own a pf9. Seems reports of reliability are good and bad, and just wondering about your experiences? LC9 does seem to be another good option.

M&P Shield.

Great reliability.

Sorry,read it wrong.:o
Regardless,shoot one before you buy it.;)

Para GI Expert (.45ACP) and a CZ-83 for a back-up.

depending on how I dress jacket , suit or just shirt and jeans :

LC9 inside pants pull out holster looks like cell phone case I sewed it up myself , Glock 19 under shirt/jacket back holster , .357 GP100 ( Shoulder holster)

Sometimes I carry more than one :)

I usually carry a Springfield Armory V10 Ultra Compact .45 or a Glock 30 subcompact .45 both with +P Golden Sabre ammo.

Wife carries a Glock 30 .45 as well and a S&W Ultralight .38+P+ ammo when she goes to exercise.

Smith and Wesson Model 60.

It's old school, a five shot stainless steel, .38 spl. I have carried one for decades. As it is stainless steel, no muss, no fuss. It will take a beating and because it's a revolver, not much can go wrong with it.

I installed Pachmayr rubber grips on mine. A holster is much safer, but if you're in a hurry, you can just stick one in your waistband. The grips keep it in place. You'd better be comfortable with the gun, carrying it this way, tho...

I keep an extra one in the glove box, along with a box of +P ammo and a set of handcuffs.

One drawback is sometimes, because the Pachmayr grips are "fat", the grips will interfere with using a speed loader. You have to really get comfortable with loading if you use a speed loader.

And, if you shoot +P ammo on the range in one of these small frame revolvers, be sure and check the screws from time to time. I've never had a problem, but the screws reportedly have been known to loosen up after repeated rounds of the +P.

Why no love for the 10 mm? You get plenty of power and a large magazine capacity to boot.

That is along the lines of what I am thinking. My 44 mag, 629 Mountain Gun is just too big (and heavy).

I guess this one would do in a pinch. My wife has had it since the 70s. I like the Shield because it is light.

I never had an issue with mine.What I cant stand,is the loooonnnnnggggggg trigger pull.Ruins the gun,in my opinion.

My wife fired it once,and said no way.She went back to shooting my Glock.

I carry a Ruger SR40C with a Crimson Trace laser. love it.

My S&W .357 mag with a 6-1/4" barrel is too large and heavy to carry.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...f/DSC_0726.jpg

My son has the SR40C. I find it to be an accurate, comfortable shooter.

Glock 30 took care of these varments...

S&W M&P Shield in 9mm.

Mine shot 3-inches to the left out of the box, front sight needed alignment. Both my sons also own the Shield, no issue with theirs. Mine was corrected. All of us are pleased with the Shield.



.

My carry is a XDS in .45 but admit it's a little fat and heavy. I do have a Sig P238 but can't find a holster that I like. Hammer back takes some getting used to.

Is the laser built in, or add on?

I've been looking at the LC9, but might be small for my mits. Saw the SR9c, and thought it might be a better option. I like that laser.

Tonight my friend told me his interest in the S&W M&P9c and the Shield version. Watched vids and was really impressed by the M&P.

I will have to go try some of these on this weekend for size, features, and ergo fit!

I have a Glock G42 that I really like. But I would like to pass this one on to my wife and get myself a G43. G42 will fit in your pocket, and G43 is only lightly bigger and uses 9mm.

I looked at the G43 yesterday. I didn't like the balance of it in my hand. The shield just felt right to me. I'll probably pick one up today.

Model 30 Glock with a pin laser.