concealed autopistol
 

Hello All.

I would like to hear from you guys that carry a lot (ruprick, et al)

I'm looking at the Kahr CW9 vs. the Bersa thunder. It seems that Kahr is the better made weapon, but is a bit more expensive. The decocker on the Bersa is pretty nice though. Unsure on weight differences, but I know that the CW9 is quite thin on the handle which is good for concealment.

I already decided against a G26, although I like my G19, the 26 doesn't feel right in my hand with the pinky hanging off, and I don't like how thick it is for concealment.

Apparently the Keltec subcompact isn't available in CA, so that one's out.

I guess there's no question in particular, but please do put in your 0.02 about these guns and the art of the CCW.

Re: concealed autopistol
 

1234567890

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Wow.. ok, here it is for diversity!

I would never carry or own a Sig for any reason. But that's me.
I like the Glock, but it does not fit my hand.
I carry either a Ruger SP101 or my InterArms Walther PPK with hot 380 loads.

I especially find the PPK (stainless) a great gun to carry here in south florida where we do not wear many clothes.

I carry every day and just carried at the Ft Lauderdale boat show (in the areas where it was allowed) all day.

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I forgot to mention... the caliber will be 9mm. I know enough about caliber performance and it is my choice...

Also-- the sig p250 is too big... I already have my compact: G19. I'm looking for sub-compact...

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Walther PPK or CZ 82 in 9x18 makarov(cheap) imho. I'm looking at getting an Alessi Bodyguard for the PPK right now.

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ok. what about a SA XD or XDM? light but not too light. All the calibers you want although the XDM is only .45ACP and the new 9mm model.

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I carry sub-compact Glocks (big surprise) in .40 and 357 sig. For me, it conceals just fine with an IWB Ultra-Thin Kydex holster made by F.I.S.T.

As far as hanging the pinkie under the grip, it is now as natural as can be since I installed a trimmed down Hogue Handall grip. It gives a rock-solid feel when I shoot those two major blaster calibers. I carry one or the other everywhere I go and they conceal fine under a tee shirt.

I would carry the G26 with Hogue grip in a heartbeat...give one a try.

It would look just like this:

Re: concealed autopistol
 

1234567890

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Well, I'll chime in with just the the statement that I know somebody who bought a Bersa Thunder 380 and it worked quite well. They receive very good reviews on gun forums. Check out the firing line one. hint.

Re: concealed autopistol
 

I bought a Bersa Thunder 380 for my wife and I carry it from time to time. It is slim, light and the barrel is just long enough to actually be useful. I enjoy carrying it except for the beaver tail that tends to stick in my gut when sitting with it tucked in an IWB holster.

I also purchased a Bersa Thunder 380CC nickel plated Concealed Carry, which was really really nice (and did not have the beaver tail), but I learned that magazines between the 380 CC and regular 380 Thunder were not 100% reliably interchangeable - so I returned it since we already made the investment of extra Bersa mags for the regular Bersa 380 Thunder.

The Bersa 380 is very reliable and fun to shoot and carry...

My normal carry gun is the Springfield XD9 Subcompact. I usually carry it with the longer 16 round mag, but if I am planning on doing a lot of sitting with it tucked in my waist, I sometimes switch to the shorter 10 round mag. It is a great gun for concealed carry, and after holstering it - I often time do not even realize it is there on my waist.

I love the XD9 and it has never, ever failed to go bang - even during break in and with using all different brands and types of ammo.

I bought both the XD9 and Bersa after firing them at a range that rented guns. I would recommend trying to find a range that rents a large selection of handguns so that you can try out ALL of the major players and decide what works for you. I was positive that I was going to buy a concealable .45 or a Glock, but after renting and playing with all of the potential candidates, the Springfield Subcompact XD9 is what worked for me. Renting definitely saved me a lot of money in the long run....

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As someone who carries on a regular basis, I wanted a firearm that had the following criteria: reliability, proper fit for my big monkey hands, and a gun that I would carry on a regular basis. I am a big Sig fan and carry either a P250, P6, or P220 depending on what I am wearing/weather. I like the 250 because the internals are so simple and easy to clean. Either way don't go cheap on a carry weapon, shoot it often, and get a good holster.

I just noticied your in CA. I believe the P250 is not an option for you.

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Get a golck 26......... but get the extender so your pinky has something to grip.

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If the caliber is going to be 9x19, I would look for a S&W 3913. Very slim single-stack pistol with Novak sights and was designed for concealed carry. The 3913 was S&W's answer to people (Devel, ASP, and Behlert) taking 39s and cutting them down to be ultimate carry guns. These have alloy frames and stainless slides and controls. Very reliable and handle just about any 9x19 ammo. Full-size grip that is narrow enough to disappear when carried in a good holster on a good belt.

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I used to carry a G27. Lately I've been slipping my Ruger SP-101 in my pocket. It is built like a brick shithouse, and as a manstopper 125 grain .357 is pretty much the best you can go.....

If I go out somewhere, and I feel like I want more firepower or I just feel like carrying my manbag, I have a G30 SF with two 12-rounders. Feels great in that bag. Can carry a flashlight, knife, and host of other stuff too.

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That's a bunch of drivel. And the Sig P239 would be a much better CCG than a 250.

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I don't know about the Bersa but the Kahr makes a great little CCG. I have one in 9mm and love it. It's nice, and I could carry it in my pocket if I had to.

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I personaly have and carry a Bersa Thunder .45 Ultrac Compact. Its not as small as some of the glocks, but its plenty small enough for me.

A buddy of mine has a Bersa Thunder .380, which is what convinced me to buy the .45 because I was so impressed with Bersa. Please dont listen to the fool who responded first. Sigs are good guns, I like them very much, but if you dont want to spend that much for a gun, there are certainly other options.

I personaly am NOT a big glock fan, that doesnt mean they are bad, I personaly have just never had a good exerpience with them. Talk to Wildecard. He carries a glock and his g/f carries a bersa thunder .380...they are both extremley happy with their chosen purchases.

Bersa also makes a Thunder Ultra Compact in 9mm with a 13+1 capacity, while the .45 is 7+1 and all the Bersas now come with 2 mags, which is good cause they can get a bit pricey.

If you are interested in Bersa, check out www.BersaTalk.com Youll get a lot of good, straightforwards answers and reviews.

Heres a pic of a .45 UC

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Where on your body are you going to carry?

All suggestions and choices so far are in my opinion too large to fit a front pant pocket. The will all demand a holster of some form....probably on a belt.

You can carry fairly large pistols in coat pocket....but not pants pocket. Sometimes you will have pants with fairly large pockets (like Levi Dockers) that may fit a compact pistol ok....

Again, in my experience.....to carry every single day....just go with either the Keltec 380 or the newer Ruger 380. A 380 will get the job done...and you will have it on you 100% of the time due to the small size.....the other gun that demand a holster will stay at home ofter.....I know this from illegal carry for 14 years and legal carry for the past 7. Smallest and lightest is best.

If you must have a 9mm....my preference is the Khar...or one of the small Glocks.

Do not get anything with a staggered/double stack magazine....only get single stack. You want a thin gun....even if you are limited to just 6 or 7 total capacity.

After size....weight is #2 issue. Try to stay under 16 ounces total weight....and 10 ounces is much better. That means avoiding steel frames at all cost...get the most plastic money can buy. Some will say the more plastic...the cheaper the gun....cheap as in less durable...and this is true. Do not plan on shooting thousands of rounds through your carry pistol. If you are into shooting a lot...get 2 guns...one to beat to death and one to bet your life on....or get a very similar gun that shoots 22LR to train with....for me, that is a Double Action Only Taurus....to simulate my DAO Keltec...

Do as I suggested....tape together 3.5 or 4 rolls of pennies to look like a gun and carry it around for a few days in your pocket....you will appreciate the impact of weight.....$1.75 to $2 in mixed copper/zinc pennied equals 16 ounces....10 copper penny is 1 troy ounce...or 150 is roughly 16 ounces/pound.

If you are holster carry...you can get pretty much whatever you want....but I suggest the lightest weight, smallest pocket pistol in 380......and that is either Keltec or the Ruger. Do not try Wlather PPK...too heavy......do not try Keltec 9mm....too heavy......

No 9mm or 380 or 40S&W has enough for 1 shot near instant knockdown....that demands 45ACP +P+ 357 mag/ 41 mag / 44 spl/mag.....all too big for pratical carry....so shot placement and often a head shot in combination with 2 to the chest is in order...and at that point..the 380 is fine and nearly as good as 9mm.

I'm not bragging - but it will probably come across that way - just trying to give perspective.......but I am an expert classification with the pistol from 15 year of weekly shooting of 500 to 1000 rounds.....NRA Conventional Pistol and NRA International Pistol....so seriously accurate and some speed....our fastest stage is 5 rounds in 10 seconds (still very slow as compared to a gun fight)...but we are placing all 5 shots inside a 2 in circle at 50 feet shooting off hand - one handed only. Most top notch pistol shots can shoot a pistol better than others can shoot a rifle. With all that training and experience.....no issue to put 6 or 8 shots in a 6 in circle in 3 seconds......at 50 feet...which is way beyond normal gun fight distance of under 15 feet. So, perhaps my perspective is different....I know with high probablity that I'm going to place several good shots on target and probably a few in the head.....that is why for me, I feel a 380 is plenty. Go shoot a couple wooden 2x4 with a 380....you will appreciate how powerful they are...will likely go through 2 of them....even a 32ACP will go through 1.5.....

Think of it this way....empty 6 rounds of 380ACP into a body and it is much worse than a load of 12 ga buckshot. Roughly equal energy...but a much much much better projectile.

The best advise I can give - is try to get a 22LR that is similar to your carry gun....and shoot it a lot. For over 10 years I lived within 1 mile of our indoor range and had 24 hour access...shot a lot....so much i had my blood tested every 3 months for lead. What took me from being very good to expert......I bought a high quality air pistol and shot in my house for 45 minutes every single day for 3 months....all single shot concentrating on precision.....when you get good at single shot precision...the rapid fire will follow. The key though is precision slow fire first...you will get the same story from every person that has tried to become expert/master classification.

I'm only one opinion...but that is my experience......get a small, light, reasonable quality gun you will carry 100% of the time....if that means holster rig that is o.k. - but it just did not fit my style.....they are a pain in the ass in hot weather....and stay at hole often. Trust me....you will start out with it on everyday...they you will start to leave it at home...then you will only carry once in a blue moon...been there done that! Go for a pocket pistol.

I have to meet with customers all the time and I still have a pistol in my pocket....pretty tought to carry a holster into professional work environment.

Curious if others can say with honesty that they carry 100% of the time they are out of the house.

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A few months ago I bought NAA .380 ACP Guardian. It jammed on me twice the first time I shot it, which was very disappointing considering how expensive it was (almost $500 with taxes). It is a good looking stainless steel compact, 18oz's empty, 20os'z loaded (capacity 6+1) and easily concealable.

I broke it down and used a brass brush to polish it up and lubricated it. I haven't had a chance to shoot it again, but at this point it is in the gun safe and I wouldn't think of relying on it. If it jams again, I'm going to have to send it to the factory, which is a pain in the ass. I'm not a happy customer so far on this compact.

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Oh you don't know what you're talking about. Bersa is garbage but a kahr isn't.

Check out the exploding Glock page below
http://www.f-r-i.com/glock/FAQ/FAQ-kb.htm

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The Kahr is neither Cheap OR Garbage! When I was looking for a subcompact 9mm, I did a ton of research. (I knew NOTHING about subcompacts) The Kahr and the Glock were at the top of the list of best subcompacts. I hate Glocks with a passion, I can not stand their trigger! Other than that, Glocks are awesome guns and I would have 1 of each model if I didn't hate shooting them so much. I got the Kahr PM9 and I love it.

Buff01, subcompacts vary per person. There's not much to hold on to, so I would highly recommend test firing any make/model you are interested in first. You might even need to adapt a new shooting technique.

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Attachment 56825
Attachment 56826

http://www.a-human-right.com/p9vsg26.html

I carry the Kahr P9 in a front pocket holster. 7+1 9mm and it is absolutely concealed yet handy. Glocks are too fat for pocket carry. The P9 is much better then the CW9 and just as concealable even wearing shorts in the Summer. Get the factory night sights. Great pistol. I also love my Glock G19 with factory night sights.

:smile:

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If you don't mind spending a little money on a quality firearm I would recommend the Rohrbaugh R9 or R9S. They are the SMALLEST 9mm semi-auto you can get.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...7/DSC_5387.jpg

www.rohrbaughfirearms.com

If you don't want to drop the cash, you might give the Kahr PM9 a try:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj25/luft97/Kahr.jpg

I sold mine just before I picked up my rohrbaugh. It fired fine for the most part, I had a few problems with it jamming on me tho. I didn't trust it 100% of the time which is why I decided to get away from it.

Both pistols are great to throw off in your pocket. I have a Glock 26 as well, but I think they are a little large for regular pocket carry unless you wear pants with huge pockets.

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Another option is the H&K P2000SK sub-compact in .357 SIG

http://personalsecurityzone.com/cgi-...roductID=28848

Glock, SIG, H&K are all great choices. As used by the professionals.

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I like this one for carry...
http://www.sigsauer.com/images/catal...ct/232left.jpg

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Thanks so much for the comments everyone. There is a wealth of info here.