I would like a 9mm concealable pistol, what to consider?

[Dargo]

I'm also a 9mm fan.
Another vote for a Glock, but I'd go for the more compact 19 rather then the 17.
But Glocks aren't really the best choice for the novice. The polymer frame that makes it so robust can also be "limpwristed" which can result in stovepipes or misfeeds. The Glocks do not have an external safety, if that matters.
BTW, if you do go for a Glock...leave the trigger alone!!!!

For the guy that, admittedly, knows "which end of the gun to point where to ensure that I have a fighting chance"...that's a guy probably better off with a revolver. If you go for a revolver, take a look at the Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum.

As many know, I've been collecting firearms for over 30 years. That gives me about....well, plenty, of firearms from which to choose. After literally shooting hundreds of different models, calibers and brands, my personal choice is a Glock 29 with Tru Glo sights and LaserMax internal laser. The 10mm is far, far more potent than a .45 (Glock 30...have one of those too ) and I've never had a misfire in a few thousand rounds in any Glock.

Now, if I'm traveling into some deep woods etc., I'll carry my Glock 29 with 2 spare mags in a Jackass Miami Classic shoulder holster (very comfortable) and a 2" S&W Model 500 on my hip. With only a 2" barrel, the Model 500 may not stop a charging bear but, even if I miss, it's going to make him deaf for a while, blind him, and likely set his fur on fire from powder burns.

Having said that, when my son graduated from RIP school I went bought us matching pistols; Glock 19's with night sights. I know he's never cleaned his and it's never misfired and looks no worse for the wear. Whatever you choose, it's most important characteristic is to go "bang" when you pull the trigger.

 

[forgeblast]

Check out the sigs. There is a reason your wife is using one. They are great. I just got
the 226 in both 22lr, and .40 The .22 lets me shoot every weekend. the 226 also has 20 round clips for the .40 and i think there are 30 rounders for the 9mm. I have the 239 too, but it only holds 8. I wanted one with a higher mag capacity.

 

[DB KANSAS]

Are you looking for only 1 gun? If so, make sure that you can conceal it in warm weather. The best caliber in the best gun will not do you any good if you don't carry it because it is not comfortable. I would rather have a 22lr in my pocket than a 44 at home on the shelf.

Of course who wants just 1 gun?

 

[LMTC]

My $.02 worth is that you first need to define the threat(s) you may face. If anything larger than dog is among them, you are, IMO, just adding weight to slow down your escape if you are carrying anything smaller than .357 magnum, and even that would be marginal. I used to spend LOTS of time wandering the woods, and I have dealt with a few threats. When I was in areas that I was convinced had virtually no chance of producing anything larger than dog I usually carried a Ruger 22 semi on my hip and a Taurus Model 650 (I think that's the model...snub-nose, concealed hammer) in a pocket, loaded with .357. The few times I wandered south central or eastern OH where bear became a remote possibility I carried a .44 magnum on my hip or in a shoulder rig and a small 22 (often a Beretta) or the Taurus in a pocket. If I was routinely hiking where bear or cougar or whatever, oh my was a possibility, I would echo Dargo's sentiments. I would want a heavy caliber (.357 magnum minimum) revolver or semi-auto AND a hand cannon...something akin to the Model 500 he mentioned. But that's just me....

PS---ditto on the Glock and no misfires.

 

[Bird]

Check out the sigs. There is a reason your wife is using one. They are great. I just got
the 226 in both 22lr, and .40 The .22 lets me shoot every weekend. the 226 also has 20 round clips for the .40 and i think there are 30 rounders for the 9mm. I have the 239 too, but it only holds 8. I wanted one with a higher mag capacity.

The Dallas Police Department's current standard issue is the 9mm Sig P226DAK.

 

[rekees4300]

I backpack and would like a smallish, I think 9mm because I have a ton of 9mm ammo and its cheap from what I hear.

backpacking ... you want protection from humans, bears or bigfoot? For humans a Glock semi-automatic would work. For the other predators a .357 magnum revolver would be more effective.

 

[_RaT_]

Thanks you guys. Someone mentioned "why ask a bunch of tractor guys", I think that has been answered quite effectively. I have been here long enough to know that this is a great resource for this kind of question. The last poster asked from what I am seeking protection from and that is one of those things that I first identify as a human and secondly anything else with the caveat that the second reason ispretty far down the list. Where I am, the California brown bear petty much wants your ready to eat packaged food, there are exceptions, but all in all, that's the easy pickens they go after. A mountain lion with 5 of us together may be more than he would want to mess with. A human, you just never know. As was mentioned, if its big and heavy, you may just opt not to lug that thing up the very steep climbs we have here. We will be doing +12,000' passes climbing as little as 2000' and going as much as 3000' each day. We have to limit ourselves now that we past the century mark. I will comb over these comments and think about it. My wife while a cop, really cannot be considered a great source. She has one gun, the one from the department. They startede with S&W automatics that were big, heavy and in her words kind of clunky but quite reliable. When they switched to Sig Sauers 40's or 9mm. The really small women preferred the 9mm. As far as pistols go, I have only shot a handful, my first being a Sig 40 and the others a 44 Red Hawk I believe it was and a 45 single action and always at a target like a block of wood.

backpacking ... you want protection from humans, bears or bigfoot? For humans a Glock semi-automatic would work. For the other predators a .357 magnum revolver would be more effective.

 

[brain55]

As many know, I've been collecting firearms for over 30 years. That gives me about....well, plenty, of firearms from which to choose. After literally shooting hundreds of different models, calibers and brands, my personal choice is a Glock 29 with Tru Glo sights and LaserMax internal laser. The 10mm is far, far more potent than a .45 (Glock 30...have one of those too ) and I've never had a misfire in a few thousand rounds in any Glock.

Now, if I'm traveling into some deep woods etc., I'll carry my Glock 29 with 2 spare mags in a Jackass Miami Classic shoulder holster (very comfortable) and a 2" S&W Model 500 on my hip. With only a 2" barrel, the Model 500 may not stop a charging bear but, even if I miss, it's going to make him deaf for a while, blind him, and likely set his fur on fire from powder burns.

Having said that, when my son graduated from RIP school I went bought us matching pistols; Glock 19's with night sights. I know he's never cleaned his and it's never misfired and looks no worse for the wear. Whatever you choose, it's most important characteristic is to go "bang" when you pull the trigger.

I have a Glock 20 and 29. What are you shooting in your 29? The 29 is a hand full for me, with heavy loads. I have shot thousands of rounds through my 20 and I don't recall every having a feed issue that wasn't ammo related and I that was only 2 rounds. I just got my 29 last year so I haven't put as many rounds through it yet. In my 20 I like to shoot 200 grain bullets, in the 29 it is nearly uncontrollable with the same round, so I started shooting ammo with 180 grain bullets, but I think I might try something with a 155 grain bullet. Like you stated, I chose the 10mm for its potency. All of the tests and information I read at the time, put the 10mm at the top of the chart.

Brian

 

[RoyJackson]

Very simple. We prefer reliability over number of rounds the gun will hold.:laughing: But yes, the flush-a-matics are becoming more reliable all the time. So far my Sig Sauer P229DAK has not malfunctioned and I like shooting it. But I still carry my old S&W Chief.

Why I recommend a revolver for new or occasional shooters is just what Bird wrote...reliability.
If a semi-auto misfeeds or stovepipes, there's a fast easy procedure to clear it if you practice enough. If not, you've got a 25-30 ounce deadweight in your hand.
With a revolver, there are no stovepipes or misfeeds. Even if the round doesn't fire, just pull the trigger and fire the next round.

This, of course, doesn't apply to a squib load which can happen to a revolver or semi-auto.

 

[nybirdman]

You need to try a Springfield XD9 sub-compact(9MM) 3in.barrel very compact.
I also own a XD 40 4in.Advancements in ammo have made the 9mm viable.The factory triggers on the XDs are amazeing.I have owned colt revolvers,S&W in .44 mag and .357 and a S&W .40 auto.:thumbsup: