Let's talk 9mm hand guns

Tomtint · Apr 17, 2017

I have a Ruger LC9 and don't really like it. Shot a friends glock and found it to be a much better feeling gun to shoot. Never shot a SW 9 but have a SWM&P 40 that I think I'm going to bundle with my Ruger9 and trade for either a glock or Sig.

Dadnatron · Apr 17, 2017

I have a few different CCs.

Glock 26
Rugar LC9
Kahr 40

I have the Kahr in my office bag. I keep the Glock in my car. And I'll carry the Rugar in my back pocket most times.

A Glock 17 is not built for CC. It's just too big for most people to actually keep on them comfortably and essentially impossible to "conceal" in any reasonable way. A Glock 19 would be better, but in my opinion, a Glock 26 with a short magazine extension to give one more finger on the grip is going to be your best bet for a true CC .

jejeosborne · Apr 17, 2017

This guy is a good source of information. He only has 2.5 million subscribers.

hickok45
- YouTube

PJSprog · Apr 17, 2017

coobie said:
I would go handle a few pistols at your local gun shop.Maybe find a firing range that lets you rent pistols and shoot a few that fits your hand.

This is always the best advice, when it's possible.

You'll need to figure out how you are going to conceal whatever you carry. This will have a huge impact on what you can carry comfortably. The G17 is a great firearm. It's also pretty big for concealment. At 6'2" you're big, but not huge. A gun that size will be hard to keep from printing.

I will second coobie's advice, and suggest handling and/or shooting as many as you can get your hands on before making a decision.

widefat · Apr 17, 2017

I have these that I consider CC worthy:
M&P full size in 9 & 40
M&P Shield in 9
Kahr CM9 in 9
Ruger SP101 in .357 (loaded with 38 +p)

My favorite is the M&P full size. IWB at 10 oclk (I'm a lefty). I am 6;6", 270ish so I can hide it well.
My least favorite is the Kahr, I dislike the trigger. But, the Kahr is great for hot weather shorts & T-shirt weather pocket carry.
The Shield is great, but too big for pocket carry, and for me offers no more concealment IWB than the full size.
My wife likes the SP101.
Have owned glocks, outstanding firearms - but my hands like the M&P.

r0bg · Apr 17, 2017

If you're out shopping try to shoot as many of your top choices as you can. Many fine guns have been mentioned here and some of them I own.

The Beretta 92 is great. Feels so solid and the action is oh so smooth. I went to the G23 a few years ago based on reputation and the prices on Glocks is hard to ignore. Recently transitioned to a Sig 226 Legion and after putting 500 through it I don't think I'll ever shoot the Glock again.

flewism · Apr 17, 2017

r0bg said:
If you're out shopping try to shoot as many of your top choices as you can. Many fine guns have been mentioned here and some of them I own.

Wife has been carrying a Shield for a few years, then last year I bought and now my EDC is the shield in 9mm.

Go shooting and shoot them all, hold them all, All that maters is what feels good in your hand.

Anyway S & W MP Shields are on sale at Cabala's right now and I thing until May,1 $75 off at Cabala's and $75 mail in rebate from S & W.

Larry Caldwell · Apr 17, 2017

TripleR said:
Really nothing new to add, I've owned or own various models of all the major brands. All are very reliable and it really does boil down, in my opinion, to personal preferences. My preference was Sig for many years, but our department changed its policy and allowed only G22, 23 and 27, so I learned to like the Glock. Yes it's ugly, clunky etc., but it goes bang every time you pull the trigger and is easy to customize to fit you, so my carry semi-autos are the G23 and G27. My department, like many others, are taking a look at the 9mm, the .40 will still be allowed along side the 9mm models, so the 9mm is gaining popularity and is again considered by many to be sufficiently effective.

As I get older and deeper into retirement however, I find myself carrying a snub J Frame S&W more and more.

Yeah, I carry a 642 also. I figure if I can't discourage them in 5 rounds, I should have run. I do have a speed loader, but mostly leave it home. I keep it loaded with 135 gr. +P. That's my town gun. In the country, I still wear my 6" barrel 686 in a sidearm holster, loaded with 158 gr. .357 JHP. For steel matches and targets, I load it with .38 spl. wadcutters. If I really want to hit what I'm shooting at, that's my go-to handgun. Adjustable sight, single/double action target trigger.

I'm a traditional old guy who carries a gun because I might want to shoot something. I grew up thinking of guns as a tool, like a shovel or axe. I favor stainless revolvers because I spend a lot of time outside in the rain, though my 9.5" barrel Single Six is blued. :laughing:

Larry Caldwell · Apr 17, 2017

jejeosborne said:
This guy is a good source of information. He only has 2.5 million subscribers.

hickok45
- YouTube

Ditto on Hickock45. He's a real shooter, not some loudmouth poser. He is meticulous at gun safety. Whenever I meet a new shooter, I highly recommend they watch his safety videos. When he is not familiar with a model he says so. He also stays away from the kinds of shooting he knows nothing about, like wing shooting, and he pretty much sticks to iron sights. Good man, good information.