CC Handgun

[Siebert Outdoors]

I've been looking at compact guns lately and cant make up my mind.  You guys that carry, what do you carry or what looks good to you?

I've been looking at springfield XD's but its a tad bulky and a bit heavy.  

Looked at a taurus millenium I liked the weight and size but dont know much about them

Not a fan of glock for some reason and like the xd better

Looked at a springfield 1911 model compact.  Liked it and is an option

Any other suggestions.  I'm a skinny guy and need something small.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I've been looking at compact guns lately and cant make up my mind. You guys that carry, what do you carry or what looks good to you?

I've been looking at springfield XD's but its a tad bulky and a bit heavy.

Looked at a taurus millenium I liked the weight and size but dont know much about them

Not a fan of glock for some reason and like the xd better

Looked at a springfield 1911 model compact. Liked it and is an option

Any other suggestions. I'm a skinny guy and need something small.[/quote]

Remarks like that will not make you popular with the ladies

[burleytog]

Usually a G19, although it isn't concealed all that often.

I would warn you away from the Taurus Millenium.  Field stripping is more than a bit difficult.

Take a look at the Keltec P3AT.  Small enough to carry in your pocket.

[flechero]

I have a bunch of handguns but there are only 2 that I CC on any regular basis. Taurus titanuim 5 shot .357 (J-frame size) http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=270&category=Revolver and a Kimber Ultra CDP II in .45 http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/cdp/ The Taurus gets carried in foul weather and in the boat or fishing trips. The Kimber gets carried in most of the everyday life situations. (when wearing jeans or slacks) I'll say this though, if I had it to do over again, I would have gotten the 4" bbl on the Kimber... the extra inch is nothing in an IWB holster but the ballistics are way better. If I didn't have so much invested in the gun and extra stuff, I would go buy the 4" model.

Spend the money on a good belt & holster and you will actually carry it instead of leaving it at home.

Most importantly, get some formal training beyond whatever the state requires... it you state is anything like Tx, it's TOO easy to get the permit. Another thing to consider... any semi auto that will be carried for self defense needs to have a reliability job done on it and needs to be proven on the range with the specific ammo you plan to carry, regardless of brand or model.

There are lots of good carry guns out there, those 2 just happen to be ones I like and use.

[bassnleo]

I carry a Glock 29 off duty. Nice compact gun and with a good leather holster, I sometimes forget I have it on.

I looked at a Kahr compact a few months back, if I didn't already have the Glock I would have the Kahr. Sorry, can't remember the model but it was a composit frame (black) and metal slide / barrel (silver) similar to a Glock's construction.

May I also add, the right ammo can also make alot of difference in how a gun performs so don't spend alot of money on a handgun then skimp on ammo.

[Bassn Blvd]

i carry the Glock 22 40cal.  But a lighter backup i carry a smith wesson airweight revolver.   Very light and fits comfortably in my shorts pocket unnoticeably.....

[Spnrbait_]

Glock 27 .40 cal "baby Glock"  Is what I carry.  I like it but some guys don't  because it has a short grip and your pinky doesn't fit on the grip.  Also with the short grip your hoslter choice is important because with some it is hard to get ahold of the handle to draw. Hope I never have to other than practice!

If you know people that own hand guns see if they will take you to a range that way you can get a feel of different ones.  Guns are like everything else in that which one is best is a matter of opinion.  Whatever you decide make sure it is well balanced and feels comfortable in your hand.  It should fit your hand and not feel bulky or okward in any way.

[roadwarrior]

Take a look at the Kimber Pro Carry II. It is the smallest high caliber (.45 ACP) pistol on the market:

http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/compactprocarry/

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Well, with my size and stature, I normally scare off anyone that wants to mess with me by puffing up my chest and giving them "the look",lol

But on days when I'm not feeling especially strong or when my super powers are recharging, I carry one of these.  Usually loaded with a tropical punch martini or some type of grain alcohol.  Does a number on the seals but packs a good wallop!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

in light of the senko threads, I'll say this now.......................RW's choice will work better for you ;D

[Guest the_muddy_man]

YO RUSS

[PaparockArk]

GMAN, you did not say if you had looked at the new XD Sub-Compact 3" model it only comes in .40 cal and 9mm. I find it too small for me but it might fit what you are looking for if you have not tried one.  http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?version=64Personally I would not go below .40 cal maybe I am an Elmer Keith hold over but from my limited experience in the Army Drug Suppression and having seen the effects of the .45 ACP on humans personally at arm's reach I will stick with bigger is better. My personal preference in .45 ACP right now is a XD Custom with 230grain Federal Hydra-Shok JHPs but then due to my height and size concealment is less of an issue. You may want to consider a fanny pack holster for concealed carry also that  would offer more options but if you do buy the best and don't skimp on the price because if you need access to you gun the best will save your life. Access to your concealed carry is important as having to fumble and dig through clothing for it is bad news. The bad guys may look at the fanny pack and wonder if it is a holster it is true but they will not know as most they see are not. The better ones are made with belt loops to secure the pack to you in addition to the normal buckle so that if someone tries to swipe the fanny pack they are out of luck.  I hope this helped or at least gave you some ideas. Good luck.

P_Rock

[Mrs.Bladesmith]

A .45 caliber is nice, especially when it's small enough to carry, and you can afford it. However, you might check out a .380 Star {made in Spain}, if you can find one. Especially if you're skinny.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm not skinny just thin boned. ;D

Lots of decisions here.  I need to go look at more guns.

[burleytog]

To hell with looking, just buy them all.  

[Fishing Doug]

Not to hijack GMAN's thread but I have a question about caliber.  I have a 9mm for home protection and 1 that usually stays in the SUV.  I noticed a lot of you guys are recommending .40's and .45's. Does the 9MM not have enough power to do the job if necessary?

[burleytog]

Many people prefer to go big.

I'm comfortable with any of the four 9's I carry on a regular basis.  I prefer compact and ease of carry to a larger load.

[timistall]

Sig 239, end of story. 9mm...Navy Seal friend of mine said "2 in center mass and 1 in the head" nobody has complained 8-)

[phase5supply]

Hey Gman, I have a gun store here in NC, All of the firearms mentioned are great, i would stay away from the Taurus like Burely said. Kimbers are great guns, maybe the Ultra Carry. Also Kahr makes some nice carry guns. I carry a S&W 340 ( weights 11 oz. ) with the new Speer 135 gr. +P  short barrel Gold Dot. I will be glad to give a great deal on a gun and ship it to a dealer in your area. PM me if I can help.

Good Luck Daniel

[PaparockArk]

If you are confident in 9mm then by all means carry one. The main difference comes down to a 9mm needs a good hollow point bullet that will reliably open for maximum effectiveness while the .40 and .45 caliber bullets are effective even if the hollow point does not open due to being clogged by clothing or due to some other reason. This argument has been going on since I was young (a long time back) and I doubt will be solved in my lifetime. If you want more information read books by Massad Ayoob which if you carry concealed you should anyway because he is the foremost expert on preparing you for when you may actually have to use that firearm.

Two to center mass and one to the head has been know as the Mozambique (also known as the double tap failure drill.)  However due to the rounded bone structure of the head the technique I was taught was the modified Mozambique which consists of two rounds center mass and if not effective lower your aim to shatter the hip structure which will anchor your attacker by removing his ability to be mobile. Since the head is a small round bone target prone to have bullets ricochet off of it then it will be far easier to hit if need be to finish the fight with deadly force. This was in case your opponent was wearing body armor but also served the purpose of stopping your opponent from gaining cover from which they could receive protection from your gun fire while firing on you.

A gun fight is far more complicated than most people think. A trained individual limits their vulnerabilities to attack by tactics of movements and using common sense; a sort of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure sort of thing. It may seem paranoid to some but I always look at situations even when choosing a place to sit in a restaurant in a what if way. As the old saying goes the Devil is in the details and it is better to be prepared. I started it working drug suppression in the Army. BY the time I got out of the Army it was second nature and in civilian life it has allowed me to avoid being robbed and murder more than once when I lived in high crime areas.

Some people think carrying a gun is cool because they have seen too many movies. Carrying a gun is serious business and no one should do so unless you have the mindset that if necessary you will without hesitation end another's life. That mental state needs to be settled before you ever carry a gun for the first time. If you have not done so you are putting yourself and those around you at greater risk than if you were not carrying at all. Find and take training in self defense with a handgun from a recognized instructor and I am not talking about just your basic concealed carry permit class. If you are serious about defense learn to do it from those who know just like fishing but trial and error has no place in self defense.

See also:

http://www.ayoob.com/

http://www.stoppingpower.net/books/book_stopping.asp

http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf

http://www.gunblast.com/RKCampbell_StoppingPower.htm

[Fish Man]

forget 2 center mass one head or hip,jus carry a .44 and it wont matter were you hit em,they will go down anyway or see the thing and know to stay away from somthing that big if there smart  ;D  

[fishbear]

For home I have a Remington 870 with a 20 in. barrel loaded with goose loads(dont want the intruder suing me for giving him lead poisoning)  ;D.  For my carry gun, I carry the Colt Combat Commander, in .45, best carry gun I ever used.  Loaded to the gills with Federal Hydra Shocks.  It is accurate, compact, and shoots right where I point it.  Oh, and tritium night sights on it as well for low light situations.  

[flechero]

I noticed a lot of you guys are recommending .40's and .45's. Does the 9MM not have enough power to do the job if necessary?

There are 2 schools of though on this... some people want high velocity and some prefer a larger caliber (diameter) bullet. I guess the 3rd school would be some blend of the two. Anyway, the 9mm is a great round, so are the .40 and .45 calibers. My personal fear on the 9mm is that the energy won't be absorbed and the bullet will overpenetrate (pass through and keep going), thus wasting energy and lessening the chance of stopping a threat on the spot (and endangering anyone/thing else in it's path).

Since I also carry outside of the home and live in a world of civil lawsuits, here are my considerations: I want to live, stop the threat, lessen the chances of hurting any innocent bystanders and not get sued... in that order. I feel most comfortable with a .45 accomplishing those objectives. Plus the 1911 platform is a very slim pistol and conceals VERY well, even on "thin boned" people.

If you saw above, I also carry a .357 sometimes which I don't like as much but the 2" bbl reduces the velocity enough that I don't worry about overpenetration with that particular gun/ammo combo.

There are lots of decisions you need to make, and be comfortable with, before carrying a weapon.  Because the truth of the matter is that your life and future may very well rest on a decision you made some time ago.

[Aaron]

I recently purchased a Taurus 24/7 Pro .40.  This was my first handgun and as of now the only one I own.  I really like it so far ( I have had it since Dec.) and have had no problems with it, I have shot roughly 300 rounds through it.

The only complaint I have is that the trigger pull is kind of long.

this is the only Taurus i have ever owned or shot though so I can't comment on any other models.

I don't have my carry permit yet so I don't know about concealment of this gun but I don't think it would be too difficult.

[Glenn]

Smith & Wesson SW990L coupled with Winchester's 127-grain +P+ JHP.

I gotta agree w/P-Rock.  Take classes - all the time.  Join a gun club and go at least monthly.  And above all, NEVER brandish a weapon unless you're prepared to kill or be killed.  It's not a toy to be waived around in an attempt to threaten or scare people.  Somebody just like you might pull out their weapon and take you out if you do.