Looking for opinions on a good pistol for concealed carry. [Archive]

JasonE

12-09-2009, 06:15 PM

59Bassman

12-09-2009, 06:34 PM

The XD is nice, but it is theoretically impossible to go wrong with a Glock. Magazines are plentiful, as are other accessories. I prefer 1911's, but Glocks are an absolute bombproof alternative.

RustyFalcon

12-09-2009, 08:22 PM

If 10 people reply to this thread you'll get at least 12 opinions... :>

I carry a concealed pistol regularly for many reasons, but that's not what you are asking. But good on you for taking on your responsibilities with the appropriate tools. Remember that a pistol or any other weapon is just a tool to be employed to solve the right problem - not a magic talisman that will protect you from harm.

What I recommend to everyone who asks me is this...

Find ways to shoot several or more types of pistols that are suitable for concealed carry. Some of the most flexible pistols for CC are modern polymer-framed, magazine fed, striker-fired (without external hammer), semi-automatic pistols in at least 9mm. Don't buy the first cool looking weapon offered to you at the gun store. Shoot every weapon you are considering buying. See how it feels in your hands, see how it points at targets when you rapidly raise it to engagement. Manipulate all the controls, do some reloads with magazines.

Glock, HK, Springfield XD, S&W M&P, and others all offer models that are suitable for concealed carry in 9mm or greater caliber. I personally carry a full-sized S&W M&P 9mm pistol. With the inside-waistband holster it is very difficult to detect. Other people I know carry 'compact versions of semi-auto pistols and they are fine for the task as well.

What is even MORE important is to obtain some real training in how and when to use your pistol. During this training you will get a wealth of information on 'good ideas' like carrying an extra magazine with you in case your primary magazine has a mechanical issue or you need more than one magazine to resolve the situation. After basic skills with the weappon training, a 'force on force' type training class will allow to to exercise your decision making and engagement skills in realistic scenarios with weapons that shoot non-lethal paint pellet ammunition. And it will help you find out if you can actually point a weapon at a human with the intent to kill them. Even in simulation you mentally and physically react to threats the same way.

While doing that, have the internal discussion with yourself about what you are willing to kill someone over so that heaven forbid the time ever comes that you need to use deadly force you've made your peace about it and you know when that line is crossed so your actions are appropriate and determined.

Good luck and let us know how your search turns out. PM me if you want to ask some questions off-board.

Brian

wilerty

12-09-2009, 08:49 PM

+10 on everything just said. I will add that size does matter. I have found that some weapons just feel much better in your hand than others. How it feels, points, as well as how easily it is for you to use, are very important. I ended up with an H&K Compact .40 for carry, but like a guitar, you have to find the one that works best for you.

If your state is anything like New York, you'll have plenty of time to select the weapon, since it will take some time to get the carry permit. They are VERY difficult to get here now. I got mine many years ago although I rarely carried, because I knew they would become hard to get.

Moltisanti

12-10-2009, 04:01 AM

JasonE

12-10-2009, 07:08 AM

Thanks for the advice.

I am definitely taking a course and getting some training. It is required here. I was a gun owner years ago and am getting back into it.

Good point on the internal discussion. I have not really figured out where the line is on using deadly force yet for me. I figured that would become more clear after the training class.

I have had a number of people tell me that the XD is basically a better Glock. They also have a lot of accessories for them and they come with two magazines.

The permits are not too hard to get here in Ohio at the moment. That is one reason I want to get it now, before they become harder to get.

Sorry to shock you Moltisanti. There have been states here that have allowed the concealed carrying of a pistol for a long time. It isn't really that uncommon here.

lookslikemeband

12-10-2009, 09:15 AM

Personally, my CW is a Ruger P345 - center fire, .45 auto

There are a TON of great options and I'm assuming you're talking semi-auto here instead of revolvers, so I'll stick to that option:

Personally I stay away from the .40 cal as I'm not the biggest fan of the ballistics, but that's just me. Just an opinion.

I'm thinking compact here as I'm not a fan of true compact pistols (can get really jumpy on you IMO)

Most of these I've actually fired and I would recommend them for a concealed weapon. Many of these are actually designed for that purpose

9mm:

Springfield XD
Ruger P95
S&W M&P Compact
HK P30S
Ruger P95
Glock G19

.40 Cal:

Springfield XD
S&W M&P Compact
HKP30S
Ruger P944
Glock G23
Glock G27 (true compact, but can accept a larger clip when needed)

But as you can tell, I'm more of a .45 guy, so I'm going to be looking into a Glock G30 eventually. One of my brothers is in law enforcement and he just went for the G30 as his off-duty carry (we're both of the opinion that IF we ever HAVE to fire, we want to be effective)

As always, be safe.

gag halfrunt

12-10-2009, 10:56 AM

...Personally I stay away from the .40 cal as I'm not the biggest fan of the ballistics, but that's just me. Just an opinion...

I agree with everything you said, but this really puzzles me.

The .40 has consistently had significantly better ballistics than the 9mm (hence the huge transition during the late 90s of many LE Agencies to it from the 9.

It's not as good as a .45, and I applaud you for carrying enough gun. However, I carried a G30 for a coupla years concealed, and found that it was just too big and bulky for year round use. Plus, Glock's grip angle is different than most other popular pistols. Some people find it feels unnatural.

The OP should definitely shoot many different guns, and find the one that feels most natural in their hand. That includes which one naturally comes up on target the best, because under stress, at close range, most people find they just point shoot.

The mini Glocks (G26/G27) are too short for comfortable shooting. Your pinky is below the grip, and you really feel that loss of support for recoil control. If you get one of the Pierce grip extenders, then you are increasing the gun's size, and you might as well be carrying a G19/G23.

After many, many years of carrying, I've found the Sig 239 in .40 to be the best compromise (yes, concealed carry is all about compromise) for me of size, caliber, and mag capacity. Put a pair of Hogue grips on this gun, and it's a dream to shoot. Very accurate, very reliable, and small enough to carry comfortably for extended periods.

Good luck to the OP!

gag halfrunt

12-10-2009, 11:00 AM

while not wanting to start a debate on this (I know absolutely nothing about guns, good or bad) it's amazing to me (being English) that such a thing even exists, my jaw literally dropped open when i read your post.

And just to show i'm not being judgemental, surely a Walther PPK is the ultimate "conceal in your dinner jacket" weapon :D

It's tantamount to you trying to explain the English love if Cricket to us Yanks ;)

The PPK, while a very handsome gun, is chambered in .380, which has a history of being unreliable as a person stopper. But it looks good with a tux :D

JasonE

12-10-2009, 11:20 AM

I agree with everything you said, but this really puzzles me.

The .40 has consistently had significantly better ballistics than the 9mm (hence the huge transition during the late 90s of many LE Agencies to it from the 9.

It's not as good as a .45, and I applaud you for carrying enough gun. However, I carried a G30 for a coupla years concealed, and found that it was just too big and bulky for year round use. Plus, Glock's grip angle is different than most other popular pistols. Some people find it feels unnatural.

The OP should definitely shoot many different guns, and find the one that feels most natural in their hand. That includes which one naturally comes up on target the best, because under stress, at close range, most people find they just point shoot.

The mini Glocks (G26/G27) are too short for comfortable shooting. Your pinky is below the grip, and you really feel that loss of support for recoil control. If you get one of the Pierce grip extenders, then you are increasing the gun's size, and you might as well be carrying a G19/G23.

After many, many years of carrying, I've found the Sig 239 in .40 to be the best compromise (yes, concealed carry is all about compromise) for me of size, caliber, and mag capacity. Put a pair of Hogue grips on this gun, and it's a dream to shoot. Very accurate, very reliable, and small enough to carry comfortably for extended periods.

Good luck to the OP!

I would agree on the Glock grip angle. From what I have found out so far that is the one thing most people don't like about them. I have a friend with one. I will check his out.

I have a chance to pick up a Sig 226. Is that the same size as the 239? It is also a 40 cal. I told the guy I wanted to check it out and see what I thought about it.

tms13pin

12-10-2009, 12:12 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=289lzL6Eit8

I recommend keeping a pair as close to you as you can at all times.

(sorry, couldn't resist.... continue...)

--Tom

baillif

12-10-2009, 12:27 PM

How about this? Too big?

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii249/baillif/worldslargestrevolver.jpg

MEII413

12-10-2009, 01:04 PM

gag halfrunt

12-10-2009, 01:51 PM

I would go with the glock 26 or ruger came out with a 380 that is really nice. I bought the glock back in 1997 and it is a great off duty gun. I compared it to a s&w 38 that i was carrying and it was about the same size with 6 more rounds. One thing you have to remember is that gun is being carried for personal protection for you or your family and you want the most conceilable weapon as possible that aslo is very comfortable.

I'd avoid any caliber that has a poor track record of stopping power. Sure, being concealable is important. But not at the cost of ballistic impotence. You want a caliber that will stop someone quickly. As I'm sure you know, in defensive handgunning, we shoot to stop someone's violence against us, not necessarily to kill.

The .380 will kill a bad guy dead for sure. But it can take awhile to do it - all the while the bad guy can continue to hurt you.

wilerty

12-10-2009, 02:07 PM

The PPK, while a very handsome gun, is chambered in .380, which has a history of being unreliable as a person stopper. But it looks good with a tux :D

I had a PPK/S. They also have a nasty habit of biting the web of your hand between your thumb and index finger.

RustyFalcon

12-10-2009, 02:08 PM

I think there are reams of evidence showing that 9mm or larger is the right choice for a personal defense weapon. Smaller may be more concealable but if you NEED to shoot someone, you NEED to shoot them with something that's going to end the problem.

There are also reams of evidence documenting appropriate loads for 9mm that provide adequate penetration and terminal ballistics. FBI did a bunch of great testing the results of which identify rounds in several calibers that meet minimum penetration characteristics

So for me, I'm very content carrying 18 rounds of 9mm 147 grain Remington Golden Saber rounds (plus 17 more in a reload magazine) - which incidentally was one of the higher rated 9mm rounds in the FBI studies. To me personally the advantages of the .40 are somewhat questionable for my needs. You have to make your own decision. Same thing about carrying a .45 - I carried a .45 semi-auto for a while, but went back to 9mm simply based on carrying round count (11 rounds in the gun .45) versus (18 rounds in the gun 9mm). This is a subject much like a religious war and you need to sort your own opinion out from objective data. For me the compromise is worth it - Better to have and not need than need and not have.

What'd I'd never do of my own choice is carry something like a .380 or smaller just because of the questionable terminal ballstics.

But having said all of this... there are validated accounts of everything from single-round kills with a .22 to multiple hits not stopping a bad gun in .45. Shot placement trumps any other factor!

Mike Duncan

12-10-2009, 03:35 PM

As a professional (what ever that means), I would recommend the Glock 30 - the .45. With a .45, you can really reach out and say "hello".

http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/71/Glock_30-JH01.jpg

musicman10_1

12-10-2009, 04:07 PM

S&W 442 revolver (.38 special) - very nice and dependable.

I am getting a Ruger LCP for Christmas (.380). My Dad and Brother both carry the LCP and recommend it. I was able to get one at a Black Friday sale at Sportsman's Warehouse for $269!! Only one box of ammo with the purchase of the gun though:( It will take me a while to build up a decent supply of ammo so that I can practice enough to make sure that I want to depend on the gun.)

There as so many good choices and quality guns out there that you just need to think through what you like, want, and need in order to safely and comfortably carry.

Good luck.

Finnster

12-10-2009, 04:08 PM

Jason,

PM or email me. I have some experience in this area. I may be able to offer some assistance in your decision making.

Jeff

Jazzman

12-11-2009, 12:37 AM

As a professional (what ever that means), I would recommend the Glock 30 - the .45. With a .45, you can really reach out and say "hello". Mike or Jeff, if I wanted to buy one of those in the Fairfax area where would you suggest?

johngti

12-11-2009, 01:42 AM

I think my first reaction was blimey, where on earth do you have to live in order to need to carry a concealed weapon?? Or an un-concealed weapon for that matter!!

Moltisanti

12-11-2009, 03:54 AM

I think my first reaction was blimey, where on earth do you have to live in order to need to carry a concealed weapon?? Or an un-concealed weapon for that matter!!

me too, i think we live sheltered lives over here in Blighty, if things got really bad I'd resort to a good old headbutt then leg it!

gag halfrunt

12-11-2009, 04:13 AM

Mike ot Jeff, if I wanted to buy one of those in the Fairfax area where would you suggest?

Don't buy a Glock without comparing other guns!

Glocks are the Epi of the gun world. Cheap, reliable, and functional, but not without certain shortcomings.

Just saying you should check out as many gun models as you can, just like you would with a guitar!

RustyFalcon

12-11-2009, 06:23 AM

I think my first reaction was blimey, where on earth do you have to live in order to need to carry a concealed weapon?? Or an un-concealed weapon for that matter!!

Our founders put the 2nd Amendment into the Bill of Rights to our Constitution for many reasons, one of which is the recognition that humans have a fundamental right to self-defense which is 'self-evident'. So this being a 'self-evident' right, personal weapons; concealed or otherwise, are simply part of implementing that right. You can learn unarmed skills, carry pepper spray or other non-lethals, or lethals including knives firearms, etc. All of these enable to you defend yourself and family against those who are willing to take by force or harm others.

It's an unfortunately case, but there is crime in the world and evil in the world no matter where you live or how 'nice' your city/neighborhood/country appears. Personal weapons are simply tools in the toolbox to solve problems that may present themselves.

As a human, husband, and father, it's my responsibility to plan to defend my family if needed. I wish your government had not progressively removed all of your options to defend yourself!

JasonE

12-11-2009, 06:35 AM

Thanks for all of the info guys. It is helping.

Finnster, email sent.

Miles69

12-11-2009, 06:43 AM

One I did not see mentioned is the Taurus 24/7 series http://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-results.cfm?series=247&toggle=tp. Saves you some cash and is a sold reliable gun. I have one in SW 40 cal that has seen thousand of rounds throught it with no problems at all.
Just my 2 cents.
Oh yea.. good for you not being a victim..:dude:

johngti

12-11-2009, 06:47 AM

Our founders put the 2nd Amendment into the Bill of Rights to our Constitution for many reasons, one of which is the recognition that humans have a fundamental right to self-defense which is 'self-evident'. So this being a 'self-evident' right, personal weapons; concealed or otherwise, are simply part of implementing that right. You can learn unarmed skills, carry pepper spray or other non-lethals, or lethals including knives firearms, etc. All of these enable to you defend yourself and family against those who are willing to take by force or harm others.

It's an unfortunately case, but there is crime in the world and evil in the world no matter where you live or how 'nice' your city/neighborhood/country appears. Personal weapons are simply tools in the toolbox to solve problems that may present themselves.

As a human, husband, and father, it's my responsibility to plan to defend my family if needed. I wish your government had not progressively removed all of your options to defend yourself!

I suspect that replying to this in any detail would break the no politics rule so I'll just say that I don't agree but everyone's welcome to their opinion.

Cup of tea?

lookslikemeband

12-11-2009, 08:15 AM

I agree with everything you said, but this really puzzles me.

The .40 has consistently had significantly better ballistics than the 9mm (hence the huge transition during the late 90s of many LE Agencies to it from the 9.

It's not as good as a .45, and I applaud you for carrying enough gun. However, I carried a G30 for a coupla years concealed, and found that it was just too big and bulky for year round use. Plus, Glock's grip angle is different than most other popular pistols. Some people find it feels unnatural.

The OP should definitely shoot many different guns, and find the one that feels most natural in their hand. That includes which one naturally comes up on target the best, because under stress, at close range, most people find they just point shoot.

The mini Glocks (G26/G27) are too short for comfortable shooting. Your pinky is below the grip, and you really feel that loss of support for recoil control. If you get one of the Pierce grip extenders, then you are increasing the gun's size, and you might as well be carrying a G19/G23.

After many, many years of carrying, I've found the Sig 239 in .40 to be the best compromise (yes, concealed carry is all about compromise) for me of size, caliber, and mag capacity. Put a pair of Hogue grips on this gun, and it's a dream to shoot. Very accurate, very reliable, and small enough to carry comfortably for extended periods.

Good luck to the OP!

I agree with you all the way around.

Sorry, it was early when I typed that yesterday.

I don't mean ballistics as in flight, accuracy; etc. I apologize.

I was thinking of the round as:

A) An effective DRT round
B) It's reputation for jamming (especially in the Glock)

And yes, I'm not a big fan of the Glock's grip angle myself.

Man..... now I want to go to the range!! :D

JMintzer

12-11-2009, 09:17 AM

Just a gentle reminder, this thread -WILL NOT- turn into a pro/anti gun thread, capische? Good!

Jamie

JasonE

12-11-2009, 09:26 AM

Just a gentle reminder, this thread -WILL NOT- turn into a pro/anti gun thread, capische? Good!

Jamie

I sure hope not. That was not my intention when I started it.

Now give me your input on my question. :D

johngti

12-11-2009, 10:07 AM

Just a gentle reminder, this thread -WILL NOT- turn into a pro/anti gun thread, capische? Good!

Jamie

Ahem :)

I suspect that replying to this in any detail would break the no politics rule so I'll just say that I don't agree but everyone's welcome to their opinion.

lookslikemeband

12-11-2009, 10:13 AM

Just a gentle reminder, this thread -WILL NOT- turn into a pro/anti gun thread, capische? Good!

Jamie

I was hoping someone would remind everyone of that. So far, so good IMO.

This is me being pleasantly surprised. :)

gag halfrunt

12-11-2009, 11:46 AM

I agree with you all the way around.

Sorry, it was early when I typed that yesterday.

I don't mean ballistics as in flight, accuracy; etc. I apologize.

I was thinking of the round as:

A) An effective DRT round
B) It's reputation for jamming (especially in the Glock)

And yes, I'm not a big fan of the Glock's grip angle myself.

Man..... now I want to go to the range!! :D

Cool, bro!

Let's go shooting!

JMintzer

12-11-2009, 11:58 AM

I raise your "Ahem" with a "Cough!" ;):p

I think my first reaction was blimey, where on earth do you have to live in order to need to carry a concealed weapon?? Or an un-concealed weapon for that matter!!

Jamie

P.S. I only posted a gentle reminder, due to the past actions of a few now-inactive members. Any thread discussing firearms was quickly derailed into the abyss...

johngti

12-11-2009, 12:10 PM

Fair point, well made!! Now about that cuppa...

JMintzer

12-11-2009, 12:22 PM

I sure hope not. That was not my intention when I started it.

Now give me your input on my question. :D

Well, living in Marylandistan, getting a CCW is harder than getting an audience w/the Pope!

But, if I ever did get one, I'd carry either a shorter barrel .45 like a Springfield, or Colt Commander or a Kimber, or possibly my H&K P30 (9mm)...

Jamie

cust22

12-11-2009, 06:15 PM

But, if I ever did get one, I'd carry either a shorter barrel .45 like a Springfield Colt Commander or a Kimber, or possibly my H&K P30 (9mm)...

Jamie[/quote]

New York is not much easier, being a retired(nypd)Police Officer helped a little:D.
Any way I sometimes carry a Kimber cary comp II in 45. It's a stainless officers model sized gun. Excellent gun and packs a punch. My other carry gun is a Glock 27 in 40 cal. Excellent reliable and usually my first choice to carry. Not an easy gun to shoot well. It has moderate recoil and the shorter grip makes it a little tougher to shoot well. But everything has a trade off. So for max concealability I usually opt for that. Since 1995 I carried a Glock 19, on and off duty. 10,000 plus rounds thru it, everything from reloads(not recomended, voids warranty) to +p+ 124 le only hollow points. Never a single malfunction. And with todays modern hollow points I never felt undergunned.
One thing to note. The proper way to carry a single action( 1911 style pistol) is cocked and locked. This requires significant training and experience. It really should only be done by an expert/master level shooter. If this is your choice, make sure you get professional and expert training. The other ways of carry are
1) Hammer down on a loaded chamber
2) and loaded magazine with an empty chamber
What ever you choose keep this in mind and best of luck.

LDS22

12-11-2009, 06:26 PM

...But, if I ever did get one, I'd carry either a shorter barrel .45 like a Springfield Colt Commander or a Kimber, or possibly my H&K P30 (9mm)...

Jamie

like a colt 1991? same 7rd magazine as a 1911 but 3.5" barrel. just as reliable...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v720/LDS22/ccw.jpg

RustyFalcon

12-11-2009, 07:10 PM

Point taken - and was not my intent. Just having a discussion with johngti. We'll keep it light!

And johngti, yep I'll take a cup thanks!

Just a gentle reminder, this thread -WILL NOT- turn into a pro/anti gun thread, capische? Good!

Jamie

Mike Duncan

12-11-2009, 07:20 PM

My Glock 30 is like my special fat little friend. Man, do I love that pistol.

Oddly enough, I typically shoot better with the 30 than the Glock 22 that I carry everyday. Don't worry, I'm no slouch with the 22.

We carry .40s at work. That change took place after one of my co-workers was attacked and stabbed in '91. He unloaded eight rounds from his 9mm Sig Sauer into the bad guy while being stabbed in the head and chest. Finally, round number nine permanently stopped the aggressive action. The guy was on my friend - full force attacking.

Close-in self defense, I firmly believe, will come down to how much firepower and shot placement. In the '91 example, not one of those eight rounds hit anything vital, allowing the attacker to continue on his quest to kill. My buddy hit the subject with each shot.

Zilmo

12-11-2009, 08:16 PM

Several excellent choices in a concealed weapon:

Dan Wesson CBOB in .45 caliber:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/Zilmo/Guns/DSC_0609.jpg

Kimber Ultra CDP II in 9mm:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/Zilmo/Guns/DSC_0364.jpg

Smith and Wesson 945-1 Compact in .45:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/Zilmo/DSC_0504.jpg

JasonE

12-11-2009, 08:42 PM

Gavin

12-11-2009, 09:14 PM

You gun guys crack me up.

Zilmo

12-11-2009, 10:11 PM

You gun guys crack me up.

Why is that?

Dr Git

12-11-2009, 10:48 PM

Aren't you one of us ???? Here's one of my Sigs Sauer P229 SAS .40 Cal (notttt quite as nice as Z's)

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/drgit57/DSCF0550.jpg

You gun guys crack me up.

gag halfrunt

12-12-2009, 08:14 AM

You gun guys crack me up.

Thanks for stopping by to troll.

Gavin

12-12-2009, 08:16 AM

Thanks for stopping by to troll.

hahahaha:D

Gag...I was trolling. Been in law enforcement for 18 years...firearms instructor...certified Glock armor...backyard range....think I can probably hang with the best of ya!

Now go sling some lead you tree huggers!

JMintzer

12-12-2009, 08:23 AM

Yeah, Gavin's one of those "antis'' Bwahahaha!

Guys, y'all completely missed the joke... :D

Jamie

Gavin

12-12-2009, 08:26 AM

Yeah, Gavin's one of those "antis'' Bwahahaha!

Guys, y'all completely missed the joke... :D

Jamie

Its ok Jamie. Gag didn't know and well....I did leave myself wide open for that. Besides, I'm now an official member of the internets...I've been called a troll.:p

JMintzer

12-12-2009, 08:28 AM

Its ok Jamie. Gag didn't know and well....I did leave myself wide open for that. Besides, I'm now an official member of the internets...I've been called a troll.:p

Like you haven't been called worse... :D

Jamie

dinocicerelli

12-12-2009, 08:29 AM

I can pick an ant off at 40 paces, too. I'm a bird guy, these days. Chuck the dog is going to be great.

gag halfrunt

12-12-2009, 08:54 AM

Yeah, Gavin's one of those "antis'' Bwahahaha!

Guys, y'all completely missed the joke... :D

Jamie

Yea, I fell for it completely :o . Somebody take the hook outta my mouth!

Gavin, sorry, but I'm so use to that kind of comment on TGP being meant as serious. I should know better at BaM! It's nice to have another barrel sucker around ;)

11top

12-12-2009, 09:19 AM

I am signing up to take the course to get a concealed carry permit. I am throwing this out there to see what others of you that may have this permit are carrying.

I am looking at a Springfield XD, 40 cal. I like the pistol. My Brother has one so I got to check it out. However, I think it will be a little large to carry in the summer months.

I really have no idea how much I will actually carry the pistol around with me but would like one that is accurate and not too big or small.

Any recommendations?

I have an XD in 9mm, and it's a great piece. I wish I had waited for the 40 S&W. However, I think the best all around carry piece is a S&W J frame .357 in scandium. I like the safety factor of revolvers, and this thing is incredibly light!

Now, if you want to be a total bada$$, get a Taurus judge. Not the best concealment, but it is a BEAST. I have both the 2.5" and 3" cylindar models.

Gavin

12-12-2009, 09:48 AM

Yea, I fell for it completely :o . Somebody take the hook outta my mouth!

Gavin, sorry, but I'm so use to that kind of comment on TGP being meant as serious. I should know better at BaM! It's nice to have another barrel sucker around ;)

Gag,

No need to apologize. All is good. It was my bad anyways...should have used one of these ";)" at the end of my sentence in the original post.

Zilmo

12-12-2009, 09:51 AM

Gavin, I was waiting for some pithy retort about preferring hand grenades or somesuch.

Gavin

12-12-2009, 09:51 AM

...oh and to the OP. Get what's comfortable in your hand and what you like....as long as its .40 cal.

Z,

Those are beautiful. Each and every one.

JMintzer

12-12-2009, 11:17 AM

...oh and to the OP. Get what's comfortable in your hand and what you like....as long as its .40 cal.

.40s are for sissies...:p

I read a quote, supposedly by either a Texas or Army Ranger as to why he carried a 1911 in .45 caliber.

His response? "Because they don't make a .46... :D

Jamie

BrianBaker

12-12-2009, 11:35 AM

I've been able to conceal my S&W 357 4". But it works better if its visible.

lookslikemeband

12-12-2009, 11:43 AM

JasonE

12-12-2009, 11:58 PM

...oh and to the OP. Get what's comfortable in your hand and what you like....as long as its .40 cal.

Z,

Those are beautiful. Each and every one.

Let me tell you that this caliber thing is going to be a tough choice. I have talked to a lot of guys who use these types of pistols in this thread for their jobs and I am getting a very mixed review on which caliber I should get. They all have good arguments to why one is better than another too. Here are some of the things I am being told.

Get the MM because it holds more rounds and is cheaper to shoot if you want to take it out and target shoot with it.
Get the .40 cal because it has way better ballistics than the MM.
Get the .45 cal because it doesn't jump as much as the .40 so your shots following the first one don't walk up nearly as much. This one came along with an example of the whole department getting tighter shot patterns when they went from the .40 to the .45.I like the idea of cheaper shooting and more rounds. I also like the idea of a bit more punch if I need it. I also like the less kick, especially if I buy a compact model, which I will likely do.

I am getting a headache... :)

I am going to a place tomorrow, well, later today now, that has an indoor range and pistols to test shoot. I think that will shed some light on things.

Tremontifan

12-13-2009, 07:17 PM

I read threads like this and thank god I live in Australia, Yes we have our fair share of violence no doubt but instead of resorting to firepower or taking lives we just punch the pi$$ out of each other haha!

gag halfrunt

12-13-2009, 07:59 PM

Let me tell you that this caliber thing is going to be a tough choice. I have talked to a lot of guys who use these types of pistols in this thread for their jobs and I am getting a very mixed review on which caliber I should get. They all have good arguments to why one is better than another too. Here are some of the things I am being told.

Get the MM because it holds more rounds and is cheaper to shoot if you want to take it out and target shoot with it.
Get the .40 cal because it has way better ballistics than the MM.
Get the .45 cal because it doesn't jump as much as the .40 so your shots following the first one don't walk up nearly as much. This one came along with an example of the whole department getting tighter shot patterns when they went from the .40 to the .45.I like the idea of cheaper shooting and more rounds. I also like the idea of a bit more punch if I need it. I also like the less kick, especially if I buy a compact model, which I will likely do.

I am getting a headache... :)

I am going to a place tomorrow, well, later today now, that has an indoor range and pistols to test shoot. I think that will shed some light on things.

Don't feel alone, bro. There are trade offs with each of the calibers, because the gun makers want to make each frame as small as possible, while still being robust enough to last. They pretty much designed a smaller 9mm frame and a larger .45 frame. When the .40 came out, most gun companies built them on the smaller 9mm frame, which meant 1) better concealability, 2) smaller grip, so more people could hold the gun easier, and 3) greater felt recoil than both the 9 and the .45 (greater mass of the .45's frame reduces some of the felt recoil).

So, you are facing the same dilemma that every other thoughtful handgun purchaser has faced. I don't know if that helps, but at least you're not alone!