Concealed Carry

Im from Arizona and still have a CWP(even though you dont need it really) I have had a couple CCW's as well as other pistols and personally i prefer something very small as a concealed carry. The bigger the gun, the less you will take it with you(unless you live in alaska or somewhere you have a coat or sweater on all the time). Believe me on this.
I had a Kahr pm40 and it was a piece of shit. I hoped it was going to be a good pistol(USA built), but it had several problems. I sent it back twice to the manufacturer and it still would fail in several ways. My CCW pistol of choice is a sig P238. Its a lil heavy (than say a Ruger LCP) but its fits well for me, very accurate and very reliable..... not one problem with >350 rounds.
That works for me, but the main point is to get something small, shoots and fits well, Reliable, and in your budget. If you get shot in the head with a 45, 9, or 380, it really doesnt matter. Screw the caliber, just buy something you will keep on you.

 

Thanks for all the responses. blunes you had great advice and unfortunately my pops already carries the LCP so I cant snag that one. I will attempt to go shooting this weekend and I will bring the Kimber again and see what happens.

 

I use my Glock 19 for most of my concelaed carry. It's a little larger than some of the really compact models, but it works for me. A little tricky to conceal in summer, but I am a larger guy. Just find what's going to work best for you. Good luck.

 

I just try to conceal it the best I can. I try to remind myself that I can see it in the mirror because i know it's there. However 99% of the public won't even notice it's there.

 

I carry the same Kahr...PM9 with a Hogue grip sleeve on it.
SW 442-642 is my other want for cc.
I would forget double stacks for CC.
$.02
BTW, my experience with 1911's is the shorter the barrel, the less reliable it is.
For me, Commander(4") is min for 1911.

 

i would deff stick with a .45 if you feel the need to carry a gun then your going to want a gun that will put what ever your aiming at down. reason the military stopped using the beretta 92 is because they would hit people with the .40 round and it wouldnt put them down they would keep running at you. the .45 has alot more stopping power to it and if u ever need to, god forbid, shoot someone you want them to go down

 

Ted,
You were my first concert.
I still have the stub...Dec 8, 1978, Double-Live Gonzo tour....loved it.
That said, STFU.
If you carry concealed without a permit,where not permitted, that makes you a criminal, and a felon, at that.
And felons are not permitted to own firearms.
Instead of running your mouth and looking for TV and radio exposure, think about what you say and how it's taken.
Thanks,
A Former Fan.

BTW, the indian tribal casino you're playing up here in August rapes and pillages the fish and big game in the area...just thought you'd like to know.

 

Beretta 92 is 9mm
45acp isn't exactly Thors Hammer.

 

i have a berreta 92...it takes .40s...

edit...i mean 96. my bad

 

LOL @ Thors Hammer

 

x2

 

If you are going to seriously get into the concealed carry (CC) lifestyle, then you really need to have more than one CC weapon. Some points to consider:

1. If you decide that there will be a time when you need a firearm to defend yourself or your loved ones, then you should admit to yourself that you should carry a firearm AT ALL TIMES (in accordance with the law). Unfortunately, we can't choose when we are going to need a weapon, so the responsible thing to do is always be prepared.

2. You should do everything in your power to carry CONCEALED. This means carry in such a way as to not alert the public that you have a weapon. Flashing weapons (on accident or on purpose) is irresponsible and should be avoided stringently.

3. Carry the biggest caliber that you are comfortable shooting. As others have said, if you need to use it, you want it to work.

Furthermore, a larger caliber (such as a .45 ACP) will give you confidence in the moment of truth that may allow you to keep your cool and make a good shot. I personally do not want to carry a .380 such as the Ruger LCP because I don't have the confidence that I could make a one-shot-stop with it. This doubt, could manifest into hesitation, causing me to shoot too late, or an overzealousness that may cause me to shoot too quickly and inaccurately. The most important thing is to make good shots, so if a 9mm is all you are comfortable shooing (i.e. in complete control of for multiple shots in succession) then carry a 9mm, because you will be more likely to put the bullet where it counts. But once you are comfortable, afford yourself the most stopping power.

Thus, following these points, you should always carry the biggest weapon that you can, and never let it show. To accomplish this, you will need to adapt your wardrobe around your new lifestyle. Realistically, a sidearm can present complications for a normal life style. I'm most comfortable shooting my S&W 1911 - I love the single action trigger, the feel, and the accuracy - but I can't carry this pistol all of the time; it is just doesn't work well for some things.

I would suggest careful consideration of the following:

Will you be able to carry a/this weapon when you go out to eat? What about on a hot summer day? If you decide to go out with friends who aren't comfortable with guns, what will you bring?

Enter the thesis of this entire post: Have multiple weapons with multiple holsters to match your life stye. My solutions are as follows:

My preferred weapon of choice is my S&W 1911 in .45 ACP. If I was so lucky as to choose what weapon I brought to a fight, this would be it - legendary stopping power in a package that is incredibly accurate. I carry this in a shoulder holster when I can keep a jacket on at all times. On a cooler day or evening when I am planning to go out to dinner, I wear my 1911 in a hip holster with a 2-magazine holster on my opposite hip; this way I can remove my jacket in the restaurant and drape it around my waist and over my holsters. On days that a jacket is too much, I carry a Kahr CW .40 in a Crossbreed supertuck deluxe. This holster allows for concealment without a jacket and is complimented with a much smaller pistol to maintain comfort and reduce printing in a t-shirt. This is also the weapon that I carry when I really don't want it known that I'm carrying; it is the most concealable package that I'm comfortable carrying (i.e. still has enough knock down power for me).

I would suggest looking into multiple solutions for your lifestyle. I've found that one weapon and one holster just isn't enough - at a bare minimum you'll get tired of wearing the same jacket all of the time.

I know that this post is really long, but I take this extremely seriously and I want others to do the same. It is an important decision to make, and it shouldn't be made lightly - lives hang in the balance. I would also highly suggest that you begin to educate yourself about this lifestyle that you're about adopt. I would recommend the following books in this order:

1. The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry - Massad Ayoob
2. On Killing - LTC Dave Grossman
3. On Combat - LTC Dave Grossman
4. The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery - Massad Ayoob
5. In The Gravest Extreme - Massad Ayoob

I hope that you found this post helpful, and take some time to discover what is best for you. Stay safe.

Hunter

 

This guy has it right.....If its not small and light....you will tend to leave it home. Everyone would love to have a cannon with them but are often not willing to carry it all the time.

I love my pm9
I love my S&W 340pd
I am starting to love my rohrbaugh stealth

If I know ahead of time there will be trouble I will find a way to get my AR in my back pocket.

Good luck,
ZDog

 

I like my SIG 239 40cal and also carry a FEG-PA63(9X18)

 

So what did you end up doing OP?

I got rid of my Kahr PM9 and picked up a Sig P239 9mm. I like it soooo much better. Feels better, shoots better, and looks better IMO. Great gun!