I need a slim .40 that's not a Glock...

[Danny_Ocean]

I'm looking to purchase a "slim" .40 for concealed carry. My current daily carry is the Glock 27. I like its' compact size, however it is too thick. It digs in to the back and/or hip depending on how I wear it. I'll probably convert this to my "glovebox" gun if I can find something more comfortable to wear.

???

[azasadny]

I think Sig makes one. Many of the local PD's have switched to .40 and they are selling or trading in their 9mm Sigs for .40's.

[Rick Lee]

My daily CCW piece is a SIG P239 in .40. Super, great, accurate, reliabe gun.

[id10t]

Kahr makes a nice small 40 (or 9mm)... the shop I do computer work for has a little-used one in stock, very nice small guns.

[Danny_Ocean]

Thanks, I'll check out the Sig and the Kahr.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

My daily CCW piece is a SIG P239 in .40. Super, great, accurate, reliabe gun.

Not sure it's that exact model, but looks like it. The handgun issued to the American Airlines pilots who carry...

[Rick Lee]

Here are a few of my others with the P239. The one on bottom is a P229 and I have a .40 and .357 barrel for it. It holds 12+1 rds. The P239 only holds 7+1 in .40, but more in 9mm.

[Jim Bremner]

take a look @ the sti ls40



If you like 1911 platforms

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Danny,

Why a .40? If that is what you already have in calibers and want to keep buying all the same ammo... .45 has better knock down and less distance travel. We are worried about backdrop, right? .357 or .38 will do a very fine job. Certain types of 9mm and .380auto can be had that tend to stay inside your target not just travel through like an FMJ. All FMJ rounds tend to want to keep traveling leading to the issue of backdrop.

Take a look at a Colt 38 special or something similar (S&W has some nice small framed revolvers). Very accurate, 350 or less range buying used at gun shows from an individual. If you need more than three shots you are in VERY grave trouble to begin with. People in general are much more accurate with a revolver versus a semi and the only reason to use this tool is to defend yourself. Accuracy counts, ability to shoot large number of rounds quickly does no good if you can't hit what you are shooting at.

If it "has" to be a semi-auto, Browning has some very nice weapons. Sigs are OK as are Walthers. My Wife's Glock has been a dream. I DO NOT like S&W semis, but that is me. I ALWAS stress with semis, keep them CLEAN and VERY WELL SERVICED!!!

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

Danny,

Why a .40? If that is what you already have in calibers and want to keep buying all the same ammo... .45 has better knock down and less distance travel. We are worried about backdrop, right? .357 or .38 will do a very fine job. Certain types of 9mm and .380auto can be had that tend to stay inside your target not just travel through like an FMJ. All FMJ rounds tend to want to keep traveling leading to the issue of backdrop.

Take a look at a Colt 38 special or something similar (S&W has some nice small framed revolvers). Very accurate, 350 or less range buying used at gun shows from an individual. If you need more than three shots you are in VERY grave trouble to begin with. People in general are much more accurate with a revolver versus a semi and the only reason to use this tool is to defend yourself. Accuracy counts, ability to shoot large number of rounds quickly does no good if you can't hit what you are shooting at.

If it "has" to be a semi-auto, Browning has some very nice weapons. Sigs are OK as are Walthers. My Wife's Glock has been a dream. I DO NOT like S&W semis, but that is me. I ALWAS stress with semis, keep them CLEAN and VERY WELL SERVICED!!!

Well...I didn't want to start the .40 vs. .45 debate, but I settled on .40's after doing tons of research pre-purchase. And all the .45's I looked at were just too bulky to carry. I bought a Detonics .45 Backup, but it kicks like a mule. The Glock .40 seemed perfect...until I started carrying it. I have a S & W .38 Airweight (442?) as my back-up (which I actually had to pull today!), but that only holds 5 rounds.

I used to have a Colt 1911 in .38 Super Auto. I might just get another one. Slim, lightweight and a fast bullet. Speed kills!

[Tobra]

Airweight S&W .38 is best carry piece, IMHO. That is what I bought the wife, and my father-in-law loved it. It is compact, with a shrouded hammer and what do you need more than 5 rounds for in a CCW?

[Jeff Higgins]

One of the small Kimber of Springfield Armory 1911 based carry guns is about as slim as they come. With an aluminum frame they are quite light but, built around the .45 ACP, they still have adequate mass to tame the .40 S&W.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Tobra

...and what do you need more than 5 rounds for in a CCW?

Well I guess you don't, but...it's nice to know the capacity is there. Kinda like a car. 70hp will get you from point A to B, but 700hp is better, right?

[red-beard]

Khar is the way to go for concealed carry.

http://www.kahr.com/PA-1_40sw.html

All of the Kahr .40SW are .94 inches wide. The P239 is 1.2 inches wide.

I carry a Kel-Tec P40 (P-11 that shoots 40SW) and it has an interchangable barrel for .357sig. You want to carry the lightest rounds you can, to help with the recoil. Also, no p+ ammo.

[many944s]

If you can find one.... I highly recomend the .40 S&W Star Ultra, that is my daily CCW.

IMHO, one of the best concealed carry weapons ever, but they have been all but snached up now. If you find more than one, let me know I'd like another for the wife!!

-Nick

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by many944s

If you can find one.... I highly recomend the .40 S&W Star Ultra, that is my daily CCW.

IMHO, one of the best concealed carry weapons ever, but they have been all but snached up now. If you find more than one, let me know I'd like another for the wife!!

-Nick

Like this?: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=75772676

They're all over Gunbroker.com

[many944s]

Almost! Most of them I see for sale have the composite upper section of the frame like the one you linked to. Mine has an alloy section all around the slide rails, the only composite is in the grip. It is strange, the gunsmith at my local shop says he has never seen one like it, but it is original... Sorry, I thought I typed that in the original post, but I must have wiped it..

However, the all composite framed models are nice as well!

-Nick

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

One of the small Kimber of Springfield Armory 1911 based carry guns is about as slim as they come. With an aluminum frame they are quite light but, built around the .45 ACP, they still have adequate mass to tame the .40 S&W.

Good advice, if you ask me. But then, I've reached the age where nobody asks me anything...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I'll throw back into the ring...

Speed does not kill. Impact kills. The force of the bullet has to transfer to the target to take your target down. You can kill with a .22 short if you know how to shoot. Wife's great uncle carried a .22 long as a side arm in WWII, he never told how many times it saved his life in combat and allowed the other guy to die for their country.

A .45 in Auto or Colt has LOTS of lead to stop your target. It will likely knock down your target. Yes, lots of recoil, it goes with the caliber. Larger frames absorb some of the recoil, heavier frames absorb recoil better.

I cannot stand the sound (as in audio signal) of a .40, but that is just me. Even a .380 makes enough noise to get peoples attention.

The goal is to place lead on your target without hurting anything in your backdrop/innocent bystander behind target (your wife, sister, mother, neighbor). I will always suggest using hollow points or some version there of. If the bullet does not stay in your target it will expend it's energy somewhere else. The goal should be to stay in your target.

Again, IF you need more than three rounds with your CCW you have a HUGE problem!!!

(edited by The Wife!)

[on2wheels52]

I wish I was big enough to carry a .40 or such all week. But I've had the same .22 in my pocket over twenty years (and happily have never had to put it to use).
Jim