Advice on Carry-Piece

[Superman]

I think I know what I want. I want a gun I can conveniently and discreetly carry. I'm not your typical sixty-pounds-overweight American, so discreetly holstering a tommy gun is not feasible. I have a Springfield XD-45 Service-length gun, which is WAY too big and WAY too heavy. It also holds more than twice as many cartridges as I could ever possibly need in one gunfight. Here are my criteria:

*Small
*I like ACP's
*I'm thinking at least 9mm
*This gun HAS to have safety features. Ideally it would have a ducktail safety and a thumb safety. There are guys who carry guns cocked and loaded, with no safety. Darwinism, I say.
*Composite frame, ideally

Does this gun exist?

[Rot 911]

Whatever you get, make sure it is a pistol you are comfortable with and firing it is second nature for you.

I am 5'8", weigh 160 lbs and carry a Springfield 1911 in an IWB and it does not print at all as long as I avoid wearing spandex.

[911boost]

Yes, the new Colt Carry Defender (I am pretty sure that is the name). I also really like my Kimber Ultra CDPII.

Bill

[Dueller]

Glock 26 in 9mm or G36 in .45 (1" width, 6.75 length, 4.75 height)?

[rouxroux]

nice, compact 1911 is fine. I also have a comfy ankle rig for my PPK.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

I am 5'8", weigh 160 lbs and carry a Springfield 1911 in an IWB and it does not print at all as long as I avoid wearing spandex.

We are the same size.

What is an "IWB"?

I might wear skirts and dresses (inside joke) and I do wear those stretchy superfantasticfabric undergear when backpacking, but would never be caught dead in spandex. Still, I really wonder how I might possibly "carry." A shoulder holster would be great......until I want to remove my jacket.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Superman

We are the same size.

What is an "IWB"?.

Inside the Waist Band Holster.

[Tim Hancock]

I picked up one of these last fall when they were going for around $160-$170 . Hungarian FEG PA-63 (9 x 18 Makarov)..... They were police and military issued in Hungary at one time.... They are reliable and because of the aluminum frame they are lightweight.

+ Lightweight
Small
Reliable
Cheap (if it ever got stolen from your car, it would not be too big of loss)
Relatively cheap ammo

- Heavy trigger in DA mode (SA is not too bad for a carry gun)
The aluminum frame makes for a sore hand if one fires all day at the range

FEG PA-63 on left (gun on right is wife's Bersa .380)

[ljowdy]

Kel-tec makes a few very concealable and lightweight 9mm pistols. No safety's however they are hammerless and are double action on the first round. I'd buy one but Kel-tec won't send one to CA for testing stating that they believe CA is fighting and opposing the 2nd ammendment. My friend has 2 of their weapons (he lives in Indiana) and he love them

do a google on Kel-Tec look at their PF9 and P11

[Embraer]

Along the lines of Tim's gun, the polish P64 (PPK copy), in 9x18 Makarov....

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/handguns/polish/p/polish-p64-9x18-makarov-double-action-walther-ppk-style-very-good-plus-condition/cPath/16_385/products_id/2453

and 500 rounds of ammo...

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/ammo-for-handguns/9x18-makarov/p/9x18-makarov-brown-bear-95gr-fmj-500rds-/cPath/25_30/products_id/447

cheap and small

[HHI944]

I carry an RIA 1911 OWB with a nice Hawaiian on top. If I ever break and get something smaller, it'll be an H&K USP compact.

[speeder]

I've always liked the idea of a S&W "airweight" aluminum frame .38 revolver w/ either concealed or smooth hammer. My Dad has one, they're light as heck and you can carry it in your pocket w/o even causing much of a sag. It'll work fine for pumping rounds into the chest (or head) of an up-close human varmint, not so good against a bear on the hiking trail. But then none of these carry pistols will stop a large animal unless you get really lucky.

Are you protecting yourself from human threats or animal?

[Rick Lee]

I don't think many if any revolvers have safeties on them. I like the hammerless S&W snubbies, but they're kind of thick. Supe, if anything, your being thin makes it even easier for you to conceal inside the waistband. Most SIG's have only a decocker and heavy double-action trigger as their safety. But they are super safe. You have to really try to be an idiot - like certain celebrities or pro athletes - to have a gun do off in your pants. A proper holster is an excellent safety in itself.

[MotoSook]

Here's the Kel Tec mentioned about...weighs less than a can of pop. This one has an Armalaser on it and a belt clip...7 rds single stack less than 1" thickness

It is DA for every round (DAO)..not just the first round

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by speeder

I've always liked the idea of a S&W "airweight" aluminum frame .38 revolver w/ either concealed or smooth hammer. My Dad has one, they're light as heck and you can carry it in your pocket w/o even causing much of a sag. It'll work fine for pumping rounds into the chest (or head) of an up-close human varmint, not so good against a bear on the hiking trail. But then none of these carry pistols will stop a large animal unless you get really lucky.

Are you protecting yourself from human threats or animal?

this is what I got my wife first Christmas after we got married. They make a titanium frame one that is stupid light, but it was like 30% more $$

It literally fits in the palm of my hand

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Superman

I think I know what I want. I want a gun I can conveniently and discreetly carry. I'm not your typical sixty-pounds-overweight American, so discreetly holstering a tommy gun is not feasible. I have a Springfield XD-45 Service-length gun, which is WAY too big and WAY too heavy. It also holds more than twice as many cartridges as I could ever possibly need in one gunfight. Here are my criteria:

*Small
*I like ACP's
*I'm thinking at least 9mm
*This gun HAS to have safety features. Ideally it would have a ducktail safety and a thumb safety. There are guys who carry guns cocked and loaded, with no safety. Darwinism, I say.
*Composite frame, ideally

Does this gun exist?

A S&W 915 (inexpensive) is pretty damn close to what you're looking for, or a P7 M8 (mucho expensive). Something along those lines.

Neither is composite, but both are lightweight aluminum. Both have manual safeties.(though neither has a beavertail)

kel tec's have no manual safeties, so they fail your initial test.

[Rick Lee]

You can get a P7PSP for half the cost of the P7M8. Pretty sure both are steel though. I've had two P7PSP's. They're amazing guns, but are not real light. I think Kel-Tec's are slightly better than junk guns.

[jyl]

S&W makes a centennial (concealed hammer 5 shot snubnose) with a grip safety. Also various centennials with alloy frames/titanium cylinders. Unfort, no current model has both.

Only 5 shots but they can be 357 magnum ones.

The little snubbies are small and rounded enough for some front pants pockets and most jacket pockets. Use a thin sleeve type holster to cover the trigger.

[m21sniper]

The 915 is a pretty solid choice, not sure if they still make em though.

[charleskieffner]

guys dont fool yerself when its hot out about lil mouse .380's. yes always i am a lover of big bores that start with a .4X, but when its hot out, ya cant beat a .380. and they have some very very very nasty rounds out for them now.

i own a walther ppk/s, and (2) hk4's. love em. total concealment. no juans the wiser. next would be my hk usp compact robared 9mm. a lil bigger but more horsepower. next my springfield ultra compact .45 stainless nelson ford built for me. all very very concealable dependent on how you dress. with 9mm and .45 yer gonna need a belt FOR SURE!