Options for concealed carry

[Taz's Master]

Interested in a little input from those with more or broader spoon experience than myself. A friend at work told me he was considering buying a handgun for concealed carry. I asked revolver or semi and he said semi. My interests lie in .357/.38 and he's not getting a Coonan.

He said he's not getting a 1911, and he's not fond of polymer, and I doubt if he's interested in spending much above $500 (maybe up to $800), and I don't think he has opposition to buying a used firearm. I suggested 3rd generation Smith and Wesson. They seem to be held in fairly high ragards and with police trade-ins still happening, look like a good value. Just would like some to hear opinions as to whether that is a good or bad suggestion (and why), and hear of some other options for him to consider.

[stomachmonkey]

All my friends who carry choose something like a Ruger LCP or Sig P290. I went a little bigger with a Taurus Millenium in 9mm.

We wear shorts and T's 10 months out of the year around here so small and concealable is the way to go.

[mreid]

Sig Sauer 229R in .40. Love mine!

[targa911S]

ruger LC9 Sig 938. Classic would be a Colt 1908 .380 hammerless, my favorite carry.

[porsche4life]

Sig 938... Uses 9mm, no poly, carries easily, a joy to shoot, and a damn sexy pocket gun.

I can conceal mine, and I'm a little guy, so it can be difficult at times.

[patssle]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

All my friends who carry choose something like a Ruger LCP or Sig P290. I went a little bigger with a Taurus Millenium in 9mm.

We wear shorts and T's 10 months out of the year around here so small and concealable is the way to go.

Concealed where?

[HardDrive]

Absolutely love my Sig 938. 9mm, slips into a pocket, and its accurate enough to take to the range (at reasonable distances of course). Get the extended magazine. Gives you an extra round and a place to put your pinky. Its like a mini 1911.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Absolutely love my Sig 938. 9mm, slips into a pocket, and its accurate enough to take to the range (at reasonable distances of course). Get the extended magazine. Gives you an extra round and a place to put your pinky. Its like a mini 1911.

I think that I'll SCREW California and SSE one of these prior to the law changing.

[dntlft]

+1 for the Ruger lcp.

With the right defensive ammo, this is a formidable close range defensive weapon. You can argue caliber, ballistics data ect. all day, but at around 10 ounces and only .8" wide, it is SO easy to carry and conceal, even with shorts.

I bought an aftermarket clip for mine, so that the clip simply hooks onto your pants, with a belt easily concealing the clip if you prefer appendix carry position. It's no more noticeable than carrying a moderately sized pocket knife....
And lets all be honest here, the bigger, heavier and bulkier the rig, the less likely we all are to donn the damn thing in the first place.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by patssle

Concealed where?

Pocket.

[HHI944]

Another vote for the 938. I love mine and it easily takes 8x8 steel swingers at 25yds

[Hugh R]

You might look at this thread. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-politics-religion/730551-what-handgun-should-i-buy.html

Lots and lots of info in PARF. I ended up getting the S&W M&P Shield in .40 for about 1/2 the cost of the similar sized Sigs. Don't know enough about either one to argue the finer points, but I like mine. Its polymer however. But very light.

[John Rogers]

I would suggest going to a range that rents guns and have one of the staff work with whoever is going to buy the gun to see what works. Might cost a few bucks but will be worth it in the end. There was a match recently at S&W for the concealed carry guns, limited to 5 rounds and the revolvers cleaned up. No jamming and if you have a miss-fire just pull the trigger again. If you need more than 5 shots the 5 round speed loaders do work very well.

[Hugh R]

A colleague of mine is one of the biggest armorers in Hollywood. He says for a carry get a revolver, you may not use it for years, but no springs are under tension, and they don't jamb when you need them. OTOH, a BIL is assistant Sheriff of a large CA farming county and he says that is old school thinking, new name brand semis, Glock, S&W, Sig, etc. don't have those problems anymore. Don't know, just telling what I was told.

[Hugh R]

Currently it looks like NO Rugers are legal for sale in CA.

Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale - Firearms Division - California Dept. of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

I'm moving somewhere else in a few years. I bought the S&W M&P Shield .40 not as a first choice, although its a nice piece, but out of a dwindling selection of what I could legally buy in CA. As it is, I had to buy it from a shop in Kentucky and have it shipped to an FFL here. The FFl's here wanted to wait list me for their allocation for 3-6 months. IIRC I paid the FFL $75, so my net over S&W list was like $15, who cares. Without actually seeing one, I think I would have preferred one of the Ruger LC9's.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Sig 938 is the bee's knees for an all-metal tiny 9.

I'm more a .38/.357 type of guy though, too. I've never had a S&W wheelgun fail on me.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sig P938 is my CCH of choice. If you really want .38 Special/.357 I have a S&W 686 that I love shooting.

[Jim Bremner]

938 I the answer if you're a 1911 fan

The controls are second nature.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

A colleague of mine is one of the biggest armorers in Hollywood. He says for a carry get a revolver, you may not use it for years, but no springs are under tension, and they don't jamb when you need them. OTOH, a BIL is assistant Sheriff of a large CA farming county and he says that is old school thinking, new name brand semis, Glock, S&W, Sig, etc. don't have those problems anymore. Don't know, just telling what I was told.

My Glock 19 sat in a box for five years with a full magazine. Not the best idea, I grant. When I resumed shooting it, I had some FTL and FTE until I replaced mag springs. So there is some truth to your colleague's view.

[Taz's Master]

Thanks for the replies. He's a bigger guy and could probably conceal a 6" model 29. I doubt the really small handguns like the LCP would hold much appeal for him. I'm betting he'd love a 1908 David, I'll point him in that direction as well as pass on the remarkable volume of affirmation for Sig's.

What I want to recommend is a 2.75" Speed Six, or a 3" Model 65, but that's a road he isn't interested in taking.