Conceal Carry suggestions

[HR-OLIFANT]

I will be looking to buy my first pistol for concealed carry soon, and I am looking for suggestions from those who carry. I will be carrying mostly on walks with the family this spring and summer when our areas crime spikes. That being said, I plan on concealing it in a waistband holster, allowing it tobe hidden with minimal cover.

My initial thought was something like an H&K compact .40, or similar. I want a compact for obvious reasons plus a reasonable amount of stopping power.

Any suggestions?

[phrogg4evr]

In da summer I carry a Block 27 and a Block 30 with a clip-draw on 'em. Works good in the waistband of pants or shorts without a belt, no extra bulk of a holster. Don't love the Block, but it fills the niche for a sub-compact .40 & 45 that's easy to carry. Have an old S&W Model 36 .38 snubbie that is pretty easy to carry too.

[netwt12]

In my opinion the glock 19 or 23 are the best all around concealed carry pistols. they offer the best compromise of size and capacity. i use an inside the wasteband holter from milt sparks. the most important part about concealed carry is your equipment. a sturdy belt designed to support the load of a pistol is a must. next is a holster. there are so many to choose from and it takes a while to find something that works for you.

[Landpimp]

spring and summer.....I would sudjest something smaller and easier to carry, such as a S&W J frame in a pocket holster.

nothing wrong with a HK compact or Glock....but they are not the easiest to hide well, I know alot of folks do(or claim they do)....but I sure cant(and be comforatable) even with great leather.

another thought would be a HK P7 or a Kahr both are slimer and easier to carry

[woody]

having just taken the AACFI class, you do need to think about ease of access as well...something in a waist-band pouch may be well concealed, but also be too deep to be easy access...and may also be overly obvious as you start diggin for it...

[Landpimp]

thats why I love right front pocket holster carry.....I can just have my hand on the gun ready to go and no one ever knows

Originally Posted by woody

having just taken the AACFI class, you do need to think about ease of access as well...something in a waist-band pouch may be well concealed, but also be too deep to be easy access...and may also be overly obvious as you start diggin for it...

[woody]

...which puts the J-frame's and the P3AT on the short list of lightweight pocket options....

"tried on" a P3AT last week....wow...my wallet weighs more...

[Landpimp]

yup, the P3At is my house gun(and a nice little gun it is), when I am just laying around in shorts or sweat pants its the gun I have with me. Now some may say I am nuts to have a gun on when in the house......but heck if you can have a cell phone in your pocket aint no reason not to have a little gun also.....crazy stuff can happen at home......the time ya aint got one is the time you need one...so I always have one(or more)

Originally Posted by woody

...which puts the J-frame's and the P3AT on the short list of lightweight pocket options....

"tried on" a P3AT last week....wow...my wallet weighs more...

[lunyou]

Originally Posted by HR-OLIFANT

I will be looking to buy my first pistol for concealed carry soon, and I am looking for suggestions from those who carry. I will be carrying mostly on walks with the family this spring and summer when our areas crime spikes. That being said, I plan on concealing it in a waistband holster, allowing it tobe hidden with minimal cover.

My initial thought was something like an H&K compact .40, or similar. I want a compact for obvious reasons plus a reasonable amount of stopping power.

Any suggestions?

maybe consider one of the new springfield compacts that comes standard with a second clip that extends the grip on the reload and converts it into a full size hangun...........b/c you really don't need it to be compact after you have drawn it and are in the process of using it.

lunyou

[scott johnson]

I have carried a glock 27 as a backup on my ankle at work and concealed when I'm off for years. It can use the same mags as the bigger model 22 or 23 if you feel you need more ammo. The springfield xd is an awsome alternative. I've got one of the 4" in 40 cal. They also make a compact. If you prefer a revolver S&W makes a great 357 air weight. The small revolver is a great option. Personnaly I wouldn't carry anything smaller than a 357 mag. 380's and 9mm carry lots of ammunition but just dont have the stopping power. You really dont need anything fancy. Defensive shooting is all about point and shoot. Stress causes you to loose acute motor functions. If the weapon has too many bells and whistles it may not be the best choice. Whatever you decide GO TO THE RANGE AND PRACTICE.

[MrWwindow]

Whatever you decide GO TO THE RANGE AND PRACTICE.

Really important, does'nt really matter what you carry just be able to hit with what you carry!

Personally my favorite is an S&W 360SC airlite 357.
Does'nt throw cases everywhere (if it's necessary to find them). Dependable, pull trigger go boom. Small and light fits in shorts pocket without too much imprinting. Makes a big BOOM and anyone on the other end if it not hit will piss themselves or run post haste.

.357 what can you say about that, just practice. I practiced with the same frame .in 22 lr to get used to the size and fucntion, got good enough I can reliably hit 12 gauge shot shells at about 20yds w/either gun. Very fun and impresses friends who can't hit with the same guns.

Good luck
be safe
James

[KliersLC]

What is your budget?

On the low side of things, a keltec PF-9 would fit the bill very well, and you can carry it in a pocket.--This is also my favorite ankle gun.

If you want to spend a little more, the Kahr PM-9 is about the same size.

I daily carry a walther p-99 subcompact. IWB in khaki shorts and a t shirt and it works extremely well and has 9 rounds of .40......

The keltec P-11 is a decent pistol for the money, but for the size, you can get a lot better options.

Taurus makes a nice little pistol as well. The Pt-111 pro is SA/DA and thinner than the glock subcompacts. My brother just bought one and likes it a lot.

.02

[brian]

for carry i like small stuff.
the kel-tec p3at is tops now. it disappears in a front pocket, jeans or cotton shorts it does not matter.
they have a 9mm single stack that i'm thinking about as well, the p-9 maybe??

[KliersLC]

Originally Posted by brian

for carry i like small stuff.
the kel-tec p3at is tops now. it disappears in a front pocket, jeans or cotton shorts it does not matter.
they have a 9mm single stack that i'm thinking about as well, the p-9 maybe??

The PF-9 I mentioned above. I Like it a lot, and it has a rail for a laser if you are so inclined......

[HR-OLIFANT]

I have not set a budget. I am prepared to purchase the one that fits the bill the best. If that turns out to be a $2000 purchase, so be it. Just last night I received an email from our neighbohood community relations officer regarding two attempted robberies of pedestrians within 8 blocks of the house. Whatever I need to spend is worth it if, god forbid I need to use it in defense, it performs flawlessly.

I guess what I really need to do is determine my method of carry.... waistband, pocket, etc. I am pretty sure I want a .40 or slightly bigger. I do shoot a fair amount, enough that I feel I won't be playing all my cards with one shot of accuracy. You all have had some great input, and given me some makes/ models to look into that I had not considered. I will update you when I have narrowed my choices.

Thanks
Andrew

[KliersLC]

For a .40, I would go with either the Walther/S&W P-99, the Taurus Pt140 pro, the XD subcompact, or the Glock 27. I have used all of these, and have a hard time choosing between them. Anything smaller than these in a 40 will kick the heck out of you.

Kahr has a new CW series that has garnered pretty good reviews, but I have never seen one in person.

There are a lot of higher end guns out there that would fit the bill as well, but I have no experience with those. I am a budget shooter.

Examples: The springfield EMP, the Para Ord. PDA, the HK p2000 or P7, Kimber etc...

[White Shark]

My BIL packs a HK USP40 Compact as his CCW.

I'd do the same if I had the Compact, but I have the standard model, so I'd pack the normal USP40. I'm a big guy which make it easy to conceal, and I am used to wearing a tool belt anyway, so weight is negligible.

..

[wierdbeard]

Depending on what i'm wearing but, i normally carry a H&K P2000 sub-compact in .40 in either a SOB or inside the waistband, i do have a Steyr subcompact in .40 with a clipdraw that works pretty well. Granted if i had the extra dough i'd pick up a Wilson CQB in subcompact for SOB. Most likely i'm going to pick up one of those superlight hammerless frame rovolvers from S&W but not sure of the caliber prolly .357.

[inthewall]

I just ordered a sig p250

[Landpimp]

as of today the new HK45 compact is out
HK USA Forums :: View topic - HK45 Compact in stock

still not what I would recogmend for your use.....but if you want to go with something bigger than a J frame or super compact it might be a good option.

[calphi27]

I was first thinking about one of the HK compacts. But now I plan on going with an airlite s&w. Landpimp, do you have a pic of your j frame and holster setup?

[MrWwindow]

now I plan on going with an airlite s&w.

You will never be sorry you did.
I own 2 and if you can believe one is .357 and a 9oz 22lr mouse gub with 8 shots of 55gr. subsonic hp.

I know kinda small caliber but I can.. shoot your eyes out.

Be safe
James

[CJF]

Originally Posted by MrWwindow

9oz 22lr mouse gub

Which one ya got: Model 317 with the 1 7/8 in barrel and the bantam grip? Or the 3 in barrel with the three finger grip?

Curtis

[MrWwindow]

317 with a lami boot grip.


James

[offroad_nomad]

Go to a local range that rents handguns and rent several. You've received many good suggestions, however you need to handle and shoot several types before buying. Without practical experience, you may end up buying the wrong one.

* * Edit * *

I see you have shooting experience, however it still won't hurt to rent a few, esp those that you're considering, before buying.

[CJF]

Originally Posted by MrWwindow

317...

Which barrel length?

[MrWwindow]

1 7/8"

James