A few years before CCW but still researching

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triggerhappy2006

New member
I am researching my first "carry gun" so far I've looked into a 9X18 chambered gun because of its historical value but a new gun for reliability. Also I have heard of a 9X21mm but dont know about stopping power. Finally a sup compact or compact, Glock or Kimber .45ACP. Like I said still have some time but never too soon to think
 
A Makarov doesn't need to be new to be reliable. They are awesome little blocks of communist steel, but heavy for their size. I carried one for a while, but why are you set on the weirdo 9mm chamberings? What's wrong with regular 9x19mm?:)
 
A)I'm a weirdo. B)When I talk to the police I can say "He should feel honored that was a piece of history:D not really. C) From what I have heard they both have better ballistics and penetration.
 
Try many guns. Shoot whatever you can get your hands on - THEN decide. If it'll be a couple of years before you can carry, a better mousetrap may have been made by then.

If you're set on 9mm, go 9mm Parabellum.

Ballistics and penetration are more dependent on the round design rather than the caliber. 9mm is a good SD round, but it isn't the end all to end all. There are other good SD calibers out there to choose from.

When you find a gun that fits your hand like you were born with it, it's accurate in your hands, it's concealable and it's reliable - THAT'S the gun to need to carry. Don't limit yourself to one caliber. Don't buy by name brand hype and advertising. Listen to the people who own one.
 
Concealed Hammer J-Frame S&W.

I have many CCW choices, but I keep coming back to these.
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Nothing more reliable and easy to carry. It's a great gun to start with, ammo is easy to find and fairly cheap.
 
It took me a few years to finally decide that concealed carry was right for me before I did it. It helped that the law as written first in '04 was horrible and got a little better with each re-write and update.

But if you have decided that you will carry concealed, start the process NOW! Don't pick a carry gun now, get the ball rolling on the process. Training, applications, paperwork, wait time, background check, licensing, out of state nonresident permits, all of this takes time. Planning to carry "in a few years" but picking out a carry gun now is, IMO, nuts.

And picking a caliber because of it's historical value? Are you even being serious here? Really. First of all, how is it that 9mm Mak is more historically significant than 9mm Parabellum (1902)? .45 (1905)? Both of these served in two world wars and many other significant wars and conflicts.

In fact, you could pick from a dozen calibers that have historical significance. But that makes about as much sense as picking a carry gun based on the number of times the letter "S" appears in their name.
 
Nothing more reliable and easy to carry. It's a great gun to start with, ammo is easy to find and fairly cheap.
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All that is true, nothing simpler than a DA/SA revolver. However, a J snubbie is possibly the hardest gun to shoot accurately easily. It takes a lot of practice. With +p loads, the recoil may be uncomfortable unless the shooter finds the right grips for their hand.
 
9x17 = .380 auto
9x18 = 9mm Makarov
9x19 = 9mm Parabellum/Luger
9x21 = ? can't remember what it's called but it's a competition round
The .380 is generally considered the minimum for self-defense and there are many dozens of modern firearms chambered for it. The 9mm Mak is found only in (former or current) Eastern Bloc or Chinese handguns and there are not a lot of choices in either guns or ammunition. The 9mm Para has been around for a very long time and began life as primarily a military cartridge. It is still very widely used by the military of many countries, including our own, and there are many, many handguns available in this caliber and a wide range of ammo. In autos, there is also the .40 S&W, and the .45 Auto, to mention just a few. (Yeah, I know all about the .357 Sig, 10mm and the .38 Super, etc, but we're talking to a new shooter here.)
You might try to find a range where they rent handguns so you can try out several different calibers and makes of guns. Don't overlook having a .22 rimfire pistol on hand for lots of cheap practice at the range...a good way to learn all about the basics of handgun shooting. My very first handgun was a FN Highpower in 9mm Luger. I quickly found that the gun didn't fit my hand well so traded it off for a S&W .357 mag. My next several handguns were S&W .357 mag or .38 spl. That was forty years ago. Today my everyday carry gun is a Kel-Tec P3AT (.380) but I also have several 2" and 4" bbl S&W, and Glock models 19, 23, and 27 and a Sig P220. I think most shooters have to try several guns before they find one they're really happy with. Concentrate on proficiency before you worry about concealed carry.
 
From what I have heard they both have better ballistics and penetration.
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Whoever told you a 9x18 Makarov had better ballistics than 9x19 Parabellum was an idiot - it just isn't so, on any level. 9x18 IS slightly ballistically superior to 9mm Kurz/.380 ACP however. It doesn't help that 9x18 factory loadings are hard to come by and almost no one makes a proper self defense hollow-point for the loading.

9x21 IMI is a popular round in Europe in nations where it's illegal to own a handgun in a "military" caliber, factory ammo and guns chambered for it are almost impossible to find in the U.S. however, so I can't recommend it.

The current tried and true self-defense calibers are popular for a reason, be smart and just stick with .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9x19mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP like everyone else - the ammo's plentiful and cheap, the loads are effective and powerful with quality bullets, and you don't have to limit your gun selection much (if at all) when choosing them.
 
If you want a really powerful 9, why not go for 9x33mmR. On this side of the pond we know it better as .357 Magnum. That round and a stainless steel j-frame will definitely get the job done.
 
Skip the 9x18. You'll need to practice a lot, and it's just not cost effective for volume shooting like the 9mm (9x19).

Plus there's a lot more ammo choices available for the Luger.

However, a J snubbie is possibly the hardest gun to shoot accurately easily
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That may be true, but let's ponder the fact that most SD situations are within 3'. If you can't hit a BG from 3' away, well...

It really is a very good SD platform. I have an old all-steel one and it just disappears at my side.
 
9mm Mak is cheap!!

Via mail order I can purchase 9X18 MAK for a little less than 9X19.

Cheap fun is what the 9X18 MAK is all about. A CZ82 can be had for under 200-300 bucks, 9X18 MAK ammo at about 8 bucks per fifty. Very economical for a quality piece, the 82 also has most of the modern features. IMHO it's the best bargain going. Too many folks stretch thier budget on the weapon, only to discover that their choice is also expensive to run IE .40 and .45. In my opinion one should have at least a thousand rounds through a CC piece, prior to carrying the little fella. Practice, Practice, Practice.

Do not overlook the 9X18 I've been shooting it for years. I suspect my new CZ82 will be doing CC duty when my license shows up in the mail soon. There are at least half a dozen good SD loads for the MAK, including the pricey Glaser powerball, seems I saw Federal HST's the other day in MAK as well.

I see some CC duty in my PA-63 as well. It became unrelaible after about 15 years of ownership. A new spring and good as new. Small, light, inexpensive, and powerful. What's not to like?
 
When?

You might want to consider your choices when you're old enough to purchase a handgun and apply for a CCW permit.

Technology is amazing, who knows what will be available when you're 21?

How old are you now?
 
In all honesty, you'll probably wind up buying a few different guns before you finally settle on one as a carry gun. I myself started out with a Walther PP in .32 ACP, went to a Taurus 445 .44 Special for an increase in caliber, and then went to a S&W M66 .357 Magnum due to the fact that I couldn't shoot the Taurus well.
 
But if you have decided that you will carry concealed, start the process NOW!
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If the reason he's not applying is that he has kids in the house then I agree. It's nice to have the option and in my state it's a much nicer way just to get the gun to the range. Having said that, I bet he's just daydreaming right now because he's not old enough for a CCW.

As for which gun, I'd get a 9mm polymer like a glock, S&W M&P, XD, etc. They will shoot all day and they are cheap to feed. You're better off as the guy who has put 3,000 rounds through his 9mm M&P than the guy that put 300 rounds through his 1911.
 
I am currently 19 soo I will be starting the process soon. I have to find when I can apply for my CCP and then I will. I dont want to apply too soon have it get put through before I am 21 then get denied and have it all a waste. I have done some more research and look at several Kimbers as well as a couple Glocks and was rather impressed with the sub-compact .45ACPs that are now available. The Kimbers were very appealing to me(one came with a .22 conversion). So for now I am set an a auto rather than revolver.
 
I am currently 19 soo I will be starting the process soon. I have to find when I can apply for my CCP and then I will. I dont want to apply too soon have it get put through before I am 21 then get denied and have it all a waste.
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Not sure how it works in NY, but here in TX you have to be 21 the day you apply.
 
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