Already looking for my second gun...

B

Bachá

New member
So I just got my CCW permit... for those who haven't been following, I am from Guatemala Central America where prices and procedures are veeeeery different than in the US :-) Here is the thread on getting my ccw and first gun:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576247

So I bought this gun knowing that it was not going to be my every single day carry... Nothing wrong with it, I would never sell it unless I needed the money for food... It is just that I need something more compact and light. I move a lot during the day. Priorities are (in that order):

1. Durability (you´ll understand why durability first)
2. Concealbility
3. Shootability

Yeah shoot ability third because I know everything takes practice, and I know both of the guns I am watching are really shootable.

So my options are limited... First of all Beretta is the only manufacturer with direct representation in my country. Only they offer 2 years warranty, everybody else 6 months... and its gunshop warranty... not the manufacturer... I know... it sucks...Glocks are grossly overpriced.

So the 2 options I am contemplating are:

Beretta PX4 subcompact for $1076... Like I said 2 years warranty, and also has the advantage that it has the same controls as my 92. Great support of parts, accessories and magazines from the shop that happens to be beretta representative in here.

S&W MP9c with thumb safety for $1256... Stablished platform in my country. Maybe even more people using it (the full size though) than the px4. Much lighter than the PX4 SC. Safety (FOR ME) is a plus. On the downside (FOR ME) the only striker fired pistols I have tried was a HK VP9 and a glock. I really hated the trigger after trying the beretta 92. With the VP9 I was sending rounds downrange before I intended to. I know is my lack of experience... because everybody seems to prefer striker fired guns...

I know neither of these is a "pocket gun" but if for some reason you think one of the 2 is "more pocketable" let me know... It would be a plus.

So this purchase is even more critical than the first... because for the first one I bought a gun that I knew would like to keep forever, and if I needed to sell it I would sell it asap. For these other 2 guns it would be a pain in the ass to sell them, and almost for sure at a great loss... So if i choose wrong I am screwed :-S

A "fun fact" for you guys... sales between individuals are allowed here... but you have to go to a lawyer like if you were selling a house. Between the lawyer and traveling to Guatemala City to notify the transfer you can expect to spend about $400 to transfer a gun between individuals... :confused:
 
Bachá said:
A "fun fact" for you guys... sales between individuals are allowed here... but you have to go to a lawyer like if you were selling a house. Between the lawyer and traveling to Guatemala City to notify the transfer you can expect to spend about $400 to transfer a gun between individuals...
Click to expand...
Ouch! That's not fun fact at all, Bachá! That's a really painful fact.

Seriously, though, I don't own either of the guns mentioned, but that's never stopped me from offering an opinion . . . Both of the guns that you listed are good guns. The S&W is lighter, which is good, but www.genitron.com only lists the weight difference as being about 3 ounces. While lighter weight is certainly a plus in a carry weapon I'd be looking hard at that PX4. They get good reviews from the folks that own them, and I like having the same manual of arms across all carry pistols. (Which might explain why I carry the same one day in and day out . . .) Plus, you've noted that it has great support in terms of parts, magazines, etc. All of that is worth more than the 3 saved ounces to me.
 
between the 2 you listed, I would get the beretta

BUT for a pocket carry, I like a Ruger LCP

nice neat no external hammer
 
They're both quality firearms and hard to go wrong, I'd suggest going with the Beretta as to keep commonality of controls. I personally don't like slide mounted safetys though.
 
How about an Airweight S&W revolver in 38spl?...if available in your country. Ultimately reliable, highly concealable, and quite shootable with a little practice (as you said).
 
I'd suggest going with the Beretta as to keep commonality of controls. I personally don't like slide mounted safetys though.
Click to expand...

That is what I am thinking... on the other hand I see that everybody seems to think that striker fired are so much better, and being than I am a new shooter I would like to have both systems, shoot them at my pace, and take a decision on what I want to carry.

But then again... selling guns in here is a hassle... :mad:
 
How about an Airweight S&W revolver in 38spl?...if available in your country. Ultimately reliable, highly concealable, and quite shootable with a little practice (as you said).
Click to expand...

I thought SW revolvers weren't available here, I saw just Taurus everywhere. Just yesterday I found a shop that carries SW revolvers, so I have to go an see that...

The ideal of only 5 shots makes me nervous though. Statistically in the US I know its enough... but in my country you never know.
 
If you have the opportunity to handle AND dry fire them, I would pich whichever one feels better to you (grip fit, trigger pre-travel, trigger break, reset), and pick that one. I am willing to bet the M&P will feel better, as I owned a M&P40 full size a few years ago and it had an extremely ergonomic grip. I would bet the M&P to be more reliable as well.

The PX4 has a rotating barrel, which some say has less felt recoil than a Browning short cam lock system. Some say the rotating system is slightly more mechanically accurate.

I would choose the M&P personally.

You don't need a tiny gun to conceal. With decent holster, belt pants and shirt you can hide full size guns no problem.
 
Found what seems another good option...

An mp shield 9 for $960

Pros I see... Cheaper than the other options, thumb safety, small enough to teach my wife to shoot (she is petite), pocketable, and I would have a striker fired gun and a hammer fired so I can decide later what I prefer.,,

I would like to hear your opinions guys specially in my last point...
 
The PX4 has a rotating barrel, which some say has less felt recoil than a Browning short cam lock system. Some say the rotating system is slightly more mechanically accurate.
Click to expand...

The px4 sub compact does not have rotating barrel, just the compact and the full size... :)

I have dry fired them all... they all seem fine. The PX4 trigger feels even better than that on my 92... but the ergonomics of the subcompact are a little weird.

I added the shield mp9 to the list :-)

I am with you... full size pistols are not that difficult to conceal as everybody says :-) but the confort factor goes up and possibility to print goes exponentially down with a smaller gun when you move a lot.
 
I have a couple guns of a similar size to the shield (Ruger LC9s,Walther PPS and Kahr CW45) this size of gun is IMHO very useful, big enough to shoot well and as you say small enough to pocket carry. I could easily see a Shield leading to trading your 92 for a M&P full size.
 
I could easily see a Shield leading to trading your 92 for a M&P full size.
Click to expand...

Yeah... that is what I think also...

So what do you guys think... if the purpose of this second gun is not only have a lighter and smaller gun for those occasions when I need it, but also make up my mind if I prefer striker fired or hammer fired guns... would the mp shield be an appropriate representative of the striker fired variety?

It is a relatively low risk option for me. If I decide I want to stay in hammer fired world I could sell it more easily since it costs less than any other striker option.
 
Not exactly compact but searching I discovered the Walther The P99... wow... it looks like the striker fired I would like to try!
 
I own the M&P in full size, compact, and I own a Shield in 9mm.


First, your wife may be petite, but I would bet she can hold the M&P compact without issue.

The Shield has fairly stiff recoil, and she will most likely not find it pleasant to shoot. The Compact shoots much better, very similar to the full size. After she gets experience shooting, the recoil would be less of a concern for her.

Remember... If you have two guns that shoot the same round, the lighter and smaller one will have more felt recoil.


The M&P full size is concealable, but not as easy as the compact or shield, and clothing choice will start to matter more.

The compact conceals almost as easily as the shield. 95-99% of the time, it will be fine. So it really depends on how you dress most often, and the day's activities.


I am not a fan of the safety on the shield, so I got the safety free version. The safety is usable, but low profile, making practice using it very important. The safety on the full size and compact is larger and easier to use, so practice is still required, but overall its easier.
 
I was just looking at a Px4 Compact last week and really liked it. DA/SA is not usually my thing, but the one I was looking at had a very nice trigger and with a shorter barrel and 5" overall height, it was right in my wheelhouse for a perfect carry size.

The M&P 9 is a good gun, comfortable in the hand and shoots well, but I really just don't like the triggers, even with the aftermarket APEX parts.

So, were it my money I'd go with the Beretta. Well, if it were my money I'd go with a Glock 19, but I understand that's not an option :cool:
 
i owned a walther ppq in .40 briefly and absolutely loved it. very very nice striker polymer pistol. well made, accurate, reliable, durable
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top