best new/used warm-weather CCW for $400 or less

Id take a bet you go CW9 over 709.
i was just in that boat with about 2 other guns included,and the CW9 made it further in my decision process over the 709.
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You'd win that bet. I fondled the Taurus 709 yesterday and almost walked out with it, but I've found they're having a pretty consistent problem with light primer strikes and extractor failures. Hopefully that will be something Taurus addresses in production, but they're not as open with the process as KelTec is and thus folks have little confidence in them.

Bah, back to square one.
The used airweights are just not plentiful, either. That was my fall-back. The price difference is about $40 before tax anyway, so what's the bargain? And, the darn second mag for the CW9 runs $40-$50, too.
So now the Taurus 856 and 651 are gaining steam.

Otherwise, a used Glock 26/27 would be good for such use
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:barf: My wife bought one, never shot it. I was also not a fan. Never has such a small gun felt and carried so big.
I've got a 642 that is a cozy little carry piece, when an IWB holster and larger gun just isn't practical. There are a lot of different variants of the 642... conventional hammered, bobbed hammer, shrouded hammer, hammerless. Recoil is brisk, but certainly not unusable.

I favor a heavier gun though, unless I can't carry it in a OWB/IWB holster. What's your intended carry technique?
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Whatever I get has to be able to be carried IWB. Pocket carry would be nice, but isn't a deal maker or deal breaker.
 
Don't let the Taurus moniker scare you off. I've never found the CW9 to be that small (thin, yes, but not that small). The 709 slim is just the right size to be carried either IWB or in your pocket. I too almost walked out with one after handling it (my empty wallet was the only thing stopping me). I think the 709 has the ability to fill a great niche in the market, a pocketable gun that's not a dinky mouse gun, that you don't have to pay $700+ for (I'm looking at you PM9).
 
Don't let the Taurus moniker scare you off.
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It doesn't. I love my PT1911, although it did cause me to experience Taurus' abysmal quality control and crappy customer service. As I said, I had a great 651. I tried to buy it back today but the guy doesn't have it anymore.
Some simple background work on Google shows enough different people on different forums complaining about the same things with the 709. They're getting failures to fire and broken extractors. When enough come back, hopefully Taurus will design a fix. I'm not going to beta test a self-defense pistol, though.
 
I have the PT1911 and PT745 both and love them,despite the 1911 is getting to be a pita as no internal part ive found yet matches standard 1911 specs.

If you can stand the slightly thicker slide the PT111 would be a good fit.
Id still advise you try and find a used PPS 9 in your budget somehow.

Ive also been seeing decent deals on used Kahr pm9's again at the $500 mark tho.

This is just me,but if i couldn't find the perfect gun i was looking for in your case,id buy a used KT PF9 for $220 and use that until i found what i truly wanted.
 
Another vote for the Makarov. Well within the given price range, quite concealable, accurate, and as reliable as a pistol can get.
 
Yet another vote for any version of the Makarov. Russina, Bulgarian, East German, Hungarina Pa63, Polish P64, Cz82 has the best sights of them all. They are all built like a tank and very reliable. Ammo is way cheap compared to a .380acp.
 
Kel-Tec (meh) and S&W 638

The Kel-Tec (K-T) P-11 (9mm) is alternated or double carried with a S&W 638 by many of my carrying friends. The P-11 can be an accurate shooter. Upgrade to a steel recoil rod (avl. from KT directly), fluff & buff, adjust sights, shoot/break-in...viola! 50' away, 2" groups (depending on shooter and ammo used).

The S&W 638 revolver (bodyguard) [.38 spl] can be occasionally found used. It's an airweight. Replace the grips with Hogues and shoot it. 3" groups at 40-60' away (again, depending on the shooter and ammo used). The bodyguard hammer configuration is a nice middle ground, since it gives you more options when shooting (for fun or protection)--the hammer is smooth enough to never catch (well, almost never---never has for anyone that I know), but you can cock it for better accuracy if need be or preferred.

DiSantis Nemesis pocket holsters are available and doable for both (depending on your body/frame size). Hope this helps.
 
Kahr

Kahr CW9 is thin, i believe about 7/8" wide, light and dependable. Also, used will run you around $375-$400. I carry one when I'm in dress clothes or light jacket.
Good luck!
 
Whatever I get has to be able to be carried IWB. Pocket carry would be nice, but isn't a deal maker or deal breaker.
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Well, since you are going to carry IWB, that opens up a LOT of other possibilities.

If you have a good gunbelt already, a good holster will mean you can carry a heftier gun with little penalty in comfort.

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Otherwise, a used Glock 26/27 would be good for such use

My wife bought one, never shot it. I was also not a fan. Never has such a small gun felt and carried so big.
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Sounds like fat, double stack autos are pretty much out of the question then.

My father carries a Kahr K9 and loves it, but as you said, I've noticed myself that extra mags cost a hefty sum. And the all-steel K9 will bust your budget, though the CW9 is in reach. Then again, I've noticed that 9mm ammo is one of the more easier calibers to locate at the moment. Kahrs do have very nice DA only triggers though. Ultra smooth and slick, like a good DA revolver, IMO.

Note that I live in the south, and carry all of the following guns year round, in as little as shorts and short sleeve shirts with no problems. I am 6'7" and 208 lbs.

On the revolver side, my personal favorite is my 2" S&W Model 15-2 in .38 Special manufactured in 1965, pictured below. Cost me $374 about 10 months ago. With the standard thin wood stock/panels and Tyler-T grip, plus a FIST #20 IWB holster, it is as easy to carry as my much smaller S&W 642 with a cheapie IWB holster. The cylinder felt a little big at first, buy carrying at about 3:30, I barely notice it at all any more. And the extra heft and grip size over the little J Frame improves shootability by a wide margin, for me anyway. And the extra round over the J Frame is a nice bonus. In my hands, the gun points very natural and is a dream to shoot, so for me it is capable of astounding accuracy. Love it!


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Though I enjoy carrying my 2" 15 more than anything else, my 4" 15-3 (made in '69) carries almost as comfortably. And it did cost even less than the 2" model, at $309. The same gun with fixed sights, the Model 10, can be found for $200-$250.


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Another option is the Ruger Police Service Six, in .357 Magnum or .38 Special. These guns are roughly the same size and weight as their S&W K Frame couterparts, but cost significantly less. For concealed carry, they come in 2.75", 3" and 4" barrel lengths. The quality of their DA triggers varies from as good as a S&W to crusty, FYI. I recently acquired a well worn, but mechanically solid 4" .357 Magnum with a good DA trigger for $279. After I get a holster and test it's reliability, it will make just as good a carry gun as my 4" Model 15.


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Just some more options to consider. :D
 
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