Carry Firearm recommendations: Price is an issue

Here's a thought, I picked up a P-1 Walther in excellent shape for $299 a few months back. I think you can still get one for $350 or less.

State of the art technology in 1938 and after Germany finally gets rid of all their surplus you might make a profit if you want to trade for newer technology.
 
Hey Stressfire - you asked me what I thought of Kahr dependability.

I don't own any, but here's my opinion.

I think different models have different issues. The CM9 and PM9s seem to work really well after Kahr's damnable "break in" period.

There have been 2 people on this forum who have had trouble with the CW9s and the one guy traded it instead of continuing to mess with it.
 
The CM9 and PM9s seem to work really well after Kahr's damnable "break in" period
Click to expand...

No "break in" needed with my PM9 - it worked from the first round and the cheapest ammo from round 1 to it's current round count thats over 600....

Not a single issue. Anyway - thats how it went for me...
 
Used Glocks... Used Sigs... Used Kahrs... Glock will probably be the cheapest but still dependable. Used Glocks sell for around $400... anymore... the people are dreaming.
Click to expand...

OR

You could get a NEW Ruger sR9c for about $400. And it would have a better trigger than all of the above.
 
Yep, the Ruger SR9c sounds like just what you're looking for...


HPIM7193.jpg
 
No "break in" needed with my PM9 - it worked from the first round and the cheapest ammo from round 1 to it's current round count thats over 600....

Not a single issue. Anyway - thats how it went for me...
Click to expand...

Same experience for me, so far, with my CM9. I don't have 600 rounds through it yet, though! Flawless so far.
 
According to Cooper, hi-cap magazines are nice if you plan on missing a lot.
Click to expand...

According to MikeNice81 they are nice when you have multiple threats.

An example from a report I saw at work Monday night.

Sunday morning two college kids were walking home from the gas station. They had just gotten off the bus and stopped in for cigarettes and coffee. On their way from the gas station to their apartment they were confronted by six teenage males. The group demanded money, jewelery, and valuables. When they hesitated the group pounced on them and began beating them. Both victims were sent to the hospital.

One guy had a broken hand (it was stomped on repeatedly), broken nose and a concussion. The other guy had bruised ribs, broken teeth, lacerations that required stitches, and a sprained ankle.

An example from my life.

I was at a gas station when a woman came up asking for gas money. I told her I didn't have any extra and too stay away. She disappeared and a minute or two later a man approached. He gave me nearly the same sob story and asked for money. I told him I didn't have it and he needed to leave.

He continued to talk and come torwards me. While he was attempting to distract me I noticed motion behind me. The woman was trying to sneak up from behind me with a tire iron. I had to clear my holster, but not shoot.

In either one of those situations a higher round count is very desirable. Not everybody stops, dies, or runs after the first shot. It isn't about planning to miss. It is understanding the evolving nature of violent threats and how the human body works. You shoot less accurately in high stress situations and bullets are not death beams.

High capacity is a prudent choice for those that can carry it without disrupting their lives. The violent crime rate has dropped for twenty years. However, the amount of violence and number of attackers per incident seems to be rising. It seems like most of the reports I see involve multiple assailants targeting a smaller group of people. Things have changed a lot since the time of Mr. Cooper.
 
Last edited:
Classic carry guns...

..also work pretty well. They might not be high tech, but they are reliable, reasonably priced, and very easy to carry concealed. I also carry a Glock 19 when wardrobe permits. Good luck with your choice.
 

Attachments

  • 2011-06-29_12-17-44_129.jpg
    2011-06-29_12-17-44_129.jpg
    243 KB · Views: 18
S&W or Ruger J frame or snub K frame. Cheap, Reliable, fun to shoot, and most come in 357 so you can shoot 357 or 38s.
 
Mike, I don't know that things have changed that much since Cooper's time, whenever that was. It's important to hit what you are shooting at, I believe that was the point Cooper was making, not insulting your glock. Plus I don't think you made your point with the examples you gave.

You may indeed find yourself being attacked by multiple well armed threats where a more capable firearm is needed, an AR-15 or something. I don't think the j frame carriers, shorty .45s etc. need to trade for crew served shooters, however.
 
It's important to hit what you are shooting at,
Click to expand...

That is a given. How does that saying go? You can't miss fast enough to win? A missed shot is worse than no shot because of the potential legal liability.

not insulting your glock.
Click to expand...

I don't own a Glock. So, I'm not insulted. I do however own a CZ P-07 Duty. If you read the post where I recomended a few guns, you'll see that bit. I don't always read every post or connect them to a name, I understand.

As I have stated else where on the forum I actually carry a Taurus 85b3 most of the time. I usually head out with five shots of 158gr+p LSWC-HP or 125gr+P JSP.

Plus I don't think you made your point with the examples you gave.
Click to expand...

So, five shots would be enough with six guys that plan on breaking bones and giving you a concusion?

What if the lady hadn't stopped in my personal case? If she had kept coming would five shots be enough against two assailants?

How many shots is enough is never something you can know. How many you feel you will ever need is another story. Having read OIS reports where guys were shot 4 times COM with .45acp or .40S&W and kept fighting, I am seriously considering that 5 shots may not be enough. This is even more of a concern (to me) when group crime seems to be the increasing trend.

I understand that in the first example no gun was used and in the second one the threat stopped at the sight of a gun. The point is that these group crimes are happening. If you find yourself in the first example you could very well be justified in shooting, depending on exact circumstances. So, a higher capacity than 5 or 8 would be handy.

In the second scenario, if the woman had continued to advance with the tire iron would five shots be enough? That isn't enough ammo for two standard failure drills. Not every person that ends up in a similar situation will be lucky enough to have jack rabbits instead of attackers.

Group attacks are more prevelant than they use to be. In these situations having more rounds seems prudent. I wouldn't want to be stuck in that 2:1 ratio again and wondering.

I read the daily reports from two different jurisdictions. I see crime in a way many people don't. I see what the recent trends have been. I see that violent crimes over all are down. However, the crimes are becoming more violent and usually involve more people. That has been the trend for the last six months when compared against the same time period for the last three years. It isn't a seasonal shift because of the hot weather. It is a shift in local tactics.

I do my research.


I don't think the j frame carriers, shorty .45s etc. need to trade for crew served shooters, however.
Click to expand...

Oh okay, I get it now. You're more worried about being a smart aleck than having a real discussion. Now that we have that clarified I can move on to something equally time wasting, but more engaging.
 
Last edited:
I think the rebate has long expired, but it seems to me the Sigma series was produced at a reduced price point and is well suited in 9mm for personal defense. Not the sort of pistol you could pump a lot of rounds through like most of the higher cost guns. A buddy has one that works fine. The object is to select a load, get a little practice in, then rely on it for everyday carry. But don't rely on it for tons of plinking or match shooting. The sweet spot with this gun is that it less costly and is good enough for self defense.
 
mnhntr beat me to it, just barely. Mine is a S & W Model 19 2 1/2", a K-frame revolver. It's easily concealable, can fire everything from .38 specials up through .357s, is enormous fun to shoot, very accurate, and totally reliable. Admittedly, it takes some practice to learn the double action trigger stroke, but it's well worth the time and effort.
 
Considering your price range and the fact that gun will be used for carry here's my choices:

$300-400---Taurus 709 slim
$400-500---Kahr CM9
$500-600---Glock 26/19 or M&P 9c

I have all and they're good reliable guns.

I know there are a lot of Taurus haters out there, but I've never had any issues with them. It's a good gun for the price.

The CM9 is easily pocketable and has a great trigger for a compact gun.

The glocks and smith are simply awesome, but a little pricey for your budget. I'd consider used if those are what you go with.
 
Oh okay, I get it now. You're more worried about being a smart aleck than having a real discussion. Now that we have that clarified I can move on to something equally time wasting, but more engaging.
Click to expand...

My mistake, I didn't know that was a discussion, I thought it was a sermon.
 
That was a nice simple rejoinder. It even had a bit of zing. I know I get preachy, sometimes excessively so.

I get tired of people acting like the only reason for a high-cap magazine is to cover up poor marksmanship. I read the reports every time I go on shift. I get to go to the hospital and see the people wheeled in to the ED. I get to check on victims that have been hospitalized for months at a time.

I see what can happen. I understand there are times when more rounds would be a plus. So when people blithely brush off people that carry more rounds it is irritating. It isn't about being a Glock fan boy. It isn't about covering up marksmanship errors. It definitely isn't about paranoia. It is about recognizing that you can carry 10 or 15 as easy as 8 or 5 sometimes.

Tuesday night four men assaulted a single individual and forced him in to the trunk of a car at gun point. They drove him around for thirty minutes. Then they drug him out, beat him some more, robbed him, and then forced him to walk in to a river. When he got in to the river they fired multiple shots at him. After the first shot missed he dropped in to the water. That single move saved his life.

My question is, if four men attack you and try to force you in to a trunk, do you want to bet on 5 shots?

Attacks like this are becoming the norm in my area. It is rarely a single individual anymore. Last night two guys with knives robbed a single individual in a parking deck. The guy was being treated on an outpatient basis for severe burn wounds. He was headed to his car after his apointment ran late. He had no choice but to be in that place at that time. Avoidance wasn't an option.

Don't be condescending torwards people that want to prepare for that possibility. It is no different than the basic act of carrying any gun. There is no superiority in carrying less. It is all about a level of compromise. Some people compromise in ways other's won't.

I don't carry a .45 because I don't think it offers enough advantages to off set the disadvantages. Some people feel that way about ammo capacity.

Sorry to get preachy again. I just have a soft spot on this issue. I dont get personally insulted. I usually carry five shots. I just find it amazingly rude and condescending to so effortlessly disregard a group of people based on their choice of ammo capacity.
 
Last edited:
We shot a moose one evening. Long story shortened, chased it 1/2 mile, after an epic battle on the bank of a creek in which its last move was to jump into the creek and die - we pulled it out and when we field dressed it, there was no blood in it. You tell me what it was running on.

Trooper some years back got inot a gun fight with a nut at a gas station. Something like 5 rounds of .357 and 6 or 8 of 9mm into the guy before he died. Autopsy found the last 9mm nicked his Aorta and he lost all his blood. All the other rounds managed to miss anything vital.

Things can be hard to kill. I am happy to have 16 available though I practice accurate shooting as its all about shot placement. If you are ok with fewer, thats fine, I like having money in the bank at the end of the month.

Gun Choice: Sig SP2022 is an excellent choice, really good gun and can be bought new for $400 range.
 
I was in the same spot early last year. I went with the Ruger SR9c. It was under $400 NIB with two magazines, one 10 rnd and one 17 rnd with a slip on grip extension. With the 10 rnd it is very easy to carry, and with the larger it feels very much like its full sized brother. It fits my hand well and has performed flawlessly with a variety of ammo, from cheap Walmart stuff to +P HP from 115 to 147 gr.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top