getting carry permit - help me pick a CCW gun...

T

tet4

New member
UPDATE - I've nixed the auto, so now I'm looking for suggestions between just the 2" airweight snubby and the 3" steel j-frame sized guns. I love all the wonder nines and others like every one else, but these are the two I'm trying to decide between currently. Keep in mind that this needs to be a 24/7 carry piece that I'll have for the next year and will need to conceal it in various types of clothing and all the normal events that people go though.

IE, can a 3" steel snub be carried on an ankle well? Or, would I be giving up concealment opportunities by going with the heavier gun or not?

Thanks for all the suggestion so far!
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HELP - this is the hardest decision of my life! :-)

I went to a rental range tonight to try out a few more guns to help me decide what gun I want to go with for my first CCW weapon. Alas, the range is closed for the next few weeks as it is getting remodeled. Oh well, so now I'm just going to see if y'all want to chime in and make up my mind.

I'm looking for something that I can carry most or all of the time in as many different ways as I need. I don't need huge round counts or calibers, and I am wanting to stick with this gun for at least a year so I can really learn it and not constantly jump from one gun to another. I also want to practice with it regularly, so it has to be something comfortable enough to WANT to take to the range. I've narrowed it down to the follow options which I think would suit me the best:

1. 38 special airweight or similar (SW/taurus/lcr/etc) with <2" barrel <15oz. It seems like a very easy gun to carry but I've shot snubbies before and the sight picture is horrible. The recoil isn't too bad for me though.

2. 38 special steel snubby j-frame size with 3" barrel: It would solve the shootability problems as recoil is pretty non-existent and I could get a model with the sights I wanted. I'm pretty sure it would much more fun to shoot at the range, but I'm wondering if I go this route, would it just make more sense to carry something like a glock 19. I'm more of a revolver fan so I think I would rather get something I like than get one of the popular autoloaders. (No offense to anyone :-) )

3. A medium sized 380 like the ppk, p232, mak, etc. I have a thing for this type of gun and they definitely fit in my hand and point great. I wanted to shoot one tonight (only type that I haven't shot yet) but barring anything horrible about shooting this style of gun, if I were to go with an autoloader, this style would be it.

Okay - so what would you guys pick and why if this was going to be your only ccw piece for at least a year or longer?
 
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If it were me and those were my choices i would lean twards the 38 steel snubby.
I'm not a fan of 380's....just not enough power in my humble opinion.
As far as the air weight goes i dont have any issues with it.I just think the the other snubbie is a prettier gun.
 
Out of the choices given, S&W Airweight. Hands down. Reliable, lightweight and easy to carry it all conditions.

Medium sized .380 pistol are IMHO obsolete. You can get regular 9mm pistols that weigh less and in a gun that size 9mm is not hard to control. Look into the Kahr CW9 if you want a semiauto of that size.

The only thing worth packing in .380 is a mousegun like the LCP. YMMV.
 
i wouldnt use a .380 as a main weapon, the best advice i can give is to see if a range or friend will let you conceal the gun how you will carry it. i didnt do this when i bought my gun, and while i dont regret it, a 17rd gun isnt the easiest thing to conceal. thank goodness for coats, huh?
 
My three little ones. Kahr PM9 (6+1), Smith Airweight (5-38 spcl) and G26
(10+1). The PM9 is easiest to carry (light, small), the Smith is next, but capacity limited and the G26, which is a little bigger, seems to be my favorite. Shootability, capacity, just plain feels good to me.

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Okay - so it seems that the 380 is out. Yeah, if I'm going to carry, I might as well carry a better round than 380, especially in a pistol the size of a ppk - as much as I love them. So, with that, what would you go with - 2" airweight snub or 3" steel snub? Remember, this is for 24/7 carry for the next year. I wear mostly jean/t-shirt, tucked and un-tucked. Shorts in the summer time and fleece/light coat in winter (I live in the south east).
 
Glock 26 - small enough to easily conceal, 10 or 15 rounds depending on your mood. no external safety to mess with. every shot is the same, sorry dont like DA/SA guns even though I have several. DA only sucks. SA cocked and locked makes me nervous, got those too I just dont carry one except to the range. its all a matter of opinion of course and you wont find anyone that will agree on everything so good luck with your choice.
 
I am a 357 fan so that is what I carry but I think any of the guns listed above would work. My wife carries a Bersa 380 and likes if a lot. I worry about its "stopping power" but I figure that a small gun she will carry is better than any hand cannon that she leaves at home.
 
Personally, I prefer a .38Spl snub over a little .380 pocket auto.

They have more power, and reliability IMO, "five for sure".
 
This may sound like a different approach, but a better holster like a crossbreed will allow you to carry a bigger pistol

It makes it more complicated but, expanding your choice to include mid-size
pistols as well as just the tiny guns will allow you a better weapon choice.

I see folks getting the tinyest pea shooter

1) They end up hating the recoil
2) They dont take it to the range much
3) They might not be as accurate with the short barrel
4) They arent as proficient with it

The truth is, an extra 1/2 pound or so is EASILY covered comfortably in a quality holster.

I very much like a pistol that I can also enjoy at the range as well as CC

The smallest is not always the best

The choice should be (in my VERY humble opinion) a combination of
comfort, concealability, firepower, accuracy, quality, HOLSTER, and shooting comfort

Make the holster PART of the CCW pistol options

I use the crossbreed for streetclothes and this for jogging


http://www.pistolwear.com/holsters.htm

It does VERY WELL with my Bersa 40 UC

Here is another shocker....... I also jog with my full-size P226 with this rig NOT A PROBLEM. With the fullsize, you need to wear 2 tee shirts, tshirt under the weapon to cover the handle (i pack with the slide down and handle up) and another t shirt or sweatshirt to conceal the weapon.

It doesnt jiggle.
 
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My recommendations

If you're leaning towards an auto, the KelTec PF-9 has worked wonderfully for me. Small, light, easy to pocket, and gives you full 9mm power. In a revolver, I carry a S&W 642 and always feel adequately armed. Mine's got a Crimson Trace laser that I like a lot.
 
UPDATE - I've nixed the auto, so now I'm looking for suggestions between just the 2" airweight snubby and the 3" steel j-frame sized guns. I love all the wonder nines and others like every one else, but these are the two I'm trying to decide between currently. Keep in mind that this needs to be a 24/7 carry piece that I'll have for the next year and will need to conceal it in various types of clothing and all the normal events that people go though.

IE, can a 3" steel snub be carried on an ankle well? Or, would I be giving up concealment opportunities by going with the heavier gun or not?

Thanks for all the suggestion so far!
 
Get A Good Holster

I have the PPK/S and a 642CT S & W. The PPK/S is slightly smaller and thinner then the 642. The PPK/S hold 7 + 1 and have one extra 7 round mag. The 642 holds only 5 rounds and you need to get a speed loader for a faster reload time. Yes the 380 is a marginal self defense round as oppose to the 38spl + p. Yes the PPk/S is heaver/larger then the LCR or 3AT Kel Tec the size gives you better grip and less felt recoil. My 642CT has the Crimson Trace laser grips on it. Advantage you can shoot from the hip. You may not have time to get a good site picture point the red dot pull trigger. My wife carries the 642 and she does practice allot with it. The recoil on it is not pleasant but we didn't buy it for target shooting or long range shooting. Both gun will fit nicely in your pocket and easy to carry. I would recommend getting a good IWB holster from Crossbreed or MTac Holster I have both. I prefer the Mtac over the Crossbred and feel it is worth the extra $20 for the MTac. What is nice about the holsters is that you can tuck your shirt in and it hide you gun well. I wear a tux when I DJ and carry my PPK/S with the Crossbreed and work well without the belt with the PPK/S. Suspenders is a must though.

That said for your first CC gun don't let size restrict your choices. With a good holster you can hide a full size 1911 or Beretta 92FS. I am not saying get one just saying if you can hide a full size gun a medium or sub compact will also be easy to hide. I carry a full size 92fs. I would take a real close look at the S & W M & P in 40 S & W or 9mm. Lifetime warranty and you can get it with the Crimson Trace grips. The come in a sub compact size to.

One more thing get a good gun belt.

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I CCW a S&W 640 (its all steal in 357 magnum)

for a long time I used an ankle holster but I decided I liked pocket carry better.

many people say its too heavy to pocket carry but I do it every day. I typically wear slacks and a shirt and tie. A belt really helps with heavier pocket carry.
 
SW Airweight, hands-down. It's the most versatile- you will be most comfortable carrying it all the ways you mention.

It's not heavy so there won't be a feeling of not wanting to lug it around due to weight.

It's a SW so quality is not as much of a concern and if you should want to, resale will be easier.

Becoming proficient with a DA snub helps make you a better all-around shooter for when you may want to expand your horizons, and you probably will.
 
Going against the grain a little, I like the Ruger SP101 2 1/4" 357 - has a little more weight to handle the recoil, can shoot 38, 38+P and 357mag. I wouldn't ankle carry, but IWB or OWB is no problem.
 
Id say split the difference between the 2 revolvers you're considering and go with a 2" STEEL framed gun. You'll have all teh concelability you need, and the extra weight (which isn't that much) will make in muche more enjoyable to shoot on the range. Airweight guns just aren't that much that much fun to shoot a lot.
 
My 2 cents would be for S&W 638,can be shot sa/da and carried year round . It goes to my front pocket 90% of the time IWB the other 10%. I think a steel j-frame would be heavy for ankle wear.

My S&W mod 60 is a 3 in. and can't be used for pocket carry,on the belt only. Shoots so much better than the snub. Still not to heavy at 26oz.

Two different guns for different carry options. If you plan to pocket carry the 638, if you plan to belt carry mod-60 3 in.
 
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