I am getting my CPL license soon and am doing research on what pistol to purchase. I have it narrowed down to a few choices but am not 100% with any of the decisions. I also want to make sure I am not missing anything or forgetting about a particular model.
I am not new to shooting and currently own a Walther PPQ first gen. Although I love this gun and will not be getting rid of it, I have decided against using this as an EDC as I am uncomfortable re-holstering this pistol in an IWB holster. The trigger is very nice but I am afraid of an obstruction like a shirt tail ect. could cause a very loud and possibly painful problem. Because of the dress code at work something a little smaller would be better as well. I have to wear dress slacks and a dress shirt. Because of this I am thinking IWB in a tuckable holster at about 4:00 would be my best option.
Here is what I'm looking for, a smaller size 9mm or better. It would need some type of safety device for re-holstering like a hammer, large easy to manipulate safety, or a passive type safety like the grip safe on an XD/1911 or the cocking indicator on the Walther PPS. I would like at least 7+1 for capacity. I don't know why but that is the number of rounds I start feeling comfortable with.
Here is what I have looked at so far. I will be renting and firing as many as possible when I have my list slimmed down a little.
Walther PPS - front runner at this point.
Pro's - The size/feel was very nice in my hand. The cocking indicator pushes out the rear of the pistol as the trigger is pulled so it is easy to feel if something is going wrong. No thumb safety, 3 size mag/grip choices, it's not new and should be reliable. I really like the paddle mag release.
Con's - 1 year warranty, quicksafe back strap.
Springfield XDM 3.8 compact in .45 or 9mm
Pro's - Grip safety, choice of grip/mag sizes. Not new and seems reliable. So far this is the other real contender
Con's - A little on the wide side.
Springfield XDs 9mm
Pro's - Size/feel, grip safety.
Con's - New.
Sig P290
Con's - I did not like the trigger and have heard about reliability problems.
Sig P938 -
Pro's - I just love this pistol it is my favorite of everything I tried, fits my hand well, great size, looks cool safety is in the right spot for my hand. I will probably own one of these at some point regardless of what I choose now.
Con's - I have read about a lot of stories of problems even after the redesign with this pistol. Seems like if you get a good one it's a good one but a bad one can be a problem. I don't know if I want to take that chance since this will be my only carry gun right now. Expensive, especially for any reliability concerns.
Colt New Agent/Defender - I really like this pistol as well. The Defender edges out the New Agent for me as I did not care for the gutter sight. The Con here is it's expensive at the far end of what I would pay.
Kimber - Not for me
Springfield EMP - Expensive but nice.
Ruger LC9 - No Go, for me it was too hard to work the safety
S&W Sheild - Same problem as with the LC9, otherwise I liked it very much.
Glock - same problem as my PPQ I really like the 26 and if it had the same cocking indicator as the PPS It would probably be the winner even if it's a little thicker than I would like.
Bersa Thunder UC Pro - I have not found one of these to fool with but am interested.
Con's - It may be too wide and I don't like the Internal lock thing.
CZ Rami - may be too wide, Have not found one anywhere yet, I will own a CZ at some point I'm just not sure of the model yet.
I thought by now one pistol would just jump out at me as the "right" one but that has not happened yet and I think I'm running out of options.
So what have I left out, what pro's and con's have I overlooked? What would you do? Anybody got a 100% reliable, eat anything you feed it P938 they want to sell
Any help you can give me would be much appreciated.
I am not new to shooting and currently own a Walther PPQ first gen. Although I love this gun and will not be getting rid of it, I have decided against using this as an EDC as I am uncomfortable re-holstering this pistol in an IWB holster. The trigger is very nice but I am afraid of an obstruction like a shirt tail ect. could cause a very loud and possibly painful problem. Because of the dress code at work something a little smaller would be better as well. I have to wear dress slacks and a dress shirt. Because of this I am thinking IWB in a tuckable holster at about 4:00 would be my best option.
Here is what I'm looking for, a smaller size 9mm or better. It would need some type of safety device for re-holstering like a hammer, large easy to manipulate safety, or a passive type safety like the grip safe on an XD/1911 or the cocking indicator on the Walther PPS. I would like at least 7+1 for capacity. I don't know why but that is the number of rounds I start feeling comfortable with.
Here is what I have looked at so far. I will be renting and firing as many as possible when I have my list slimmed down a little.
Walther PPS - front runner at this point.
Pro's - The size/feel was very nice in my hand. The cocking indicator pushes out the rear of the pistol as the trigger is pulled so it is easy to feel if something is going wrong. No thumb safety, 3 size mag/grip choices, it's not new and should be reliable. I really like the paddle mag release.
Con's - 1 year warranty, quicksafe back strap.
Springfield XDM 3.8 compact in .45 or 9mm
Pro's - Grip safety, choice of grip/mag sizes. Not new and seems reliable. So far this is the other real contender
Con's - A little on the wide side.
Springfield XDs 9mm
Pro's - Size/feel, grip safety.
Con's - New.
Sig P290
Con's - I did not like the trigger and have heard about reliability problems.
Sig P938 -
Pro's - I just love this pistol it is my favorite of everything I tried, fits my hand well, great size, looks cool safety is in the right spot for my hand. I will probably own one of these at some point regardless of what I choose now.
Con's - I have read about a lot of stories of problems even after the redesign with this pistol. Seems like if you get a good one it's a good one but a bad one can be a problem. I don't know if I want to take that chance since this will be my only carry gun right now. Expensive, especially for any reliability concerns.
Colt New Agent/Defender - I really like this pistol as well. The Defender edges out the New Agent for me as I did not care for the gutter sight. The Con here is it's expensive at the far end of what I would pay.
Kimber - Not for me
Springfield EMP - Expensive but nice.
Ruger LC9 - No Go, for me it was too hard to work the safety
S&W Sheild - Same problem as with the LC9, otherwise I liked it very much.
Glock - same problem as my PPQ I really like the 26 and if it had the same cocking indicator as the PPS It would probably be the winner even if it's a little thicker than I would like.
Bersa Thunder UC Pro - I have not found one of these to fool with but am interested.
Con's - It may be too wide and I don't like the Internal lock thing.
CZ Rami - may be too wide, Have not found one anywhere yet, I will own a CZ at some point I'm just not sure of the model yet.
I thought by now one pistol would just jump out at me as the "right" one but that has not happened yet and I think I'm running out of options.
So what have I left out, what pro's and con's have I overlooked? What would you do? Anybody got a 100% reliable, eat anything you feed it P938 they want to sell
Any help you can give me would be much appreciated.