Small-medium autos-opinions, please...

Small pistols

Gumshoe, I have an MK9. It shoots great and never has failed me. It is a little heavy. The Colt mustang pocket light is the best, if you get a good one. It is almost as easy to conceal as a Beretta 950. It's stainless and with Magsafes or Glasers, enough caliber for defense.
 
Makarov in CA

Last time I checked, the East German and the Russian Makarovs are C&R eligible. Can't one with a C&R licence bypass the grotesque and ridiculous laws of CA? Or even that isn't possible?

I wouldn't know, I live all the way across the country in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the laws here aren't nearly as bad, only a few localites to avoid and there is a one-handgun-a-month law here.

Would like to know either way
 
Consider the Kahr K40. Better cartridge (uh-oh, don't start that up again;) )

Same small package. A bit more recoil, but hey, for more thump you get a little more bump!
 
How about a S&W 3913?

It is an excellent pistol and the only S&W pistol I really like. It is light, reliable and very accurate. I know S&W is a dirty word these days but you can find a very good to excellent condition used 3913 at gun shows for under $500 or less.
 
How about a S&W 908--comparable in size to the 3913---but carbon steel slide---does have crappy plastic sights-but they work----picked mine up for $289
 
Love that Beretta!

:) Absoluely have nothing but nice things to say about my 84. Couldn't ask for anything more in a pocket pistol. Also use a Mauser HsC...which is close to SIG in size.
 
I've carried an Astra A-75 in 40 S&W for years. It's been very reliable and accurate. Also about the size of a Makarov or the Sig P-239. Not as inexpensive as a Mak, but nowhere near the price of a Sig.

I like the bigger caliber and the gun has worked so well for me, I had to give it a plug... ;)
 
Lotsa good info here...

Thanks to all who have contributed.

I'll see if I can mention several items that came up.

Yes, C&Rs can be sold by the dealers here and I have seen EG Maks (fixed sights) for sale, but not on a regular basis.

New guns must be on the "safety test" list in order to be legally sold here in the stupid state. The CZ-83, Beretta 84/85, the Kahrs and the Sigs have all been tested and are listed and can be sold. I once owned a Colt Mustang and liked it very much and I'm interested in the Pocketlite, but it will have to be tested and listed here.

Interestingly enough, several other firearms, including Davis derringers and Bryco zinc pistols, also passed and are listed. This is tremendously funny, because this stupid "safety testing" law was enacted for the SPECIFIC purpose of eliminating so-called "junk guns" from sale in California. I guess the legislature wouldn't want any poor folks to be able to protect themselves, but it didn't work out that way, because Davis and Bryco made the list. HAR HAR!!!

Anyway, thanks again for all your suggestions. I'll keep you posted about what I get and how it works. 'Course, it'll be awhile, since we have a 10-day waiting period and no instant check-sale here in the progressive state.
 
Here's another vote for the Makarov, I own 3, 2 East Germans and a Russian .380 high capacity. I carry one of my Maks as an off duty times or at least I did until I got my Keltec P-40, which gives me 10 rounds of .40 caliber in a real light pocket pistol with night sights. Check out the P-40 or P9 in 9mm.

7th:cool:
 
CCW/OD gun

Well, I ended up with a Beretta 84F, which was a turn-in from the Israeli police. It comes with a 13-rd mag and I bought another 10-rd for it.

The store also had some Sig P230s which were turned in by an east coast police department and I looked at one of those. It was pretty nice, but also pretty large for a single stack gun and the heel mag release would take some getting used to, I think; also, the Beretta had hi-capacity mags, so I opted for the Beretta. It's a little large, but it'll work for a fanny pack and an IWB holster. Anyone know who makes holsters for this piece?

I can pick it up August 1st (10-day waiting period, here in the nanny state). I'll let you know how it shoots first chance I get.

Thanks again to all for the input. It was very valuable in helping me make the decision.
 
As a Law Enforcement Officer you have to wait to pick up a gun that is to be used for duty?

That's messed up.

In Illinois there is no wait for a duty weapon as long as the 4473 passes muster.
 
Welcome to California!!

Yep-if you don't have a letter from the Chief (which I don't), ya gotta wait. In fact, I've heard (since I haven't bought a gun in awhile) that even the Chiefs' letters are being scrutinized by the Dept of Justice right now and you better be able to show that the gun will be used directly on duty (which it won't in this case-it'll be for off-duty use only).

I think some of the Chiefs are real hinky about doing letters these days.

Don't you feel safer now, here in the milquetoast state? I don't think the criminals wait 10 days.
 
I've carried a bunch of different guns over the past couple of years and my favorite continues to be my Star Firestar Plus.

The Stars are no longer imported into the US, and parts may become a problem, but they are all quality guns.

The Star Firestar Plus is an alloy-framed, steel slided double-stack. single action in 9mm. WIth the right mags, it will hold up to 13 rounds +1 in the pipe.

Its not much larger than a Kel-Tec P-11, smaller than a SIG P-239, holds more rounds than the P-239, and easier to shoot than most of the smaller guns.

I had frequently carried a Kel-Tec P-11, but in several different IDPA matches and practice sessions, found I couldn't hit the broad side of the barn with it -- under pressure. (It was pretty accurate when I was relaxed, and punching paper. But that's not the way you learn to protect yourself.) That is NOT the case with the Firestar Plus; in fact, I won one of our small local matches with it, shooting against a number of expensive guns, including a couple of Wilson customs.

The best part of this story is that I picked mine up in a pawnshop for $129. But I'm sure more can be found in the $200-$300 range. (I traded the P-11 for an old, but very accurate .22 rifle set up for NRA. Great gun.)

Good triggers, light, compact, accurate. You could do worse.
 
As I began to read your post I immediately was ready to recommend the Kahr MK9. However, then you go on to say you do not like Glocks:( What is it you do not like about Glocks? All the K and MK Kahr series are is a single stack metal Glock. :cool:
 
Runner:

At the risk of being too argumentative, I disagree that a Kahr is just a metal Glock. They feel and shoot quite differently. I much prefer the Glock trigger to the Kahr -- and I really don't like Glock triggers all that much... Even the polymer Kahr feel and shoot quite differently than a Glock.

(They make single-stack Glocks, you know... and they're not at all like the Kahr.)

I think Glocks are good guns, and I have had a really nice 17 -- but the small ones are just too damned "chunky" for my taste. I don't think they conceal all that well, either.

The Kahrs ARE much more concealable, but (except for the P series) heavy as hell and the triggers take some getting used to.
(I've only handled a polymer Kahr; haven't shot one.)
 
You can still buy East German Makarovs in California. Maybe others as well if they are on the C&R list. Not Bulgarians. You can get any Mak (or other used pistol) from dealers consignment sections (which have grown greatly since the law requiring testing went into effect). I have two Maks and like them, but for your purposes, I would prefer a Kel-tec P11 9mm. More powerful than a Mak, much lighter, smaller, holds 2 more rounds. Of course, they aren't California approved so you'd have to buy a used/consignment gun. A local dealer recently had a near-new one for around $230. I was tempted, even though I already have a P11 and a P40 (the P11 is much more reliable for me).

Doug
 
Glock v. Kahr

Hi Runner and DocSWAT-

I agree with Doc-the Kahrs are not just metal Glocks. The triggers are very different and the grip size and shape are also very different.

I carried a Glock 22 on-duty concealed for about two years. Not a bad gun all in all-very accurate and reliable, but too large for concealed carry.

I owned a Glock 27. I know there are many on the board here who think very highly of the G-27. I'm not one of them. It was, to be blunt, a POS-at least, mine was. It would misfire about every 20-30 rounds, no matter what I did to it and no matter what ammo I put through it. No one, including our armorer/rangemaster, could ever figure out why. No, I didn't send it to Glock. I expect such a gun to function properly after break-in without having to send it back to the factory, as did my Ruger P95, my S&W revolvers and even my Taurus PT 22. If the gun couldn't meet that basic criterion, then I did not want it, so I traded it on something else and best of luck to whomever ends up with it. Nothing personal, Glock guys, but I'm not into brand loyalty when the gun don't work the way it's supposed to.

Also, I agree with DocSWAT-the G-27 does not conceal very well. It's pretty chunky, particularly with the magazine grip extensions.
 
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