What pistol for first ccw?

A

ac700wildcat

New member
I just got my ccw permit the other day and have been trying to figure out what pistol to get for concealed carry. I currently have one pistol, a Beretta 92fs. I'd use that, but its just too big. I'd like to get something that operates similar to this pistol. Here is what I've had the chance to handle so far and liked.

1. Stoeger Cougar
2. EAA Witness compact
3. Ruger P95
4. Beretta px4 storm

I also handled s&w m&p's, xd's, and sigs. I really liked one of the sigs that I handled, but its out of my price range for now. The s&w and xd's just didn't seem to fit me right. I liked the px4, but it seems a bit big for a ccw and I couldn't find the compact version anywhere so I could handle it. The p95 felt the best to me and is a possibility. The Cougar also felt pretty good in my hands. I've looked at some cz's on the net and I might be interested in the 75compact or the p01 or p06. I just haven't been anywhere that has any, so I could handle them.

Any other suggestions on something to check out or any comments on the ones I have listed so far would be great.

Thanks,
Matt
 
Rent ,use your friends and see how it is for cc .in fl means no printing.try before you by .it can get expensive i know.have a cc since 1982.;)
 
Somebody correct me if I am wrong but I believe that the Stoeger Cougar is a direct copy of the Beretta Cougars built under license (or was the design actually sold). So in a sense you have handled one of the smaller Beretta offerings just under a different name. Not sure if all of the ergo's are exactly the same but probably close.

As it is said on most of the threads of this type go handle the guns you think you want to buy, shoot them if you can rent them. If its for a CCW I would add the step of after narrowing down the list to two or three spend a night or maybe a saturday and see what holsters are available at the holster manufactures online sites for your prospective purchases and then go to a shop and check out the holsters in person. Might save you from getting an ill fitting holster for the gun you end up choosing.

After you have it spend a few weeks wearing it around the house to get used to it and stop the figiting with it that we all do when wearing something new. Thats what I did and now its no problem wearing it out and about, The girlfriend doesnt even notice it unless she hugs me from the right side.
 
Last edited:
I'd restart your search from the beginning. Rent/borrow a wide variety of pistols and see what's best for you.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%.

You will have to balance weight and concealment with shootability. Don't forget to consider ease and speed of drawing from concealment and firing.

And don't forget reliability. At the range you can remedy a stovepipe or failure to feed with no problem, but you don't want to face that possibility with a charging assailant coming at you from fifteen feet.

I ended up with a snub revolver rather than a pistol that functioned like my larger 9MM.
 
The "best" gun is the one YOU like, not anyone else. It will be a compromise of:

1. Fit - It should fit in your hand like you were born with it there.
2. Reliability - It should go BANG about 99.8% of the time you pull the trigger.
3. Accuracy - In YOUR hand. It's how well YOU shoot it.
4. Concealability - It should be comfortable enough to wear and easy enough to conceal so you won't leave it laying on the dresser at home.
5. Cost - You don't want to scrimp on your "life protector" weapon, but you probably don't need a $1,500 Kimber, either.
 
Buying a cc gun is like gettimg married .if you get the wrong one it will cost you in the end :rolleyes: take your time it is a big investment for your life to depend on.
 
Matt, Give the revolvers some thought. S&W's 642&442 will be more reliable than any small semi auto, but if you have got have a semi auto, the Glock 26 is best small semi auto on the market today. orchidhunter
 
I really wish renting pistols at a range was possible for me, but the only range around here doesn't have pistols to rent. The next closest range is 90 miles and I really don't know if they rent them either. Very few of the people I know have pistols, so it could be hard to find them to try out that way too. I"m just going to handle as many as I can and read a bunch of reviews to make my decision.

I guess I was hoping for someone to comment more on functionality/reliability of the pistols I have listed, or to suggest something else to look at. I'll start checking out some revolvers as suggested and see what I can find.
 
I have a number of handguns, but none that you reference. For me, my cc is a S&W 642- supremely well designed and easily concealable. In a pocket holster, it is completely comfortable and easily available. Mine has shrouded hammer, and I feel very safe carrying it.
 
For a very first CCW pistol, I'll go against he OP's desires and suggest the S&W 642.
It's a be-all and do-anything kind of carry piece that is the very best compromise of everything you need in a CCW piece.

With that firmly in a well designed IWB holster, then go shopping for your next one.

I only say that due to my own experience where I bought a 642 much later on but now wish I had bought it first.
 
"wildcat", all of your suggestions have good reputations. I have no personal experience with any of them. I'd suggest getting the one that fits your hand the best and that you can conceal fairly easily. Based on what I've seen and read, the EAA and Cougar are ahead of the others. If the 1911 frame fits your hand, the EAA is the way to go. Berettas are overpriced, IMO, and I have no info on the Ruger.

Good luck!
 
Looks like a ton of people like the s&w 642, so I'll be looking at them if my local shop has them, if not there is a gun show here on the 28th and 1st. I'll still probably end up buying a semi for concealed too, but I'll probably do that down the road, so I can get the sig that I really want, but is currently out of my price range.
 
I am thinking that beretta benilli hK stoeger are all the same company....yes?
Click to expand...
Stoeger is owned by Benelli, which in turn is owned by Beretta Holding S.p.A along with Beretta, Beretta USA, Franchi, Tikka, SAKO, Uberti and Burris optics. Beretta Holding also owns a share of Browning. HK is an entirely separate concern, and not owned by Beretta Holding.

The Stoeger Cougar is still made on the same machinery, Beretta having shipped it off to their sister company's facility in Turkey. The few I have seen appear to have been made to the same high standards as those made by Beretta.
 
Some good choices on yur list, but I would check out the CZ-75D PCR which is a lightweight alloy version of the venerable CZ Compact. Also, the current crop of German police HK P7's are a STEAL.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top