Shopping for a 9mm pocket pistol . . .
 

So.............I'm leaning towards 9mm, but would consider 40 S&W also. Primarily I'm looking for small, light, and not a mortgage payment.
As far as handling . . . I regularly shoot my .45 colt Redhawk one handed with +P ammo. I'm not crazy about it . . . but I can manage the recoil.

Check out the little double barrel from Heizer Defense. It's available in .45 ACP or 9 MM. It's.............................................. .................................different.

Definitely small . . . but I'm leaning towards a semi-auto. Not sure 2 rounds is enough(!?)
Thanks though.

Look at the Kahr CW9 or CW40. My wife has both and loves them!

I picked up a Taurus PT709 Slim. Haven't had a hiccup with it yet. Probably 200 rounds shot thru it so far.

I carry a Sig Sauer P250 Sub Compact. It's quality that can't be beat at a very competitive price.

I'm partial to single-action semi-autos, so I carry a Sig P238 (chambered for .380). I understand that they will soon release a 9mm version called the P938. Sigs are a little on the pricey side, but, given that a carry weapon is meant to be used in potential life threatening situations, I think it's well worth the investment.

The Sig Sauer 938 is only a half oz heavier than the 238 and shoots 9mm. Single action like a miniture 1911.

It seems that you want the best pocket pistol you can get for the $$$. For that I can only suggest what has worked for me. I have a Kahr PM40. They have just came out with a cheaper version called the CM40. It's not fun to shoot as it has rather nasty recoil for such a small pistol but it's the most firepower (.40) you can get in a micro 9mm platform. Kahrs have smooth DAO triggers. Mine has been 100% reliable. It's lightweight, powerful, reliable, more accurate than I expected. What more can you ask for?

I'm liking what I read about Kahr. Some good stuff guys and thanks. I was liking the Diamondback DB9 but read horror stories on jamming and like ipscshooter said, this is no gun to cut corners on. I wish I could go and shoot a couple before buying, but the gunshops here have the attitude of "You buy it then you try it!"
Hey stalkingbear, is that a Kentucky Elk?!

http://www.ruger.com/products/lc9/models.html Give this some consideration.
-Jake

It sure is! I got it in 2010 when I got drawn. I'm not eligible to put in for bull again until 2013.

Not sure where you are, but, here in Houston, there are MANY gun ranges that have a variety of weapons that you can rent for a range session. Costs a few bucks, but, you can try out a variety of different stuff.

im using my hammerless colt 380 with gold dots,its just reliable as heck.my sig 2340 is just to big to stash

It all depends on your wardrobe and your holster. I have, on a few occasions, carried a full size ParaOrdnance P14-45, with extended magazines... :)

Hand Gun
 

First thing you need to do is make up your mind not to rush. There are a lot of really great 9mm handguns out there. You don't need to fire it to find out if it fits your hand and will conceal the way you want it to. Do you want it for range shooting or defense - be honest.
Can you get a carry permit in your area easily? Do you need a permit just to buy, like in NY? Do you want it to have a large capacity.
I have 2 carry weapons - one is a Kahr P9 and the other is a small S&W Airweight revolver. No great capacity in either one, but they hide easily and both shoot very well. So it's a very personal decission.

I honestly like my M&P Compact 40. I carry it in a Fobus paddle holster under a vest or sport coat and even under a T shirt. Sometimes I even forget I have it on the set up is so comfortable. Sigs are great handguns but they just feel too 'clubby' in my hand. Not comfortable to me.

I have had a Sig P290 since june of 2011. It conceals easily, is reliable, accurate, and the trigger is smooth. Overall I am happy with it but now that the new P938 came out I have been wanting to get it. I love the 1911 style pistol and before the P290 I carried a Kimber Ultra CDP but grew tired of the weight. I will have the 938 once the rush to buy them wears off and the price calms down a bit.

Other guns to consider are the M&P Shield in 9mm or .40, Kahr cw9 or cw40, and i've heard pretty good things about the new Berreta nano?

Although I am not a big fan of semi autos I do have a couple of Bersa's which seem to function quite well, very reasonably priced. the .380 conceals quite easily, not sure about the 9mm.



I know you are looking for a 9mm but I have never owned a semi-auto that didn't "hic-up" every now & then, so when I need to carry I toss one of these in the pocket when needed (I prefer the 442) it goes Bang every time. jmop

http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=68

The Ruger LC9 would also be my choice. I think the Glock 26 is another great sub compact 9mm pistol, but it's too big for pocket carry imo. Really I think there are many more .380's suited better for pocket carry than there are 9mms.

Colt .38 five or ppk 9mm ? Colt have good hammer protection for pocket...

I just got a Beretta px4 storm compact in 40sw and it felt great to handle. The sub compact would be a nice pocket pistol in 9mm.

Kahr CW9.. good gun for the money. the S&W sheild is nice too but good luck finding one. SW won't even return my emails

Ruger LC9 with laser or S&W M/P Shield with laser...the laser makes a huge difference!

How about a cz82? They are well made, have a 12 round clip and are very reasonably priced. They do shoot the 9X18 Makarov round, not that popular in the US but it compares favorably with the 380. Not near the power of the 9X19 Lugar, but still not bad for a pocket pistol. I don't have one, but I am looking.

Kind of looking myself. Read a decent review of the Beretta Nano. It's about in the same price range as some that have been mentioned. Any opinions on this one?

When you say "small and light," exactly how small are you talking. Are you looking for CCW or just carrying it in a belt holster? If you're looking for CCW, the method you anticipate carrying it will sometimes dictate which gun and even which caliber.

If I carry CCW in a front pocket in my slacks, I carry a Walther PPS in .380. They are very accurate guns out to 10 yards and function flawlessly.

If I carry in a gun bag worn around my waste, I can pretty much carry anything and usually have a Glock in .40 or .45. I haven't carried CCW with an inside the belt holster yet but would think a slimmer pistol (probably a semi-auto) would be the only reasonably fitting pistol for such a holster. Nowadays, I often carry a Glock 30SF in .45 caliber in a regular (outside the) belt holster with a shirt or jacket tucked over it. FWIW, this is probably the quickest drawing concealed holster setup (draw and fire 3 rounds in 2 seconds with practice).

I switched from 9mm to 40 S&W but previously carried a 9mm for a few years. 9mm's will get the job done but you get a little more terminal ballistics with a 40S&W. In general, 9mm pistols are a little narrower than 40's. If you go with a Glock, they are both the same width.

Hopefully this provides a little help or food for thought. Good luck and let us know what you decide to buy.

x2 love my LC9 with laser

Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

I like the Nano, but it does take some getting used to as it's almost a sub-sub-compact. Very tiny gun. Due to design, there are no knobs/levers on the outside of the body. Nice for concealed carry, but the gun is a pain to take apart for cleaning.

The Kahr CM9 is small but shoots like a much bigger gun and it's price doesn't break the bank. It conceals well just about anywhere you want to carry it.

Ruger LC9 is a GREAT gun for the money. Utterly reliable.

kahr CW9 or smaller yet CM9

I carry a Polish p64. Excellent gun. It is pretty much a ppk except it is a 9-18 makarov instead of a 32. It is a blow back design so it feeds well and very accurate. If you can find one, or even a cz they are a great little guns. They usually run under $300.00. And you get a great gun for the price. They are a surplus gun but most look as if they have never been shot.

I have a Ruger lcp 9mm. Great gun except the trigger. I replaced it with the Polish. The Polish is all metal with a great sa trigger, but a crap da trigger. I fixed the da with a new spring for $4.00. The cz 50 is a great gun and small. The Cz82 is awesome, just a tad big to carry in my opinion. Still love it though. I think I might pick up a baby eagle 40 ( basically the old Jericho). That is if I can talk the owner out of it.

My favorite gun to carry is the Kahr CW9. I have carried it for right at 5 years now. It is light, thin, but I would not really call it a "pocket gun." My Sunday carry gun is the Ruger LCP which does well in a pocket holster.

In February I renewed my CHL with the Kahr. Two other guys were at the line to qualify for their renewal. They were both shooting full sized 1911s that I'm pretty sure they don't carry. They both shot a perfect 250 points. I pulled out my sub compact Kahr out of my pancake holster and had two outside of the 8 ring at the 15 yard line scoring 248. 175 points is required to pass. I think if I did it again I could score perfect with it. I was shooting too fast.

C. Davis

Nearly a year later.........

He was waiting for me to chime in. :s2:

C. Davis

Now I understand!

I have one of these and it sure is nice, but I do not like the trigger pull on mine.