Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Full size Conceal Carry 9mm recommendations needed?

Based on your criteria I would vote for a 1911 in 9mm or a Browning Hi Power. Both are great guns and fit your needs nicely. Definitely avoid the 92, I carry one in the military and HATE it!

when i toss all of your criteria into the hopper, one rig i come up with (though not the only one), is the sig/browning bda (somewhat confusing, but i do not refer here to some of the other models also dubbed bda).

if i recall correctly, these rigs were made in the 70's. in appearance, they look essentially like a sig p220, but sport a heel magazine release. the slide flats are polished blue, whilst the rest is matte black, with an anodized alum frame.

it's a single stack, and can be had in 9mm para, .38 super (rare), and .45 acp. the rigs have no absurd manual safety, yet is sports a very efficient decock lever--just like a modern sig...

the 9mm rigs are not exactly abounding--but some looking will snag you one.

you would do well to go with Blue's advice and get some foundational instruction...

Try looking at a Sig Sauer P225, or the old Police version the Sig P6. I have a P6 and carry it frequently. Single stack 9mm and is a very easily carried weapon!

Generally the lump in my pants scares most people off!

Springfield EMP 9mm...
Link http://www.slickguns.com/product/springfield-1911-emp-9mm-3-barrel-10-rnds-1075-shipped

Try a Sig 239. Or a Sig 225 (P6), H&K P7 or S&W 3913, if you don't mind buying used. All are reliable, single stack, flat and conceal easily.

Can someone fill me in on the 3rd Gen smith's? Like the 3913, 6909 & others? What makes them 3rd gen? Are they safer than gen 1 & 2? I take it they are double action/single?

Thanks,
Bill

The tactical advantage that police and military have is not the fact that a gun can be seen on them. It's been proven time and time again that the visibility of a firearm makes you more of a target. Consider who is First targeted in a bank robbery, the guard or the clerk?

The advantage they have is open carry. It's just plain faster to draw, making it faster to get rounds down range. On duty, their uniform makes them a target, so drawing quickly is needed. What you need to ask yourself is how do they carry off duty? Concealed and as hidden as can be.

Surprise is the ultimate tactical advantage. It always has been and always will be.

As to a nice single stack 9mm. Consider a Ruger or Khar along with the others that have been suggested here.

The older S&W 39-2 is a great pistol, excellent ergonomics, quite reliable.

.45 acp 1911

Well, Kevin - I did say "off the top of my head"....and it is rather pointy and lacking in room up there.

The 3913 is the only 3rd gen S&W pistol I am familiar with - and yes, it's another good option for the OP. Probably pretty easy to find one for a good price, still.

Sig 239 meets your criteria.

As far as a solid steel gun goes you would be hard pressed to beat either model you mentioned. Third generation Smiths's are extremely reliable and shoot well in my experience. I would not hesitate to carry either one you mentioned and have had both. I like the 6906 a little more while it's not quite as slim it does have a 12 round mag and never had a hick up with mine. Either would serve you well being a double action first shot then S/A after that. Some people struggle with any of the double action first shot guns but with a little training the first shot can go exactly where you want.

You might want to consider an H&K P7 (PSP). It's a single stack 9mm, all steel, very reliable and absolutely safe until you squeeze the grip to cock it. Pretty hard to have a ND with this mechansm. IME this is an accurate pistol.

Downside is that it's somewhat heavy for caliber (all steel), a bit spendy and mostly available used, but mags and spare parts are still available new. The mag is heel release, but reliably ejects the mag, and fast with practice.

Any holster made for a 1911 will fit the P7. If you like a horizontal carry one of the Galco Miami Classic versions work well. IWB is easy because the frame is very thin.

P7s fit your specs well. The weight and ergonomics allow fast accurate fire.

If you insist on a single stack magazine, then it's an older Smith, with perference for the 3rd generation or maybe a smaller 1911.
My favorite 9mm for social purposes is the Browning HP. Still kick myself for selling the one I had. E

EMP, if you can deal with cocked & locked.
3rd gen Smith if you prefer sa/da. I recently found an as new in box 908. It carries and functions very well. The da pull is like a very good revolver.

full size 9mm and single stack don't go together. unless you are talking lugers or some ancient design handgun. 9mm is double stack unless you want a small pistol. its too bad you don't like glocks, I was once that way myself but not anymore. carry something in a black hawk serpa holster, its comfortable and with a coat or long shirt it can conceal the gun. lots of options out there besides glock, CZ 75 is a great one, FNS is another one. and of course XD makes quite a few.

I for one am not a fan of the open carry argument. if you ever got into an argument with someone and they really wanted to mess you over all they have to do is call the cops and say you waved a gun around at them. your probably going to get arrested, your gun taken, and some huge legal hassles. not a good idea if you ask me.

What is with the fixation on Glocks? They have to be the most over-rated gun out there.

Single stack and absolutely safe loaded, there is nothing that will eclipse a Heckler and Koch P-7 M-8. They hold 8+1 and are the safest handgun in the world with one in the chamber. The barrel is fixed in the receiver and has polygonal rifling, fluted chamber for the most accurate, yet reliable semi auto you could own.

They have a 4.13 inch barrel and yet the configuration gives it the feel and size of a compact. The action is the lowest in any handgun and reduces felt recoil better than anything else made. Ergonomically, this design can't be improved on, it has been around for decades and is still the least understood marvel in handguns.

These pictures show the P-7 for size in the hand, holster and concealed. This is actually an M-13 the M-8 is more compact in the single stack configuration, but the upper and internals are identical...

I can remember some old advertisements of the P7, if I recall they were adopted by some state police. Cool pistols.

Very nice, Shrap......that gun never crossed my mind, though one of my BIL's has one.

In the current H&K lineup, the USP Compact is not bad either, just pricey but is still a double stack.

MM