It's time to go shopping, and I'm far from a pistol guru,

What's the current trend, and preferred action?

Size will be determined but likely looking for a mid to small frame, small frame for concealment but large enough for control as I enjoy shooting time.

Double action or Single? pros and cons to each please.

Caliber, .380 to .40

Lets spend some money.........

Glock 19, sign P229

Glock 19 is hard to beat. If you want smaller, a Glock 43 in 9mm or the Model 42 in 380 is slightly smaller a little more shootable IMO.

Or if you prefers a revolver, a S&W J frame in .38 special is my first choice in a carry wheel gun. Or if you don't mind UGLY, the Ruger LCR works too.

No wheels, and no ugly.

I'll do some research, but for starters, Glock 19 is a DA? Safety?

why is the Glock so preferred?

Because


High cap. Low weight, go bang EVERY TIME



No ugly? Sign 229 legion

Yep. And easy to shoot also.

Who's all using crimson trace or similar lazer sights?

I've got Crimson Trace on several of my carry guns. They work great.

Loved my Sr9c...till I got this.

Trijicon night sights, Talon grip tape, Ghost Elite connector with trigger work and extended mag catch and slide stop.

An absolute superb carry gun.

The only thing keeping me from carrying it all the time...my 30S!

MO Betta!!!!

But Sigs are UGLY

And you wonder why people think Texans are dumb, lol

No flies on a g19 for a high cap 9mm of low weight and moderate cost.

LMAO!

I'll second the 19/23 and the P229 as fine, easy-to-shoot-well pistols though my personal preference is for the 40 S&W.

Nothing wrong with a Nine, with one admonition. Everybody I know who carries one has had children born naked and toothless.

I'd look very hard at the single stack options in 9mm like the Glock 43 and the S&W Shield.

If you're far from a pistol guru, you're going to have a tough time shooting anything more smaller.

And if you're just now deciding to carry, you're going to find the G19/23 size pistols to be more than you're willing to deal with. That's a guess, but an experienced one.

I'd go inside-the-waistband right out of the gate.




travis

True dat

Have the 40c with CT Lazer


And the Shield 9 for cargo pocket carry


CCW variety is the spice of life

Speaking of the G19/23 Deflave, the Apex flat faced drop in is ultra uber.

Lasers are great until they aren't.

Which is 90% of the time.

Don't bother.



Travis

UBER-DUBER???

Improving on awesome is always.... awesome.




Travis

I need reasons.

Ability to see is largely dependent upon time of day, lighting in the room, and color of your intended target.






Travis

And no, that wasn't a black joke.

I'm referring to clothing.




Travis

The Lazer can aid in speeding up accurate fire at small targets. For ccw the range is typically short and one can damn near point shoot and get center mass hits. Also to9 many folks start to rely on the dot and never practice with their irons thus when the Lazer goes TU they can't hit shcitt.

I have ever a few due to super good deals but I do not rely on them except for shooting for fun.


Yes Deflave the Apex is smooth and feels like a well lubed womens........ well you know.

All true; and you'll develop the bad habit of dicking around looking for a dot, when you ought to be pointing and shooting.

Bicycle?




Travis

Front sight.

Can I ask why you have an aversion to revolvers?





Dave

Not to mention it gives your opponent an aiming point...

Hunting them in the dark freaks them out pretty good.

I have carried the P229 and G19 quite a bit. I prefer the G19 because its lighter and thinner. Magazines are cheaper and are easy to find. The G19 is striker fired and will have the same trigger pull each time. Standard P229s are double action/single action. This isn't a big deal if you train with it, but why bother?

I carried an issued G22 until I could afford a Sig P226. Same controls as a G19 vs P229. I learned to shoot the P226 well and I still have it, but I also went back to the G22 as a duty weapon. As a fighting handgun, its really hard to beat.

No expert but here are my choices in 9mm,Glock 43,S&W shield,CZ 75D PCR compact.

I've owned a few, and just not looking for a revolver at this time,

although I do understand there are some handy little compact revolvers out there for ccw.

I got a Colt 25 acp that isn't ugly.....

If this is in response to your riots, and you're only now feeling its time to arm, and you are not a pistol person, then "trendy" isn't what you want.

You aren't buying to brag about your pistol - you're buying to get something you can carry every freaking day, that works.

Since you are far from a pistol guru, then a single stack 9mm IWB (Glock or Smith) or the non-trendy 442, or LCR.

If you want cool factor, than get the stainless Sig and rosewood grips. They're perdy.

A .25 saved my life a couple weeks ago.

If you change your mind, the LCR's are really hard to beat.

But if I were you I'd be looking at the G43 or Smith and Wesson Shield right now.




Travis

It's the tack Hammer of Thor...

First, Damn a snake.

Second, a question.

Was the bastid all coiled up and one 25 ball round stitch him in three different places, or did you have to shoot him three times to slow down his slither?

I was prone shooting steel. A guy was behind me using my spotter and he blurts out "SNAKE!"

It was sidewinding it's nasty ass straight toward me on that concrete pad. When I got clear of it I was going to shoot it with my .40 but I wanted it to get off pavement before doing so.

The other dude unloaded his Beretta on it. It was totally fugked.



Travis

Good thing he didn't keep his eye on the sparrow.....










Don't go to bed with a price on yo head....

Saved your life eh, now you are indebted to him for life. Lol, that would be fun: hey 'Flave I need this or that, .......

G-19 IWB... don't get better than that.

Thanks, Sammy.



Clark

I gave him an autograph.

We're square.




Travis

I've just spit coffee everywhere.

Now that is what they call "Sporty". Venomous snakes, little 25 bullets zinging off the concrete and you executing a ninja roll, dive, leap etc. to get up outta the midst of it.

Had that been me, I'd have taken a ricochet through the sack, a snake bite to the a$$ and the heart attack would have killed me grave yard dead.

My 2 favorites, 26 and 19.

Good advice right there...

I vote G43 or Shield with Travis. I've always used IWB leather for my G36 but I'm going to try the Vedder Light Tuck or the G Code Eclipse for my 43.

You can carry a G19 or G36 IWB but sometimes it's nice to have a smaller option like the G43. That's where I would start. I seriously doubt I'll need more rounds than I will carry in the gun and extra mag. I'm not starring in an action movie.

You never know what will happen, i'll take discomfort and the extra rounds.

Springfield XDS 3.3 is my choice. As small as a J frame Smith. 6 rounds of .45 ACP. Controllable, accurate, easy to conceal, with no vices.

Yep!

I like the 43 mostly these days.

There is a lot to be said for a stone reliable pocket gun, for times when the P229 might be a little much; or stow in a side pocket for times when both guns might be just enough.

Mine is an old Ruger LCP. I've shot it enough to know it's reliable and man sized targets are no problem to 25 yards.

Old?

Yes. Made in 1917.

I would not buy a pistol without having an idea regards the holster that I was going to carry it in and would try not leave the store without trying it on. I have settled on Glocks as CCW pistols and have become familiar with their action, have had SIG's and HK's and nice 1911's but for a sub $600 pistol the glock is hard to beat in a lot of ways. The Smith MP's are about the same, 9mm is most popular and cheaper to practice with, and as we have recently learned adequate for bear hunting. I know many like the exotic, the expensive, the arcane, but the gun of the Hoi Palloi seems to be G19.

G19 good choice. I often need something smaller depending on dress/ occasion. Then, the G 43 or others come out. The Shield or M& P are good choices.
But, one cannot train with a G43, if 150-300 rounds are to be shot in a short time. A number of people train with the G 19 or like, with minimal shots with the G 43.
I likes them all including non- striker fire guns.
Sometimes carry a 6" python in an extreme cross draw Mernickle holster, for special occasions, like church dinners, etc.

Looks like no one answered your specific questions.

Not DA or SA per se, but a pre-loaded striker design (pre-loaded might not be the right term but it sounds better than "half cocked" ). It's been called a staple gun trigger. Once it's cocked it fires with a light, very short pull through kind of like a very short DA as you bring the striker back the last few millimeters to its release point. It can take a little getting used to.

No safety of any kind on a Glock except the "safe action" trigger which means you have to depress the little lever sticking out of the middle of the trigger before you can pull the trigger.

There have been accidental discharges with Glocks where some piece of clothing or something has caught in the trigger guard as the owner was holstering and fired the pistol.

They are uber reliable which as far as I can see is why they are so popular (I rarely use the term uber), they really do go bang every time. They have a blocky grip that not everybody likes but the Generation 4 models have replaceable backstraps to modify the grip somewhat, or you can just sandpaper the grip to suit.


Other striker fired models of similar size and reputation for reliability are the S&W M&P models, some of those come with a standard manual thumb safety, also Springfield Armory makes some very nice models that have extra features over the Glock like a cocking indicator. IMO they have a more nicely contoured grip than the Glock so one or both of these models may fit your hand better, especially the M&P. Both come in multiple sizes as well. I happen to have a Springfield XDm .45 ACP and it is a bit large for concealed carry but absolutely 100% reliable and just as accurate as it needs to be.

All of them are black and not exactly Italian fashion designer pistols but have a certain functional beauty if one appreciates those things.

Folks have their individual and much defended preferences for one of these three but any of them would serve you well in a hi-cap striker fired pistol, or a single stack smaller frame if that is what you want. Ruger and some other folks also make striker fired models but the aforementioned three are the only ones I've fired or looked at closely so can't comment on any others.



The other brand to look for which is kind of a personal favorite of mine are the Kahr models. These have a much longer DA feeling trigger pull but lots lighter than any DA revolver. They are single stack so only hold 6+1 or 7+1 in 9mm but are fairly small. The ones I've owned are incredibly accurate, even more accurate than several full size pistols of my experience. Actually they are far more accurate than they really need to be but they are also 100% reliable. Some folks report that their thumb accidentally drops the magazine when they fire one but I guess that's up to the way an individual holds it. They don't come with a manual safety either but that long DA pull makes them about as safe as any standard DA revolver. They sell high dollar models and economically priced "C" models - CWP, CMP etc. that are almost the same as the high dollar ones but with a pinned sight instead of dovetailed, standard instead of polygonal rifling and no fancy machining on the slide. IMO they are the much better buy over the "P" models unless a dovetailed front sight is a deal killer for you.


OR, you can go back to a traditional single stack, SA, thumb safety model like the 1911 in any of the 1001 different configurations they are made in today.

Lots of folks still like the 1911 design and especially the SA trigger pull, as do I, but having owned a few of those and a few of the new striker fired pistols I'll have to say the striker fired ones eat up more different kinds of ammo more reliably than any 1911 I've ever owned. "Ol Slabsides" (I never call it ol' slabslides) had its place and still does but for an efficient and reliable self-defense pistol the Glocks, M&P's, Springfields et al are the way to go in the early 21st Century.

Hope that helps some.

More: The .45 ACP has been putting dicks in the dirt for well over a century but placement is what kills and bullet performance has come a long way since a FMJ was the only choice. I have a hi-cap .45 as my bedside pistol but my carry guns are 9mm's loaded with the latest and greatest bonded hollow point ammo. Advantages are more rounds on board and lighter recoil for quicker repeat shots, as well as a smaller frame for easier concealability. 9mm practice ammo is dirt cheap and widely available.

Mostly I picked the gun that pointed the best for me. My one and only experience firing a handgun in an emergency situation taught me that it better be pointing where your wide open eyes are looking - i.e. you better hit the target where it hurts fast and first. To me that is the number one criteria for a SD handgun, most everything beyond that is discussion as is reflected in my signature line.



Also, a disclaimer. I'm no self defense ninja expert by a long shot, just another average guy who looked around for the best SD carry options in this day and age, and this and my first post are what a layman has found from gleaning the on-line wheat from the chaff and then trying and carrying several different models to see what worked best for me. Haven't shot anybody or shot at anybody (not human at least) and don't plan to so maybe someone who has will have radically different ides, but most of that "wheat" mentioned here comes from the guys who have.

Well, it's pretty much universally accepted by now that the Glock 19 is currently the standard defensive handgun by which everything else is judged. Not my preference, but not for any reason that should matter to you.

That's not to say that there aren't plenty of other options that work just as well.

Nice post Jim. thanks for your time.

So, with all of this newly imparted information, what you should do is go to a well stocked range that rents handguns and shoot a bunch of them and see what you like best.

I love my Glock 19, but I don't always want to carry a handgun that size. I recently bought a Ruger LCP which is about the same size as my I-phone with the pocket holster. It's not the pistol that the Glock is, but it carries with little effort.

Plastic, I'd go Glock or M&P. Metal, I like the CZ's.

Were you wearing your kilt?

No matter what you get spend the money on a good holster. If it's uncomfortable you won't carry it, no matter the make and model of the gun.

With that said I think the single stacks are great. I carry either the XDS 45 or Kahr P9. Whitehat Maxtuck for each. Also have a lcp and pocket holster for those quick trips to the convenience store.

Two excellent choices. For the Sig, their newer Short Reset Triggers are amazing, and not just in that they have a short reset. They're much better in all respects. Still, there's something to be said for the striker fired triggers as seen on the Glocks in terms of shot-to-shot consistency, first to last.

As for caliber, 9mm is the best compromise in terms of effectiveness, controllability, cost of practice, and magazine capacity.

Fugk no.

This America. And I am all American.



Dave

I'm surprised by the number of people that carry pistols the size of a G19/23 for EDC.

Especially in the warmer parts of the country.



Travis

I've been carrying a 9c (IWB) & the Colt 25 (pocket) all the time.

I'd love to have the luxury of just going pocket sometimes, but just can't bring myself to walk out the door without something 9mm or 38spc on hand.

im liking the G42, i know i know its a 380, but it shoots easier than the 43. At the ranges it would have to be used for, a 90 grain gold dot or a few of them would i think give me or my wife a fighting chance. shot placement trumps power and everyone is different as to how well they shoot a micro pistol...
laser could give you a quick point and shoot option if you dont have to fumble with turning on a laser...the only options there are the grip activiated ones by crimson trace or the holster activated ones from viridian...with viridian, when you draw the weapon the laser turns on instantly

green vs red...green much brighter in daylight and works at a farther range, problem is how far will you be shooting in CCW situation....plus green is so bright, the beam in lowlight can be traced back to the shooter, you can actually see the beam. Red lasers are not nearly as traceable

Not me. I've experimented with them from time to time over my 36 years of concealed carry, but have ultimately rejected them. I don't want to depend on electronics for my handgun's operation in the gravest extreme. Just get a good set of sights and train with them.

Sweet! I was just fondling one of those the other day at the gun store. Awesome trigger. Quite spendy, though.

Absolutely. Don't mess with anything else.

My Russel Athletic Omar the Tent maker Polo, blends well with my Sabago dockside boat shoes, spider king no show socks, Levi's 550 relaxed fit blue jean shorts and a G17 IWB. Its a bonus to have the 30 round magazine in your front pocket....

Fashion by Toby.

Yep.

Strictly a safety issue. The condition in which you carry it requires a higher degree of intention to shoot before a round will fire than with a Glock. This is a big comfort to some, but if that's not a concern, the Glock is somewhat better, strictly from a tactical perspective.

The 26 doesn't shoot nearly as well as the 19 for most people, so why bother unless you plan (or need) to carry it on your ankle? IWB, the 19 would actually carry better than the 26.

http://www.odmp.org/officer/420-trooper-mark-hunter-coates

i know power is important but it isnt absolute...

im not sure where all of these 357 rounds hit but 5 didnt do the job...

I shoot the 26 equally as well as any other Glock I own. How do you figure a heavier, longer slide and grip carries better than a 26?

I don't just figure it. I know it to be the case from personal experience. The 19 has a greater amount of flat surface area in contact with the body, thus spreading the pressure against the skin over a larger area (lightening said pressure per square inch), and thereby reducing felt pressure against the body. Additionally, a longer slide helps stabilize the weapon positionally such that the forward edge (by the muzzle) of the slide is placed at a more favorable angle for comfort, i.e., less bowing outward at the grip end, so less bowing inward at the muzzle end. The weight difference is so slight as to be inconsequential compared to those other factors.

PS For the reasons stated above, the 17 is even more comfortable IWB than the 19.

PSS- For you.




Dave

Maybe in your particular holster but not necessarily always.

Wouldn't the Kahr fill that bill as well ? Or is that a bad word?

They may but I don't know anything about them.





Travis

It would, but say what you will,my experience is that the Glock first then the Shield would be more reliable.

Kahrs seem to be a hit or miss thing. I've had one of the first P9s that came out. While I've had two small parts breakages (easy fixes with steel parts replacing the early plastic ones found on my early series model), it has never hiccuped once in well over four thousand rounds. My friend bought one and it was unreliable for him. They tried to fix it, eventually replaced it, and the replacement was unreliable. Hit or miss. Or maybe he was limp-wristing it. Who knows.

Lots of people recommend full sized guns, but stick .380's in their own pockets when they leave the house. Just saying.

My G43 gets carried a lot more than my G19, especially in the summer in Tennessee.

Been carrying my Mod 60 a lot lately in a Galco King-Tut

gun porn from a southpaw no less


very nice

I don't see what's so hard about carrying a full sized pistol?

Are people just too much of a sissy to get used to carrying a real gun? Is comfort more important than comforting? Do people just insist on buying cheap/crap holsters, and just cant fathom that you can comfortably carry a full sized pistol?

There's times and places for both. There's no way my wife could conceal a full size 1911 or glock 19 for that matter no matter what holster unless she was wearing a coat. There's times when I want to go shirtless with just shorts on,when a pocket pistol is the answer.

You would be amazed at the amount of people who I see buying their ccw holsters at walmart, or think a serpa, or fobs is proper ccw gear

If there was no issue carrying a full sized pistol, a lot of pistols wouldn't exist.

Do you wear jeans and a belt and a cover shirt everywhere you go?

Are you too stupid to realize carrying a gun isn't supposed to be uncomfortable?

Define "cheap/crap holsters."




Travis

What's wrong with a Serpa or Fobus holster?



Travis

Sweet!

This.

For open/ field use nothing but they are too bulky to me to consider truly concealable

Roger dodger.




Dave

Went window shopping tonight, quick summary.

Shield, like this one alot, but no safety for a southpaw, Bummer.

Sig P938, very interesting, do I want to get into a 1911 style SA gun? Cocked and Hot, good lord, freaks me out for some reason.

No sig 229 to look at, how does the 938 and 229 compare?

They had a used sig226 in .40 that made me smile, SA and DA, I just know that gun would be fun at the range, little to big to be considered 'midsize', but felt great in the hand.

Browning 1911 in .380, a small frame 1911 that just feels small but good in the hand, Smooth as butter in all regards for a new gun.

Question for you guys over the age of 45, how the fug do you see these sights, nothing but a blur at the end of the barrel for me, two white dots, three, don't matter. I knew I was going blind but damn. Can't focus at arms reach.

Don't buy a safety equipped Shield. They suck ass. I should have clarified that in my original post. Sorry.


No.



Great pistol. You'll never carry it.



If you're going .380, go LCP or similar.



Travis

You dumbass, you should know by now I'm going to ask for reasons,,,,,

I need reasons.

You might want to take a look at the new Kimber Micro 9mm. It's a slightly scaled up version of their little 1911 style .380. Played with one in my LGS the other day, and it felt much better in my hand than the Sig 938 in 9mm.

I'll probably buy one after seeing how they stand up and if they feed reliably in a gun rag test or two. They've only been out to buy for about 3 weeks now.

As I recommended in my earlier post on this thread, my 3 top choices would still be the Glock 19, 43, and 42, in that order.

My next choice would be my Springfield XDS in .45 acp, which is basically the same size as the Glock 43. I find my self more & more lately, carrying the XDS in .45 acp around town.
But I live in a real low crime rate area. When I have to travel to DFW, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio, I always carry a hi-cap Glock! And extra mags! AND a BUG

You don't want to mess with a manual safety. Any additional step before squeezing off a round is too likely to cause a lethal flub at the worst possible moment, and that no matter how automatic you may think you've made the move during practice. For concealed carry, the two recommended auto-pistol choices are traditional double actions (which means double action on round one, then all the rest are single action) or a Glock style of striker fired trigger. Yeah, there are people still attached to the single action, but they are mainly nostalgic. Not that it cannot work just fine (Hell, a Colt SAA can be effectively deployed just fine, too). But there are many much better choices now.

Oh, dear God.

Disregard this BS for a SOB who is scared of people in pickups and "glowing eyes in the grass at night".

Take a reputable SD course, find a range to shoot a bunch, and choose what works best for you; safety or not.

^^^^Best advice yet.

I can see the need of a safety on a single action but not on a striker fired pistol. It's just something I might forget to do in a crisis situation. Sure you can train enough that it's not an issue but I know that I won't train that hard. I will be lucky to find time once a month to have a proper session.

You have about three choices.

You can learn to manage a SA pistol with a safety. Yes, this can be done. The safety stays on unless the pistol raised above 45 degrees, when it comes off. I goes back on when the pistol lowers beyond that point. You practice it util it becomes automatic.

You can learn to manage a short-pull pistol with NO safety. Take the 45 degree procedure above and apply it to 'finger on the trigger'.

http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/safety-tips-for-the-semi-automatic-pistol/

You can learn to operate a DA/SA pistol. Master the decocker first, then read everything you find by Ernest Langdon.

Any of these pistols will serve you fine but you should pick one and stick with it. Shoot it until you master it.

If you decide to go with a double action auto (erring more on the side of safety than you would with a Glock type trigger action), you should avoid those with thumb safeties. You just want a decocker. Sig and CZ make them with just the decocker, and Beretta offers models with just decockers too.

Here's the reason: Many say "just ignor the safety and only use the decocker," but you cannot risk the possibility of the safety becoming inadvertently engaged, so you will have to train to sweep it off every time you raise it to fire. Now you're in the same boat you'd be in with a single action auto, but with a less intuitively designed thumb safety than is typical on single actions.

This is the best thread ever. And its only 12 pages.

Not sure how many more times deflave is going to say "Get a shield - with no safety" before the thread dies, but look at it this way:

SA thumb safety = Do you cock it and fire or drop safety and fire in a SHTF?

vs.

DAO = pull trigger.


Nothing saying you can't learn the former scenario with practice, and many people find it easy, and some even had it come natural that they can't see it being an issue.

But step one of concealed carry is get something you can carry concealed, and you may as well get something easy to use without having to rely on months of muscle memory or training.

We all can't be pistolero's overnight, but you can increase your chances of being alive the next day after a puckerfactor event.

Or not.

You can distill this entire thread down to two quotes. Sage advice there.

your right we must be getting old, no call outs in this thread....

did anyone recommend a 9mm Shield without a safety yet??

(Or the almost identical Glock43)

Despite your saying mean things to me I will try and clarify.

The safety on the Shield is (IMO) a poor design and of no value. It is a tiny little feller and most dick beaters have a difficult time "sweeping" it down after the pistol clears kydex or leather. This is my own opinion as well as others that have owned the models with the safety. Also, if the Shield design truly needed a safety, S&W would not market and sell the version without the safety. Some people must have a safety, I am not one of those people.

In reference to the Sig, I'd not go that route for a number of reasons. One, being the sawed off frame/grip size. If you're not a pistolero, you're going to have a tough time learning to shoot with one. There is a chance you're going to knock down plates @ 25yds with one, but I wouldn't bet on it. And again, I don't like safeties and I see no reason for a novice to learn on a safety equipped CC pistol in the year 2016.

Another problem with pistols like the Sig is holsters. If somebody is new to the handgun world, I want them to be able to grab a gun and holster combo, and walk out the door. Carry, shoot, draw and use that combo for a number of weeks or months or even days. If you don't like it, sell that schit and try another. But again, grab the next holster/gun combo that is readily available and see if you like it. This is one of the main reasons I recommend Shields/M&P's/Glocks.

Last but not least you already admitted that cocked and locked 1911 styles leave you less than comfortable. Not comfortable is a bad place to start.

Taking a class can be good. If it's a good class.

I can't recommend spending money on what you see in this picture enough. In 9mm.




Clark

now that's funny. one question, it's head is still on it. traditional around here to cut the head off.

as i remember, the guy shot by the trooper weighed something like 300 or 400 pounds, just mounds of fat. Projectiles didn't get in there.
troop took a hit in the artery.

That was done after the photo was taken.


Travis

Travis what is exact model number of that 9mm Shield?

I too have been checking out CC pistols lately. The 9mm Shield or LCP in 380 Auto was what I pretty much narrowed it down to. Leaning toward the Shield just cuz I think it has more balls. Reading this thread has me thinking I am leaning in the right direction.

What about the Ruger LC9?

Anyone like it over the Shield?

Well that's just crazy talk; where's the Holy War in that? We need arguments, fights, name calling...all in the name of; "If you don't choose what I chose, then you're an idiot...because I'm so freaking insecure in my own choice, I must force it upon others!"

Sometimes I wear shorts, but I conceal a full sized handgun just fine because the T-Shirt is the same; I never wear a cover shirt.

Yes - But you already knew that.

Honestly I'm just very used to carrying a full sized pistol; I don't find it uncomfortable at all. Experience has taught me that your choice in holsters is paramount to whether you're comfortable or not.

Any holster that makes you feel like you're wearing a boat anchor rather than a pistol.

Kenneth, I didn't see any mention of the Springfield XD or XDm. These pistols have proven very reliable, are reasonably priced, usually come with a bunch of accessories and lastly, in addition to the usual trigger safety such as used on the Glock, Shield and a bunch of other polymer framed, strike fired pistols, they have a grip safety.

The recently redesigned version of the XD, called the XD mod.2 has the best contoured and textured grip I've ever clamped my glue and pipe dope smeared hands around. Lots of guys with cleaner hands concur about the comfort of the Mod.2 grip. Do yourself a favor and check one out.

aren't these dual stack magazine? i think they are more comparable to the G26 vs the G43 if I remember correctly?

Yes, they are.

no love for the .45 Shield here..??????

OTOH all the ones I have seen have the stupid little safety.

Little did I like the safety on the shield, small, hard to operate, not to mention no lefty....

Didn't even know no safety was available,

Deflave could have told me about that fact up-front, saved me some time and embarrassment, but as typical he was too busy talking all about his-self.

Why does he feel such need to rain on everyone's parade?

I held one of the XDs, not sure which one, but the grip felt almost too rough to me,


I'll look into the mod2 version, headed to a store that's a major player in the area tomorrow, gonna rent two maybe 3 pieces and give her hell.......

Don't be kgunty.





Dave

They make single stack XD's.

The XD-S

I do have love for the XD but I have never fired an XD-S.



Travis

Sometimes those grips that are too rough are a good thing when you get down into the Shield/43 size guns. They're kinda snappy.

But wonderful.



Dave

I may buy one if I see it tomorrow.

But I think the 9mm/Shield combo is nirvana.

Today.



Dave

This^

If it felt very rough it was probably the Mod.2. You'll appreciate the coarse stippling on the grip when you start levitating hot brass.

It's this one.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/..._757781_757781_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

I like the Ruger but like the Shield more better.



Travis

Cool thanks....

i kind of hate snakes. some years ago i ran across a mohave. sucker coiled on me, so i did the reasonable thing, shot him in the neck with a .22. That really aggravated him. they move really fast. I was semi backing up running empting a ruger mark I into that guy to get him stopped. I hate snakes. Geez, i think i will probably dream tonight about being prone on a firing line and having one of those suckers running at me.

Tell me about the trigger pull on a non-safety striker fired shield,

I understand SA, and SA/DA and DA only, but 'striker fired', huh?

Different than DA only?

and yes, I know it's a dumb question.

A striker fired pistol like the Shield is somewhere in between a SA and a DA. It does not have the long take up of a DA, but it also won't have a perfect, crisp break like a tuned 1911 or Colt SAA.

But if you're to take a "schitty" 1911 styled pistol, you're pretty much there.

Although I will say the Shield has a bit of a "two-stage" feel. Meaning there's considerable slack, then tension, then it breaks.

But it is all relative and if you're new to pistols, you'll not notice any of this schit. If you grew up thumbing the hammer on dad's Model 14, you're going to think the trigger on a Shield "sucks."



Travis

I kill every one I see.

Can't stand them.



Travis

i got to go out on the desert to my favorite watering hole to check for dove in the next day or so. I was debating mentally which .44 to take with snake shot in it. After that, i think its going to be the remington 1100 with a couple of reloads. You start at the head, then shoot back to the tail. It's almost guaranteed to find buzztails around that tank.

I am a 1911 guy. First gun I carried and it's my first love in pistols.

My brother has an M&P in 9mm. Very nice pistol. Accurate and zero malfunctions except an early FTE

I shoot and carry a G19 these days. Put a bunch of ZEV Works pieces in it and a set of TFO's on it. No issues at all - ever. Like it much and is generally my first recommendation to someone looking for a pistol to bet their life on. Make no mistake - that's what you're doing.

Get training.

Burn A LOT of ammo.

You can never have too many magazines.

I have a G3 Incog for my pistol. I'm not supper thrilled with it. It's an EXCELLENT bit of kit. Well made and great retention without being obtrusive, just not right for me. Prob because I'm fat and it's originally designed for AIWB.

I'm on the hunt for a new IWB and OWB as when I'm at the camp, assing about - I like an OWB. Personal preference, not tactical decision.

Get a paddle.

Or buy a cheap duty belt and thread a Serpa onto it.

Just a thought.



Dave

I am looking at an Alien Gear piece now.

Any chance you could retell this tale in English?

RE: IWB, I'm gonna have to cut back on the beer and Cheesecake myself if I'm thinking it's possible to stuff a pistol, holster, and spare clip inside the perimeter of these jeans......LOL.

Most everybody that carries IWB has to go up a size. It's just part of the equation.

Some don't, but most do.

I don't typically carry a spare mag either.



Dave

Zev Technologies - they make go fast parts for Glocks.

I replaced everything myself and I'd never taken apart a Glock in my life prior.

Zev Race Connector v4 $15
Zev Titanium Firing Pin Safety (small) $10
Zev Competition Spring Kit $12

Tru-Glo Tritium/Fiber Optic sights. They're fiber optic during day, Tritium at night - really nice for me and I like them. 100 bucks from LGS IIRC.

On the IWB I just ordered a Stealthgear Mini for my G43. It will be 25 days until I get it though.It was the breathable material that sold me. It gets hot and humid in Alabama
http://stealthgearusa.com/custitem17/GLOCK/custitem18/G36/shop/holsters

Ths will definitely make your life easier and encourage you to carry more frequently. 'Relaxed Fit' Wrangler do work for me at my regular size. A belt with a few extra holes punched at the optimal 'carry' setting will help a lot too.

Hands down, the best, IWB Ive tried (and I've had all the big names). Alien Gear is close, and while cheaper and faster to get, the SG is noticeably 'cooler' to carry nd you dont get that tendency to slide around from the sweat (like the neoprene on the AG). Superb holsters.

God, I love this thing. My all time fave carry gun (so far!) grin
Same mods as all my Glocks--Ghist Elite connector and spring kit, full polish and Truglo night sights (black rear with orange outline front sight).

I usually only use this clip in cooler weather when I can have a t-shirt between the gun and my skin. In hot weather it usually rides in an Alien Gear 3 IWB or a Stealh Gear AIWB.

Carry an extra mag in one of those cheap Glock plastic holders, believe it or not. Quite concealable. Sometimes will throw in another spare in a back pocket.

Very nice!
I carry a 36 mostly and haven't found anything better in over 12 years,then the 30s came out. I wanted the 30s too but bought the 43 first because I already had a 36. I'll get a 30s next.

Fixed it for ya

I've got a 30S as well. Very cool concept. I like how it shoots much better now that I switched out the mag floor plates for the Pierce finger grove ones that essentially add a third finger groove. Even better is using 21 mags with X-Grips installed.

All I wear anymore are relaxed fit Wranglers. With single stacks my regular size works fine. Living in Texas I hardly carry anything IWB bigger than my Shield 9mm. During the winter I sometimes carry a bigger gun OWB with an untucked long sleeve shirt or jacket. But that's rare...

I've also found with relaxed fit Wranglers I can IWB carry w/o going up a size.
I will say to the OP if you decide on the Glock to stick with it until it is mastered before you try other brands. I say this because the Glock points differently (for me anyway) than say a CZ, Sig, or 1911. All the brands mentioned are fine choices but, it seems to me the Glock is the simplest mechanism, which is a good thing. Also, the double stack Subcompact Glocks will take full size and compact magazines as well as their own. With all this said, I think the G-26 would be difficult to beat and only by the G-27, which I prefer.

or, buy a 33 and purchase kkm barrels for 357sign, 40s&w, and 9mm.
or do the same probably with the G27

For any one that may be interested,

Ran 150 9mm rounds through 5 different guns today,

S&W Shield, easy to see why this gun has a large following, This gun is fun to shoot, fits the hand well and very little to dislike. Top contender so far.

Glock 19, sorry folks I just don't feel the love here, no real reason, it just isn't there. One plus, fairly consistent trigger pull. I'll pass on this one.

Glock 43, the surprise of the day, You guys keeping this little gem to yourself or what? Small, compact, still fills the hand and decent accuracy. Like it alot, top contender.

XD-S, Horrible first shot due to pudding like trigger, follow up shots not as bad. Really dont care for the "corn cob" finish on the grip. Yawn, No second date for this one.

Sig938, Yesterday I liked this pistol alot, today not so much. Didn't seem to be enough grip or something while firing, Worst groups of the day, gun shoot extremely high from POA, even with a decent SA trigger. The little train that almost could.....

Did not fire the Sig Legion 229 but only held it. Nice gun but we're not comparing apples to apples here, The 229 at 1100 plus, is more than double the price of any other gun here, it's also noticeably larger and heavier. This gun really isn't in the same category as the others fired today, with the exception of....

Sig226. Fun gun, accurate, somewhat lazy and long first trigger pull, but after that, it's all go time... Second time I've handled this gun and it's called my name both times. I don't know that I would call this a carry or "smaller compact". Local dealer down the road has a used 226 for 7 bills, I would go grab it just for the hell of it, but it's a .40, did I mention this gun is all fun?

Anyone looking for a single stack 9, easy to shoot or conceal, take a look at the shield and G43, both very comparable. Flip a coin I guess if you can't decide, although the Shield is almost 100 bucks cheaper, could be the tie breaker if it came down to that.

Also unable to shoot any Sig with the SRT trigger, which I was looking forward to.

There will be at least one more shopping trip, just out of curiosity. Lotta good stuff out there.

Different Strokes for different folks....
I shot my G19 today and my G42, although the 42 is easy and fun to shoot, probably easier with less recoil vs it's more powerful 43 sibling, I really preferred shooting the 19 and was way more accurate with it which I should be....I actually sold my 9mm shield



Your experience and mine prove its best to try for yourself....good luck!

Fwiw.... Close to 200 rounds with 42 and not one failure of any sort yet

I'm a fan of the 42 as well.

PS As well as you shoot your 19, you'd likely find that you shoot a 17 even better. That's my experience, anyway, and why I carry the 17 over the 19 (which I have also).

I agree on the 17 vs 19!

No doubt, and today I was looking for certain criteria, The pistols that fit that criteria were mainly single stacks, and the G19 obviously isn't,

The grip just felt like a 2x4 to me, No love connection whatsoever for me, and yet it's possibly one of the most popular guns out there.

Different strokes..........

What it feels like in the hand isn't definitive with regard to how well you will shoot it once you've become accustomed to it.

If you haven't ruled out a 40, take a look here.

https://www.cdnnsports.com/firearms.html#category_2=FIREARMS%2FPRE-OWNED

Couldn't that be said about any firearm?

Yep.

What generation was the G19? I found that the Gen4 compacts (19, 23...) with no backstrap feel better in my hand than any of the other Glocks. And this is coming from someone who likes Glocks a lot.

Thought it was a G4, but not sure.

I have four semi-autos. Rarely shoot them. Love my revolvers though.
Why not a S&W 686 in 357?

I have two model 19's, it is said they are too light for 357. Been shooting one for ~40 years. It still shoots very well.

If I were to have only one pistol it would either be that 686 or a 629 S&W.

If I had to have a semi-auto, it would be a 22LR. If I had to have a center fire semi-auto it would be a 45 1911.

As far as 9mm's, 40 short and weak, 380's they all go bang and the bullet has to go somewhere. Love to have a Glock so I could trade it for a revolver.

Does it have interchangeable back straps?

Travis, at least here, that's because the weather can often be far more welcoming than the social/urban environment.

Clearly.