Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Need purchase and choice advise in 9mm ccl carry.

I have a PPS M2, the G43 felt snappy and I preferred the trigger on it over the Glock and the M&P. The XDS wasn't comfortable to hold or shoot.

I've been carrying for 25 years. G21 for a duty weapon, a G17 for back up. 1911 commander, and just about anything else you can imagine from a .22 lr Beretta model 21 to a Colt 357 with a 6" barrel.

Right now, and for the last 2-3 years, I've been carrying a Taurus Millennium G2 in 9mm. In fact, I have 3 of them. They're compact, 3.2" barrel, magazines holds 12 rounds. They handle +P ammo. I have them loaded with 115 grain +P ammo designed for short barreled CCW pistols. The stuff is pretty HOT. Something like 1375fps out of the little thing. I've never had a single malfunction.

If you have a range near you, go rent a few different firearms that you're interested in. May help in the process of deciding. Or borrow a few from your friends.

Good luck in your search and choice.

Jeff

Here's my idea of a good pocket-carry 9mm:

best bet is the 124 grain pill--the 124 gr Speer Gold Dot, and 124 gr Federal HST alternated in the mag is good medicine for the best of both worlds. if you want to go "old school", you can go 115 gr Federal 9mm BPLE, for a velocity of 1350 fps in 4 inch tubes. that shares the rarified air with 125 gr pills in .357 snubs.

i've used the 124 gr truncated cone hard cast pills for years--great pills. the electroplated Ranier bullets are very good too.

forget the myth about "lead bullets" in Glocks--i've used them for nearly 30 years with zero issues. this issue came about early on, when pilgrims were using the soft swaged lead pills in early G17 rigs, which initially had "pencil barrels", ie., thinner tubes--which when combined with soft swaged pills caused leading, and when jacketed pills were fired in tubes smeared with lead, the thin barrels could supposedly split. this is my understanding, if i recall correctly. avoid swaged lead and use the hard cast truncated pills and never look back. back in the day, one had to load 9 mm if you practiced often, but today, ammo is so cheap it is a good alternative for some handgunners to just buy factory fodder.

the Glock 43 is the 9mm counterpart to the Glock 36. slim, comfortable in the mitts, handy for concealment, short and stiff, etc. their "advantages" are outweighed by their downfall--limited mag capacity. made all the worse if you "load your mags light", ie., i usually load them with 2 rounds less than the mag capacity calls for--as i've found that over time the mag springs last longer using this approach. in my estimation, Glock should offer higher cap mags for these 2 models--making them a little more appealing for folks who like a second mag that holds more rounds, and don't mind the extra length.

the G 26 is a mighty fine model, and as mentioned, it can accept 10, 12, 15, 17, and 33 round mags--making it very versatile in numerous situations. i find the G26 to be a very accurate little rig, and i've never had a magazine not drop free--ever. the one thing i dislike about it is the short grip--made short to offer better concealment. while i don't carry the G 26, i do carry IWB, appendix, and due to the positioning of a rig in that mode, i find longer grip lengths a non issue, and subsequently--always prefer longer handles, for a more positive purchase in the draw. they can be handy rigs for the car too, as you can stash several different length mags in a case with the pistol. short, stiff slides and barrels can be very handy. to mitigate the short grip, i usually use the G 19 mags in mine when doing a lot of firing, as it does offer better control....you won't go wrong with the G 26.

I turned my 27 into a 26. I like the mag with the 2 shot extensions for my big paws.

Santa Claus wants you to get yourself a Gen4 G26 and a spare G19 magazine for your pocket.

Earlier in the year I was in the same situation as the OP. I decided to go with the S&W M&P Performance Center Shield (due to the better trigger) and chose to use the Federal HST 124 gr for my self-defense round. For practice I'll use any 115 or 124 gr. FMJ ammo that I can get cheap or my buddies reloads. My Shield has been very reliable and trouble free. It came down to the Glock 43 or the Shield for me and I chose the Shield because it's an American company and I like that the Shield has a stainless steel Amornite finished slide with better corrosion resistance than the Glock. This is important for a carry gun that will be carried on your body and subjected to sweat. Both guns will have lots of holster choices and aftermarket accessories as both are among the most popular handguns. I have no regrets with my choice.

G43 is the counterpart to the G36?

Your comparison is valid in comparing them to their larger double stack brothers.
However, compare the G36 to a G19, and you will find why the 36 has not taken the
world by storm.

When it first came out I read the reviews and just had to have a 36.
Then, I looked at one, and realized it is pretty much the size of a 19.
A little slimmer, but half the capacity. I didn't need to spend the money.

Apparently the replies recommending a $500 Glock, a $100 holster, and a $50 belt missed this part.

Or, buy a $300 M&P Shield and a $25 Kydex holster and call it good and equally armed.

To your question regarding 6+1 for pocket carry or bigger, I’d advise that the smaller the pistol the better for concealment. I have carried all three methods - pocket carry, IWB, OWB and by far carry by pocket. Smaller and thinner is easier to fit in your pocket. I happen to carry a Kahr CW9 without too much trouble in my front pockets. Much bigger /heavier ain’t happening, at least for me. I use an uncle mikes pocket holster.

When I go IWB, it’s a Kahr CM9 in a Galco mini tuck.

I carry way more consistently when I use my pocket rig and 7 9mm with me are better then a bunch more left at home.

I believe that S&W offers a pistol similar in size to the CW9, as does Ruger. Might want to check those three side by side in the gun shop, when you are looking at all the Glocks mentioned.

I actually found that buying a good belt the best investment I made. I have cheap holsters and rather expensive holsters. None were comfortable all day every day carry with a cheap Wally World belt.
Right now Hanks has 15% off any belt, free shipping and a no bull chit return for wrong size. Guaranteed replacement for 100 years for about 40 bucks.
Code Cheer 15.

That would be my choice between the 26 and 43.

Santa has you on the nice list.

MM

I like single stacks so the G43 vote here. If you’re not comfortable with the Glock grip angle, the springfield XD and XDS are more like a 1911 grip angle.

Glock 43 with a Crimson Trace light/Green Laser combo, and two spare ETS 9 round mags on your weak side and a ETS seven round mag in the pistol

If course, there's nothing wrong with the suggested Glock 26 with a backup G17 or Glock 19 mag.

I don't have a Glock 26 anymore. If I want more than my Glock 43 can provide, I jump right up to the Glock 19, or the Glock 17.

There is little a properly deployed Glock 19 can't solve if your training and tactics are up to speed.

Or so I'm told by people who have been there and done that a few times.

Kahr CW9

I went with the 43 and shot it today. Was really impressed with it.

Same here, exactly. It's the Glock 17 most of the time, and the 43 for special circumstances. No need for any intermediates between them.

Trb696: The one I recommend is the Glock 43.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy