Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Need 9mm CCW recommendation

I've tried just about ever Compact 9mm on the market. Sig 938 Glock 26, S&W Sheild, Springfields EMP. XDS, Ruger SR9, LC9, Kahr CM-9 Berertta Nano, ect.

That being said, I keep carrying and coming back to the same two handguns.
1st, i absolutely LOVE my Springfield EMP 1911 9mm. Its very Accurate, reliable, fairly light, and it's a 1911. So, of course so I carry cocked & locked, like when toting any of my 1911's that I'm so very familiar with. They are expensive, but worth every penny in my book.

2nd is my little cheap Kahr CM-9. It's also EXTREMELY reliable & plenty accurate for a pocket sized 9mm. Main thing I like is it has a decent carry trigger, no saftey, and it's small enough to fit in the pocket of my Wranglers and not too heavy for discrete carry. And it has much better sights than all the ultra small 9mm's like the Ruger LC9 & Keltec 9. And a better trigger.

I will throw the Glock 19 in there, as I much prefer it over the smaller Glock 26.
I can conceal the Model 19 just as easy as the Model 26, + it has a better grip that fts my hand much better than the 26.
Not to mention 16 rounds vs 11 rounds.

Again, Ultra Reliable, and very accurate. And pretty easy to shoot for all the new CHL shooters I've trained, especially the ones with minimum or no prior handgun experience. Also plenty safe to carry IMO, if you follow the #1 and #2 rule of gun saftey.
#1, ALWAYS treat it as its Loaded, and #2, keep your damn FINGER OFF the Trigger untill you are ready to shoot, and your ABSOLUTELY sure of your Target!

Hope this was helpful, JMHO, though. And it's what I generally recommend to new CHL holders, if they don't won't to carry a revolver, which I usually recommend for a first time handgun owner.

I use the Kahr cm9. Nice light gun, few controls, accurate. The only issue I have is fat fingers and a narrowly curved trigger. Got over that quickly.

I like the EMP and it functions perfectly.

The 938 just seems to fit my mode of carry very well.

The finish on the 938 is holding up with no signs of wear, so far.

I think I got it within 4 months of them first shipping to dealers.

I must have close to 700 rounds on it of several types of hps.

Not a great picture, but gives a rough idea of the size of a 9mm Shield to some other "carry" sized guns. The thing that doesn't show in the picture is how thin the Shield is. It completely disappears IWB on the belt and can be carried pretty much with any method that will hide a J-frame - with 3-4 rounds more rounds of ammo on board and much quicker reloads.

Clockwise from top:
- Browning Buckmark 5.5'' (for size reference)
- Glock 19 9mm
- S&W 642 .38 Special
- S&W Shield 9mm
- Glock 30SF .45acp

I carry a full size M&P in a Galco Skyops for an XD. It doesn't pose any problems for me. A compact may be a little easier. When I buy a pistol I want The whole gun so I don't buy compacts. Nothing against anyone who buys smaller pistols as they do carry easier I just prefer full sizes personally. I will admit to a Smith 49 (A pinned barrel nickle sweetheart too) when I feel lazy and just want to drop something in my pocket.

+1. The most noticeable difference is grip diameter. The Shield diameter is closer to a 1911, while the 9C is between that and a baby Glock.

IME the magazine extension in the 9c and the 8 rnd. mag in the Shield help controllability in both pistols.

Found one on GB at a more than fair price, got her headed my way now.

x2.

A bit out in left field, but I like my H&K P7 PSP the best - because it fits my hand better than any other 9mm I have ever tried. Low bore axis, light recoil, natural pointing, easy field stripping, excellent accuracy. Only down sides: is it is heavier than the plastic pistols, but a good holster and belt helps take care of that, and don't shoot lead bullets in it, they will clog the gas port.