Concealed weapon suggestions wanted

Ruger SP101. That being said you mention the "knockout game" A concealed carry weapon will do nothing to protect you or anyone else from low life oxygen thieves.

Situational awareness is the most important thing people can learn in this ever dwindling world we live in.
 
Originally Posted By: FurhunterConsidering you've never owned a large caliber centerfire handgun... I'd stay away from an auto for now and go with a wheel gun. Find yourself a little snub nosed 38 that fit your hand well and go with it.

I agree! I own a few semi autos. Sig 220 in .45, Sig P226 in .40, Springfield XD9....However, for CCW, I got a Ruger LCR in .357 Magnum. It has a stainless frame instead of the alloy frame on the .38 so It's a bit heavier ( a whole 4 oz....No biggie) and with the .357 you can shoot the .38 spcl or .357. In .357 its a bit of a hand cannon. However, I can still group all 5 rounds in a 4" circle at 10 yards! What else do you need? It's gonna be close quarters if you ever needed it anyway. If 5 rounds of .38 or .357 doesn't get er done....more probably weren't gonna help anyway! Just my $.02.

Dave
 
I carry a Taurus Millenium Pro in 9mm, my wife loves her TCP in 380. Santa brought her a Crimson Trace this year. She actually has had to pull it, 2 weeks after we got our permits. Thank God the situation didn't get real deep...... But I'm glad she had it
 
First congrats on thinking this out. This is important for your gun rights even if you do not carry. For me all it took to get my CHP is go to my district courthouse and fill the paperwork out and in 2 weeks I got my permit...good for 5 years. Surprisingly easy but I have had handguns for a long time.

Now on to the models. You will get a lot of suggestions and I suggest you think this out because selling a handgun to get something other is often troublesome.

SP101...I have the 357Mag and short barrel version. If you go this route...do not get the short barrel. with full power loads the recoil is brutal but doable for me but not at extended range session. Yes I can fire the 38Specials in my SP101 but it leaves rings in the cylinder which is common. If you want a 38Special cal handgun get a S&W as they will be lighter. I also have another 357Mag and it is in S&W 686 model with 4" barrel and a joy to shoot but carrying is cumbersome.

I have had various handguns in the 9mm which I like too. I just bought the Kahr CW-9 and have not shot it yet but will soon. This is a significantly light handgun and easy to carry. Kahr has good repuration.

I have two full size springfield Armoery 45cal handguns and I enjoy them as well. But carrying on the hip in IWB makes it feel like I am carrying a brick on my side lol. But I have this in my car when traveling long distance . My 45cals are the full metal piece though.

If you are going to truly carry ask to borrow someone's 45cal and carry for a couple hours and then try the lighter 9mms and decide. I know most folks would not loan a handgun to someone but perhaps you have a friend who you can test out?

Now if you have a wife and want her to be able to defend herself for any reason...a revolver will do well by her as she would not have to fumble the safety off a semi auto. BTE my CW-9 has no safety but the trigger pull is a long pull.

For me...my two carry piece is my S&W M60 38Special short barrel and my new CW-9 9mm.

Good luck in your decision!
 

I go with the golf club approach...I have three options(clubs)
to pick from loaded, in my truck, at any given time. I have
a Glock 27(40 S&W Subcompact), in a IWB Comp-Tac Infidel
holster, for 80% of CCW. I have a Glock 23(40 S&W Compact),
also in a Comp-Tac Infidel holster, which is primarily my
truck gun. Which means my Glock 27 is pinned between me and
the truck seat while driving, and a BG rushes my truck. But
I will substitute out the G27, for the G23, if I have the
clothing to hide it, or a concern I might need 14 rounds
rather than 10 rounds.
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My sand wedge is my S&W
Bodyguard 380. I have a Nemesis pocket holster, and if I
can't hide a Glock, or I am in a hurry, and haven't snapped
a Glock on my belt, I put that in my pocket.

I think the bottom line is, you probably won't find your
best fit, in the first try. I have gone through a few
good pistols, to get to these choices. As for a revolver,
remember, in a close struggle for your pistol/revolver, the
BG can stop your pistol from firing. You will get at least
one round off(with a striker fired pistol), and then the
pistol may have a cycling failure to clear. I am not a
wheel gun fan for a CCW.

Squeeze
 
I don't know if a budget was ever mentioned. A Glock 26 is a good option, the Ruger LCP fits the concealed requirement very well. My absolute favorite is the H&K P2000sk LEM trigger. With most any I'm not to concerned with groupings at 20 yards, more close & personal.
 
Originally Posted By: muskrat30 I don't know if a budget was ever mentioned. A Glock 26 is a good option, the Ruger LCP fits the concealed requirement very well. My absolute favorite is the H&K P2000sk LEM trigger. With most any I'm not to concerned with groupings at 20 yards, more close & personal.


At this time, being on a very limited, set income (S.S. Disability), I have not decided on budget.
But, since I want to give myself plenty of time to check into everything, at the moment budgeting for a gun is for a later thought process.
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Originally Posted By: MNHNTR"And, also a caliber that would be capable of "stopping power"...(ie: not a killing shot, yet I want the other guy to be incapable of running off)."
If this is your mindset you do not need a handgun for defense. You need a taser or a dog. First rule of firearms is DO NOT SHOOT SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT TO KILL.
Not trying to be a jerk but it is the reality of carrying a gun that you may kill someone some day in defense.
As for the gun you need to take all these opinions as that, opinions. Go to a place that allows you to rent and shoot different pistols and revolvers and shoot as many as you can. Find friends or neighbors that will let you shoot theirs and then decide after you handled and shot a few to see what fits you. Glocks are no better or worse than M&Ps or XDMs or SP101s it is about what works for you and no one can tell you that.


Sir,
I appreciate your opinion, and suggestion, truly.
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However, I think you may have been confused by my original statement.

I am VERY aware that...by carrying a weapon...if used to defend myself, I may kill someone.

However, if given the option (which probably would not be the case), I would like to think (after 40 years of handgun & long gun usage)...I would be a decent enough shot, that I would be able to shoot the attacker in a non-lethal part of his body.
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And hopefully, he wouldn't die from blood loss before the police & other first responders arrived.

Self-defense or not...being attacked or not...I do NOT want to be the person to end someone's life.
That's why I didn't join the military 30 years ago.
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(I admit that I don't have the "stomach" to do what our brave men & women do to keep me safe & free.)
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My only intentions for considering CC, is to have a weapon for a deterrent...or as a means to save my family's, (or my) lives.
 
Will, I appreciate your personal feelings, but you need to accept the fact that if you are in the situation that requires a lethal force for self defense, your initial object will be to stop their actions immediately...A wounding, or non lethal, shot is not usually going to happen except by accident...While I would hope the sight of an armed potential victim would deter any further actions, never pull a weapon as a bluff...If you do pull it, have your mindset for using it effectively..

Having spent a career in law enforcement as well as being a competition handgun shooter, I would not feel comfortable that I could 'call' my shot in a high stress situation such as a shoulder, arm, or leg shot...The human mind generally will be in a 'point and shoot' mode with the majority of rounds going center of mass...Especially at a close range...The adrenaline surge that your body will produce will override the best intentions...

As to a personal firearm, for your situation, a quality .38spl/.357magnum revolver will be your best choice...I say this as there is no need to do anything other than point and pull the trigger, no external safeties to remember, if for some reason the first round fails to fire, simply pull the trigger again...

There have been personal defense rounds on the market for the last couple of decades that are more than adequate in either of those calibers...I have a small S&W 5 shot revolver that is loaded with some special Treasury loads that are made to keep muzzle flash down, and retain their weight after impact, while mushrooming more than many other rounds...For the distances that most self defense shots are made, I feel very comfortable with their stopping power...
 
I agree with OldTurtle. I've been biting my tongue about it out of respect for Will, but I really don't agree with the "intent to lethal force with non-lethal intent."

First off, I do believe that it's still illegal to draw your weapon with the intent NOT to use it. I know there was some action on this last year, but I don't recall where it fell. There was a case where a guy got charged with assault with a deadly weapon when he drew on a guy trying to rob his girlfriend, and never fired a shot. Admitting that he never intended to. Not to say you HAVE to shoot, but the idea is that you shouldn't draw in an instance where you weren't 100% sure you NEED to shoot.

Inevitably, even in a rightful shooting in the state of KS, which is a pretty progressive state in terms of defensive firearms rights, you should expect a civil case. As bad as it is to say it, it's better to be sued by the family of the deceased bad guy than it is to be sued by the injured and possibly maimed bad guy. Courts also tend to award bigger rulings for long term medical expense cases than they do in defense killing cases.

Beyond that, are you going to be ok with it if you are forced to fire on someone, intending to wound them, but end up placing the shot a little better than intended and kill them?

If you're not ok with lethal results, look into a non-lethal option: tazer, pepper spray, etc etc. If you're carrying a lethal option (handgun), plan on lethal results.

And in reference to the "Knock out game," I'd lose no sleep over shooting someone to death, defending myself an extreme malice assault, game or not.
 
OT & VT...
You both make valid points. And, OT, knowing you have years of LEO service, I bow to your logic.
Thanks guys. Gives me even more to consider.
 
canislatrans54 I appreciate your honesty and again I was not trying to sound like a jerk but as a combat veteran and past law enforcement officer you need to think about this one fact. In my two former jobs first being US Army LRS and second as a deputy we trained to shoot center mass. Later in more advanced classes I took, I trained in shooting the fatal T. Why do you think that is? If they do not train professionals to shoot to wound why would you believe an average citizen could be calm enough and accurate enough under extreme stress to do this? I think you need to re-evaluate your decision. Carrying a gun is not for everyone. I hope if you do decide to carry you at least take a few courses to help you understand the principles of defensive pistol shooting, which is far different from target shooting or deer hunting.
 
Originally Posted By: MNHNTRcanislatrans54 I appreciate your honesty and again I was not trying to sound like a jerk but as a combat veteran and past law enforcement officer you need to think about this one fact. In my two former jobs first being US Army LRS and second as a deputy we trained to shoot center mass. Later in more advanced classes I took, I trained in shooting the fatal T. Why do you think that is? If they do not train professionals to shoot to wound why would you believe an average citizen could be calm enough and accurate enough under extreme stress to do this? I think you need to re-evaluate your decision. Carrying a gun is not for everyone. I hope if you do decide to carry you at least take a few courses to help you understand the principles of defensive pistol shooting, which is far different from target shooting or deer hunting.

Excellent post. I have no doubt that there are a lot of CC people who will choke at that moment of decision simply because not everyone has the mind set to pull the trigger against another person under any circumstances.

To me, some seem like mall ninja versions of a CC persona that will look, talk, walk, and play the role until that instantaneous moment when decisions have to be made. Some of them will end up eating their own guns, fed to them by the other guy.
 
Some really really great advice here. On all fronts. On the subject of which gun the best advice is to simply try as many as you can, rentals at gun ranges, friends guns, whatever you can get your hands on before you decide on one.

My personal experience was that I have had and shot many of the polymer pistols, the Glocks, Walther p99, Springfields, S&W's etc. They are superbly reliable, simple and easy to use. And affordable. And hold a lot of rounds. And I don't like them or shoot them well. I don't like the double stack mags, just don't fit my hands right I guess.

I have a sp101, great little revolver, built like a tank. But it is very hard for me to shoot accurately double action.

I ended up a 1911 junkie, and carry a 3" barreled Kimber. It's slim, light, reliable, and stupid accurate and I shoot it well. That just adds a lot of confidence knowing I can hit what I point it at. I hope I never need it. I also have a LCP in 380 for a pocket carry. Not a fun gun to shoot a lot but it's better than being unarmed for the times I feel I can't conceal the Kimber due to clothing, etc.

The whole point is that you just have to try a bunch of different platforms and find what's right for you. In the end no one else's opinion matters but yours.

In a nutshell...

Polymer semi's are like modern cars; low maintenance, user friendly, very reliable and a lot to choose from.

1911's, Hi Powers, and the like are like classic cars, gotta maintain them, get familiar with them and what ammo they like to run, they are great guns if you're a gun-guy. I love-em but they aren't for everyone.

Revolvers are as simple as it gets but IMO bulkier, a little harder to conceal and for me harder to shoot well. Don't go cheap get a well built gun with a good trigger.
 
Originally Posted By: MNHNTR"And, also a caliber that would be capable of "stopping power"...(ie: not a killing shot, yet I want the other guy to be incapable of running off)."
If this is your mindset you do not need a handgun for defense. You need a taser or a dog. First rule of firearms is DO NOT SHOOT SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT TO KILL.
Not trying to be a jerk but it is the reality of carrying a gun that you may kill someone some day in defense.
As for the gun you need to take all these opinions as that, opinions. Go to a place that allows you to rent and shoot different pistols and revolvers and shoot as many as you can. Find friends or neighbors that will let you shoot theirs and then decide after you handled and shot a few to see what fits you. Glocks are no better or worse than M&Ps or XDMs or SP101s it is about what works for you and no one can tell you that.
Well said. I carry a pocket size 380 that kind be concealed when where shorts. It does have CT laser. But it's not a gun would going shoot a lot. I have big hands so I only get 2 fingers on the mag well. Winter time I carry an XDM 45 great gun love it. But again I am 6'3" 330. And being that big I can conceal a full frame pretty good. It's what works for u. If u pull it u better either kill them or be prepared to be sued.
 
Originally Posted By: 204 ARI have a sp101, great little revolver, built like a tank. But it is very hard for me to shoot accurately double action.

You tried a spring kit in your SP-101? Best $7 you can spend. I did a polish job on specific parts of the internals, along with the Wolff spring kit, they're a totally different animal. Too easy to install yourself too.
 
Originally Posted By: FurhunterConsidering you've never owned a large caliber centerfire handgun... I'd stay away from an auto for now and go with a wheel gun. Find yourself a little snub nosed 38 that fit your hand well and go with it.

Yessir! Load it with some really good +P or +P+ ammo and you will be set. Plus you have no safety to worry about or it jamming up on you. I keep revolvers in my car, my truck, my bedroom and even my Honda Goldwing. Peace of mind is worth an awful lot.
 
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