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Old March 8, 2012, 01:11 AM   #26
Cheapshooter
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Quote:
Quote:
Carl Rohrbaugh says the pistol is meant to be carried a lot and shot seldom (or something like that).
Doesn't sound at all like a gun I would spend $1400 on. For that you could by 4 LC9's, and shoot all of them a lot! Or maybe an LC9, Sig 238, and a Kahr all for the same price of one Rohrbaugh!
They sound more like a status symbol than a good CCW pistol. Kind of like the Rolex of guns.
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Old March 8, 2012, 03:07 AM   #27
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Sig P290

+1 for the Sig P290...great size for IWB carry.
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Old March 8, 2012, 03:10 AM   #28
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My Kahr PM9 has been flawless, but I also have a Kimber Solo and I like the trigger on the Solo better - smoother and not as long as the Kahr. I have not experienced any of the failures that others have had with the Solo. IMO both of these are excellent and among the smallest 9MMs out there. Another good choice is going to be the Sig P938, if you want to wait a few months. My P238 is very accurate and light on recoil. Sure, the 938 will be a little more snappy, but it's barely bigger than the 238, and right in line with the PM9 and Solo.
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Old March 8, 2012, 05:52 AM   #29
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KelTec PT 9 are great little 9's for the money.

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Old March 8, 2012, 08:32 AM   #30
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I did some research when I bought mine and for the money I ended up with a kahr cw9. Just had it week today and no problems with it. only 100 rounds. 379.00 at a local gun shop in wisconsin.i like it some much I want to get a kahr p380 so I can put in my pocket to conceal it in the summer time.
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Old March 8, 2012, 09:00 AM   #31
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Love my PM9 and LCP.

I have a G27 (same as G26), fantastic pistol, but too heavy and too fat for my edc taste.
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Old March 8, 2012, 09:51 AM   #32
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Doesn't sound at all like a gun I would spend $1400 on. For that you could by 4 LC9's, and shoot all of them a lot! Or maybe an LC9, Sig 238, and a Kahr all for the same price of one Rohrbaugh!
If you want the smallest 9mm semi-auto that fires reliably, the R9 is it.

It's also the second lightest semi-auto, second only to the DB9 - which despite being lighter, has a larger footprint.

No one has invented the miracle metal that can be used as a spring indefinately, wasn't that what Flubber was supposed to be? A pistol as small as the R9 (a true pocket pistol) managing the energies of the 9mm cartridge is going to rely heavily on the spring, and the spring does wear out.

I know for the money you can buy 9.33 Hi-Points....

DON'T BE CHEAP !
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Old March 8, 2012, 12:20 PM   #33
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Thanks much for a bunch of info nicely presented; this is exactly the kind of discussion I was wanting to read.

All in all, seems like (pending holding one and seeing how it fits in my hand) the CM9 is top of the list. The R9 will likely be out of my price range; I can likely talk the wife into a $500 firearm (may have to go used on it, we'll see) but a $1200 MSRP is a non-starter for that conversation. Per a previous post of mine, when I'm making a doctor's salary I'll have a healthy gun budget, but for now and the next 5 years or so it's going to be a bit anemic.

I'll probably also give the LC9 a try. I've shot my sister's LCP some, and have found it fine to shoot; I just want cheaper ammo.

If I got IWB for carry I'm going to have to change the way I dress; I'm a tshirt tucked-in kinda guy, and that'll make it fairly obvious. Pockets would be ideal...
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Old March 8, 2012, 12:35 PM   #34
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I know for the money you can buy 9.33 Hi-Points....

DON'T BE CHEAP !


Maybe one perfectly accurate, and reliable LC9 and 5 Hi-Points!
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Old March 8, 2012, 03:14 PM   #35
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I've shot several of the compact and subcompact 9mm's, including the G26, XD9 Subcompact, Ruger SR9c (which is my favorite, but definately not a pocket gun), Ruger LC9, Kel Tec PF9, and Kahr PM9. Of these, my impressions of the tiny 9mm's that I've shot and/or handled are below:

I owned a PF9 for a couple months. It was fairly easy for me too shoot accurately; the trigger was light and long, and the sights were OK. Recoil was sharp - not a gun that is fun to take to the range. This gun was very picky about shooting form - any limp wristing (which could be easy to do due to the recoil) would cause a malfunction. Once I got used to the gun, I had zero issues, but my Glock owning buddies couldn't get through a magazine without having a malfunction or two.

The LC9 is about the same size, just heavier. The trigger is equally long, but much heavier. Recoil was the same as the PF9. I shot this gun relatively poorly. Overall, I didn't like this gun at all.

The PM9 is a little smaller than the PF9, but a little heavier. Trigger pull is long and fairly light. Recoil is less significant than the others - definately not painful, but you know you've just shot a tiny gun. In 50 rounds, I had 2 malfunctions (but it was a rental at a range, so who knows how often/well it had been maintained.

I couldn't pocket carry any of these guns; my hand and the gun don't want to come out of my pocket at the same time. For referrence I am 6'2", weigh 200lbs, and wear fairly loose jeans. I would imagine I would have no problems pocket carrying a PF9, LC9, or PM9/CM9 if I wore cargo pants or slacks.

I've also handled a Diamondback DB9, and I like the look and feel (I can actually pocket carry one of these), but I've read too many bad things about them to buy one at this point - maybe in a couple years if their reliability has improved.

Right now, for the money, the CM9 is the tiny 9 to have. You can stay under your $500 budget and still have a nice little gun.
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Old March 8, 2012, 03:33 PM   #36
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I'll stick with my Keltec PF-9. Its all i need it to be. Lightweight, reliable and accurate.
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Old March 8, 2012, 04:19 PM   #37
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The Kel-Tec PF-9 with CT laser. Carry it all the time, shoot it only occasionally because it's the lightest 9mm on the market consequently you really feel the recoil. Very concealable but I do not shoot it for fun. It has a belt clip that renders holsters obsolete.

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Old March 8, 2012, 05:36 PM   #38
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I've had a pf9, it's a good gun, i bought the Db9, it's trigger broke in less than 150rds. The cm9 is my favorate. it's been 100%, well execpt for a nosedive with the wife shooting it but it was a brand new mag and i'd only wiped the oil off the outside before we used it.
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Old March 8, 2012, 07:37 PM   #39
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PF-9 with belt clip! Won't know its there until you need it.
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Old March 8, 2012, 10:26 PM   #40
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You're on the right track. I love my CM9 and pocket carry it almost every day. The LCP still gets some time in the pocket with tighter jeans.
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Old March 9, 2012, 09:50 AM   #41
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Used S&W 3913. Small but not tiny. I like mine a lot. Do a search on the forums and you'll find that they have an excellent reputation. Here's mine:
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Old March 12, 2012, 02:08 PM   #42
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I am looking to buy a SR9c. Any help on the best and lowest priced website to buy from? HELP
Thanks to anyone that can help me.
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Old March 12, 2012, 02:17 PM   #43
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Jetguns.com or budsgunshop.com are usually two of the lowest priced on line dealers, but remember to add the cost of the transfer.

You might be better off buying local too.
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Old March 12, 2012, 02:38 PM   #44
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Guns I have shot that may qualify as small/tiny:
  • Ruger LC9
    • Great gun, but the trigger pull is heavy. Smooth, but heavy; both my wife and I had trouble with accuracy given the weight of the trigger. It can be overcome with practice; we sold it to a friend who swears by it.
  • Walther PPS
    • I almost didn't mention this one, because it's not what I'd call small or tiny. Very Very Concealable, nice and slim, but it's not a tiny gun. Proven design, very comfortable to shoot on the range, and very accurate. If the height / length don't throw you off, stop here and get one. It's my main CC firearm.
  • Kimber Solo
    • Good trigger, great feel. Mine tended to abuse the top of the web of my hand, where the "beavertail" would hit; after about 30 + shots, it started to hurt (keep in mind, I was stress testing it, so I was running 50 to 80 shots through it a session).
    • Mine had stovepipe problems with ammo, and continued to do so even after Kimber replaced the slide, recoil assembly, and barrel. Other people have had great success with the Solo; just because it would not be my pick does not mean it shouldn't be yours.
  • Kahr PM9
    • I shot a friend's PM9 and thought it had a great trigger, and was quite accurate. I can't speak personally for reliability since I don't own one, but my friend said it hadn't had any hiccups. If I were to decide on something other than the Walther PPS, I'd definitely look at this gun.
  • Ruger SR9c
    • Accurate, reliable, and has one of the best triggers on a stock gun - very little trigger travel at all. Again, not what I'd call small or tiny, and definitely thicker than the Walther PPS; however, if the size doesn't deter you, it would be my second choice.
    • Comes with a 10 round magazine for carry, and (where allowed) a 17 round magazine for the range.
I tend to carry a Walther as my primary (PPS, P99c AS, or P99 AS), and either a Ruger LCR .357 or the PPS as my secondary.
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Old March 12, 2012, 02:57 PM   #45
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A lot of positive things have been said here about the Walther PPS and the Ruger LC9. I own both. I wrote a comparison of the PPS and the LC9 back in November:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=471498

I will just add that I carry my PPS daily. I find it very easy to shoot accurately. It shoots like a large gun, not the subcompact that it is. It is easy and enjoyable to practice with, not a chore. I have been shooting Glocks for 20 years, and the transition to this PPS was very easy and natural. Carried IWB, it disappears. For me, it is the best concealed carry weapon available.

The LC9 is my wife's daily carry. She could have had any gun she wanted, but she liked this small Ruger. Price did not play into it, since she was not aware of the low price at the time she selected it. She was comparing it to Kahr's and Sig's that were quite a bit more expensive. It fit her hand perfectly...She liked the very prominent loaded chamber indicator.... She has traditionally been a revolver shooter, and she liked the long DAO trigger on the LC9. I don't find it a heavy trigger, just long. It is not as heavy as most snub 38's. However, if you are not a revolver shooter, you may not like the trigger. It is not a 1911 trigger, so don't expect it to be.
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Old March 12, 2012, 04:36 PM   #46
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I have owned a Kahr CM9 for several months now, and have put probably 500 rounds through it. Never had a failure of any kind. The trigger is long, but smooth as glass. Low recoil for a 14 oz 9mm.
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Old March 12, 2012, 08:50 PM   #47
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I bought a used Rohrbaugh 5 years ago and have carried it everyday. I am a very satisfied customer. It has shot every kind of 9mm I've tried and I have tried a lot.

It's reliable and accurate and weighs 12.8 ouncse as advertised with the black carbon fiber grips. That's 3 ounces lighter than my S&W 442.

The grips screws were tight when I bought it used and I've never removed them. They're good the way they are and if they're a problem later I certainly have gotten my money's worth.


"Carl Rohrbaugh says the pistol is meant to be carried a lot and shot seldom (or something like that)."

His name is Karl. His brother is Eric fwiw. Somebody said he told them that and the story has become an internet legend. Is the R9 a range gun? Heck no, who in the world would ever have thought that? Jeez, it's tiny for a 9mm. Hasn't anybody studied physics?
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Old March 12, 2012, 09:11 PM   #48
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Opinions on small/tiny 9mm for carry

The Ruger LC9 is a great choice for concealed carry. My wife passed the Texas CHL shooting test with it and she had only shot 100 rounds through it. My only complaint is that the trigger pull is loooooooong and has a long reset. If I were going to carry it I would put the Galloway Precision Trigger Kit on it. It's light and flat and easy to conceal. It has actual sights compared to the LCP. If I didn't already have an M&P 9c I would get one.
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Old March 12, 2012, 11:05 PM   #49
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when talking about the LC9 and I said

Quote:
It is not as heavy as most snub 38's.
I meant the trigger pull is not as heavy as the trigger on most snub 38's.
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Old March 12, 2012, 11:23 PM   #50
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The LC9 trigger is long. Not heavy. True story.
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