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Old January 9, 2013, 02:55 PM   #1
PMJM
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It's only a good choice if she'll carry it

In reply to a different thread I posted my problem saying:

As much as my wife loves the old 1911 and by extension the Sig 238, she can't bring herself to carry such a gun cocked and locked. My S&W 637 and 638 weren't bad solutions but they aren't much fun to shoot particularly with +p so she won't carry them. What she is now wants is a Kahr P380 (which neither of us has shot). If it were up me for 9mm it would be between a Glock 26 and a Kahr PM9 I know there are all sorts of other guns that might fit the bill but for reasons not worth going into this is it. The concern is just how much does one "give up" going "down" to the P380? Remember it is "pretty" and concealable.

To that I will add is she has shot a Kel-Tec P3AT and will have nothing to do with it or its kin. Any thoughts?

Last edited by PMJM; January 9, 2013 at 02:56 PM. Reason: extra "a" in second sentance
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Old January 9, 2013, 03:05 PM   #2
MLeake
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If she doesn't like J frame recoil, I doubt she will like poly .380 recoil.

Have you considered a Beretta single stack .380?
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Old January 9, 2013, 03:14 PM   #3
jimbob86
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Quote:
As much as my wife loves the old 1911 and by extension the Sig 238, she can't bring herself to carry such a gun cocked and locked.
I had the same issue.

Try this: Have her carry the gun at home, unloaded, in a quality holster. She'll find that it will not fire itself. I did.
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Old January 9, 2013, 03:30 PM   #4
zincwarrior
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I did that with an Ultra Carry. Planned on carrying it for a week in condition one but with no round in the chamber. I became convinced after day two.
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Old January 9, 2013, 03:44 PM   #5
comn-cents
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If she didn't like the keltec she won't like the pm9.
I've carried the sig238 for a couple of years and have never had the safety come off or the gun go off. I carry IWB & pocket carry. I think the recoil from the 238 is less than anyother 380 pocket gun out there.
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Old January 9, 2013, 05:55 PM   #6
dayman
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I disagree that seeing that it doesn't shoot it's self for a week will make her comfortable carrying it. You could use the same logic to say that if you don't need a gun for a week, you could go without carrying at all. For most people it's not being uncomfortable with what "will" happen so much as what "might" happen.
Another potential down side to a single action, is the generally fantastic trigger - under duress it would be far easier to have an unintentional discharge than it would be with a gun with a longer and heavier pull.

Don't get me wrong - I think the 1911 is a fantastic platform, and it works great for some people as a carry gun. However, it's not just paranoia or ignorance why some people don't like carrying a cocked single action.

If she really likes the 1911 platform, but doesn't like cocked and locked maybe look for a Para double action 1911? I've only shot one, but it seemed like it was pretty well put together, and the trigger was quite nice.
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Old January 9, 2013, 08:00 PM   #7
327 FM
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I have a Bersa 380. The recoil is very minimal and like a revolver it always goes bang. The gun is easy to shoot and conceals easily.
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:14 PM   #8
Doc TH
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She should use what she likes, and what she shoots best. Other considerations are secondary and debatable between you and her (debate fiercely only if you are willing to sleep on the couch).
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Old January 10, 2013, 11:04 AM   #9
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There is a major difference between shooting a +P 38 in an airweight and any micro 380. We have a couple TCP 380 and i bersa CC in the family and they are all easy to shoot . I FC a pm and cw9 and can tell you first hand all our family shooters enjoy the TCP 380 but none of the ladies like to shot the cm9 but most will shoot the cw9 repetedly with some reservations about recoil. The cm/pm series of kahrs may not be a wise choice ether as it is close or between to a 642 with +P ammo in recoil or snap. The CW9 now is different . Very controlable with a full grip for most people. The M&P shield would fit in this group along with a also lite weight KT P11 with a trigger much like your 642 but easier to shoot with its wider double stack grip. See what you can rent and what local/area members might have that your wife can shot.
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Old January 11, 2013, 11:04 PM   #10
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I've been through half a dozen 9mm and .380 pistols with my wife trying to find a sub compact gun she will actually carry with confidence. She has two Ruger revolvers (SP and GP, both in .357) and also shoots a couple of my commander size STI 1911s, but all are to big for carry. A few weeks ago I got her a .380 Kahr. A buddy at work carries a Kahr in 9mm and swears by it and the brand appears to have a good reputation. Big mistake. It didn't last two weeks. Difficult to rack, too much recoil, and in general just not very comfortable in the hand. Traded it in for a Sig P238 and....EUREKA!!! Success at last. She loves it it. Feels great in the hand, easy to rack and a very soft shooter for a sub compact .380. It's also amazingly accurate for such a small pistol. While we haven't had it for long I would recommend one without hesitation.
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Old January 12, 2013, 10:28 PM   #11
CSHammond
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My 2 cents

I for one would recommend the Kahr CM9. Internally I believe identical to PM9, but cheaper due to less machine work, not so elegant engraving, only one 6 round mag and maybe something else just can't remember for sure. That being said I picked one up last week at local gun show for $405 out the door with tax included and I am VERY impressed with the accuracy of the 3 inch barrel and the lack of recoil which seems to me to be less than my PT 738 .380 from Taurus. Size is almost identical to said Taurus. Pictures will reflect. I could have easily qualified for my carry permit with gun no doubt, and am happy to have more firepower than the .380. Excellent answer from Kahr to make an accurate affordable 9mm pocket gun!
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