Small 9mm for carry. Suggestions?

guitars and guns · January 25, 2012, 02:20 PM

This is for my girlfriend to use as a CCW. She originally wanted the MP9C, as I had stated in a previous thread, but that is still a bit to bulky for a thin girl who mostly wears fitted type clothing to conceal. So I'm thinking something single stack would be best.

I showed her the Ruger LC9 online and she liked the looks of it. This weekend I will be taking her to the LGS to hold some different pistols. I just need some suggestions.

We'd like to keep the price in the sub $500 category too.

INMY01TA · January 25, 2012, 02:24 PM

LC9 would be my first suggestion. Followed by the Kel-tec PF9.

guitars and guns · January 25, 2012, 02:33 PM

I like the kel-tech prices. How are they on reliability? Also, what about the P-11? It holds 10+1 which is 3 more than the PF9.

GaryH · January 25, 2012, 02:38 PM

It will be hard for her to conceal when wearing fitted, I assume mean tight, clothing. A fanny pack might work, or wearing loose clothing to conceal the handgun.

guitars and guns · January 25, 2012, 02:43 PM

I mean that women wear tighter clothing than us guys. Not necessarily fitted all the time.

Rockhanger · January 25, 2012, 02:44 PM

The only Kel-Tec I have is a P-3AT. So far it's been very reliable +or- 200rds.
I also have a LC9 that I really like. It has been 100% reliable (3-4 hundred rds.)so far. Around here I think the Kel-Tec runs about $100 less than the LC9.

engineer88 · January 25, 2012, 03:08 PM

My beef with the LC9 is that it is safetied to death. Manual safety is fine, that is one thing, but they have an internal lock and a mag disconnect (at least the disconnect is removable if you are handy enough). Too many POF for my tastes. I have two PF9's, the hard chrome I carry and shoot the most has been flawless in 650 rounds of different brands of ammo including hollow points. I have also had 4 other people shoot it of varying experience levels all the way down to a female friend of mine shooting it on her second time ever shooting. Still zero failures to report.

I would recommend the chrome if you can find it. Slicks up the action and makes it more rust proof.

Thespis · January 25, 2012, 05:06 PM

I love my Kahr PM9 - 15.9 oz. fully loaded, well made, accurate and (at least judging by mine) totally dependable. A less expensive alternative would be the Kahr CM9. I have never fired one, but folks I know who have one are big fans.

Deutscher · January 25, 2012, 05:19 PM

I carry the PT111 Millennium Pro. Light, small, reliable.

cbuck · January 25, 2012, 05:23 PM

sr9c, good for carry and comes with the sr9 mag with grip extension for range use

Nathan · January 25, 2012, 05:34 PM

Kahr and S&W J frames make easy CCW's.

loose_holster_dan · January 25, 2012, 05:48 PM

the lc9 and pf9 kick like mules. my gf hates shooting my pf9. she loves my walther pps tho. still small enough for her hands, and nowhere near the muzzle flip of the mouse guns.

Furminator · January 25, 2012, 05:52 PM

I didn't read the M&Pc thread, so I don't know how much of a pistolero (pistolera?) your girlfriend is. I will say that I would only recommend the micro 9s for someone who is an experienced shooter. They are not easy to shoot, hard recoil, easy to limp wrist; not as accurate or reliable as one of it's bigger, service pistol brethren.

Having said that, the Kel Tec PF9 is a good gun. I would say that most of the problems you hear about with it are from people who are limp wristing and can't bear to admit it.

Pukindog12 · January 25, 2012, 06:07 PM

Kahr CW9. Very close to the PF9 in size, better trigger, and a higher quality gun.

NickN723 · January 25, 2012, 06:25 PM

I would check out the taurus 709 slim. similar in size to the ruger and a price point probably closer to the kel-tec.

nate45 · January 25, 2012, 06:27 PM

Kahr PM9, Colt Defender, Springfield Armory EMP

Those are all compact 9mm Luger chambered handguns that I have fired and like. I personally carry the PM9, since I acquired it four, or five years ago I've been well satisfied and haven't felt the need to try a replacement.

BOPLEO · January 25, 2012, 06:29 PM

khar pm in 9mm

mavracer · January 25, 2012, 06:37 PM

I'd reccomend the Kahr cm/cw9. I have a pm9 and a cw45 and my daughter has a cw9 all have been exellent

franco45 · January 25, 2012, 07:16 PM

I'm on the Kahr bandwagon also. I owna CM9, a CW9 and a CW45. I just got a catalog from Cheaperthandirt that had the CM9 for about $350. That is a great deal.

hangglider · January 25, 2012, 07:27 PM

Guy talk. You forget most women have purses bigger than the cargo capacity of an SUV. I was once out on a date with a dainty little girl and just happened to glance into her purse wherein low and behold, there was stainless Colt 45 1911 cocked, loaded and ready to go with a simple flick of a safety.

BigJimP · January 25, 2012, 07:49 PM

The ladies in my family( adults and grandaughters) ....really like 1911's ...or a Sig 239 ...( both in 9mm )...they're both slim, relatively light...( especially if you go with an alloy frame on either choice) ..and maybe a 4" barrel on the 1911.

Keeping it under $ 500 ...on my choices is going to be a problem ...unless you go used...but that's not a terrible idea either in my mind.

I also like the idea of a J frame S&W revolver ...or maybe a K frame .../ but the ladies in my family like to shoot the J and K frames too ...in 2 1/2" or
4" barrels...and there are lots of affordable choices out there...especially if they carry in a purse.

Jim243 · January 25, 2012, 07:56 PM

I'm trying to stay away from MOUSE guns. I know 9mm isn't considered a mouse caliber, but I hate anything smaller than a PPK or Bursa. I think the MOUSE guns are for guys that want to wear shorts duing the summer with LCP's in their pockets or cargo pants.

Not what I would consider a real effective firearm for self defense unless you are less than 10 feet from whatever you are shooting. One in the back of the head would do, but will get you 30 years to life.

Jim

Dashunde · January 25, 2012, 08:49 PM

I'm crazy about my PM9.
Really good little pistol.

TxFlyFish · January 25, 2012, 09:28 PM

There's a point where too small of a platform can negatively affect shootability, reliability, maintenance, and ballistics.

I would recommend a Walther PPS a platform that is well balanced in all of the factors above, and yet remains concealable

guitars and guns · January 25, 2012, 10:43 PM

My girl carries a small purse if she carries one at all. Also, she has only been shooting with me twice. The first gun she ever shot was my glock 27 so she dealt with a good snappy recoil right off the bat.

Kahr is being thrown around a lot in here. I had a CW9 that started dropping the magazine after about 800 rounds. I thought I was inadvertently hitting it when shooting so I changed my grip so this would not be possible and it still dropped the mag. Sometimes you could get one or two shots off. Sometimes you could get through a whole magazine. Either way, I didn't trust it and got rid of it in favor of the G27 that I now use and love.

So my question is.....did I get a lemon Kahr? Should I give them another chance? I really liked the CW9 for it's accuracy and feel but I can't carry a gun I don't trust.

January 25, 2012, 02:20 PM	#1
guitars and guns Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2011 Location: TX is there anywhere else? Posts: 235	Small 9mm for carry. Suggestions? This is for my girlfriend to use as a CCW. She originally wanted the MP9C, as I had stated in a previous thread, but that is still a bit to bulky for a thin girl who mostly wears fitted type clothing to conceal. So I'm thinking something single stack would be best. I showed her the Ruger LC9 online and she liked the looks of it. This weekend I will be taking her to the LGS to hold some different pistols. I just need some suggestions. We'd like to keep the price in the sub $500 category too. __________________ It's better to have a gun and not need one than to need a gun and not have one.

January 25, 2012, 02:33 PM	#3
guitars and guns Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2011 Location: TX is there anywhere else? Posts: 235	I like the kel-tech prices. How are they on reliability? Also, what about the P-11? It holds 10+1 which is 3 more than the PF9. __________________ It's better to have a gun and not need one than to need a gun and not have one.

January 25, 2012, 02:43 PM	#5
guitars and guns Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2011 Location: TX is there anywhere else? Posts: 235	I mean that women wear tighter clothing than us guys. Not necessarily fitted all the time. __________________ It's better to have a gun and not need one than to need a gun and not have one.

January 25, 2012, 03:08 PM	#7
engineer88 Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2008 Location: La Florida Posts: 287	My beef with the LC9 is that it is safetied to death. Manual safety is fine, that is one thing, but they have an internal lock and a mag disconnect (at least the disconnect is removable if you are handy enough). Too many POF for my tastes. I have two PF9's, the hard chrome I carry and shoot the most has been flawless in 650 rounds of different brands of ammo including hollow points. I have also had 4 other people shoot it of varying experience levels all the way down to a female friend of mine shooting it on her second time ever shooting. Still zero failures to report. I would recommend the chrome if you can find it. Slicks up the action and makes it more rust proof. __________________ I do not love the bright sword for it's sharpness, nor the arrow for it's swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.

January 25, 2012, 05:48 PM	#12
loose_holster_dan Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 2,461	the lc9 and pf9 kick like mules. my gf hates shooting my pf9. she loves my walther pps tho. still small enough for her hands, and nowhere near the muzzle flip of the mouse guns. __________________ Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."

January 25, 2012, 02:24 PM	#2
INMY01TA Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2008 Location: Marylandistan Posts: 262	LC9 would be my first suggestion. Followed by the Kel-tec PF9.

January 25, 2012, 02:38 PM	#4
GaryH Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2011 Posts: 134	It will be hard for her to conceal when wearing fitted, I assume mean tight, clothing. A fanny pack might work, or wearing loose clothing to conceal the handgun.

January 25, 2012, 02:44 PM	#6
Rockhanger Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2010 Posts: 111	The only Kel-Tec I have is a P-3AT. So far it's been very reliable +or- 200rds. I also have a LC9 that I really like. It has been 100% reliable (3-4 hundred rds.)so far. Around here I think the Kel-Tec runs about $100 less than the LC9.

January 25, 2012, 05:06 PM	#8
Thespis Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2010 Location: New England Posts: 125	I love my Kahr PM9 - 15.9 oz. fully loaded, well made, accurate and (at least judging by mine) totally dependable. A less expensive alternative would be the Kahr CM9. I have never fired one, but folks I know who have one are big fans.

January 25, 2012, 05:19 PM	#9
Deutscher Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 27	I carry the PT111 Millennium Pro. Light, small, reliable.

January 25, 2012, 05:23 PM	#10
cbuck Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 141	sr9c, good for carry and comes with the sr9 mag with grip extension for range use

January 25, 2012, 05:34 PM	#11
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,326	Kahr and S&W J frames make easy CCW's.

January 25, 2012, 05:52 PM	#13
Furminator Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2009 Location: milwaukee Posts: 128	I didn't read the M&Pc thread, so I don't know how much of a pistolero (pistolera?) your girlfriend is. I will say that I would only recommend the micro 9s for someone who is an experienced shooter. They are not easy to shoot, hard recoil, easy to limp wrist; not as accurate or reliable as one of it's bigger, service pistol brethren. Having said that, the Kel Tec PF9 is a good gun. I would say that most of the problems you hear about with it are from people who are limp wristing and can't bear to admit it.

January 25, 2012, 06:07 PM	#14
Pukindog12 Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2011 Posts: 208	Kahr CW9. Very close to the PF9 in size, better trigger, and a higher quality gun.

January 25, 2012, 06:25 PM	#15
NickN723 Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Posts: 19	I would check out the taurus 709 slim. similar in size to the ruger and a price point probably closer to the kel-tec.

January 25, 2012, 06:27 PM	#16
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	Kahr PM9, Colt Defender, Springfield Armory EMP Those are all compact 9mm Luger chambered handguns that I have fired and like. I personally carry the PM9, since I acquired it four, or five years ago I've been well satisfied and haven't felt the need to try a replacement. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

January 25, 2012, 06:29 PM	#17
BOPLEO Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Posts: 41	yes khar pm in 9mm

January 25, 2012, 07:16 PM	#19
franco45 Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2010 Location: Toledo Ohio Posts: 474	I'm on the Kahr bandwagon also. I owna CM9, a CW9 and a CW45. I just got a catalog from Cheaperthandirt that had the CM9 for about $350. That is a great deal.

January 25, 2012, 07:27 PM	#20
hangglider Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2011 Posts: 212	Guy talk. You forget most women have purses bigger than the cargo capacity of an SUV. I was once out on a date with a dainty little girl and just happened to glance into her purse wherein low and behold, there was stainless Colt 45 1911 cocked, loaded and ready to go with a simple flick of a safety.

January 25, 2012, 07:49 PM	#21
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The ladies in my family( adults and grandaughters) ....really like 1911's ...or a Sig 239 ...( both in 9mm )...they're both slim, relatively light...( especially if you go with an alloy frame on either choice) ..and maybe a 4" barrel on the 1911. Keeping it under $ 500 ...on my choices is going to be a problem ...unless you go used...but that's not a terrible idea either in my mind. I also like the idea of a J frame S&W revolver ...or maybe a K frame .../ but the ladies in my family like to shoot the J and K frames too ...in 2 1/2" or 4" barrels...and there are lots of affordable choices out there...especially if they carry in a purse.

January 25, 2012, 07:56 PM	#22
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I'm trying to stay away from MOUSE guns. I know 9mm isn't considered a mouse caliber, but I hate anything smaller than a PPK or Bursa. I think the MOUSE guns are for guys that want to wear shorts duing the summer with LCP's in their pockets or cargo pants. Not what I would consider a real effective firearm for self defense unless you are less than 10 feet from whatever you are shooting. One in the back of the head would do, but will get you 30 years to life. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

January 25, 2012, 08:49 PM	#23
Dashunde Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2004 Posts: 2,018	I'm crazy about my PM9. Really good little pistol.

January 25, 2012, 09:28 PM	#24
TxFlyFish Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2011 Posts: 1,246	There's a point where too small of a platform can negatively affect shootability, reliability, maintenance, and ballistics. I would recommend a Walther PPS a platform that is well balanced in all of the factors above, and yet remains concealable

January 25, 2012, 10:43 PM	#25
guitars and guns Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2011 Location: TX is there anywhere else? Posts: 235	My girl carries a small purse if she carries one at all. Also, she has only been shooting with me twice. The first gun she ever shot was my glock 27 so she dealt with a good snappy recoil right off the bat. Kahr is being thrown around a lot in here. I had a CW9 that started dropping the magazine after about 800 rounds. I thought I was inadvertently hitting it when shooting so I changed my grip so this would not be possible and it still dropped the mag. Sometimes you could get one or two shots off. Sometimes you could get through a whole magazine. Either way, I didn't trust it and got rid of it in favor of the G27 that I now use and love. So my question is.....did I get a lemon Kahr? Should I give them another chance? I really liked the CW9 for it's accuracy and feel but I can't carry a gun I don't trust. __________________ It's better to have a gun and not need one than to need a gun and not have one.