Best CCW Gun

[maxwellstuart1]

Hello all, I am new to this forum and to CCW. In fact this will be my first handgun purchase, till now I have stuck with rifles and shotguns. So, I am looking for a CCW gun in 9mm that I would carry IWB and that has a manual safety. I know lots of people prefer not to have a manual safety and that it eliminates some options (glocks etc) but for my first handgun I would prefer the safety. So my question is what would you suggest? Price is flexible. Thanks!

[Mauser8mm]

Beretta PX4 Storm Compact- $575

Ruger LCP- $379

Ruger LC9- $449

Kel Tec PF-9- $339

Kel Tec P-32- $318

[KO3422]

Ruger LCP or LC9.

[zeke4351]

Sig Sauer P238 or P938. The Rugers and KelTecs are more toy like and are not fun to shoot.

[Mauser8mm]

If you are going for quality, and are willing to spend a lot, don't overlook this...

Sig Sauer 1911 Ultra Nitron- $1,142

Quality .45 ACP, compact, and expensive!!

[Skans]

What kind of trigger action are you looking for? Double action only? Single Action? DA/SA?

If you are ok with Double Action Only, then the Ruger LC9 is a good really good choice. If you are looking for single action only, then you better be comfortable carrying "locked and cocked" with a round in the chamber. In that case, I'd look at an STI LS9 or a Colt Mustang .380. Sig makes a version of the Colt Mustang as well.

DA/SA is going to be a little more difficult to find a small, light, good reliable gun. I'd consider a Lady Smith 3913, if you can find one. I wouldn't mind having one of those myself.

[Tactical Jackalope]

1911-A1

[engineer88]

Ruger SR9 or SR9c. My LC9 was a rust magnet living in Florida so I cannot in good faith recommend it.

[tristar viper]

Anything but an LCP.

[TAKtical]

I absolutely will not buy a pistol with a manual safety with one exception. The 1911. I can tell you right now that if you like handguns, at some point you will fall in love with the 1911 so you might as well make it your first pistol. If price is an issue, look for a rock island. They are excellent pistols.

[ClydeFrog]

For semi auto pistols that include a manual safety, I'd check into these models; the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in 9x19mm/9mm Luger, the Ruger SR9c, the Beretta PX4 Compact(full ambi features), the new FNH-FNS 9mm, the Kimber Solo, the S-A EMP.

If you are new or entry level to handguns, I highly suggest buying a simple DA only type semi-auto with a hammer fired system. A HK P2000 LEM, a SIG P290RS, a Walther PPX, a SD9, Beretta PX4 C(constant action).

Only use factory made ammunition too. No reloads or hand-loads.

See; www.berettausa.com www.gunsamerica.com www.sigsauer.com .

[foxytwo]

I would recomend a Springfield XDc, XDMc or a Sig P250c im your choice of caliber.

[dean1818]

For IWB carry, I would recommend the Shield.

Very slim, accurate, reliable, great ergos

It has a small safety that most dont engage, but for those who want it,
Its there.


I love mine

[915A]

Love my SR9c and 290RS

[loose_holster_dan]

CCW gun in 9mm that I would carry IWB and that has a manual safety

for the money - sr9c
pay a little more - cz p-01
pay a lot more - sti lawman 4.0
rare find - hk psp

[t45]

My Kel Tec PF-9 has suited me just fine.

[camosteve243]

I absolutely will not buy a pistol with a manual safety with one exception. The 1911. I can tell you right now that if you like handguns, at some point you will fall in love with the 1911 so you might as well make it your first pistol. If price is an issue, look for a rock island. They are excellent pistols.

I can 2nd that!

My 1st handgun was a 1911 Kimber Custom II .45acp

I 110% love my Kimber and it's Built in the USA!

Only thing I would change is the size, it's a little big for CCW. Good news, they have a Mirco line!

Cost you around $700.00 for the Custom II

[thedudeabides]

Colt Commander.

[ClydeFrog]

Other than a SIG P239 in .357sig or 9x19mm, a S-A EMP or maybe a Kimber Solo; I'm not sure if you could obtain a NIB(new in box) steel or alloy frame sub-compact in the US.
You may want to look at a Walther PPK .380acp or maybe a used/LNIB S&W model 3913/3913 LS(Lady Smith).

ClydeFrog

[+1k ammo]

Try the Shield. I like it so much on seeing one at LGS, that I ordered one.

Very nice feel and I didn't mind the safety. Some want one and some can't stand to have one on their CCW.

The Nano was good too, but I did not like that it did not have a slide release lever.

[Hansam]

Personally I'd say a 1911A1. I carried one for a while till I got my Para P14.45. Now that's my EDC and its still a 1911a1 - just with a double stack mag for a 14+1 ammo cap.

Now really though I'd also suggest a Kahr CW9. Small enough to CC easily but not so small its difficult to shoot, flat and fairly smooth sided so as not to catch on clothing, well built in the USA, decent trigger pull and very accurate for range use if you take your time and dress up your shots while still being minute of bad guy accurate in rapid fire instances.

They can also be found for around $400 retail too. The ones I've shot will shoot anything that you feed them. My wife has the CM9 and that's a nice shooter too.

The only thing with these guns is that you need to have ammo that is specifically designed for a shorter barrel (3.5") if you want to get the max use of the gun. That's not to say that your normal JHP ammo won't get the job done either.

[Deaf Smith]

Best CCW Gun

The largest, most powerful, easy to shoot, yet controllable handgun you can conceal and carry all day.

That may mean a J .38 for some, or TCP .380, or 1911 .45 for some folk.

Just keep in mind it has to be something you can and WILL carry very often.

And that is why for me in the summers of Texas it's a J frame .38 spl., and in the winter it's a Glock subcompact in 9mm or .40 or .357 Sig (depending on what is available in ammo.)

Deaf

[SA2112]

For daily CCW, I have been absolutely delighted with my M&P Shield.

Thin (just disappears in a good IWB holster), reliable, accurate and just a pleasure to shoot. I've got ~4000 rounds down my Shield with not a problem (even using some dodgy Egyptian surplus 9mm ammo). While I haven't always been a huge fan of the 9mm, modern ammo manufactures are wringing out every bit of performance from the 9mm possible. I really like Double Tap ammo and their +P 9mm JHP is confidence inspiring (as far as I am concerned).

The Shield in 9mm (with extended mag) gives 8+1 shots of +P and another 7 shots with the factory standard length mag (which I always carry).

My camping gun is a Glock 29 (10mm) with spacer equipped full size Glock 20 10mm magazines as well as standard issue G29 magazines with +2 extension (used with an upgraded mag spring). Combined with hot Double Tap ammo, this gun is a fine remedy for cougar and black bear in the woods of Northern Arizona.

My all time favorite is my SIG 229 in .40 S&W.

That said, nothing conceals like my Shield does, yet still provides a decent capacity. I can hide my Shield even under a pretty snug dark Tee shirt.

CCW carry is always a trade-off to some degree. I'm not a big guy (5'10", 170#). The bigger guys can hide a double stack easier however I'm not worried about a prolonged firefight, but am concerned about the lone crazy going off in a mall. While I don't have 30+ rounds, I'm confident in my ability to keep a cool head and place my shots into a mad dog when needed.

Very best thing about the Shield? It's small enough, light enough and so concealable that I carry it whenever I go out. I can't say this was my experience with my beloved SIG 229 or G29.

[ripnbst]

Walther PPQ, S&W Shield, Sig Sauer 938.

[kutz]

1911