About to make first purchase - 2 questions

[rgreenpc]

I have narrowed my choice of a firearm to two choices:
Sig P229 or HK USP Compact and in the end I guess it will come down to what just feels the best as it seems that both have an equally loyal following and both seem to have a lot of strengths.

Question 1 -
9mm vs 40S&W... I know this would seem a no-brainer but my wife will be picking up the same weapon at home when I am away (I am an airline pilot and am away for days on end).

I worry that a .40 is just too much recoil for her, but by the same token I want to be able to go into memory mode when I fire this weapon if/when the need comes up.

Am I worrying too much about this and should I be willing to do a .40 for me and a 9mm for the house(wife) or just do 9mm all the way around?

Question 2-
I live in Florida so there are many occasions when shorts and a t-shirt are the order of the day. Granted I wear shorts with a belt, but are small-of-the-back holsters good enough for concealment. or would an inside the pants model be better? How are the inside the pants ones for comfort?

[Fremmer]

Either caliber will protect you well. I'd take the nine only because the ammo is less expensive, and it's a good round in a compact gun.

And there's nothing wrong with making the wife happy, either. ;)
And later you can tell her that you need to buy a .40 for yourself, and you can shoot both guns. ;)

[rgreenpc]

Thank You....

I actually found out I qualify as an FFDO for a HK special offer of a USPC in .40S&W with the LEM trigger for $495.00

Just need to go to the local range, rent one and see how it feels vs the sig.... but by the same token I am back to the wife's issue of her being able to use it.

She's 100lbs soaking wet and I worry about recoil for her.

[rgreenpc]

If I were to purchase the H&K USPC am I able to later change the weapon from a .40S&W to a 9mm or vice versa?

Was thinking that if I got one for the wife as a 9mm and later I could step her up if she became more proficent or am I just overthinking this?

[yomama]

If recoil is a concern, I would suggest the .45 acp. To me much much less felt recoil than a .40. For my wife and I, more accurate to. From what I'm hearing from you also would be better piece of mind with the .4something.

My wife is same size, and she has no problem handling my 1911s.

I had a 9mm for years. Nothing wrong with it. Have better dreams now though since I carried the larger.

[easyG]

I worry that a .40 is just too much recoil for her,...
Don't worry, the recoil of the .40 is not a problem except in the lightest-weight guns.
My wife is not a big woman and she can put lead on target just fine with a .40S&W.
Remember, female cops and female agents use the .40 accurately every day, as do smaller than average men.
Before I had ever shot a .40 I thought that it must be one heck of a kicker from all the recoil remarks I had read on the internet.
But after I had shot a few different pistols in .40 I learned that it really kicks no worse than a hot 9mm.

BTW, I would choose the SIG over the HK USP.
I just think that the SIG feels better in my hand.


Good luck,
Easy

[Wiskey_33]

Depending on which model .40 you go with, the recoil is not bad at all. It's more of a muzzle flip than anything, which can be controlled with proper grip. I just LOVE how everyone has their opinions on how bad recoil can be...seems like everyone was trying to talk me out of a 10mm because of the "horrible recoil"....I'm still waiting for this "horrible recoil" to show it's face cause I've never felt it....

I'd prefer the .40 for home defense over a 9mm though....

My .02

[gvf]

If possible, let her shoot various guns/calibers - best way to find out.

[hoytinak]

I own both in 9mm and love both. Both have been 100% reliable and will shoot anything I put through them. The only thing is both feel completely different in the hands. You can't go wrong with either one, so just get the one that's most comfortable for you and your wife since she'll be shooting it too.

I do not know of a conversion for the USP but Bar-Sto makes a coversion barrel for the SIG, if you do go from .40 to 9mm make sure you get the conversion barrel and not a regular 9mm barrel. Here's the link for the SIG barrel:

http://www.barsto.com/category_main.cfm?ID=229&cco=68