Every Day Carry; What are You Packing?

Lora7

Lora7

Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
3,105
I've been looking into hand guns a lot lately, and I was wondering if any of you might have recommendations for me. I have small hands, so I don't want anything too bulky or cumbersome. I am also looking for something that I can use as my CCW. What would you guys recommend? What do you carry? Pros and Cons? Any insight is welcome.
 
I carry a Glock 19 everyday, I have tried a bunch of different handguns over the years and keep coming back to the Glocks

Proven reliable
15+1 rounds of 9mm

My Wife has a 19 also

She likes her 45 acp Springfield but it is to big to conceal well.

There are smaller handguns out there but;

If you go .380 they are not quite as powerful, like the new G-42 it is small, but it is .380 and less rounds

smaller 9mm's like the Khar or XDs then you lose mag capacity, I think they are 6 or so rounds is all ?

Small .40's & 45 ACP's same small round capacity.

Revolvers are bulky for me, & I can hide alot :)

That is my take on it.
 
I prefer a revolver or a semi-auto that is double-action only and doesn't have any external safeties. I'm a "keep it simple stupid" kind of guy.

Here's mine:
 
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Lora, auto or revolver ?? Which do YOU feel most comfortable with ? Over the years I have carried both extensively and each has their own merits. But it is truly a very personal thing. If you are comfortable with a revolver there are some fine choices out there, my first pick would be a K Frame S&W, one of the two or three inch versions (less common than the 4 inch) Model 10s with a round butt makes a fine piece. Many leap toward the J Frames and they are certainly concealable but you pay a price in “shootability”. I have a fond place there somewhere for the Model 36 but I also know it’s limitations (carried lots shot little). The Ruger SP101 is kind of between the 10 and 36 in size but I have no great experience with them, others here will.

If you are an auto kind of girl then there is the Glock family of course… that said the 26/27 can be pigs of things. I know several women who have no issue with a full sized Model 17 or 22 but the compacts just don’t work for them, literally. The G19/23 size is well and truly my favourite size in their family, there are also the Kahr and Ruger offerings in the smaller size, in the subcompact autos even 9mm will be a bit of a pig to shoot so you are back to battling concealment vs shootability. I like a balance between both. If, with no other knowledge, I had to make a single recommendation for “anyone” it would be from my first choices, S&W Model 10 or 13 (.38Spec vs .357) in three inch with a round butt (square is OK as well) plus an initial purchase of around 500round of mild .38 (not target but not plus P) to get the feel of it.
 
What Andy says .... Plus....

I'm in Canada so:

1-No carry of any kind.
2- any barrel length equal to or less than 4.1 inches is prohibited.

That being said I would carry a Glock 26. There are guns with slimmer handles, so I'd recommend you hold one to check for fit ( I've got small/ medium hands and it fits me fine). One thing that I love about it is that it is as easy to shoot as any of its big brothers. I get the same results with it, at 20 yards, as I do with a 17. Basic mags hold 10 rounds. You can carry a larger magazine, like a Glock 17, as a spare mag. All Glock 9mm mags will fit the 26. VERY reliable.

Oh , Lora.... Let us know....
 
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Carry a concealed handgun is a pain in the butt. You are going to hear a lot about "shootability", capacity, stopping power etc. The harder it is to live with the more likely you are going to leave it at home where it does you no good. My only advice is don't go below a .380\.38 and don't buy a cheap gun because it has to work when you need it to. Otherwise shop around and try shoot as many as you can and consider how you will mainly carry it.
 
I carry a Glock 17 most of the time. Although, I will admit it can be a bit cumbersome. My wife carries a ruger 380 lcp. I got it for her because she had no interest in carrying something as big as a glock, but I wanted her to have protection with her. I will completely admit that not only does she carry it whenever she needs to........but I have also stolen it on numerous occasions :) Because honestly, it fits so nicely in my back pocket, I really don't even know it is there.

Now the downside with it is accuracy out to any significant distance. My groups even as close as 10 yards with my glock and with the ruger are not even remotely comparable (wish I still had some targets laying around to measure, but I would say my grouping at least doubles in size). But, I just assume that if it ever comes to needing to use a ccw, they will be well within that distance. And the saying that goes something like.....the gun in your belt is worth a thousand at home...comes to mind. Get something that you will never complain about taking with you, no matter what you are wearing, etc.
 
Taurus Judge Public Defender. 2 rounds triple 0, 3 rounds 45 long colt.

Packs easy, devastating firepower, and surprisingly lightweight.
 
My wife carries a Kel-Tec P3AT. It's a cheap gun, but it has gone bang every time she or I have pulled the trigger. My only gripe is the crappy sights, they're pretty much non-existant. I've been thinking about replacing it with a Beretta Pico. It has real sights.
 
I carry a gen4 Glock 32 in 357 Sig, and I have a .40 barrel for it too in case I want to switch calibers. It is the same size as a Glock 19. I also have a gen2 G19, gen3 G26, gen4 G27, and a full size gen2 G22 in .40, but that's to big for me to CC so it's my night stand gun with a 22 round mag.:) I like the size of the compacts(19, 23, 32) better than the subcompacts(26, 27, 33), I find them easier to shoot, and they hold more rounds. Although, you could put a 32 round 9mm mag in a subcompact G26. In non permissive environments I usually carry my Smith & Wesson J frame in 38 Special+P.:)

 
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I agree with Andy that the mid size guns are easier to shoot. S&W 13 or GP100 3" also the MP9 or Glock 19. If they will be in a bag or purse then this is a good size for that kind of carry.

SP101 or S&W 640 loaded with 38spec if you are not too familiar with hand guns.
S&W MP 9c (compact) or Glock 26 both 9mm if you are a bit more familiar with hand guns.

Whatever you choose get some formal (if possible) or informal training. Ask every question that comes to mind. When you buy make sure you get to hold/test at least 2 different guns in your hand. Ask to dry fire each. How do they feel? If you know anyone that has something you are interested in buying, see if they will take you out to shoot theirs.

After you buy one dry fire it 1000 times, till you know every little detail of it.

Good luck.

P.S. And of course (should go without saying) a Silent Knight slung across your back. ;)
 
I think a Sig Sauer P938 would be a good choice for small handed people. I love this pistol. Trigger is my favorite out of any pistol I've shot,very well build,very attractive looks,small,9mm is descent round. My favorite polymer guns are glocks any of them you can't go wrong. XDS in 45 another good choice. If I had to get in the mind of a woman though I'm thinking most women want a gun that is sexy.And Sig Sauer P938 or P238, Kahr PM9, Springfield XDS are sexy guns that have a very good reputation.Except the XDS recall. Sig P938 is one of the pistols i still have out of alot i have tried. Also maybe M&P sheild great trigger.All stated are great for CCW and if you want alot of power in a small package Glock 27 gen 4, 30S ,29 Gen 4, Ruger LCR in .357 or 38. All good choices.
 
Lora,

Kahr makes a small semi-auto pistol in either 9mm (models CM9 & PM9) or 40 S&W (CM40 & PM40) that is very well made and should be small enough for your hand size. The 9mm holds 7 rounds and the 40 has 6 rounds (clip capacity + 1 in the chamber). Another advantage of these guns is they are relatively easy to conceal and they are still reasonably powerful.
http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-CM9.asp

I highly recommend going to a gun show and/or gun stores and handle different guns to see what fits well in your hand; some will feel great and others either just ok or too large. Choose one that feels good to you!

Semi-autos are faster to reload. Revolvers are less prone to jam (although a good quality semi-auto that you have tested with the load you will carry for self defense is also reliable).

Calibers I recommend:
- semi-auto - 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP
- revolver - 38 special, 357 magnum (a gun chambered for 357 magnum can also fire the less powerful 38 special rounds)

380 ACP has become a popular semi-auto caliber, and can be used in very small guns, but it is not as powerful as the others mentioned above.

Gene
 
Small hands and easy to conceal I recommend the pm9/cm9. S easy to conceal and it is a single stack so good for small hands.
 
My Sister in law and her mother both have smaller hands and I hooked em up with Taurus 85's double action only with bobbed hammer in stainless finish that way they don't worry about the
rust or corrosion and simple and small two moving parts the trigger and hammer...they are not meant for sustained gun fights but will put out 5 rounds of +P 38 special really quick which I would
hope in a crisis at close range will slow down any aggressor...they practice at least once monthly to stay proficient...you will fight the way you train so practice is GOOD!!!! hope this helps....:thumbsup:
 
Seecamp .380 is always in my back pocket. I also carry a Glock 19, but not as much as I should. I also have a S&W Scandium J Frame Revolver that I should carry more. The bottom line is the easier it is to carry something, the more you will carry it.
 
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Springfield XD40
 
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