Looking for suggestions

[Venus Pax]

Welcome to the forum.
I carry either a Bersa .380 or a 1911 (.45), depending on what clothes I pick out.

In a quest to celebrate diversity, I will say that a Glock is a good gun.

[yerasimos]

My suggestion, take it or leave it:

1. Look at the guns currently in your inventory and find the ones you are most proficient with, are reliable and are concealable/reasonably comfortable to handle (no sharp edges/corners).

2. Read as much as you can in the holster-related sections and threads on this forum and take good notes.

3. Get the best holsters you can buy for the guns you have.

Holsters are a lot cheaper and easier to trade than guns. Make sure you take a look at the dead holster drawer here (or whatever it is called).

All that said, quantity does have a quality all its own.

[TCR]

i recently took the concealed hand gun class, i passed with flying colors, i like guns and consider my self fairly knowlegable of them but i am looking for a compact pistol to carry. I currently own a handfull of .45's, but Im leaning towards a compact .40 but i just don't know. I do know that i do not want to carry a 9mm, because i think the stopping power just isn't there. I am open to suggestions.

When I find the data, I will paste a spreadsheet derived from "Stopping Power and Street Stoppers" that provide (if you believe them) data regarding ammunition testing in geletin and actual "one shot stop" percentages for a wide range of ammunition. Please don't discount 9mm too quickly.
In the meantime start with this site:
http://webplaza.pt.lu/smat/database/New ... /Power.htm

What I have found is that the best 9mm ammunition is in the same stopping power class as the best 40 S&W, 357 SIG, 45 ACP and 357 Rem. Magnum ammunition. The latter ammunition may be slightly better, but by ~7-8 percentage points (91 to 98% one shot stop range for all of the above calibers best performing ammunition).
Terminal ballistics can be deceiving because of bullet design. For example, a 40 S&W 180 gr. FMJ and 360 Ft. Lbs of muzzle energy, will penetrate ~25 in. of geletin, but it, like most FMJ bullets are notoriously poor in stopping power, ~70% one shot stops. Compare this round to one of the best performing 9mm, a Federal 115 gr. 9BPLE (+P+) and 432 Ft.-lbs of muzzle energy will penegrate just 12 in. of geletin and produces 91% one shot stops.
I will attempt to paste a spreadsheet "shortly"will terminal ballistic info. . When you get the chance, browse the web and see what conclusions you come to.
BTW, I primarily carry a 9mm Kahr MK-9 as a pocket pistol, but also carry a Glock 22 in 40 and 357 Sig as well.
Hope this helps

[TX Rancher]

Welcome to the forum Robbo!

If you’re comfortable with the 45acp, why not stick with it? It sounds like you already have several, and you shot well during the test, so why not stick with them?

If its size, several of the folks on the sight carry full sized 1911’s with no problem. But if you want a smaller pistol, both Kimber and Springfield make nice compact and sub-compact 45’s that are a breeze to carry.

As others have said, I wouldn’t be too quick to rule out the 9mm due to a concern over stopping power. The difference during gelatin testing, for good ammo, is negligible. Now gelatin testing is a little suspect in some circles, but the results coming in from the field show 9mil, 45ACP, and 40Cal to be effective pistol calibers. Of course they're not going to be “death ray� level…they're pistols, so by definition their stopping power is generally limited when compared to Phasors, Death Rays, baseball bats, shotguns, and rifles (despite Hollywood’s opinion).

But since stopping power is a little limited with common pistol ammunition, some camps feel quantity is an important attribute, which when coupled with concealed carry, leads towards the 9mm discussion. The logic is 15 +1 is more chances for a stop then 7+1 or 8+1. There are high cap 45’s out there, but they can be a little hard to conceal comfortably for long periods of time. I have a Para P-12 that by the end of the day, my hip is complaining about. There was also a reliability issue, but that’s another story…

There’s also the point of proficiency costs. To shoot any pistol well in a defensive environment (not just putting holes in paper on a range) takes practice, and a lot of it. That equates to lots of rounds down range, and as anyone that’s looked at the current ammo prices can tell you, that’s a lot of dollars. Once again, 9mm generally wins out over 45ACP and 40Cal.

I’m not a strong proponent of the 40Cal. I have a Glock 23, but I rarely carry it. I’ve pretty much settled into either carrying my 45’s or 9mm. The 45’s, depending on the required attire, are generally easier to conceal while retaining comfort. My favorite is my Kimber CDP with my Ultra second in line.

But since I buy into the higher capacity argument, I also carry a Glock 19 or Glock 26. I have a Kahr that’s useful for deep concealment or as a backup gun (BUG).

Why the 19 over the 23? Higher capacity in the same size carry weapon…more chances to get that “One Stop Shot� …there’s also the issue of multiple assailants, which seems to becoming more the norm now.

[nuparadigm]

You might want to check out a Kahr P40. Some would say it's a bit pricey, but you may like it in spite of that.

[Eddie A.]

I carry a Glock 23 everyday for the same reason that you stated. It has been a great carry weapon for me, although some think that it's too big.