What is your preference for a concealed carry weapon?

[crowslayer17]

I also may look at a Kahr 9mm, as I actually like a smooth DAO trigger, better than many striker triggers. I will say that the most ill-behaved auto I've ever fired was a mid-sized Kahr CW-40... By 18 rounds, I was flinching. I like the 480 Ruger, and other big thumpers, but that Kahr 40 was like sharp hammer wrap to the hand each time it fired. Just unpleasant. I did get to try the FN 509C recently, and really liked it, aside from the fairly aggressive checkering. Any serious trigger time would need gloves.

I've had a Kahr CW-9 for several years and have put a lot of rounds through it. It shoots great and has never had a failure. I wouldn't let that .40 scare you away from the 9 if you think you might like one. I was really surprised how well I liked their trigger, but it is smooth and fast. From my experience I would highly recommend it.

 

[full chizel]

I almost bought a Shield 40, as I didn't mind the one I shot awhile back. I just don't have a 9mm right now, and need at least one good one. my Sig has both 40 and 357 Sig barrels, so I have some flexibility there, and have 45 ACP covered...

You can buy a 9 mm barrel that will drop right in the .40.

 

[srb08]

I shot a 27 once, and it definitely had some bark, and wasn't the most fun thing. The Kahr (CW 40?) was 4x worse though. Hell, even my G23 Gen IV sucked to shoot. Between it, an original XD 5.25", a XD-M 4.5", a XD Subcompact, a FNX compact, Sig P250 compact, and P320 full-size, the glock was hands-down the worst to shoot. Between the ergos, and the felt recoil, I just couldn't make myself like it. Between Dad, two good friends, and I, we have/had all of them in 40 (I sold the Glock) and compared them regularly.

The Sig is a similar round, and I like it alot, but the short neck makes reloading a PITA.

I have several Glocks, 17, 19, 21, 2x-22, 34 & 43. I like them all.
The 27 is the one exception. For some reason I couldn't shoot it.

 

[Locust Cutter]

I have several Glocks, 17, 19, 21, 2x-22, 34 & 43. I like them all.
The 27 is the one exception. For some reason I couldn't shoot it.

Well, we may not agree on Glocks, but we seem to share a fondness for powerful wheelguns!!! Te differences that make this world a great place!! I WILL get to MO to try your Linebaugh one of these days!

 

[Locust Cutter]

You can buy a 9 mm barrel that will drop right in the .40.

Yes you can, but I'd like something smaller/more discreet than my P250. It's roughly the size of a G23, and I'm looking for something a bit closer to the Hellcat/G42/43, P365 class. The 365 is just too' small for my hands/I have problems with the controls. The 42 and 43 shoot well enough, I just don't like the sights and trigger. The XD-S isn't bad, but the shape of the grip, doesn't line up, so I think I'm between a Hellcat or possibly the FN-C.

 

[birdmeter]

I shot a 27 once, and it definitely had some bark, and wasn't the most fun thing. The Kahr (CW 40?) was 4x worse though. Hell, even my G23 Gen IV sucked to shoot. Between it, an original XD 5.25", a XD-M 4.5", a XD Subcompact, a FNX compact, Sig P250 compact, and P320 full-size, the glock was hands-down the worst to shoot. Between the ergos, and the felt recoil, I just couldn't make myself like it. Between Dad, two good friends, and I, we have/had all of them in 40 (I sold the Glock) and compared them regularly.

The Sig is a similar round, and I like it alot, but the short neck makes reloading a PITA.

well i kinda like the 27 . my wife likes the 27 with crimson trace.if you see the topic of this post it conceal carry not shooting much.conceal carry you pull it you gonna shoot another person 40 is a round that proly stop all threat.and i pray no body has to stop a threat ever.but a 40 is what will stop a threat.

 

[srb08]

Well, we may not agree on Glocks, but we seem to share a fondness for powerful wheelguns!!! Te differences that make this world a great place!! I WILL get to MO to try your Linebaugh one of these days!

I understand your dislike of Glocks. I had a G17 back in the early 90's and absolutely hated it. I thought it was clunky, ugly and hated the trigger. It wasn't until a friend, who's a govt contractor and firearms instructor taught me how to love a Glock, that I bought another.

 

[srb08]

well i kinda like the 27 . my wife likes the 27 with crimson trace.if you see the topic of this post it conceal carry not shooting much.conceal carry you pull it you gonna shoot another person 40 is a round that proly stop all threat.and i pray no body has to stop a threat ever.but a 40 is what will stop a threat.

If you're comfortable with the G27, that's great. It has a lot of firepower in a small package.

 

[Locust Cutter]

I like 40 a lot, and am not arguing here. But, after 20 years in the Air Force (ANG), and multiple years on the shooting team (plus 2.5 years with Security Forces), I know what I define as functional accuracy and practice. If I can't practice relatively comfortably, I'm not going to shoot well when the chips are down. I too' pray to God that I never have to use a firearm for its principle purpose, but I intend to be VERY proficient with what I carry, or I won't carry it. Too much is on the line should a failure happen at the worst possible moment.

I think there's a missing element to the discussion that many people have when talking about perceived recoil. It's not just the total volume, but the weight/moment and rate of delivery. For instance, I'd MUCH rather shot my 4" 629 S&W with 300gr+ handloads cruising between 850-1200sh FPS, as opposed to the bread and butter hot 240gr loads cooking out much faster. The heavy loads are push, where the 240's are quite snappy, and far less comfortable/fun for me. Heck, I'd rather shoot 50rds of 325gr 480 Ruger out of a 5"+ SRH or Bisley BH, than 240's in my Smith. No different than the felt difference between a 3.5" shell in a 12ga vs a 10ga. The 10 will usually be more comfortable due to the lower pressure spike.

I can pick up my 357, 44, Dad's 1911, or my P250 and quickly put good center mass hits on an old B24 silhouette out to 30 yards. A pistol like that, I intend to make at least 15yds.

 

[Locust Cutter]

I understand your dislike of Glocks. I had a G17 back in the early 90's and absolutely hated it. I thought it was clunky, ugly and hated the trigger. It wasn't until a friend, who's a govt contractor and firearms instructor taught me how to love a Glock, that I bought another.

I respect them, I've just never liked them a much. Now, I WILL say that after shooting a (late firend's) Gen III G20, that I'll either end up with a G20, or G40 eventually. I shot that 20 (and his 21C) VERY well, after I mentally got past the feeling that I was holding onto a plastic 2x4. It was surprisingly soft on the recoil, and the 10mm is a hell of a round. I would have to do a different trigger, sights, and either a Lone Wolf, or other barrel with standard rifling so I could also load hardcast lead. That's like having a high-cap 357 that doesn't weight much.

 

[crowslayer17]

G20 is nice. I'd like to try some of the newer 10s. For some reason the XDm is calling my name. I think it would be hard to beat the Dan Wesson if you weren't looking for the extra capacity.
I'd really like to get my hands on some of those newer Walthers (9mm) too.

 

[Locust Cutter]

I'd like to try the M in 10mm to see how well I like it, as I DO like the M. A P320 in 10 would be fine too. Walther is making a lot of good stuff, and I really like their CCP, but it's not as thin as it looks for a single stack. It IS very soft shooting though, and the 2 I've tried both shot very well! CZ is making good stuff under the D.W banner, but it'll be awhile before I buy another handgun north of 1K, and I still have my eye on Bisley gripped BFR, or a SRH in either 454 Casull or 475/480.

I' still waiting fr my shoulder to finish healing from surgery, before I wring out my new-to-me D.E. 50AE, so that ought to keep me entertained for a good bit.

 

[full chizel]

View attachment 228146 View attachment 228145 View attachment 228144 View attachment 228143 View attachment 228142 Saw a few mentions on the SA hellcat soo i thought i would throw out some of my thoughts and have to say i am pretty impressed with this little guy. The size and weight is awesome. It is easily concealable and ya dont even notice the weight of it. I normally conceal a smith model 19 2” 357, and the hellcat is even more comfy. I forget its there. It fits the hand perfectly, has an awesome grip texture, great sights, is surprisingly accurate, very manageable recoil for follow up shots, holds twice the ammo of the comparable glock 43, nice crisp trigger/reset, no typical springfield backstrap safety, super easy breakdown and cleaning... gotta say i have yet to find any complaints about it. Pretty happy! i think springfield hit a homer with this one and reset the bar for micro compacts. Check one out if you are in the market for a new pocket pal!

This is my next one

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Colt Cobra .38 spl , S&W J frame .38 spl , .44 spl Charter Arms , Colt 1911 .45 acp . Why ? I like them .

 

[FergusonTO35]

I like 40 a lot, and am not arguing here. But, after 20 years in the Air Force (ANG), and multiple years on the shooting team (plus 25 years with Security Forces), I know what I define as functional accuracy and practice. If I can't practice relatively comfortably, I'm not going to shoot well when the chips are down. I too' pray to God that I never have to use a firearm for its principle purpose, but I intend to be VERY proficient with what I carry, or I won't carry it. Too much is on the line should a failure happen at the worst possible moment.

This, 100%. I carry nothing but mild cartridges in guns that I frequently practice with. If you are carrying a gun that you are unfamiliar and unpracticed with, or (even worse) afraid of, then you really are doing yourself and others a disservice. At my side job shop we get alot of folks looking for their first carry gun or home defense gun. I always advise something that is simple to operate and mild in terms of recoil and muzzle blast. For some folks, the only realistic choice is a .22, such as an elderly lady in a wheelchair who just needed a gun to keep in her house. She was much more comfortable aiming a rifle from the shoulder than holding up a handgun of any sort. A little Rossi autoloader fit the bill perfectly, and came with fiber optic sights that were easy for her to see.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Anybody here ever own or shoot either of these?
I'm looking long and hard @ these two!!!
P320-M17 - (1) 17rd / (2) 21rd Steel Mags

Springfield XDm w/22+1 capacity

 

[Big1066ih]

Anybody here ever own or shoot either of these?
I'm looking long and hard @ these two!!!
P320-M17 - (1) 17rd / (2) 21rd Steel Mags

Springfield XDm w/22+1 capacity

I have a standard 320 full size, haven't shot it much but I like the size of it and the little bit I've shot it I'm consistent with it.

 

[Locust Cutter]

I've played with three or four CD-M's, but not that one. It would likely be a fine weapon, and I like them very much. I've only played with one P320, and it's my Dad's full-size standard in 40S&W, and I love it. It's my P250 with a shorter trigger pull.

Either one should be quite suitable for any task that an auto loader is used for, minus concealed carry.

On a different note, I did buy a Hellcat yesterday, and put 50 rounds through it this afternoon. I was shooting handloads with 115gr Zero bullets, W231 powder and remington primers. Should have been getting 1160fps out of a 4" barrel, so no clue what it was doing out of the Hellcat.

Observations:
1. I like it MUCH better than the G43, G43X, and P365 (but the 365's trigger IS better). It its my larger hands better, but is still VERY easy to conceal. The sights aren't built for Bullseye competition, but benchrested, I shot 5-10rd clover leaves the size of a quarter at 10 yards. Offhand, I was shooting 50 cent piece groups WHEN I got my grip pressure just right. A bit too much or too little and I either went High/Right, or Low/Left 4-6".

2. The mags aren't terrible to load, but I will get an UpLula for range sessions.

3. The trigger may be a source of recall or a class action, as if you place your trigger finger too high on the trigger, you'll miss the blade safety entirely, and it won't fire. You'll have to let off your pressure, readjust downwards, and re-apply. I had no malfunctions, but given the other XDs I've played with, I didn't expect any.

4. The recoil wasn't bad, but it does add up. It's not nearly as snappy to me as the G43 and the P365, but you'll have to master your grip mechanics before pulling off any functional double-taps.

The first pic was the first ten rounds out of the gun at 10yds, off-hand, firing upon sight acquisition. The second is the toy, and the third is my Wood Stacking companion.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

I've played with three or four CD-M's, but not that one. It would likely be a fine weapon, and I like them very much. I've only played with one P320, and it's my Dad's full-size standard in 40S&W, and I love it. It's my P250 with a shorter trigger pull.

Either one should be quite suitable for any task that an auto loader is used for, minus concealed carry.

On a different note, I did buy a Hellcat yesterday, and put 50 rounds through it this afternoon. I was shooting handloads with 115gr Zero bullets, W231 powder and remington primers. Should have been getting 1160fps out of a 4" barrel, so no clue what it was doing out of the Hellcat.

Observations:
1. I like it MUCH better than the G43, G43X, and P365 (but the 365's trigger IS better). It its my larger hands better, but is still VERY easy to conceal. The sights aren't built for Bullseye competition, but benchrested, I shot 5-10rd clover leaves the size of a quarter at 10 yards. Offhand, I was shooting 50 cent piece groups WHEN I got my grip pressure just right. A bit too much or too little and I either went High/Right, or Low/Left 4-6".

2. The mags aren't terrible to load, but I will get an UpLula for range sessions.

3. The trigger may be a source of recall or a class action, as if you place your trigger finger too high on the trigger, you'll miss the blade safety entirely, and it won't fire. You'll have to let off your pressure, readjust downwards, and re-apply. I had no malfunctions, but given the other XDs I've played with, I didn't expect any.

4. The recoil wasn't bad, but it does add up. It's not nearly as snappy to me as the G43 and the P365, but you'll have to master your grip mechanics before pulling off any functional double-taps.

The first pic was the first ten rounds out of the gun at 10yds, off-hand, firing upon sight acquisition. The second is the toy, and the third is my Wood Stacking companion.
View attachment 238479 View attachment 238480 View attachment 238481

"The trigger may be a source of recall or a class action, as if you place your trigger finger too high on the trigger, you'll miss the blade safety entirely, and it won't fire".
YIKES!!
Locust Cutter...I certainly appreciate the thorough and intelligent data report and your analysis.
Hmm...I'd been also been looking at the Hellcat as well...if someone is not a seasoned shooter...that trigger SNAFU could be the difference between life & death!
Is there an alternate for a potential trigger swap on this gun?

 

[Locust Cutter]

"The trigger may be a source of recall or a class action, as if you place your trigger finger too high on the trigger, you'll miss the blade safety entirely, and it won't fire".
YIKES!!
Locust Cutter...I certainly appreciate the thorough and intelligent data report and your analysis.
Hmm...I'd been also been looking at the Hellcat as well...if someone is not a seasoned shooter...that trigger SNAFU could be the difference between life & death!
Is there an alternate for a potential trigger swap on this gun?

I see it being more of a problem for those with smaller hands, and/or a lack of commitment to muscle memory. The only way I can make the trigger NOT function, is to hook around the side, applying pressure to the right side of the trigger shoe, prior to making contact with the safety disconnector. IF you do that, it won't go, and the more you squeeze, the more it'll mechanically bind, as the safety is doing exactly what it was meant to do.

My finger isn't small enough for a high hold straight-on pull while missing the safety, but I have medium Grizzly paws. Those with slender fingers, and/or smaller hands, could very easily grab high in a high-adrenaline moment and miss it entirely.

Now, if you consciously make an effort to alter your grip mechanics, (lots of dry fire practice), at the moment that you insert or sweep your trigger finger into the trigger guard opening, by sweeping the floor of the trigger housing, with your trigger finger, you'll never miss and will make solid contact. But for those who maybe are carrying, but not doing their due diligence by spending a decent amount of time periodically with that weapon, both live and dry, it could be a problem. Equally easy would be for those with multiple toys, and or already ingrained muscle memory concerning trigger address with other, less-picky triggers (Single actions, Double Actions, many other striker-fired 1.5 actions)...

I'm not going to sell it, and I think that it'll work fine for me, as it fits me better than any other single stack subcompact that I've shot to date, beyond maybe the Walther PPS, and is fairly pleasant to shoot. BUT (there's always 1), I will have to commit to a decent amount of dry-fire practice, especially from concealment, to alter my trigger address mechanics, as I tend to use a high address, which makes for a bit heavier, though shorter pull. I'll have to revert to the long-leverage pull where you travel more, at a lighter weight.

We'll see what I think after I have 500-1K rds through it, but for now, I'll stick to carrying my P250, while practicing as often as possible with the Hellkitty. When I can get to the point of drawing 50 times from concealment (dry, then hot), w/o a high hold, and lack of shot, AND I can keep my shots at 15 yards w/in a 12" box off-hand whether snap fire, or shooting quickly, I'll carry it. I don't mean to damn it with faint praise, as I really am impressed with it so far, I just believe in sober honesty when talking about tools such as this, and the purpose for which we buy them. I don't want to have to use a fire extinguisher either, but I damn sure know how to use them.