CCW Recommendations

I had the LC9 for a while and really liked it. I sold it for more than I paid for it when the big scare happened. I wouldn't hesitate to own another one, now though I have a Kahr CW9 and I am very happy with that as well, it has a way easier trigger than the LC9. You could also check out the CM9 which is almost the same as the CW9 only smaller.

I have no experience with Taurus, I have heard lots of bad about them so I just stayed away. As of late it sounds like they are improving though.

Edited by wally247 2013-06-15 9:42 PM

1) Ammo of any caliber is difficult to come by right now unless you want to carry a 22-250 or a .270.

Ignore caliber, seriously. You can get just about any caliber, it'll just cost a bit more than it did before 2008.

Whenever anyone asks about a carry gun, here's what I wrote up some years ago:

How to look for a carry gun, for anyone, any gender, any race:

Go to a well stocked gun store. Ignore all advice about caliber and size for the moment.
Pick up, handle, aim (at where the ceiling meets a wall) and rack all of them. Cock the ones that are double action. Drop the hammer and see how it's done on all of them.

You will find out that quite a few feel like hell or you cannot rack them or something else. Be picky as all get out here. If you "Just don't like it" fine, next!

This will bring you down to a few. 4-6 probably.

Go to a gun store that rent them. Rent all these finalists. Buy a box of ammo for each. You will absolutely hate one or two of them and won't much like others. You'll probably be down to 1-3 you still like.

NOW start thinking about ideas like "Stopping power" and other gun store terms. Only use this if you're not already down to one you like best.

If you have a tie, rent each on different days and shoot about 100 rounds through each on its day. You'll probably really be down to just one by now.

Get a gun belt and spend the money on a good holster.

For females, read this:
http://corneredcat.com/

I agree with Daniel, except that many of us don't have access to rental guns. Also, some shops still freak-out about pressing the trigger on an empty chamber, "dry fire". Any half-decent centerfire will be fine; modern metallurgy lets the firing pin or striker take quite a bit of beating.

Find what fits YOU well. What do you like the feel of? What can you operate the controls of (slide release, magazine release, etc) without having to contort your hands?

Some "gun store commandos" are fixated on specific calibers, manufacturers, models, whatever they used when they were with "Army Force Recon" or the "Navy Pra-Rescue Rangers" (I've heard some of the best BS stories), but some actually do know quite a bit. Listen to what they have to say, but stay skeptical and take it all with a few grains of salt.

Chris,
I heard good and bad reviews about Taurus.. The main thing I hear is jamming.. I wanted to buy the Ranging Bull .44 mag, but havent. its not a polished weapon.. meaning you can see the milling marks.

9mm is a great weapon. For my carry piece.. I have the smith and wesson bodyguard .380. great piece. I have big hands. It has received some great reviews as well. It has a built in 2 stage laser (solid and blinking). but if you want a 9mm.. glock 19 (compact 9mm).. I have the 17 and the 21 (full size 9mm and 45).

Since Walmart has gotten out of the business of weapon.. it has made it tough to get rounds at a decent price. seems that none of the sporting stores have rounds.. I was at dicks yesterday... everything but what i needed.. grrrrrrrrr

Daniel covered everything well. But I will add... educate yourself on how guns work so you know what you are feeling. Do you want a revolver? Single action? Double action?

I hate the LC9 because it doesn't fit my hand at all, others will love it. I hated the trigger on the bodyguard, much too long a pull for me.

If you want the gun to carry concealed try to keep it as small as you can, a small not so accurate gun that you have with you is much better than a bigger gun that you might shoot better but will leave it home because you can't conceal it well or it is a pain in the rear to carry.

I personally ended up with the Sig P938. I tried LCP, LC9, Kimber Solo, SW Bodyguard, Sig P238 and the Sig P938. I liked the feel and trigger on the p238 the best of all the .380s I tried, then I went to measurements and weights to see if I could get a 9mm that was close to as small and light as the .380s the P938 is the same gun as the 238 just slightly bigger in the grip and .5" longer and a few ounces heavier. I decided I could live with that for the extra fire power. I installed a stainless steel trigger on it and it is butter now. I really liked the feel of the Kimber but reviews are that it is very picky on ammo and the gun is expensive $750 and up. The P938 has eaten everything I have put thru it.

Good luck and have fun shopping!

Oh I forgot... I haven't ever heard anything good about Taurus Semi Autos. The revolvers are fine, my dad has 3-5 of them and they all work great but I have never heard a good thing about the semi's.

Edited by Aarondb4 2013-06-17 11:30 AM

Now that we've had the expected Taurus bashing, I'll throw in my $.02

I've got a Taurus 607 and have had it for ... ummm ... 15? years. Never had a mis-anything with it. Always goes bang. Okay, the porting does tend to make it loud as hell but a heavy .357 with ports makes for no real recoil even with full house loads. Great top drawer gun. Wouldn't carry it unless I wanted back problems later as it's heavy as all get out.

I've got a Taurus PT1911. WONDERFUL gun. It's a 1911 with all the nice things to have already on it, commander hammer, beavertail grip safety, flat mainspring housing, ambi safety.

I bought it and took it and 500 rounds of .45 with me to the range the same day. Out of the box, I ran some sewing machine oil down the slide cuts and started shooting. Not a single hiccup. In the kitchen thread the target on the 'fridge is 500 rounds of .45 through the Taurus. I've carried this thing and would literally bet my life on it.

Yeah, I'd buy another Taurus in a minute. BTW, lifetime warranty. If it ever screws up, even if you bought it used, they'll make it right.

(edit) Dunno if it makes any difference to your buying leanings but Ruger was also a backer of the original assault weapon ban. -eh- that might throw this into the political joe forum but just in case you're into such things.

Edited by DanielG 2013-06-17 12:00 PM

I was shopping for a while and it came down to the bursa Thunder and the Sig Sauer P232. Went with the sig because it was sexy, and the German Engineering appealed to me - simple and clean. Like the Walther PKK, but sleeker. I think the advice here is good. You have to be comfortable with handling it, or it will sit home.