This is my first post as I am new to this forum. There is a wealth of information here that I am looking forward to exploring!
But for now I have a question...
I am going to be getting my cc license soon and I don't know which pistol to get. I have been considering the Ruger LCR .357, SA XD 3.8, or a 1911 model.
After looking at and handling a few different 1911 I had pretty much decided on a Kimber Crimson Pro Carry II... But after reading the overwhelming amounts of dissatisfaction with their quality of product as well as customer service I decided against it.
I live in Texas within 15 minutes of the STI factory and I like the look of the Guardian and their reputation for quality is high from what I read.
I also read good reviews of Colt 1911s on this, as well as other sites.
I own Glock 17 that I love but am def. looking for another one to carry that is slightly smaller... about a 4 inch barrel.
I know the XDs are good but the bulky-ness of it turns me off a bit. I had the opportunity to shoot the XD 9m a few months ago and I was consistently more accurate then my glock.
I am just looking for thoughts and suggestions. Pros and Cons for different manufacturers and models... seeing as I have never carried before its hard for me to make a well informed decision. Thats why I'm askin!
A Glock 19 is probably one of the most popular CCW guns, that and various forms of 1911s.
I have a number of Glocks and 1911s and I like them all, but currently, I'm favoring and carrying a S&W M&P in 9mm and have a M&P in .45 that I'll be carrying after I get some more rounds through it.
I am almost at the two year point in my ccw journey. My first self-defense pistol was a Sig P226. :blink:
I had done a little reasearch and preferred the feel of the 226 to the 229. I got a decent deal on what was to become the Dark Elite - beavertail grip, short-reset trigger, short trigger, and night sights. It's not labelled "Elite", and it has standard Sig grips.
My wife chose a Kimber Ultra Aegis II in 9mm because it fit her hands well.
Lots has changed as we have learned and experienced the cc life. My wife started having trouble racking the little Kimber, so has switched to a S&W 642 (Lady Smith) Airweight revolver. Point and click.
I liked her Kimber so much, I bought myself a Kimber Ultra CDP II in 9mm. It has been my carry gun for almost two years. I really like it. The P226 was relegated to home defense duty as it's a bit large for everyday concealed carry.
However, I have hemmed and hawed and finally got a Glock 19 for my birthday this year. I am awaiting my Crossbreed holster for it. I found Crossbreed to be excellent holsters and have one for the P226 and am relying on one for the Kimber when it's not in my deep concealment rig under my shirt.
I am in the process of moving toward the Glock now as my EDC. Just today I picked up a leather OWB holster for when I don't need IWB concealment. I still plan to carry the Kimber for deeper concealment, as the little 1911-style rides comfortably under my arm in my under-shirt, crossdraw holster on muggy days or on long road trips.
After two years, and several makes, my personal advice would be to take a long, hard look at the G19. I wish I had started with that. I now have a few thousand dollars tied up in Kimber and Sig, and although I can't see getting rid of them, the Glock 19 seems like such a good, all-around workhorse, I wish I had begun my journey there. It would have saved me lots of money.
My wife and I orginally standardized on 9mm, and even though she now carries .38 special loads in her S&W, I am comfortable with the price/availability/performance ratios for the 9mm NATO round.
Have been carrying a Glock 30 (45ACP) for about 4 months now in a Crossbreed supertuck and love it. I also carry a S&W 642 snubbie when i am wearing something like dress clothes that doesnt go very well with the glock... i carry either in a pocket with a desantis superfly, or in an Uncle Mike's ankle holster. My guess is that you have to carry for awhile until you get the feel of what is right, and what is wrong... The only gun to date i have been dissatisified with is my KeTec P3at... have put 500 rounds through her and she still does not work properly. cant wait to get rid of it!!! Bunker
The G19 is one of the best 9mm handguns available. A 1911 is a great choice also, but not for everyone. I own and carry both, depending on circumstance. I trust my Colt and my Glock equally.
I can not stress enough how beneficial a good rental range is. Take the time to rent or borrow EVERY gun you possibly can and shoot at least 100 rounds each. Unless you are wealthy or married to an extremely tolerant spouse, buying a new gun every other month will cause you problems.
Internet opinions are worth less than what you pay for them. What works for some may not work for you. What you deem important may not factor in for some one else. Read and listen to reviews and opinions, but learn for yourself, hands on, whenever possible.
If you love your G17, why not a G26 (Smaller) or 19 (smaller but higher cap than 26)? I have to agree with you on the XDs. Can't get past that look. Can't help you on the STI question.
GLOCK 19, no question about it. You are familiar with GLOCK and the 19 is the perfect mix of reliability, capacity, concealability, and simplicity. There are plenty of tricked out pistols out there that are more expensive, more finicky about ammo, need more fluff and buff to make them work right, require break-in, and have better warranties (that you'll probably have to use). The nice thing about GLOCK is you can open the case, load the magazine, load the pistol, and go into battle if you need to.
Welcome from Kansas, you've come to the right place.
I do love my Glock. Its very accurate for me and I am very comfortable with it.
As far as what caliber to carry... 9mm ok? .40 or .45ACP better? I seem to think the stopping power between those calibers is not that much of a difference. Although they are different calibers, is it really going to matter?
This has been debated ad nauseum. I did some research, and feel the cost/efficacy/availability tradeoffs suit me fine. I am very pleased with my 9mm choice.
With Speer Gold Dots as personal defense ammo, I am well-protected. Practice ammo is cheap and plentiful.
That question you ask (are other calibers "better") begs several other questions. Ultimately, the ability to place rounds COM is final.
You Glock guys are amazing at your hype. STI makes a good gun and if you can find one at a good price it would not be a bad choice especially if you live that close to the factory. If you shot well with the XD, you might want to look into the regular XD9SC. It is a 3" version of the XD with a shorter mag well. Keep in mind concealed is just that and some of the larger guns may not conceal well. I have a Springfield 1911 that is a tremendous gun but it is just too big for me to conceal. The shooting part though is as important as the conceal. Carry what you are comfortable with and what you shoot well. After all, in the unlikely event that you have to shoot, you will probably be about 50% as good as you are on your best day. Good luck!
I'm not a glock guy, just dont feel right in my hand and the angle is strange for me. But guess what! your not me. I must say if you have a glock that you love, get something similar maybe another smaller glock. (im not to familiar with model numbers in glock).
What i do know is that I've been carrying for all of... 3 weeks now. couple of observations I've made tin that time. First time you carry a loaded gun on your hip on your routine places you will feel strange. after about a week, you will feel strange without it.
I carry a sig229 OWB (don hume). im surprised at how well it conceals in this set-up. One thing I'm sure you've seen over and over again is make sure you have a good belt.
I realize i probably didnt help too much with your original question, but if your permit is coming soon these are some things i would have liked to hear.
That sounds good.... I think I am going to get my hands on an STI to try and go from there... The G19 fits beautifully in my hand today so that might just have to be it!
I suggest a Glock 19, and here's why:
No external safeties to manipulate means less tasks to master before your proficient.
Very safe and reliable. Gun only fires when you squeeze the trigger, and ALWAYS fires when you squeeze the trigger.
Capable of excellent accuracy.
Will run dirty or clean.
Will feed any factory ammo.
Will last for 100s of 1,000s of rounds.
A new is around $500 - pretty cheap these days, and new factory mags are only about $20.
Parts, accessories, and armorers are easily accessible.
Light and conceals easily, along with 15 + 1 capacity.
I suggest a Glock 19, and here's why:
No external safeties to manipulate means less tasks to master before your proficient.
Very safe and reliable. Gun only fires when you squeeze the trigger, and ALWAYS fires when you squeeze the trigger.
Capable of excellent accuracy.
Will run dirty or clean.
Will feed any factory ammo.
Will last for 100s of 1,000s of rounds.
A new is around $500 - pretty cheap these days, and new factory mags are only about $20.
Parts, accessories, and armorers are easily accessible.
Light and conceals easily, along with 15 + 1 capacity.
Very well said! But you're missing the fact that all 9mm glock mags are compatible with each other.
I carry the smallest 9mm glock, the 26 and sometimes carry a 15 round G19 mag in it if I'm going out to the west side of town, other wise I carry with the stock mag in the gun and the G19 mag as a back up with a spacer to fill the gap.
Go with the Glock 19 it is totally reliable, concealing it is outstanding, and it is simple to maintain. But the biggest reason is that it holds 15 +1. Often we think we maybe shooting only one bad guy in the Walmart parking lot, often they come in groups of 2-3. You want enough rounds to take care of the main perp and then his buddies. G19 does the job. Best of all, put it in the dishwasher to clean it after a hard day of sending rounds down range.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Defensive Carry
5.4M posts
117.5K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to defensive firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about everyday carry, optics, holsters, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!