Concealed Weapons Pistol

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I recently sent off for my Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) – and am considering my options for a carry pistol.

My full sized rig is a Smith & Wesson M&P9 – which I love but is a little too large for everyday carry.

I have looked at several pistols – primarily in the calibers of 9mm and .380 Auto . Most of the .380 pistols I have looked at were too small for my liking – so 9mm is most likely it for me.

Here are my Top 5+ Choices:

1. Taurus MILLENNIUM PRO™ 111 9MM PISTOL IN BLUE STEEL ($400 give or take)

CWP, Taurus 111

2. Glock 19 9mm Compact ($550 or so)

Glock 19 concealed weapon

3. Ruger LCR .38 Special ($400)

Ruger LCR, CWP pistol

4. Walther PK380 .380 Auto ($400)

Walther PK380

5. Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm ($350)

Kel-Tec PF-9 

6. Smith & Wesson M&P9 9mm - Why not? – Maybe I will just carry what I have already!!

Smith &Wesson M&P9, S&W M&P9,

 

Once I receive my permit – I plan to carry daily. Years ago I lived in New Hampshire and had a CWP – and carried a Glock 17. One difference between then and now is the weather. I now live in the Southeast and just do not where the same bulky coats and cool weather clothes as much of the year.

This weekend I am going to my local gun shop which is 2 miles from my house – and take a much closer look. I am hoping to make a final decision over the next week.

Right now I have to say I am leaning in he direction of the Taurus.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks and take care -

Rourke

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categories Defense, firearms, Weapons | September 28, 2010

23 Comments to “Concealed Weapons Pistol”

  1. By Wisewolf, September 28, 2010 @ 1:54 am

    I didn’t notice a .45 cal on your list. I encourage you to check out the Kimber compacts or the Springfield XD’s as well. I’ve had my CWP for 2 1/2 years and have always carried my Kimber Ultra Carry II. .45 cal. 7+1, with 2 spare magazines. I use an IWB holster and carry in the 4 O’Clock position. I purchased my holster from Wild Bills Concealment, and was very pleased. My wife carry’s a Taurus .38 revolver, but she wants to get a .380, either a Ruger or a Kel Tec. As she wants something that had a thinner profile.

  2. By Preppin, September 28, 2010 @ 2:01 am

    I carry an M&P 9 compact fitted with XS big dots in a Raven concealment holster. In the rare circumstance (generally when I have to tuck my shirt in) that I can’t take my M&P 9C with me, I carry a Kahr P380 in a Fricke pocket holster. The M&P 9C is every bit as good as it’s big brother, and I now carry that instead of my Glock 19. Food for thought …

    - Preppin

  3. By 3rdMan, September 28, 2010 @ 2:10 am

    I carry a Glock 27. It works well for me. During summer I wear cargo shorts and dark colored tshirts, which covers the pistol well on my hip. I carry in a Blackhawk Serpa holster.

  4. By TIM, September 28, 2010 @ 4:58 am

    hello. i carry a kel-tec p11.i carry conseald every day with this gun. i have had many diffrent brands and sizes but love this one. i have the clip installed to carry in the waist band with no holster needed and the p11 is a little wider but hit holds 11 rounds. i have polished the feed ramp and recoated the slide because there finishing of the slide is a little ugly. i can tell you with complete truth i have put to date 650 rounds through this cheap but well built pistol and it has never jamed or misfired EVER. you cant go wrong with a kel-tec.

  5. By Justus, September 28, 2010 @ 10:53 am

    Friends don’t let friends buy Taurus….. speaking from experience, I’ll never buy the brand again
    I vote the KelTec, they’re the default b/u with our Law Enforcement up here.
    I carry a P-11 in the warm months.
    How about the M&p9c? Can it use your M&P9 mags if needed?

  6. By jjmurphy, September 28, 2010 @ 11:52 am

    My wife just bought a Ruger LCP 380 Auto for her concealed carry. (Her first gun ever!) Like you, I have a S&W M&P9 and love it but it would be way too big for concealed carry, IMO. We fired her gun this weekend and she really liked it. She allowed me to try it and I have to say when I can afford a real concealed carry gun the Ruger LCP 380 is probably my choice. Small, easily concealable, feels solid, and the kick is not bad at all. I just need to get used to the long trigger pull on the Ruger.

  7. By Six, September 28, 2010 @ 12:19 pm

    You’ve got some good choices there. I tend to stay away from .380 simply because you can get a 9mm in the same size package. I also keep my revolver carry to a minimum unless it’s cold out and I have pockets to carry speedloaders which tend to be a bit bulky. My current carry is a Glock 26 with 2 extra mags. I carry with either a pancake, IWB and for those really hot days……a fannypack. Now I know fannypacks get a bad rep but allow me to defend them.
    First. Buy one that is any color except black. Dead giveaway. My current pack is flourescent green and carries the logo from a local print shop (It was a promotional item). Second. It’s big enough for the gun (including your S&W), both mags and a small maglight. Third. If you practice diligently, as you should with any holster, you can get pretty quick presentations. Last. Hey, better a gun in a fanny pack then no gun at all.
    If it was me looking to buy I’d probably choose the Glock but then, I’m admittedly a bit biased.

  8. By wagmon, September 28, 2010 @ 12:34 pm

    Here’s a thumbs up for the Taurus. The big seller for me is the shooting comfort. A lot of the compacts can be painful to shoot after a while – but the Mill Pro feels like a full sized pistol. I like the price too…

  9. By JeSter, September 28, 2010 @ 12:47 pm

    Good choices. I’m sure you’ve probably looked at it, but I would suggest the Ruger LCP for max concealability. My wife is small framed and 5’2″ and you’d NEVER know she was packin’.

  10. By Rourke, September 28, 2010 @ 5:36 pm

    I have had good experiance with Taurus. Having held the Taurus MILLENNIUM PRO I really liked the feel. The smaller tiny guns just are not comfotable for me.

    Rourke

  11. By Rourke, September 28, 2010 @ 5:38 pm

    I suspect the .380 is out – going for a 9mm or larger.

    Rourke

  12. By Rourke, September 28, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

    I looked at the Ruger and thought it was a nice gun. I have pretty much decided that for now to go with 9mm or larger.

    Thanks – Rourke

  13. By Rourke, September 28, 2010 @ 5:41 pm

    I have had good experiance with Taurus – what happened to turn you against them?

    I am hearing good things about Kel-Tec’s – seriously considering them. Need to get my hands on one soon.

    Rourke

  14. By Rourke, September 28, 2010 @ 5:43 pm

    Kel-Tec looking beter and better. I have never held once so want to compare the size and comfort to the Taurus MILLENNIUM PRO.

    Thanks for the info –

    Rourke

  15. By Justus, September 28, 2010 @ 6:52 pm

    Taurus is extremely comfortable and very affordable…. my issue with them is getting service and spare parts. I bought three of their 24/7 Pros, one had no issues, the other 2 had the light firing pin strike problem. I’d heard that their service was hit and miss so I placed an order for the parts to fix them myself and ordered a selection of the common replacement parts for the future. 9 months later I still had no parts. Several phone calls to Miami taught me that all the parts had to be shipped from Brazil and spend eternity in customs until the ATF cleared them. This was about 3 years ago. I sold the Taurus’ and am sticking with Glock and KelTec, parts are abundant and their reputation is outstanding, (and no safeties to fiddle with)

  16. By Rourke, September 28, 2010 @ 7:45 pm

    Good info!

    Rourke

  17. By Beprepared, September 29, 2010 @ 1:31 pm

    A loved one bought a Millinium Pro in .45 as an occational carry piece but I urged them to not depend on it heavily as (mentioned above) the parts are hard to get and I have heard horror stories of the frame pins breaking during recoil causing seperation of frame and slide.

    I urge you to do your own history on the weapon, but that was enough for me.

    Being also from the SE I find little problem in carrying my G30 in a Gould and Goodrich 890, IWB holster. In summer I just drape the t-shirt over it, winter is even easier. I find that leather makes all the difference against my skin when it is sticky out, I used to have an Uncle Mikes soft sided IWB holster for the Glock, but it was far from comfortable in all-day wear. For formal occations the S&W Model 60 rides either in my pocket or in an ankle holster, in winter it’s a BUG on my boot under my jeans.

  18. By Rourke, September 29, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

    Appreciate the information. I will certainy do additional research – and probably post the results.

    Thanks – Rourke

  19. By glenn, September 29, 2010 @ 3:22 pm

    I have seen the keltech for around $300 they look like solid pistols. Depending on how much you want to spend have you looked at the Kahr CW9

  20. By Patriotme, October 4, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

    A lot of the pistols that you listed really aren’t that small. The Glock 19 is more concealable than the Glock 17 but it’s still a decent sized gun. I’ve had my concealed carry permit for years but don’t carry all that much. I’ve decided recently to start carrying all of the time and have begun looking for a dedicated concealed carry gun. I’ve looked for the Keltec PF9′s but the stores in my area cannot keep them in stock (that tells me something). I also like the Kahr CW9 and am leaning towards this gun. When you consider that the Kahr is stainless it’s not that much more expensive ($440) than the PF9 with the stainless slide. Of course Kahr mags are high as hell.
    I have also been looking at the Taurus CIA (model 851) in .38 Special, the Ruger LCR and the S&W Model 438. They all seem to be quality revolvers but I have to say that the Ruger has the best feel and the best trigger.
    If you don’t get a small lightweight gun then you will not carry it once the novelty wears off. I’ve been there. Most of my handguns are full sized and fun to shoot. The wife has a snub nosed .38 S&W that is not really that fun to shoot but it is very carryable. Of course it’s her gun so I’m not going to carry it everyday.
    Here’s a good website with stopping power stats. Everything does not have to be a .40 or .45cal. Good luck. Let us know what you finally decided on.
    http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=0

  21. By Patriotme, October 4, 2010 @ 3:52 pm

    It’s worth checking out this little hottie on YouTube just to…..well…..check her out.
    She’s a gun girl and show’s off how she carries concealed. She can carry a Ruger LCR in just about any outfit. Now I know that we men carry a bit differently but if she can do it then most of us can as well.
    Type in:
    Ruger LCR Concealed Carry Holsters & Outfits for Women on the YouTube website.

  22. By Rourke, October 4, 2010 @ 5:26 pm

    Thanks for the comments.

    I am still looking – really want to get a Kel-Tec in my hand – I have never held one before.

    Thanks – Rourke

  23. By Rourke, October 4, 2010 @ 5:27 pm

    I will check her out tonight –

    Thx -Rourke

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