Carry Choice Question

XenoSaber

XenoSaber

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I am looking for a good carry gun. I was looking at the PPS, but I like to carry with a round in the chamber and that's not going to happen with the PPS. I also don't like the fact that I have to waste time racking the slide to get it ready. I am looking for a weapon in 9mm or .40S&W that is small, has a safety, preferably decocking and light if possible. I'm also in MA so that limits my selection even more. I'm basically just looking for a list of weapons with these traits. Once I get the list I will take a look at all of them and decide.

If I have to I will try to decide if I want to go with a .380 like the PPK or the Beretta, but I would really like the extra power of the 9mm or .40S&W.

Thanks in advance.
 
I think you'll find that the Sig Classic P Series semi's would be in line with your needs. I carry a P229 .40 comfortably. The P239 is a bit smaller and some prefer that. I guess you really should go to gun shop and look at them. They are nice, reliable, and accurate pieces.

Edit: The Sigs do not have a safety but do have a decocker. Not sure if that's what you're looking for.
 
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Thousands and thousands of police officers and soldiers around world carry the Glock and Sig... with no external safety... and no issues. Why do you feel you need an external safety? Follow the 3 rules of firearms safety and you will never have an AD/ND.

But... if you must have an external safety... There are the beretta's... S&W semi autos (908, etc)... Ruger SR9... HK's...
 
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Sounds like your set on an auto. For me a carry piece first & formost has to be reliable so for autos I only trust Glock.
Safe action, no complicated safeties. Drawbacks: no real positive loaded round indicator. So always check! Recomendation: G26.
Personally I feel a S&W J frame is the most reliable and safe form of carry.
Autos require more operations & stricter parameters to function. Just this mans opinion.
 
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Sig P239 is a nice pistol. Plus if you get the .40 you can also pickup a 9mm conversion barrel. They are very accurate pistols and small, but a bit on the heavy side which helps in the recoil department on a .40.
 
Kahr PM-9 is smaller than the PPS and has an external saftey.

A good holster and proper trigger/muzzle discipline will absolutely prevent an ND.
 
Timber said:
how about an XDm?
Click to expand...
Can't get an XD in MA (at least, not easily or cheaply).

Sig P239 is a nice pistol.
Click to expand...
He said that he wants a gun with a manual safety. Sigs have decockers, but no manual safety.

I am looking for a weapon in 9mm or .40S&W that is small, has a safety, preferably decocking and light if possible.
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There are not a whole lot of guns that have both decockers and safeties. HK USPc meets that criteria, but they are hard to find in MA and not particularly small.

Beretta 92 series meet that criteria, but they are not small.

S&W third generation might be your best bet -- e.g., the 3913. Personally, though, I think that slide-mounted decocking/safety levers are the spawn of the devil.
 
Try a Sig DA/SA in a gunstore. No manual safety, but you'd have to work hard to negligently discharge that first long, heavy double action pull. You might be comfortable with it despite your manual safety requirement.
 
If I was going to go with a .380, I would probably go with either a PPK, PK380 or a Beretta 85FS. I already own a Beretta 92FS and have fired and like the 85FS. I must say that I do like the PK380, that would give me all the features I want and the look of the P99 that I like without the bulk. Looks like I may just have to settle on a .380. Then again, I do have a DOD Clearance so i guess I qualify to carry the PPK and all :-)

So many choices!!!!

I guess what I need to know now is how much stoppage can you really get with a .380? The bullet is basically the same size as a 9mm, just less umpf. Also what is the largest grain of .380?
 
It seems that you can safely fire up to 115 grains. Even at 95 with hollow points, I'm a fairly decent shot, so I think that would be sufficient. I think for now I will just go that way. I just hate that .380 ammo is so hard to find right now. And now the wait to see when I can get a PK380.
 
XenoSaber said:
I like to carry with one in the chamber, but not without a safety. With my lick I'd blow my junk off. :-)
Click to expand...

Why not? All modern pistols and revolvers designed for carry have safeties. They may be internal ones like firing pin disconnects, drop safeties, etc. You could bounce a Glock or a Sig or a Walther or just about anything else down 10 flights of stairs like an evil black slinky but it still won't go bang until you pull the trigger.

It's not like you're going to carry an old cowboy action revolver, right?

My opinion: External safeties (on quality modern pistols or revolvers) are NOT a "good thing." A good holster, trigger finger discipline, and the gray matter between your ears are the only external safeties you need or want.
 
Another vote for the S & W CS9. It has both a decocker and a safety.

That, and I have one I just may sell you if with a crossbreed supertuck. if you are interested PM me.
 
Neptune Cat said:
Another vote for the S & W CS9. It has both a decocker and a safety.

That, and I have one I just may sell you if with a crossbreed supertuck. if you are interested PM me.
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And because I am a dork I even have pics of both. Put Hogues on the 3913 and kept it as it's just a great pistol. 4 Seasons has a used one FS.

764784952_wLU2h-M.jpg


764784969_9CLDV-M.jpg
 
I occasionally carry a PPKS in 380. Walther has a nice safety / decocker. Accurate light and fun to shoot, but ammo right now is scarce. I like to carry in warmer weather when my officer 1911 is difficult to conceal
Tank
 
P99C fits what you are looking for. I have the full size version and I love it. It's comfortable, light, de-cocker and loaded chamber indicator, accessory rail. It also looks very similar to the PPS that you originally wanted with all the features you want.
 
As a retired LEO I have a couple of choices that I used for a backup and still carry. Sig 250C in the .40 and the new .357 sig.(Just received the barrel last week after a year plus of waiting) Also the Glock 32 (.357)
Yesterday I bought the FNH five seven and once I get comfortable I think it will make a great cold weather clothing carry. I read some good and read some bad. Anyone on here have any good or bad experience with the gun? Would like some input good or bad.
 
Porkey said:
As a retired LEO I have a couple of choices that I used for a backup and still carry. Sig 250C in the .40 and the new .357 sig.(Just received the barrel last week after a year plus of waiting) Also the Glock 32 (.357)
Yesterday I bought the FNH five seven and once I get comfortable I think it will make a great cold weather clothing carry. I read some good and read some bad. Anyone on here have any good or bad experience with the gun? Would like some input good or bad.
Click to expand...

There was a thread about the five seven a while back. Consensus here was that it was a crappy caliber and nobody would ever carry it. I'm not sure that I agree though - it seemed to work OK for Major Hasan.
 
jasons said:
There was a thread about the five seven a while back. Consensus here was that it was a crappy caliber and nobody would ever carry it. I'm not sure that I agree though - it seemed to work OK for Major Hasan.
Click to expand...

If you measure for a good carry gun is a lunatic's ability to kill a lot of people, then sure, the five seven will suit you just fine. But you probably have different priorities than the rest of us.
 

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