? MOST-RELIABLE CARRY SEMI UNDER $800.

[PaulD]

The OP seems to live in a free state so consider some of the following choices:

- HK P2000SK
- SIG 239
- Springfield XD sub compact
- S&W M&P9c
- Kahrs of varies types including the P380 (if you want something really small)

 

[44marty]

Still waiting to hear from the OP why he has ruled out wheelguns.
Whatever you choose will obviously be a compromise between what fits you and what feels comfortable to your wife. I would take the time to find used guns in good shape so that you can each have your own for the $800 budget.

 

[atmay]

Still waiting to hear from the OP why he has ruled out wheelguns.
Whatever you choose will obviously be a compromise between what fits you and what feels comfortable to your wife. I would take the time to find used guns in good shape so that you can each have your own for the $800 budget.

Some of us just seem to be incompatible with wheelguns. Maybe that's why.

 

[Coyote33]

I'm wondering if that "COEXIST" thing from Amazon's posts is available as a T-shirt.

 

[M1911]

Have her try the slide on a Kahr PM-9. I picked up a PM-9 during the tax-free weekend because I wanted a tiny semi. I am not a huge fan of 9mm, preferring the .45 ACP instead, but sometimes size does matter. I've got a few hundred rounds down that little sucker already and I find it to be 100 percent reliable, shoots tight groups and easy to handle.

I have four Kahrs: K9, MK9, PM9, and K40. The PM9 is a pocket gun. That is really its only purpose. Same for the MK9.

For me, the K9 is easy to shoot and does not have much felt recoil. The MK9 is a bit harder to shoot, and has a bit more recoil. The PM9, being much lighter, has significantly more felt recoil. The K40 is just downright unpleasant.

If we are talking a gun for purse carry, home protection, or belt carry, the K9 is just as easy to carry as the PM9. The K9 slide is also easier to lock open than the MK9/PM9. The longer grip and larger sight radius makes the K9 much easier to shoot as well.

Some folks seem to think "smaller woman so small light gun," but that small, light gun will typically have a lot more felt recoil and many (not all) new shooters are somewhat recoil shy.

 

[wolf223]

But I just got burned by the "Walther" PK380,
so it's personal.

And what about the kind folks who smacked their screen to debug your post ?

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb...oducts-for-me!!!!-*update-post-42*?highlight=

i hear ya. i ended up with a PPS after my PK380 and couldn't be happier. crappy ma triger and all...

 

[Amazon]

I'm wondering if that "COEXIST" thing from Amazon's posts is available as a T-shirt.

That would make a cool tee! I've seen it (similar) as a sticker: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120556508233&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

I think I also found the creator of the image and they were talking about tees at one point but looks like it never came to be. The above sticker evolved from there: http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67153&page=11

To the OP - Sorry to hijack...if this goes any further we'll start a new thread.

 

[SemiAutoSam]

While its on the upper edge of 800.00 its still my favorite gun, and hence I have to praise it.

A few instances of it being just under the 800.00 line in the sand.
http://www.google.com/products?q=SIG+P229+&hl=en&aq=f

 

[45collector]

Someone mentioned Makarov. I've got two and I love those guns. You will hear of how it doesn't make sense to buy a gun in 9x18 that is bigger than some 9x19's. It is a good point, but a quality Makarov is top notch in reliability. I have tried and cannot make that gun jam. Limpwristing and all. Ammo can be had pretty cheap. The traditional models hold 8+1 which is better than most compact 9x19's. You can find Russian commerical models that have 10 and 12 round capacities too. The Makarov is one of the most simple semi auto pistol designs ever made. 27 parts in all. A nice Bulgarian or East German can be had for $200 - $325.

Jeez I sound like a salesman! It is a great gun though. Good enough for the KGB, good enough for me!

 

[Coyote33]

I mentioned the Makarov. At 9x18, it falls between the .380 (9x17) and the 9mm (9x19) in size.

I am in need of a decent holster though. I think there was a company called Red Star or Red Storm, but the guy got in car crash and stopped making them.

 

[45collector]

I use the same Don Hume clip-on IWB holster for the Kahr K40 and the Makarov. (It was molded for the Kahr but also fits the Mak perfectly)

I bought one of the cheapo nylon IWB holsters from Makarov.com when they were still selling stuff, and carried with that for a while. It was comfortable, but it wouldn't take very much for the gun to fall out of the holster. "Slippery" padded inside makes the gun able to slide out very easily. Not secure enough for my piece of mind. Plus it colapses so you need two hands to re-holster. Most of my IWB holsters now are leather with reinforced mouth.

 

[S. Kelly]

Go with a Glock 19. They are reliable, durable, light and cheaper to shoot than most other calibers.

 

[nheric]

I carry a Bersa thunder 380 when i dont feel like lugging around my 1911 and it is a great little gun i have put few hundred rounds through it with out one problem, and it is very accurate even my 12 year old son can keep all the rounds in the nine and ten ring at 15 yards. I no worries carrying a good accurate .380 a couple in the chest would give any bad guy a bad day.

 

[Coyote33]

Ruger Event

 

[GSG]

To the OP, the big question in my mind is how much has your wife shot and carried before? These two things will have a huge impact on things.

Glock 19, but I would skip the porting.

This.

Another reason to consider a wheelgun.

Weak hands and heavy triggers don't match up very well IMO.

I am in need of a decent holster though. I think there was a company called Red Star or Red Storm, but the guy got in car crash and stopped making them.

Savvy shoppers behind the Iron Curtain knew to check the production dates of products before they bought them. Depending on what day of the month his Chaika or Zhiguli was made it may have weighed three times as much as a normal one or been missing critical parts in the rush to meet the production quota, which was often determined strictly by weight. This may have had something to do with his car accident.

OK, but on a serious note, Andy Langlois is a custom belt/sling/holster maker on this forum who might be able to whip something up for you.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/forums/96-Andy-Langlois

The only way to find out would be to ask him though.