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New to the forum. Going to buy a concealed carry weapon. My Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P is too large to comfortably conceal. I’m trying to decide between the Bersa .380 or the Kel Tec P-11 9mm. Which of the two are the better all around conceal weapon? Any reply will be greatly appreciated.

Kel-Tec PF9

I got mine

There is a M&P compact version.....I handled one over the weekend and really liked the feel of it.

http://www.gunblast.com/SW_MPCompact.htm

mr surveyor wrote:Kel-Tec PF9

I got mine

Cool! How about a report?

KBCraig wrote:

mr surveyor wrote:Kel-Tec PF9

I got mine

Cool! How about a report?

mine is in the R0Pxx serial number range, which in KT terms is around the 2800+ off the assembly line.... and flawless. I have only made three range trips with it, and only fired a couple of hundred rounds through it so far.... flawlessly. Having been a previous owner of a very functional P11, an "o.k." Sub2000, a flawless P32 (for the wife), and a trouble prone "early manufactured" P3AT Second Generation, I have experienced many aspects of the KT products. Even with the grief casued by my P3AT, I never gave up on KT making it 100% (if there is such a thing) reliable. Three trips back to Cocoa, over a two year period, and it came home a winner. Almost the same week my P3AT came back and gave me that total feeling of a perfectly concealeable "new" gun, I got the call from a dealer friend that he had a single PF9 delivered that day. Within 2 hours I was at his shop with a "trade gun" and some cash, and in another couple of hours had stripped, cleaned and lubed it and was at the range. I fired 100 rounds of mixed Aguilla, MagTech and even aluminum Blazer without a hiccup. The trigger was somewhat reminicent of my formerly owned P11, but I think even lighter. I haven't checked it with a trigger scale, but guessing I would say it's in the 7-8 pound range - not bad for a DA only pistol. The recoil is not so bad for such a light weapon, particularly of you had been accustomed to the P3AT for comparison. It is a bit more perceived recoil prone than my Kimber Compact Stainless, but a about half the weight that's understandable. The accuracy is not bad either, again considering it's conosidered a self defense weapon and NOT a target gun.

I took this photo to post on another forum after the second range trip:





I like my PF9

Just wanted to mention a possible alternative, in case you hadn't seen it. You might look at the Kahr CW9, which is definitely lighter and thinner than the Bersa. We have a Bersa Thunder 380 that the wifey uses, but neither of us would consider using it as a CCW. It is too big for the power output. It is however a very good pistol for the price, if you can get one for under $240. If you just have to have a .380, then a Keltec P3AT would be much easier to conceal than would be a Bersa.

The PF9 will be cheaper than the Kahr, but I do think that the Kahr has a much nicer look and feel to it, which might or might not be important to you. Either would make a better CCW than would the Bersa.

PhilR.

+1 for the Khar CW9

Thanks for the report, mr. surveyor. If you don't mind telling, what did you pay for that little gem? I'm fancying one myself as a vehicle/hideout/tacklebox/whatever gun.

Oh, and check your personal messages. I sent you one right after you joined. We might be neighbors!

Kevin

I have to put my .02 cents in for the Kahr line also.

Here's my .02

The M&P full sized is not a bad gun to carry. Conceals very well.

The M&P compact is the same operating system as the full sized and conceals much better.

The Kahr is a great gun also and a fine alternative.

I have no experience with the Kel-Tec.

Steve

KBCraig wrote:Thanks for the report, mr. surveyor. If you don't mind telling, what did you pay for that little gem? I'm fancying one myself as a vehicle/hideout/tacklebox/whatever gun.

Oh, and check your personal messages. I sent you one right after you joined. We might be neighbors!

Kevin

I'm curious...

Now where the heck do you have to go to go hideout???

Somebody chasing you???

The Bersa 380 Conceal and Carry was my first pistol. Only one glitch and that was at CHL qualifying. None since.
Very thin and very accurate. I just do not do the DA/SA very well.
Sig has spoiled me with the DAK.
The Bersa is a gun that is easy to carry.

I find the Bersa to be an easy carry.

Think long and hard before considering a polymer Kahr . . . my P9 was so bad that Kahr gave up trying to fix it and ended up replacing it. "Most" of them seem to work OK now, but if you search other firearms forums you'll see people are still having problems . . . too many for me to have a warm fuzzy feeling about buying a new one.

You really need to try before you buy.
I looked at a Bersa last year offered by a friend at a great deal, like new. But it did not fit my hand very well. The KT P11 fits it like a kid glove for some reason, so I've stayed with that.
Try before you buy.