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I am looking for a small 9mm to carry once I get my CHL. I own a 9mm XD subcompact and LOVE it at the range but it is too heavy and bulky for me to wear on my person (concealed) comfortably. I want something that is thin and light enough to wear in a holster inside my pants or even one that comes with a pants clip you can attach. I don't want to have to buy special clothing just to conceal my gun. Also, I would prefer to be able to attach a pinky extension if necessary. I held a Kel Tec PF-9 at a store and really liked the size and feel of it but I haven't heard very much good about Kel Tec. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Thanks for your time!!!!

Take a look at the new Taurus PT709 Slim, it may be what you are looking for. They are running $349 at Academy.

I was just looking at a Glock 26 on an auction website. Neat little gun. Holds 10 rounds I think....not sure.

I just found an incredible website on compact carry pistols. Check it out:

http://www.best9mm.com/compact9mm.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This would be a great reference website. I'm saving it to my favs folder.

The 709 slim is a great size, and fires a decent round (9mm). Far better than a .380.

Depending on your budget, a very similar sized 9mm is the Walther PPS. The grip length varies depending on whether you carry with the 6, 7, or 8 round magazine.

I carry mine 7+1 and a spare 8 round mag in the pocket.

joe817 wrote:I was just looking at a Glock 26 on an auction website. Neat little gun. Holds 10 rounds I think....not sure.

I just found an incredible website on compact carry pistols. Check it out:

http://www.best9mm.com/compact9mm.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This would be a great reference website. I'm saving it to my favs folder.

+1 on the Glock 26. After all, it is a Glock.

InfoTechCHL2007 wrote:

joe817 wrote:I just found an incredible website on compact carry pistols. Check it out:

http://www.best9mm.com/compact9mm.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This would be a great reference website. I'm saving it to my favs folder.

+1 on the Glock 26. After all, it is a Glock.

I'd rather you make a comment on the neat website I found instead of that ugly G gun.

Kahr makes some very compact singlestack 9mm (and .40 and .380 and .45) pistols. I have a P-9 - it is finicky about ammo, but runs well with what it likes. I have heard more good comments about the steel frame versions (e.g. K-9) than the polymer frame (P-9).

My wife and I have just gone through the same process and ended up buying a Ruger LCP. I know it is a 380 but hear me out

When we were looking she really liked the feel of the Glock 26 but the frame wasn't that much smaller than her Glock 19. The Ruger turly is an easy gun to conceal.

A gun is a personal choice, every one is going to have their favorite model, type, caliber and make. What is important to one, may not be to someone else.

My own criteira for a CC gun is (in order of importance for me)

Reliability -The Glocks we own have never failed on us. The Ruger only did on the second bullet and I put that down to the shooter rather than the gun.
Accuracy - The longer guns have the edge of a subcompact but over the distance you may have to use the gun a moosegun will probably do the job.
Concealability - The Elsie wins this one hands down. I can conceal my Glock 30 just fine but without a doubt the Elsie is far and away easier to drop into the pocket and go.

As for price the Glocks will run you a little more than an Elsie (about $150 more) but the ammo for a 380 is hard to find and it isn't cheap when you do find it.

My recommendation is to find someone who will let you shoot a variety of guns and see how you like the feel of them before you buy. I know a really nice lady who has a good collection and will probably be happy to let you try a few.

I know there are Glock haters, and that the gun isn't going to win any beauty pagents but the gun is supposed to be concealed anyway so who will see it? I like the Glocks because they run, they have only got a trigger safety, and they are accurate. That works for me.

YMMV

joe817 wrote:I was just looking at a Glock 26 on an auction website. Neat little gun. Holds 10 rounds I think....not sure.

I just found an incredible website on compact carry pistols. Check it out:

http://www.best9mm.com/compact9mm.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This would be a great reference website. I'm saving it to my favs folder.

joe817, thanks for the link.

Let the research begin for a new pistola ....and I can blame you now when the wife asks me why I got a new gun.

The easy part is caliber. Get something that starts with a '4'. Be it a .40 or .45, you will be far better off than a .380 or a 9mm. That said, if recoil is an issue, go with something smaller, but as big as tolerable.

If your looking for a wheel gun, cant beat the good old .357. Again if recoil is an issue, the .357 can shoot .38 specials as well. My wife carries a S&W 340PD loaded with .38 special, and for a snubbie its a great carry gun. In fact, when my atire prevents me from wearing one of my .45s, I put the wheel gun in a pocket holster, and off we go. Word of warning though, the 340 is a very light framed gun, and will leave a mark on the hand when your loads are hot and heavy! I came across the gun in an estate sale, and bought its big brother, the 329pd with it. The 329 is a .44 magnum. I only shot half a box through it before selling it to a Game Warden in Oregon. That thing left a bruise even with good shooting gloves!

joe817 wrote:

InfoTechCHL2007 wrote:

joe817 wrote:I just found an incredible website on compact carry pistols. Check it out:

http://www.best9mm.com/compact9mm.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This would be a great reference website. I'm saving it to my favs folder.

+1 on the Glock 26. After all, it is a Glock.

I'd rather you make a comment on the neat website I found instead of that ugly G gun.

OK, OK. It is a great website. It provides an aggregate of the information you would have to search all over to find and compile yoursefl otherwise.
Honestly, I think my Glock 30 is a fine-looking weapon...then again, I think "beauty" of weapons lies in the combination of their form, function, accuracy, and proven reliability.

Kevinf2349 wrote: I know there are Glock haters, and that the gun isn't going to win any beauty pagents but the gun is supposed to be concealed anyway so who will see it? I like the Glocks because they run, they have only got a trigger safety, and they are accurate. That works for me.

As a fellow Glock owner, I know you are just referring to the physical simplicity of the Glock handgun with regard to the single, external trigger safety. For those out there who may be less familiar, the Glock has three safety mechanisms:

• Trigger Safety: An external lever mechanism contained within the trigger that prevents the trigger from moving unless the lever is depressed.
• Firing Pin Safety: A spring-loaded pin attached by an extension bar to the trigger assembly blocks the striker from striking the primer of the cartridge until the trigger is pulled.
• Drop Safety: The far end of the same extension bar locks the striker into place from the rear until the trigger is pulled.

(courtesy: http://www.glockworld.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

InfoTechCHL2007, Kevin, CompVest, and alllll the MANY Glock fans out there, I meant no disrespect about the G gun. There can be nothing bad said about it. After all it's THE most popular LEO weapon of choice out there, or has been. And it is known worldwide for its reliability...not question about it.

Beauty is indeed the eyes of the beholder. Gosh, I have a Ruger, and a LOT of people think it's the most ugly gun they've ever seen. One persons ugly is another persons beauty.

joe817:

My CHL instructor had a Ruger P89 and he always used to joke that it was an ugly gun,
that it was tough enough to use as a hammer, but he said that if he ever had to use it
for self defense at home, it was the first of his several guns that he would grab.

Get this: He bought this gun, very few rounds, from a music student at UNT in Denton.
The kid's dad had given him the gun, but the kid wasn't a shooter.
So he sold it for $150!!

Good deal on an almost new pistola.

SIA