What compact to get?

[Teamless]

My wife and I both have 9mm pistols, but full size (well her 19 is not quite full, but it is "hers").

She got me a S&W Sigma, and I got her a Glock 19 (yes, she got the much better end of the deal, but I do actually like shooting the Sigma).

Anyway for a concealed carry, I still want to stay with a 9mm, just on ammo price and availability. 380 rounds are double 9mm rounds, and hard to come by, and 40 caliber, while I would like the stopping power over a 9mm, I would never be able to afford to even practice with it.

I would like to get something that is reasonably priced, functions well out of the box. I don't care about brand (as long as I can find it in Houston anyway)
So based on that, and knowing that, at least for now, I am not going to get an entire store in my house, just a small compact to carry.
The only 2 qualifiers, has to be a 9mm and has to be a semi-auto.
What would you suggest?
What are the pros of the pistol?
What are the cons?
What would be a fair price for the pistol you suggest? (if you know, if not, I can certainly google it)

thank you

[LarryH]

CZ75D PCR compact
STI Guardian in 9mm

both are approx 4" barrels

[RPB]

I carry a Glock 19 on right hip, AND a Glock 26 (with a Glock 19 Magazine and spacer) on left hip + a Glock 17 extra magazine which fits either........ That should get me to the car where two 33 round mags are.

Point I'm making is magazine compatibility.
I put Advantage Tactical Sights (Orange rear+Yellow Front) on both Glocks, and Lasered both Glocks.

If you like Glock at all, I'd get a 26..... get about four 33 round mags, tape one upside down of the other, and keep one set of 66 in the house and one set of 66 in the car.

[silverbear]

I carry a Glock 19 on right hip, AND a Glock 26 (with a Glock 19 Magazaine and spacer) on left hip + a Glock 17 extra magazine which fits either........ That should get me to the car where two 33 round mags are.

Point I'm making is magazine compatibility.
I put Advantage Tactical Sights (Orange rear+Yellow Front) on both Glocks, and Lasered both Glocks.

If you like Glock at all, I'd get a 26.

[Teamless]

I would love the Glock 26.
I've held it, it seems to be about the right size, but its about $500, and that is, well, out of the price range that I can justify.

[joe817]

Here's a pretty comprehensive listing of 9mm sub-compacts:

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

The Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro & Springfield XD are carried by several of the forum members. I sure like the looks of the Beretta PX4 Sub-Compact.

So take your pick. I'm sure that you'll get a lot of varying opinions!

[TLynnHughes]

I carry an H&K USP Compact in my purse or on my hip (depending on what I'm wearing and where I'm going) every day. I really like it.

T.

[jedwil]

I would love the Glock 26.
I've held it, it seems to be about the right size, but its about $500, and that is, well, out of the price range that I can justify.

If $500 is out of your range you might look at the Taurus. I looked at the Glock 26 and Springfield XD9SC today at Bass Pro.
Both are over your limit. I came home with the XD9 at $529 plus tax. I think the Glock was $549. FWIW, the XD9 felt better to me, but I have not shot it or the Glock.

[TLynnHughes]

Ooops...wasn't paying attention to price goal. The Taurus PT-111 Mil-Pro falls in the under $500 range. I carried that before I carried the USP Compact. It's a right dependable compact that's a lot of fun to shoot. (However, you will find some on this forum that do not like Taurus.)

T.

[seniorshooteress]

Save up and get the Glock 26

[Scott in Houston]

Honestly, I think your requirements are unrealistic.
I don't see a price restraint, but if $500 is and that isn't 'reasonably' priced, I'd suggest saving.
Anything you buy for a lot less in 9mm is going to be crap that I wouldn't ever trust my life to.

Find a used Glock for ~$400... that's likely your best option given your constraints.

[Travis]

Go to the gun show, they sell them new for $449. Go on Saturday morning and ask everyone that has a glock box in here hand if they want to sell, I got my Gen 3 Glock 27 from the last gun show at the GRB convention center from a LEO for 350 and it still had the gold in the slide. Don't be afraid to ask people at a gun show if they want to sell, that's why they are there

[MojoTexas]

Here's a pretty comprehensive listing of 9mm sub-compacts:

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

The Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro & Springfield XD are carried by several of the forum members. I sure like the looks of the Beretta PX4 Sub-Compact.

So take your pick. I'm sure that you'll get a lot of varying opinions!

I have one of the early Taurus PT145 Milleniums (not the Pro). For the money they're not bad compact pistols. I've never had ANY problems with mine...it's not my most favorite pistol that I own, but I still think it was a great value, and it shoots well and is easily concealable. If you're on a tighter budget, you might look into the PT111. Otherwise also look at the new Springfield 9mm XDm with the 3.8" barrel. One of my buddies recently bought one and it's NICE! It'll go for over $500 though.

[A-R]

Depends how "compact" you want/need to go. The baby Glocks really aren't THAT MUCH smaller than a G19 (I have both a G23 and G27 - G27 is my regular carry, G23 is my bedside gun, but could carry if needed and not much more difficult than G27).

If you want a short double-stack 9mm, then G26 is the best available IMHO (get a used one if you can't afford new). There are plenty of other good double-stack subcompact 9mms from S&W, Springfield, Taurus, Bereta, Ruger just came out with a subcompact SR9, etc.

But to really get a substantially smaller package than a Sigma or G19, you should look at single-stack 9mms. Your price point rules out Walther PPS and the upper-end Kahrs. But there are others ....

Other than some early reliability problems I've heard, I like the overall size and feel of the Taurus 709 Slim. My only dislike is the trigger, which is a bit "goofy" to me, but many others really like it. They're about $380 at Academy last I looked. Check around for updated reports on reliability and warranty issues/repairs with this gun.

Also one of the Kel Tecs is very similar size to the Taurus above.

I believe Kahr CW9 is about $450 new?

And, as I tell everyone looking for a smaller, easier to carry package, I would STRONGLY recommend a snub-nose .38 Special revolver. Everyone should have at least one such gun in their arsenal. They are so versatile - can be carried in front pocket, jacket pocket, IWB, OWB, ankle - you name it. I'm partial to S&W J-frames, especially the older "Bodyguard" style with shrouded hammer (but not "hammerless") ... i.e. 438, 638 in the newer models, 38, 49, 649 in older models. Ruger LCR gets rave reviews too. And Taurus makes good J-frame knock offs.

[MojoTexas]

And, as I tell everyone looking for a smaller, easier to carry package, I would STRONGLY recommend a snub-nose .38 Special revolver. Everyone should have at least one such gun in their arsenal. They are so versatile - can be carried in front pocket, jacket pocket, IWB, OWB, ankle - you name it. I'm partial to S&W J-frames, especially the older "Bodyguard" style with shrouded hammer (but not "hammerless") ... i.e. 438, 638 in the newer models, 38, 49, 649 in older models. Ruger LCR gets rave reviews too. And Taurus makes good J-frame knock offs.

I picked up a J-Frame recently from my father, and it's become my "lounging around the house in sweat pants and a t-shirt" gun. If I ever had a home invasion situation it would allow me to fight my way back to my bigger calibers, and when the weather gets warmer I have a feeling I will be carrying it more and more.