Favorite Inexpensive Compact CCW Pistols

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MrGiggles

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I bought a Smith and Wesson SD9VE almost a year ago. It's a great pistol, but I'm not sure it'll work that well for carrying IWB.

So, I'm looking at more compact options that will be more conveniently carried. Like the Tarus PT738, Ruger LCP, etc. I played with a Diamondback DB9 at a local gun shop as well, the owner seemed to like them, but they have hit and miss review online.

The Taurus seems like a good value at only 199.99 from Academy, but I've never been there when they had them in stock to feel it in my hands.

I strongly prefer 9mm, but I'm okay with 380. Looking at the 300 dollar range.

I'll be taking the CCW class in September, so I have plenty of time to decide.

Open to all suggestions, don't mind buying used either.
 
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MrGiggles

In the $300 range there's a couple of Taurus 9mm. pistols that might fit your budget. Buds Gun Shop has a PT789 (7 rd. mag), for $229 and a PT111 G2 (12 rd. mag), for $259. There's the KelTec P11 (10 rd. mag), at $250 and for a little bit more a Kahr CW9 (7 rd. mag), is available at $348. Found a Bersa Thunder UC Pro (13 rd. mag), but it's quite a bit over budget at $404. I consider these guns to be of fairly decent build quality for the price point that they go for.
 
I bought a P11 two or three years ago on a whim because it was $250 out the door. It is probably the best all around concealed carry gun on the market if price is factored in. 12+1 of 9mm flush in about the smallest 9mm pistol you'll find...not bad.

The down side is that it is a handful to shoot. Not a range toy, and while mine has been 100% reliable in my hands, I have seen it have 2-3 failures per magazine for other shooters. Same gun, same ammo, so I say that's the shooter not the gun, but I suspect some people blame the gun.

I bought a .22lr converter for mine but only have a few hundred rounds through it, most of that with a silencer, so the jury is still out.
 
The newer taurus guns get good feedback. The PT709 slim is a small single stack that can be had for 199.99. I have the pt111 g2 which is a little larger and double stack (12rds). I only have about 300 round through it because I just bought it, but it had been 100%reliable and accurate for its intended purpose. The only thing I don't love about it is the trigger. It has a very long take up and brakes at the very rear of the pull. The reset is very short and noticeable though and follow up shots are easy to make. You might be able to find a Kahr cm9 for around 300 if you look around. That is one of the smallest single stack 9s I have seen close to your price range
 
Also if you sign up for PSA email blast they regular run the Taurus 709 and 111 g2 for 199.99 and the Ruger lcp for the same amount. Whitaker Guns and Kentucky Gun Company also usually have good deals on them
 
The newer taurus guns get good feedback. The PT709 slim is a small single stack that can be had for 199.99. I have the pt111 g2 which is a little larger and double stack (12rds). I only have about 300 round through it because I just bought it, but it had been 100%reliable and accurate for its intended purpose. The only thing I don't love about it is the trigger. It has a very long take up and brakes at the very rear of the pull. The reset is very short and noticeable though and follow up shots are easy to make. You might be able to find a Kahr cm9 for around 300 if you look around. That is one of the smallest single stack 9s I have seen close to your price range
I tend to agree. I wanted a PT111 but they were sold out the day I went to buy. So I went with my back up plan, the PT709 Slim. I haven't shot it yet (just bought it a couple of weeks ago) so I can't validate function yet, but it feels great in the hand with the pierce extension and quite small/thin for its size. I actually LIKE the trigger myself. It does have a long take up but it is a crisp break with a very short reset. I much prefer it over any DAO small pistol trigger on the market. It's easy to manipulate and feels like it should be a good shooter, much like the reviews it's gotten.

Like I said I won't recommend it since I haven't shot it but it's something to think about.
 
For the budget you described, I would say shop for a used Ruger LC9. Or bump it up a bit and get a new one. I don't like 380- less power and more expensive than 9mm. I prefer the S&W shield 9 or Glock 43, but outside of your stated budget.
 
You might want to look at a Sig P938 and the SAS version specifically. You'll need to train with the 1911 style safety.

I'll take 3 if I find them at the op's $300 limit.
There are several decent guns in this price range. The Taurus offerings mentioned in other posts are great value guns. I own a PT111 G2 and a TCP. Both have been 100%. Kahr has some nice pistols for about $300. Look at their CT,CW and CM lines. I have A CM9, a CT9 and a TP45. Sccy 9mm pistols are very affordable too.
 
Although I favor full-size auto-loaders and have never worried about price point, I've acquired a couple Taurus PT-111s along the way, and they've been quite reliable along with being more than acceptably accurate. Should add that I found a PT-145 (.45 ACP) Millenium Pro a ways back that was incredibly accurate and totally reliable. Family member on a budget picked up a Taurus PT-709 that's also been 100% reliable, feels good in the hand, points well and is pretty accurate to boot.

For a bit more, the S&W Shields are great, and their triggers are much improved. Noted a few recommendations for the Ruger LC9/LC9S pistols, but those triggers are pretty heinous and the ergos aren't even as good as the Taurus offerings ...

Still, I'd pony up the extra bucks and go big (dollar-wise) -- my current favorite little-bitty 9mm pistol is the SIG P-938, simply a terrific little gun. A quality steel handgun will last far longer, provide much better accuracy and, in the end, probably prove its worth in the long-term reliability department ...
 
The Taurus 709 and PT-111 G2 are nice options for the price. I had a PT-111 and ended up selling it to my father-in-law, who needed an affordable 9mm. Main reason I sold it was I didn't like the trigger, or more specifically the amount of takeup. Really a personal thing, my FIL likes the trigger alot.

After selling my PT-111, I ended up buying a Shield in 9mm. If you can bump your budget up to $350, the Shield and Ruger LC9s would make great options. The Shield trigger is ok, IMO the LC9s is one of the nicest triggers I've felt aside from my CZ's. The LC9 trigger, though, is really long and nowhere near as good. Both of those options have a better customer service reputation than Taurus, better build quality IMO, and better aftermarket. I understand the budget, though, so if you can't bump it up to that range the Tauruses make a decent compromise.

I really, REALLY wanted a P-938 like Old Dog mentioned, but ended up going with the Shield so that I could afford more ammo, extra mags, holsters, etc.. The 938 would have maxed my budget out, so I had to pass but I would like to get one eventually.
 
My PT709 didn't work well with my hand size, so I traded it in on something else, but it did function well.

For the gun that is so easy to carry that it will always be on you, I would recommend a P3AT or an LCP. MY P3AT has yet to malfunction in the five years or so that I've owned it. The LCP is basically a copy of it that has a good reputation.

I have a "pocket nine" that I like, but it is only marginally pocket-sized. My P3AT can be carried in any weather in any clothing that I would ever be out and about in.
 
My 3 favorites happen to be the only 3 I carry 99% of the time. LCP, G2, Shield.
 
Having owned or at least shot most of the pistols mentioned I would have to say the TCP is easily the best and can be pocket carried easier than most of the other pistols.

I personally carry a G42 most of the time, but it is a little more expensive.

The Bersa CC is almost exactly the same size as the G42 and IMO is a fine gun with an 8+1 capacity.

I do pocket carry the TCP when I want a little less bulk than the G42.

By the way, these micro guns are frequently ammo sensitive, but not so it's the TCP and G42, they both have been 100 percent with every brand of Ammo I fed them.
 
I too have to recommend the Taurus PT-111 G2. Awesome gun for the price. Always considered it to be one of the "Diamond's in the rough" from Taurus.
 
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