Carry weapon suggestions for a noob

[kudzu]

My main requirement is it be slim. I'll sacrifice capacity for slimness in this case.

For carry, you are right to give slimness a high priority. The second most important factor, to ME, for carry is weight. Neither height nor barrel length is as important to comfortably carrying concealed as thickness and weight.

Having tried many gun and holster combinations over the years, I have settled on a Kahr P9 in a Minotaur MTAC holster. I have been happy with that combination for several years and felt no need to experiment further.

No matter what any of us on-line suggest or recommend, you will have to find what works for you. And, unfortunately, as you gain experience, your priorities will likely change.

 

[ArchStanton]

A lot of very good advice. I realize that I will have to find my own way with this, but the advice of a lot of experienced gun owners helps me find where to start.

What I'm getting from this thread is I don't necessarily need a subcompact for carry. In my mind, when I think concealment, I think of something like a Derringer. So in that vein, I've only had subs in my mind.

Also what I'm getting is that Kahr makes some really good small weapons that are good for concealment. Thinking about it more, I would probably carry IWB instead of pocket. Something about it just moving around in my pocket scares me, I'd rather have it secured firmly to my belly/waist.

Anyway, y'all have given me some seriously good information to digest, thanks a lot!

 

[Coyote3855]

I carry the Kahr P9 inside waistband. The .380 goes easily in most pants pockets. If you elect to pocket carry, you should use a holster to keep the gun secure and clean. Don't carry anything else in that pocket. DeSantis makes some pocket holsters that work well and aren't very expensive.

 

[jackpinesavages]

Welcome, and congrats. The M&P line is incredible.

Look at the 9c and 40c-both incredibly accurate and surprisingly "soft" shooters.

Check out the Glock 30 and 36.(.45ACP) The 36 is referred to as a "single stack", as the magazines only accept ammo. in a single column, making it more slim.

Also check the revolvers from Smith and Wesson: J-frames. Very concealable and accurate.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Consider a small caliber for pocket carry, I find the P32 is amazing, EXTREMELY light, it's literally SMALLER than my wallet.

I like .32 since you get more rounds AND it's easier to shoot quickly, at the range you use a pocket mouse, you don't need a .45 you need a gun.
http://mouseguns.com/semis.htm
VERY informative site

 

[Soldiernurse]

Walther PPS. imo its the best "slim pistol" on the market, and that is including the Kahrs

Lee D, I agree!

 

[Hondo 60]

Shadow 7d said: it entirely depends on you
what I value in a gun you may hate
what I find a fine tradeoff you may consider an unreasonable compromise

Shadow 7D hit the nail on the head.
My personal carry piece is a Kel-tec PF-9.
It's very slim, holds 7+1, but has some recoil to it.
It's not a gun you take to the range & run 150 rds through.
But as a fired-seldom, carried-a-lot piece it works for me.

I hope you find the exact right gun for you.

 

[3KillerBs]

When my DH finds his M&P 9 too bulky to conceal in the day's clothing (NC summers are HOT), he borrows my Taurus 709 Slim.

I think that the only way to get my 9mm back full-time will be to buy him a Ruger LC9. LOL

 

[kim breed]

just learn to draw and shoot. shot placement is the key.

 

[Chuck R.]

Another vote for the PPS.

It’s slim, the trigger is pretty good, and I prefer it to the long smooth pull on the Khar. With the different capacity mags it’s pretty versatile going from almost sub-compact to single stack service pistol.

Most importantly to me, it IS a pistol I can (and do) take to the range for a long session. The PPS actually shoots like a “full” size pistol. The recoil is very manageable and the sight radius and trigger makes it pretty accurate at distance.

Its pretty tuff to find a pistol that conceals and shoots well, IMHO the PPS comes pretty close to doing both.

Chuck

 

[ArchStanton]

I shot a Kahr CM9 and a Kel-tec PF-9 yesterday and didn't like either of them.

I was fairly accurate but it felt like the thing was going to fly out of my hand every time I pulled the trigger. The last pistol before my M&P that I shot regularly was a Ruger Super Redhawk .44, so I'm used to some recoil, I'm just not used to recoil without my pinky being wrapped around the grip.

I'm going to try to shoot the 32 Shadow has been suggesting. I just don't see how I'd ever be able to shoot one of those two accurately unless I got a grip extender mag...

 

[Shadow 7D]

PROPER GRIP
really, I like the P32 because it's a LOCKED BREACH (unlike every other current generation of .32 pocket gun) and lacks the hard edges I found on the NAA or cheapies (raven locrin davis etc.)

You really have to practice, sorry but that's about it, and unlike the PF9, I actually like to shoot my P32 at the range. Trigger could use some help, but hey, can't have it all.
and the sights kinda suck, I can shoot a fist size group at about 7 yard BUT I hit about 2" low, as I was aiming at about head height, well, that's OK.

The way you use the smaller round is aim for 'vulnerable spots' such as 'Mozambique' drills and retention position shots (belly aimed upward into the torso)
Mouse gun's are for shootouts, they are for ending fights.

 

[el Godfather]

Can I suggest Sig Sauer p220 elite carry?

 

[MCgunner]

Suggesting a carry for someone, newb or otherwise, is worth what it cost ya. What I like is a DA or DAO pocket gun. It must fit in a pocket or I won't carry it all day, every day. Down here, I'd bet probably 70 percent pocket carry year around. I started out 16 years ago thinking in terms of a bigger gun IWB, but it just doesn't work all day 24/7 for me. You have to figure these things out for yourself.

 

[roknjs]

Kahr PM or CM 9. 100 rounds of fmj, and three types of hollow points through my PM9 without a hiccup.

 

[thefamcnaj]

There is really a lot of "slim" offerings on the market these days. You have the Kel tec pf9, ruger lc9, ruger lcp, beretta nanno, Kahr cm, cw, pm, and p 9. Some of the before mentioned guns are offered in the .40 s&w(well mainly the kahrs). Then in .45 you have the glock 36, Springfield xds .45 and most single stack 1911's are slim.
These small slim frame guns are really "snappy". Follow up shots can be difficult and hard to remain accurate. I own the pf9 and lc9 and neither see the light of day because I can't prove to myself at the range that I can make quick adequate follow up shots. The slim pocket .40's are out of the question for me as its snappy no matter what gun it comes out of it seems.
Since you like the m&p have you considered an m&p compact? I know its not the thinest gun in the world but for me I chose to go with a bigger gun(g19) because its easily controled.The m&p compacts are really nice shooting guns.
With that said if you have to go with a "slim" model, I'd vote Kahr. I can shoot my buddies kahr pm9 a lot better than I can my pf9, or lc9. Kahr also seems to have realiability, accuracey, and comfort nailed down better than all other companies when it comes to the pocket pistols.

 

[m39nut]

Absolutely 100%. And by the way, I have the full size M&P9, exactly the same dimensions as your M&P40. With a good holster and good belt, it's not hard to conceal. on my frame (5'11, 165lbs, 32" waist).

That being said, my Kahr is easier to conceal. Most of the precious posters have already listed some very good options you may want to consider.

+1. I used to carry a full size M&P 40 with no issues and I am fairly light(also a 32" waist). Now I carry a CZ75BD which is even bigger in a High Noon Slideguard and under a loose T-shirt you can't tell it is there.

 

[jrdolall]

I recently decided I needed a pocket pistol and picked up a KelTec PF-9. It easily fits in the pocket of carpenter style shorts or jeans and is about the size of my smart phone so it is very "concealable".
Drawback. It is very "snappy" and follow up shots would not be accurate if fired quickly. At 7 yards it might be accurate enough but I now am considering some of the pocket .380s since they have less recoil and follow up shots should be more accurate. I imagine that 2 well aimed .380s will be as effective as 1 good shot with a 9mm?

 

[Byrd666]

If you are looking for a thin/slim weapon for daily carry, take a look at the RugerSR series. I have a SR9 full size and am quite impressed with it. 17+1 capacity that is as slim or slimmer than my EMP .40, and lighter as well. Ambi controls for the south paws. And I like the trigger better than the M & P, and it's about the lightest pistol I have. Even loaded.