Help deciding on a new carry piece

[Big D]

Hey yall. I've been throwing around the idea of getting a new concealed carry gun for awhile now. My current carry gun is an M&P9 2.0 subcompact, which has been awesome for me and the wife. My only reason for considering a new carry gun is due to the wife loving the M&P subcompact so much that she wants to carry it instead of her S&W 642. She has a hard time shooting it well due to the DAO trigger. So, I could get a M&P subcompact just for her, or trade in the 642 on another carry piece for myself.

I have been intrigued and excited about the Springfield Hellcat now for awhile, and have handled them several times. They feel good in my hands, and I love all the features, including the sights. My only reservation is how much smaller it is over my M&P in addition to most of what I have read about the Hellcat mentions it is snappier than the P365. I thought my M&P would have been snappy, but it shoots relatively flat. Another pro for just getting the wife her own M&P is that I already have an ample supply of magazines. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Hartkopf]

The good thing is, you have an M&P for your wife to shoot. What does she think of your gun? Can she rack the slide? It’s really all up to her. She might be more comfortable with a 380 but maybe not.

EDIT: Holy crap I totally missed you said she loves your M&P! Sorry. Carry on.

Yes give her your gun and buy a new one for yourself! I prefer the Glock 43x for a small gun.

 

[TarDevil]

I shoot the Springfields fine, but the bore axis seems high to me. My son loves his Hellcat, but to be honest he rarely shoots. He's just stuck on Springfield.
When I have time and can find one I'll look at the Ruger Max 9.

 

[JFrank]

Sig Nightmare

 

[JR24]

If it's purely practical, get another M&P and stick with what you know and love.

If it's an excuse the get a new and different gun, then maybe the sky's the limit.

I can't answer the snappy question, I haven't shot the Hellcat. Didn't find the 365 noticably snappier than a Glock 26, if that somehow helps

 

[jag1954]

Once I overcame the 'snappiness' of my Hellcat I've found it a pleasure to shoot and switch it out as my EDC with my 642.

 

[tuckerdog1]

If it's only the DA trigger she dislikes about the 642, maybe consider the 638.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I’m biased so I say get another M&P.

I love my 9 Compact. But ironically lately I’ve been carrying my Springfield XDs 45 more. Go figure.

In my case I love that my 9 Compact and my 9 full size can use the same magazines. And as you know the cost for them can add up fast. So I say try to stick to guns that use the same magazines when you can.

That said, sometimes a smaller gun is better for concealment, or a bigger gun is better for competition, practice or whatever.

The bottom line is you have a ton of choices. But unless you have lots of ammo stocked up and can practice enough to get comfortable with something new, stick to what you have and are comfortable with.

 

[UncleEd]

Reverse pyschology:

By all means get something totally
different with a new manual of arms,
protocol.

That way, if in the near future you or
if your wife has to borrow it, it will
be less familiar.

And the chances of dying will increase
if things go south as you fumble with
the new piece.

 

[jstert]

i heartily endorse the earlier suggestion of simply getting a second s&w m&p 9mm: mag compatibility, familiar manual of arms, comfortable to both of you, “the devil you know”... sometimes we inexplicably think that each firearm of ours must be different, but i can’t figure out who wrote that rule.

 

[JR24]

And the chances of dying will increase
if things go south as you fumble with
the new piece.

Possibly, or possibly one can just train and learn both.

Just today I was running some times drills with my .45s, Glock 21, HK45c and Dan Wesson VBob. 3 vastly different trigger systems, safety, no safety, decocker etc. Even the dreaded Glock grip angle.

Yet my times, especially first round on target (3x5" card at 7 yards) were consistent, as expected and accuracy was good.

Of course, it does require one to practice but that's the fun part anyway

 

[bannockburn]

Big D.

Another S&W M&P Compact would make a whole lot of sense to me too!

And if you're looking at something smaller, like the SA Hellcat, maybe you would want to check out something that you're more familiar like a S&W Shield Plus?

 

[Armored farmer]

I think the S&W 2.0 is a great gun. If it works for you and her both, I would stay with it.
Sharing magazines, and holsters is a big plus. You both like the platform. I would get her a M&P and keep her old 642 as a spare ccw, or alternate ccw for you both.

I'm big on his and hers matching guns. mrs and I have matching LCPs. I think the 2.0s wouldbe that much better.

 

[UncleEd]

Possibly, or possibly one can just train and learn both.

Just today I was running some times drills with my .45s, Glock 21, HK45c and Dan Wesson VBob. 3 vastly different trigger systems, safety, no safety, decocker etc.

But which one do you really like the most, its feel,
familiarity after a stretch of not shooting, the one
you'd choose if you had to sell the other two, the
one you'd carry most comfortably?

I realize the answer might differ to each variation
on the question above. But still you have to have
a favorite.

That's the one to seriously train with all the time.
The others can be relegated to range toys if you
keep them. (Wouldn't hurt to have two of the
one you like the most.) But you want a gun
that is second nature to you, not ones which
you have to do mental gymnastics each time
you grab for them.

Repeat: Second nature to you.

 

[JR24]

But which one do you really like the most, its feel,
familiarity after a stretch of not shooting, the one
you'd choose if you had to sell the other two, the
one you'd carry most comfortably?

I realize the answer might differ to each variation
on the question above. But still you have to have
a favorite.

That's the one to seriously train with all the time.
The others can be relegated to range toys if you
keep them. (Wouldn't hurt to have two of the
one you like the most.) But you want a gun
that is second nature to you, not ones which
you have to do mental gymnastics each time
you grab for them.

Repeat: Second nature to you.

The reality is that any of them fit that bill, truly.

But, your overall point is valid. I will say that whichever I choose to carry, in this case the DA/SA HK45c, gets the vast majority of my range time and all of my daily dry fire time.

I can shoot any acceptably, even pretty well, lined up and without practice, but yes focusing on a single trigger and grip is a best practice for carry.

Also, for me, the one important consistency is the same holster and location for my carry gun. I can count on muscle memory and lots and lots of rounds down range (and yes, I swipe a non existent safety on all my guns from the years of 1911 shooting) but I don't want my draw stroke to get confused by cycling a holster location. So all guns for carry sit in the same location, with the same cant and ideally from the same holster model.

 

[edcknives]

I think the S&W 2.0 is a great gun. If it works for you and her both, I would stay with it.
Sharing magazines, and holsters is a big plus. You both like the platform. I would get her a M&P and keep her old 642 as a spare ccw, or alternate ccw for you both.

I'm big on his and hers matching guns. mrs and I have matching LCPs. I think the 2.0s wouldbe that much better.

Ditto ^^^^

Familiarity is crucial IMO. Definitely keep the 642

 

[WheelGunMan]

You might want to look at the new Shield Plus

 

[Pat Riot]

Personally, I would get another S&W. Same mags, same operation, same holsters…

 

[Big D]

Well, I have decided that I can not part with my M&P. I sold a Ruger P95 and Sccy CPX-2 on consignment and told the wife she would be getting her very own M&P subcompact. After mulling it over long and hard, I just can not justify switching to another handgun that I will have to learn all over again. I am comfortable, accurate, and competent with my M&P's, already have all the necessary magazines and accessories. I will also be keeping the 642.....can't have too many Smitty Wessons....lol. Thanks for the input fellas!