I'm lost, does anyone have a 9mm compass?

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GETxSOME

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I'm not sure if anyone remembers any of my previous posts, but I have been thinking that I was going to go with a PK380 as my first autoloader. The first gun store I stopped at had several, and it fit perfectly in my paw. THEN, I realized how stupid the prices and availability of .380ACP are, and decided I should go with a 9mm.

So, when I started looking at 9mils I came across a used HK USP Compact at the nearest Gander Mtn for a reasonable $600 price tag. I returned to Gander Mtn and visited this gun a couple of times, each time picking the brain of a different employee about 9mils. Obviously I got different responses from each person, and I am now feeling lost about my upcoming gun purchase. PLUS, it is really F'n hard for me to remain patient because I can't wait to own my first autoloader.

So here are the rules:
1.) Cost effective
2.) Easily concealed, comfortable to carry
3.) Either big enough to be comfortable for excessive plinking, or extended mags

LOOPHOLE:
If suggested, I would be open to a home defense/range gun since I do not yet have my CCW... and then pick up a smaller carry gun after completing CCW.

P.S.
I already own a S&W Model 64 .38special
 
You're hardly the first person to be looking for an economical 9mm compact pistol. Given some models and manufacturers, you should be able to search this and other forums for reviews of the pistols suggested.

Walther PPS
same size as that silly Umarex pk380
far better quality (I pack a PPS for EDC)
mags are a bit pricey, but you have flush-fit 6 rounders or full-grip 8 rounders available (carry the smallest, larger for reload)
Walther ergonomics

Springfield XD9sc
a little less expensive
mags are cheap and easy to find
wide and blocky, ergonomic for some (me included)
grip safety is a bonus
full-length mags available for more grip (I don't think more grip actually helps beyone placebo effect, myself)

Taurus 709
wants to be a PPS or a Kahr when it grows up
has a safety lever if that's your thing
quality rumored to be hit or miss based on threads here
Kahr (many models)
small, light & thin
pretty good quality
comes with lots of options or stripped down

Kel-Tec pf9/pf11
smaller, lighter, thinner
not as pretty and not exactly fun range guns
inexpensive
mags are cheap
trigger somewhat like a heavy DA revolver trigger

Glock
someone will recommend it
ergonomics don't work for me, they might for you
extremely reliable
mags common, inexpensive, and in multiple sizes
made for alien hands
comes in the infamous "Glock forty", you may not be professional enough to own one
Glock's engineers have never seen a human hand

Springfield EMP
the Cadillac of 9mm pistols in this size range
metal construction
designed from the ground up to run on 9mm, not a scaled-down .45
expensive
good single action trigger (1911 style)
manual safety lever
grip safety
expensive

====
All of those would be available with some hunting at gun shops (Gander has awful prices across the border in Ohio, try your local gun shops in addition to the sporting goods stores)
All of those would be easy to find a quality holster for.
None of those are rare, unusual, too nice to shoot the crap out of, or too heavy to carry every day for 12 hours plus ... well ... the EMP might be nice, but not collectible nice.
 
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How well does the HK fit your hand? Nothing else matters. Do you like it? Mag release location, sights, etc.
You will find the short 3.58" barrel gives a far bit of muzzle blast though. Mind you, I find my 4.7" BHP does too, compared to my 5" Colt .45. Different bullet velocities.
Any pistol can be concealed with the right holster and more importantly the belt. The belt has to be stiff enough to keep the holster from moving.
"...a smaller carry gun..." Not always a good idea. It still has to fit your hand well to be able to shoot it well.
"...the nearest Gander Mtn..." That the one North of Detroit? Just curious. It's on the list to visit on my next road trip. London isn't far from there.
 
I would suggest Glock 26 with +1 Pearce magazine base extension for full 3 finger grip (10 rounds):

- Reasonably priced
- Very small/light and easy to carry all day
- Very accurate (as accurate as full size Glock 17)
- Also accepts G17/G19 magazines for more capacity

You can also get a Glock 27 (40S&W) and shoot 9mm with Lone Wolf conversion barrel
 
Sunray, I'm more centrally located in MI.. 100 miles straight west from Detroit. The HK feels pretty good in my hand, I'd give it an 8 outta 10 on that aspect.

Haven't had much dealings with Glock, I have a couple of friends with full size Glocks that I may get a chance to shoot this week.
 
For a bunch of options (for fullsize 9mm guns) and some basic details about each, check out this site: http://www.best9mm.com/
Find which ones sound good and then go to a range that rents them to try them for yourself.
 
Good choices in 9mm:
-Glock 26 and 19.
-XDsc.

I've seen the threads where people have trouble with Taurus, but so far my 709 Slim has worked fine, 150+ rounds +P HP without malfunction.

You might like the Kahr P9 if you like slimer grips. The P9 is my wife's favorite because of the grip.
 
M&P 9c, 12+1 capacity, American quality construction, first rate customer service, fair price, lifetime waranty, nuff said.

Shabo
 
+1 on the CZ 75 PCR. Light-weight alloy frame, decocker, loaded chamber indicator, and 14+1 capacity.
 
The full size Glocks never fit my hand right, neither did the baby sub compact ones. I ended up with a compact Glock 19. You may look at a used Beretta 92 as well. I picked up a LEO trade in a few years back for $350 in a gun shop. It fit my hands well but was way too big for every day carry. It's hard to go wrong with any of the polymer double stack guns made these days.
 
First of all, no one can have just one auto, so realize that this is just the beginning. Whatever you pick make sure it's something of good quality. There are certain guns that, in my opinion will never go out of style, will retain more value over time than others, and will last a lifetime. With that said, I would go with a Glock 19 and a Ruger LCP. You can probably pick up both for the price of an H&K. If you can get the Glock used go for it, you'll save money and be just as happy as if it were new. The 19 is a workhorse at the range. Good luck.
 
I carry an EMP 9mm. it only gives up 1rd to the G26, but it's slimmer and more accurate than the G26. I can also get a full grip on it where the G26 had my pinky dangling. The extended pinky rest for the G26 never felt right in my hands.

DSC_2356.jpg
 
Yup...I remember you, and there is plenty of good info back on your OLD thread 'bout the PK380-we tried to tell ya 'bout those 380 ammo prices/availability!

I think bigfatdave covered it pretty well, 'cept for the XD extended grip placebo thingy. I had to add the Pearce Grip Extender to my XDSC as I HATE a dangling pinky-really no difference between it and the longer grip now-long as I can get a grip with all my fingers (although the curve on the Pearce really makes it feel locked in).
I'd also second his recommendation you start searching for small gun stores etc. I've never been impressed with Gander Mountain's prices (some sales ain't bad)-I bought my USPC40 new for $650 from a small town gun shop.

AFA the USPC, only thing I can tell you is:
1. Think there are 9 variations (I have variant 1)-don't know what variation you're looking at-would be worth researching to see if it's the variant you want.
2. Rail is proprietary-you're going to be outta luck if you should decide you want to hang a light etc on it-there are lights made for it (for HD?), but you'd be better off buying an adapter and getting a newer LED light for it (if you have any desire to hang something off it).
3. Also may not apply, but no guide rod lasers in it's future-LaserMax doesn't make 'em, and apparently doesn't plan to?

Nice gun-I have no problems with it, but I do see folks complain 'bout the trigger (but there are folks that complain 'bout all triggers).
'Course, I'm not trigger sensitive, so it doesn't bother me.
 
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Have you looked at the Ruger SR9c? I've liked the ones I held. It would be plenty concealable but not quite as easy as the thin 9mm's (PM9, PF-9). Plus the SR9c comes with an extended 17 round mag that makes the grip the same as the full size SR9.

The 1911 style 9mm's also look pretty nice for your criteria.
 
Glock 19. Reliable, affordable, easy to use, small enough to conceal easily, and large enough to be fun at the range. It also takes 33rd Glock 18 mags for extra fun. Arguably the best pistol ever.
The complaints of it not fitting naturally in the hand are generally by people transitioning to them from other designs. Since this will be your first auto, that shouldn't be a problem.
 
+1: Big Fat Dave has it exactly right. There are plenty of better options out there for you; the PK380 is a Umarex product that shares more in common with a P22 than it does with a Walther PPS -- and that's the one that I'd go with if I were contemplating a quality 9mm pistol for concealed carry these days.
 
I forgot a few:

Walther P99
Also comes as a compact
Walther quality
Good trigger (there are trigger style variants, I'm not an expert)
Fairly lightweight
Made for a human hand
Walther ergonomics

S&W M&P
Popular
Reliable
(not my cup of tea, don't know a lot about them)

Rohrbaugh R9
smaller than anything else here
expensive
rare
really small
heel mag release (won't drop the mag accidentally, slow to reload)

Walther P5/P4
reliable
all-metal construction (if that floats your boat)
sometimes available as police turn-ins for a good price
Walther ergonomics
 
I think bigfatdave covered it pretty well, 'cept for the XD extended grip placebo thingy. I had to add the Pearce Grip Extender to my XDSC as I HATE a dangling pinky-really no difference between it and the longer grip now-long as I can get a grip with all my fingers (although the curve on the Pearce really makes it feel locked in).
Click to expand...

1 - thanks!
2 - you can learn to shoot without a pinky on the grip, of course once you do the "extended grip" things that don't add magazine capacity start to look sort of silly. After getting used to shooting with the last finger dangling free, when I use an extended magazine my shots pull low, so I just shoot everything with the last finger loose.
Seriously, those "finger rest" floor-plates are a placebo, the smallest finger adds no significant stability to the grip, particularly when there's no palm behind it to squeeze against.
 
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