Lightweight handgun package

[sean m]

I'm partial to a Ruger LCR 357 or Ruger EC9s. Both are light and concealable. An extra mag or speed strip will give ample ammo capacity for an emergency. Slip either into a small pouch in the belt and it won't alarm anyone.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I'm partial to a Ruger LCR 357 or Ruger EC9s. Both are light and concealable. An extra mag or speed strip will give ample ammo capacity for an emergency. Slip either into a small pouch in the belt and it won't alarm anyone.

Yeah. I like revolvers in general, and I like the Rugers, but if this is going to be my only gun...not sure if I want it to be a revolver, especially at the weights these plastic 9mils are running.

Although, you save weight by carrying less ammo.

 

[gbw]

Look at Kel-Tec PF-9. Lightest 9mm I know of, extremely reliable, very small and thin, 7+1, DA only. Well under $300.

Accurate and controllable, decent sights, but it’s not a pistol for beginners.

I own 3, zero issues in several thousand rds. Only down side is that they should not be dry fired. Spare small parts are available & inexpensive - FP, extractor, screw, springs total would be around $20, pus maybe hammer and pins, consider keeping these with whatever you choose, small light 9s and .38s are more prone to breaking than service sized guns. I also have belt clips and thin rubber over grips on mine.

 

[ChuteTheMall]

How about a 13.6 ounce pistol, and a hundred rounds of ammo adding only another 12 ounces?
Kel-Tec PMR-30 holds 30 rounds of .22 magnum which should discourage two legged attackers.
Add a NAA minimagnum for a tiny backup gun in your pocket.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Look at Kel-Tec PF-9. Lightest 9mm I know of, extremely reliable, very small and thin, 7+1, DA only. Well under $300.

Costs more than a Ruger.

How about a 13.6 ounce pistol, and a hundred rounds of ammo adding only another 12 ounces?
Kel-Tec PMR-30 holds 30 rounds of .22 magnum

Also costs more than a Ruger.

Although, since you guys you mentioned it, I did some research, and it looks like they're made in the US (In Florida?) I always thought they were made in Asia.

 

[Al-jim19]

I would go with a small single stack 9mm I think. The ruger LC9s is a great choice. Reliable and inexpensive. I’ve had semiautos choke before but rumours of their inability to function are greatly exaggerated in most instances. Shoot it and clean it once per year and it will run just fine.

I think if you take a double stack you sacrifice too much in the weight department and if you take a revolver you sacrifice too much in the capacity/reload speed department.

As for arming an inexperienced individual, as long as someone knows the four rules and understands how the gun functions you’re good to go. I would recommend a .22 for that though.

 

[gbw]

KT is U.S., in Florida.

On Buds site the KT is a little less money than Ruger. I would stay with 9mm, and fire it at least 100 rds. after receiving it. At least 2 magazines.

Either would be a good choice. For me weight/conceal ability is first after reliability and I like the DA only KT feature. So I carry PF9s when I carry. The one time I used KT customer service it was excellent. Ruger too - I own one Ruger pistol, an LCP. It had a feeding problem but Ruger took care of it with no fuss.

 

[aarondhgraham]

It's not so much the gun you should be putting thought into,,,
Let's face it, any gun will do for emergency protection.

What you should be thinking about is what is it stored in.

I had a good friend who had to go to an emergency shelter after hurricane Katrina,,,
He was questioned and searched at the door of that sports arena.

They found his poorly hidden handgun and promptly confiscated it,,,
So that's what I think I would be worried about.

Not the gun itself,,,
But what to conceal it inside of.

I would be thinking about something small and thin like my LCP or LC9,,,
With a padded pocket sewn into the backpack to hide it.

You can bet that the folk from Paradise, California are being searched for weapons.

Aarond

.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

The KelTec PMR-30 might be an interesting option. A .22 Mag is marginal for defense, but ammo is readily available, it holds 30 rounds in the magazine, it is economically viable, has a safety, and weighs 14 oz unloaded.
https://www.keltecweapons.com/pistols/pmr-30

Then there is the SIG M17. Just under 30 oz, but with the shootability of a duty sized handgun and with 17 rounds of 9mm on tap. Has a safety, is modular, and available.
https://www.sigsauer.com/store/p320-m17.html

And finally the next one that comes to mind is the CZ P-09; 19 rounds of 9mm in a 31 oz package that allows you to choose between decocker only or manual safety.
http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-p-09-9mm-black-polymer-19-rd-mags/

 

[D.B. Cooper]

What you should be thinking about is what is it stored in.

I had a good friend who had to go to an emergency shelter after hurricane Katrina,,,
He was questioned and searched at the door of that sports arena.

They found his poorly hidden handgun and promptly confiscated it,,,
So that's what I think I would be worried about.

This line of thinking had not even entered my mind.

Thanks

(To be honest, I was thinking that I would, when the time came, just pull the gun and holster out of the pack and attach it to the pack belt or my pants belt and just go.)

 

[joneb]

I'm thinking of a Sig p938 or p938 legion.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

The Taurus G2C (the new version of the millennium) has a manual safety. Its 12 shots of 9mm and can use Sig 226 18 round mags (I think that's the correct Sig model)

People that have them love them. They are reliable and inexpensive, around $200.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

TOO LATE! We just had a a 7.0 earthquake here - worst I've ever seen. Guess I'm rolling out with 4lb Ruger Redhawk. and a couple pounds of ammo.

 

[WYO]

Stay safe, D.B.! The lesson my family and friends learned from Hurricane Katrina was that it didn't matter what you had as long as you had something. I have not heard any stories of massive firefights or people dying because they only had a "_____" or not enough ammo.

 

[RealGun]

Too late indeed, but I will mention that just today I acquired a Springfield XDE single stack 9mm with a hammer and a manual safety. Very flat profile, 3" barrel. First shot and carry condition can be either single action or double action first shot, single thereafter. Has a decock position incorporated in the safety lever. This gun was featured in an article in the Dillon rag some months ago.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

Stay safe D.B.!

 

[tuckerdog1]

Stay safe DB.
Once things return to normal, if you're still thinking about this....You've said you like the Beretta 92FS. However if you want to keep costs down, have you considered a Taurus PT92? Nearly the same gun, and can be easily found for under $300.

Tuckerdog1

 

[rpenmanparker]

I hope it goes well for you, DB.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Stay safe DB.
Once things return to normal, if you're still thinking about this....You've said you like the Beretta 92FS. However if you want to keep costs down, have you considered a Taurus PT92? Nearly the same gun, and can be easily found for under $300.

Tuckerdog1

I used to own a PT99. Phenomenal gun. Loved it. It was my "training gun" from when I competed on the squadron pistol team. (They wouldn't buy ammo for us to train with or let us use gov't owned guns.) I really like the frame mounted safety over the slide mounted. I probably would never buy a Taurus again, however, because I realized, much later, that I was just lucky to get one of the few "good ones." Taurus' reputation for hit or miss quality (more often miss) has kept me away from them. (If I could get my exact PT99 back, I would do it, but it was stolen from the guy to whom I sold it.)

I've also hemmed and hawwed about the Beretta due to the price and weight. (It's not that much lighter than my revolver.)

But I am still thinking about this. The number one lesson I have learned from this earthquake is that procrastination is your enemy and time is not your friend. There are so many things that I procrastinated on that, if this event had been on slightly worse or we had been less fortunate) I would be in some degree of a bind.

 

[Balrog]

The answer to what carry handgun is best is usually the Glock 19, but since you want an external thumb safety, which I think is reasonable unlike most Glock-o-philes, I would take a look at the S&W M&P 2.0 compact, or if I wanted something really small, the Shield.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

LCR 9mm and Beretta Nano 9mm. I have other small Nines and a Smith 642 38. But the Nano and LCR are my choice. Should never have a problem getting 9mm ammo, both light weight and easy to carry and shoot.

 

[WYO]

But I am still thinking about this. The number one lesson I have learned from this earthquake is that procrastination is your enemy and time is not your friend. There are so many things that I procrastinated on that, if this event had been on slightly worse or we had been less fortunate) I would be in some degree of a bind.

Good point. Also, perfect is the enemy of good.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Good point. Also, perfect is the enemy of good.

How often that is forgotten.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

The answer to what carry handgun is best is usually the Glock 19, but since you want an external thumb safety, which I think is reasonable unlike most Glock-o-philes,

Yup.I never liked the Glock design. The ONLY thing that prevents the trigger from being accidentally pulled is on...the trigger. I'm surprised it has been so widely embraced as it has.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Too late indeed, but I will mention that just today I acquired a Springfield XDE single stack 9mm with a hammer and a manual safety. Very flat profile, 3" barrel. First shot and carry condition can be either single action or double action first shot, single thereafter. Has a decock position incorporated in the safety lever. This gun was featured in an article in the Dillon rag some months ago.

Looked at one today...that's pretty nice set up.