SP101 3 1/16" or KAHR CW9

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minirunner

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Southeast Minnesota. Beautiful bluff country.
I have narrowed my handgun search to a Ruger SP101 with the 3 1/16" barrel or a KAHR CW9. What are your thoughts and suggestions? This will be my one and only handgun. I will use it for camping and hiking the most. But occasional carry in town. Kind of a do all gun. I have a shotgun for HD. I want a small handgun that I can shoot well but be able to carry when I need it. Have it for road trips with the family and walks in the neighborhood. I live in rural SE Minnesota, surrounded by bluffs. 25 miles from a city. I am 5' 10" 190lbs. I appreciate all your advice, thanks.
 
I prefer the Sp-101. The one I carry has the 2.25 inch barrel and is DAO, yet that is how I roll. Top it off with a meprolight front night sight and you have a versatile tool.
 
Since your only 190lbs you cannot have a CW9 it the rules.
Okay just goofing.
For an all around gun I would say the SP101 in 357 mag. because of the durability, ease of use, less practice needed, no corrosion if left in your camping pack, easy for the family to learn a revolver vs an auto etc... The barrel length you chose is the best IMO. You can load 38spl to practice with you can load 357 mag SD rounds. I'm sure some ballistics arguments are going to show up but I think it is useless to argue a bullet so close in size because the thread will never end and nothing new will be discovered.
 
The Kahr CW-9 is a fantastic weapon; but the 9m/m caliber may be a bit
on the "lite" side, for walks in the woods in Minnesota. In other words, you
just might find yourself needing the extra "umph" of the .357 magnum; so
my vote goes too the Ruger SP-101~! :scrutiny: ;)
 
the Kahr excells at everything except encountering large animals you might meet in the woods...i'm assuming you have bears in that part of the state.

the Kahr is lighter to carry and more comfortable due to it's thinnest. it is just as safe as it has a DAO trigger and just as rugged with it's stainless slide and polymer frame. it is also easier to shoot well

the quality of refinement of my kahr easily surpasses that of any SP-101 i've owned or handled
 
I would go with the Ruger, hands down.
If it's your one and only it is gonna be your best choice for sure. Just less to go wrong with the revolver and its so much more versitile.
I own a Stainless Security Six with a two inch barrel and I have never had a problem with it. I own a couple of nice auto's (two, a Colt and a Ruger) but if it comes down to my butt on the line I trust a revolver just a shade more.
 
Since it will be your only handgun (yeah, right) I'd go with the Ruger. You can load it with anything from the wimpiest wadcutters to the hottest loads that you can buy or safely reload. If I were buying a "one gun", it would be on my very short list.
 
Ruger has my vote too.
The Kahrs are great firearms, but for the duties you suggested, the 3.06" SP101 would fit the bill with more powerful rounds (when you're camping or hiking) and fairly mild loads for when you carry in town (if you wish to carry a milder load).
The down side of the SP101 is a 5 round capacity, so learn to use speed loaders.

BTW, I own an SP101 3.06" barreled revolver. I keep it in a desk at home and carry it (OWB) occasionally. It carries quite well in a Don Hume Model 721 holster.
 
Of these two, I go with a Ruger SP101 3 1/16" barrel in .357 Mag and get a quality IWB holster (like a FIST #20 or Tucker) and gunbelt.

I'd go with the Ruger simply because I shoot revolvers better. YMMV though.

The SP101 is a bit heavy for pocket carry, IMO, so you might as well go with the 3"+ barrel, just as you were thinking. It really isn't any harder to carry/conceal and you get the nice bonus of a full length ejector rod.

I just wish they were offered in a blued finish.
 
A 3" barreled fixed sighted .357 is not a very good "all around" gun choice.

Then again, neither is the CW-9.

The first mistake you're making is that you are limiting yourself to one handgun. There's no reason to do that, at least for the long term.

The other mistake you're making is thinking that one of these would be a good choice for an "all around." The .357 chambering IS versatile, but it loses much of that versatility when fired from a short barreled gun with fixed sights.

The CW-9 is by far the better "all around defense" choice. If you want your woods gun primarily for the two-legged snakes, then the CW-9 is better. More shots, easier to shoot, easier to carry, faster to reload, etc.

It sounds like you're a casual shooter. Neither gun is the best choice in that case With practice, either can do, but it'll be harder to shoot the revolver well, especially with magnum loads.

If you truly wanted "one gun to do it all," then a 4" or maybe a 3" barreled .357 of "K" frame size or larger with adjustable sights would be it.
 
Kahr, hands down. I had the SP101 3" and that sucker is quite large for CC use. Plus you only get 5 shots, and 357 is quite difficult to dispatch follow up shots with. 38+P is pointless...again, 5 shots vs 7+1 with the CW9.

I sold mine and bought a Kahr K9...haven't looked back.
 
Definitely the SP-101. Mine is my do-all gun. Somehow I got one that shoots point of aim with nearly any ammunition. I can switch back and forth between 135 grain Speer short barrel loads for HD/CCW and 158 grain JSP's for woods carry. When I go to the range it's whatever 158 grain SWC's or RN's I happen to have around loaded into a .38 special casing. It's big enough to be shootable and small enough to carry almost all the time. Overall, I just plain love the hell out of it.
And... I replaced a Kahr with it (albeit a P9). Even with full power .357 125 grain loads, the SP-101 is still more comfortable to shoot than the Kahr ever thought about being.
 
A Ruger is what I call a Generational Gun.
It will stay in your family for generations, and can be operated by a despairing, untrained grand daughter if needed.
It's intrinsicly safe, yet deadly when called upon.
I'm a big fan of 5 shot hand cannons, and this is one of the best.
 
gun

The Kahr is more concealable and easier to shoot. If the gun's going to the woods, the 357's a better choice. You can get a Glck 29 in 10MM. More power than the 357, almost as compact as the Kahr, and 100% reliable.
 
The sp101(3 inch) is what I carry daily and I'm the same build as the OP. Can't go wrong with a ruger, especially for hiking.
 
Hiking and camping? The three inch Ruger. I like a .357 in the woods. Anywhere else I usually carry a Sig 232. My "woods" gun is a S&W 686. I'm going to look for a Ruger myself when a few "locker queens" sell on consignment.
 
Thanks everyone for your help. Bears are a possiblilty but rare here. I have to go a little farther North to really worry. Where Im at it's mainly bobcat and cougar Im worried about. We have a lot of coyote and dogs running loose in the woods too. Plus there seems to be a rise in Meth labs around here also. This will probably be my only pistol purchase. I have an 870 for home defense. And I was in the Marine Corps for five years so I've been itching to get an AR since I spent so much time with that platform. So I do like the sp101 but Im worried about weight when it comes time to carry in town and in the summer. Maybe I will start out with the 101 and further down the road if the need really arises, a LCR would be next. By then the reliability should be tested. I am looking for strictly a self defense pistol. Shooting won't be just for fun, I will become familiar with it and shoot it enough to feel confident with it. But I want it to be there for an emergency and have it with me when I need it. I have considered a S&W J frame also, just worried about the aluminum vs. an sp101's stainless finish lasting me. Thanks for all of your help again.
 
and shoot it enough to feel confident with it.
Click to expand...

Hell, even the once-a-year shooter feels confident in their skill.

Me, I want to BE confident in my skill !

Yes, there is a difference. The first THINKS they can........the second CAN.
 
So I do like the sp101 but Im worried about weight when it comes time to carry in town and in the summer.
Click to expand...

Well, assuming you have no back problems, a high quality, stiff gun belt and a nice holster will make that weight disappear. I often carry a 2" S&W Model 15 (probably a bit heavier than the SP101) and hardly notice it. Sometimes I carry a 5" all steel 1911 (heavier still - probably 42 oz plus loaded) again with no issues. The stiff belt really does help distribute the weight in such a way that it becomes a non isssue. Again, assuming you don't have any hip or back problems.
 
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