The itch strikes again...

[thewillweeks]

The itch has struck me for a new handgun, mostly because I let one go. Let me say, the express purpose of this handgun will be concealed carry.

I currently have...

• Glock 17
• Glock 26
• Ruger LCP

I just sold a TCP, I considered the sights inferior to my second gen LCP. However the durability of the finish was far superior to the LCP, hence why I even owned it.

I've also owned and sold a .40S&W and a .45ACP, for whatever reason they didn't strike my fancy. Also let a Glock 43 go, didn't gain me much over my 26 I didn't feel like.

So, from my list of currently owned and what I've recently gotten rid of, what rounds out the collection the best?

My first thoughts are a...

• A single stack 9
• A single stack 380 with a durable finish and sights
• A .38 wheel gun

Ruled out off the bat: LC9 and LC9s (manual safeties, magazine disconnects), S&W Bodyguard 380 (manual safety)

LC9s PRO
As far as single stack 9's go I've had the 43, didn't seem much smaller than my 26 which I'm super comfy with. Is the LC9s PRO enough smaller I'd feel a difference? And is the finish going to be like my LCP? (Utterly disappointing?)

Walter PPS M2
I see these floating around, but they look to be bigger than a 43, yes?

S&W Shield
Still no size improvement over a Glock 26 right?

Remington R380
Finish durability? Seems like the right size, but still no real usable sights.

Kahr 380 or 9
Kahr's seem the most promising, with the two tone scheme they seem durable, and the 380 or the 9 are both quite small, from the pictures I see. Comments on either? 380 compared to the LCP? 9 compared to a Glock 43 or Glock 26?

Glock 42
Is this really that much smaller than a 43? How much bigger than an LCP?

Wheel guns
I admittedly don't know enough about wheel guns but I imagine stainless would be the only way to go for durability. Would a small wheel gun afford me much more conceability over a 26?

Wish I could just find a stainless LCP locally, but they're just not around here and my favorite gun shop can't order them in for me.

 

[guyfromohio]

If you like the G26, stick with it. I've found that when I have a CCW that I keep comparing other things to, it means I've set the bar at that gun. So that should be your carry gun IMO. That being said, mine is the PPS Classic (not saying it's better than the M2, I've just never shot one). That PPS carries like it isn't there and shoots like my bigger guns. I've tried so many....G26, P30sk, P99cAS, CZ Rami, Sig P239 (outstanding gun, btw), Sig P225, and the list goes on. But th PPS keeps finding its way down my pants.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Everybody is different but for me nothing really conceals any better than my 26. I've tried the lc9s and shield but they offered no advantage. I even tried the techna clip for the lc9s.
Your mileage may vary of course.

I bought a lcr9 a couple months ago and it can disappear in my pocket.

If you are set on a single stack I can say I was impressed overall with my shield.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You might want to look at a Springfield XDs. It conceals well because of the single stack magazine and it's a reliable gun. At least my son's XDs is.

Personally I carry a J frame in my front pocket. No one ever knows it's there. It's a S&W M442 and I never leave home without it...

 

[bannockburn]

thewillweeks

Single stack 9mm.-Kahr CM9
Wheel gun .38 Special-S&W Model 638

I would have gone with a SIG P238 as my choice for a single stack .380 but I see you don't want a gun with a manual safety. You might consider getting a Kahr CW380 if DAO is more to your liking.

 

[DP03]

Consider the Sig P938 if it fits your budget.

 

[LoneGoose]

I just bought my fiancee a Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum. Hers is DA only and has a sweet trigger pull. It carries six rounds of .327 Fed, or .32 H&R Mag, or .32 Long. Snag-free, durable surface, reliable and versatile.

 

[WestKentucky]

As far as wheel guns go, it's hard to go wrong right now. On the cheap end you have charter and Taurus which are making nice guns which sell in the 250 to 350 range and are worth that amount of money. Stepping up a notch you find ruger and S&W. I don't particularly care for Ruger, but they are extremely strong. Also heavy and with stiff triggers in steel guns. Their polymer guns are very light and very nice. An LCR seems to be a good choice for concealed carry. I like the 327 option, lots of potential in 327 loads, but you can drop all the way down to 32sw loads with 32 mag 32acp and 32swl in between. Pick your recoil level for the range, and power level in your pocket. Smith ultralights are the guns which other pocket revolvers are measured by. You can get into a smith or ruger from just north of 400 on up. Any option you pick here is a good one.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

It sounds like you're trying to replace the LCP. That being the case, consider the Ruger LCR - "five for sure" reliability and an outstanding trigger, the best you'll find in a small revolver. I prefer the .357 version myself - a little more horsepower than the .38 if you feel the need, and a little extra weight that you'll never notice in your pocket but you will definitely notice in recoil reduction.

 

[thewillweeks]

Thanks for the feedback!

Let me clarify a few things.

• It really is to replace the LCP. As a BUG to my 26/17/hopefully soon 19. I'm looking for small form factor, and light weight. But with real sights if possible.
• Could someone speak to the 42 vs 26 vs LCP size? I don't really care to carry both my 26 and 17, that's a bit much to fit on a 155 lb 6 ft frame. I think the 42 would complement either pretty well, if it's light and small enough.
• I had a SCCY CPX2 for quite awhile, is the DAO of a Kahr along the same lines in terms of travel and pull weight?
• Smith and Wesson 642 in stainless, how would that stack up against a Glock 42/26 in terms of ability to conceal?

 

[Alte Schule]

I just bought my fiancee a Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum. Hers is DA only and has a sweet trigger pull. It carries six rounds of .327 Fed, or .32 H&R Mag, or .32 Long. Snag-free, durable surface, reliable and versatile.

Bought my LCR .327 when they first hit the market 8-9 months ago. It's my EDC carry now replacing my S&W 442 and LCRx 3" 38+P. Six shot, versatile ammo selection, light or heavy loads, accurate and as you state the trigger is sweeeet!

 

[unclenunzie]

I had a SCCY CPX2 for quite awhile, is the DAO of a Kahr along the same lines in terms of travel and pull weight?

I have both. The difference is night and day. The Kahr travel is shorter, but not as short as other striker fired pistols. The pull weight will be much lighter, and for me the trigger break is clean and non-stacking. Also I'd have to say the quality is better in the Kahr line - I've had only the "premium series Kahrs, a PM9 and a TP45, and a used K9. +P in the Kahrs if you like it, very limited +P in the SCCY (I don't use +P in the SCCY anymore because I don't want to increase wear and tear).

 

[guyfromohio]

The 642/442 are great little guns. Can't go wrong for BUG. My wife also has a SW Bodyguard in .380. Actually is a great little shooter. The sights are pretty good.

 

[jerryd]

g-42

Got the 42 about 1yr ago and love it. Carry it in a OWB holster don't like iwb. Have about 1700 rds thru it no problems, put night sights on it and the mag-guts 7rd mag change. This pistol is light and has less recoil then my PPK. If you can, shoot before you buy, saves time and MONEY!

 

[bannockburn]

thewillweeks

The difference is night and day. The Kahr travel is shorter, but not as short as other striker fired pistols. The pull weight will be much lighter, and for me the trigger break is clean and non-stacking. Also I'd have to say the quality is better in the Kahr line - I've had only the "premium series Kahrs, a PM9 and a TP45, and a used K9.

What unclenunzie said.

My Kahr CM9 has one of the best DAO triggers on it, very comparable to what you would find on a decent DA revolver. That's one of the reasons why I like it because the trigger pull is very comparable to that which I have on my other favorite CCW, a S&W Model 638.

 

[Stormbilly]

I have a 42. It's a super easy shooting .380. Very little recoil and very fun to shoot. That said. I don't necessarily consider it a pocket gun. Yes, there are many people that can and do pocket it. It doesn't work for my pockets though. The lcp is a much better pocket gun. The 42 is a much better shooter. It is smaller than the 43. Whether it's enough smaller is up to you. The lcp is my pocket gun, but if I were looking for a pocket gun to replace it, I'd probably go with the Kahr 380. It's really small and has a nice double action trigger.

That is my 2 cents anyway

 

[chicharrones]

The itch has struck me for a new handgun, mostly because I let one go. Let me say, the express purpose of this handgun will be concealed carry.


I just sold a TCP, I considered the sights inferior to my second gen LCP. However the durability of the finish was far superior to the LCP, hence why I even owned it.
Remington R380
Finish durability? Seems like the right size, but still no real usable sights.

Wheel guns
I admittedly don't know enough about wheel guns but I imagine stainless would be the only way to go for durability. Would a small wheel gun afford me much more conceability over a 26?

• It really is to replace the LCP. As a BUG to my 26/17/hopefully soon 19. I'm looking for small form factor, and light weight. But with real sights if possible.

Since you mention the RM380 . . . and I have a TCP and 85UL to compare it to. Plus, I get to fire a friend of mine's two first generation LCPs on occasion and have fired the RM380 in direct comparison to the LCPs, TCP, and 85UL.

The sights on the RM380 are a bit larger than the first gen LCP and the TCP. I've put a dab of white paint on the front sight of my RM380 and it helps some in dim light. But still, its more of a point shoot gun like many of these pocket guns seem to be.

The finish on the RM380 is . . . basic. Think of perhaps a military issue gun. It's not pretty, but I expect it to wear somewhere between the wear of my TCP and my 85UL. The TCP finish has worn much more in a pocket holster than my 85UL has with about equal pocket time through the years.

The most wear I've seen on the RM380 is on the blackened stainless barrel. The wear points of the barrel have scuffed off some of the black. From what I hear, the RM380 is stainless steel except for the frame (aluminum) and the grips (polymer). The only rust I've seen was on a grip screw that got sweaty. So, I make sure to keep the grip screws oiled.

Size wise, the RM380 is slightly larger than the LCP and the TCP, but smaller than the 85UL. I wear the RM380 mostly in khaki pants and cargo pants. The RM380 is a bit hard to draw from my jeans, so I have to fall back on smaller pistols for those jeans.

Some shooting details -

The RM380 has less felt recoil than the LCP and the 85UL. It is about equal with my TCP .32ACP.

The RM380 is easier to rack the slide. This is likely due to the greater slide mass needing a lighter recoil spring. Plus, the RM380 slide has more area on that larger slide to grab hold of. That slide also locks back on an empty mag.

The RM380's DAO trigger is lighter to pull through than the 85UL, but feels longer than both the LCP, TCP, and the 85UL. What the RM380 has over the LCP and TCP is true double strike capability.

Anyway, some photos . . .

 

[stormyone]

You're going to have a hard time beating the LCP for a very concealable bug.
Having said that, everyone should have a S&W 442/642. They are the ultimate "slip in your jacket pocket, go to the corner store" gun.

 

[springer99]

Be careful if you go the route of a 442/642 Smith. You just might get rid of those other guns for CC.

To be honest, I also think the 938 is a great CC carry, but for pocket carry, everyone needs a 442/642 Smith. Regardless of the width of the cylinder, it's amazing how easily they hide in a pocket.

 

[gazpacho]

I currently own 4 Kahr pistols: K9, PM9, P380 and CT380.

The K9 is a bucket list gun. All steel, butter smooth trigger, supreme reliability. Frankly,nfor you, your G26 is a better carry choice.

The PM9 is the black sheep of the group. It's to chunky for pocket carry for me, the slide is too stiff to confidently rack, and the pinky-dangling grip with stiff recoil does not inspire confidence.

The P380 has been my long time back-up, and rides weak-side pocket carry. The sights are tiny. It has been utterly with proven ammunition. It is my primary when social situations prohibit OWB or IWB carry. MagGuts spring kit makes this a 7+1

The CT380 is my goto primary now. It is super light and super thin. As reliable as my P380. Sights are bigger and more useful. It's a shade large for pocket carry, but doable. MagGuts makes this 8+1.

 

[Tallball]

Here is another vote for the LCR. I have a bunch of carry guns. It is becoming my go-to. The weight is light and the trigger is excellent.

 

[1KPerDay]

I pocket carried a J frame for a year. The LCP makes it feel huge. I carry the LCP now. Can't see any pocket pistol being easier to carry. Shoots well and is reliable also. Will probably buy another for another pocket.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

My gut always says to buy a revolver, but I don't think it will gain you anything in concealability.

An XDs would be a nice edition. I really like mine, and it conceals well.

 

[gwpercle]

You do know you can have a gun just for fun shooting , I have a K frame S&W model 64 38 special with a red dot sight mounted on it and a good old fashioned Ruger Blackhawk 38/357 single action that are my most favorite and most fired guns....not used for anything other than the pleasure of shooting...paper targets , tin cans and steel plates take a beating from them. Just for fun !

One of the new flat top Ruger Blackhawk's in 44 Special with a 4 5/8 inch barrel sure looks like a lot of shooting fun to me.

Gary

 

[jstert]

getting a wheel gun is a slippery slope. be warned that you may cross over to the dark side. a snubbie, either s&w or ruger, makes an excellent ccw as a changeup to your semiautos. loaded with 38 wadcutters they are soft shooters.

gwpercle mentioned that his ruger single action Blackhawk 357 is his favorite. here is where the addiction starts. why not try a ruger bh 357/38/9mm? if you can stop at that you are strong but I would also suggest a ruger single six 22lr/wmr. ruger single action revolvers are truly fun shooting irons.


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