[Tackleberry1]

Originally Posted by Zodiac131911

Has any one had experience with the new springfield xd 3.8. As far as caliber goes carry what your most accurate with. I would rather have a .22 I could hit with than a .45 that I couldn't. Just my personal opinion.

I've had the original "service" 4" XD .45 for many years and it's a great gun but WAY to big to CCW.

I believe the 3.8 "compact" models have the shortened grip and the .45 is
4-1/2" From bottom of mag to top of slide. About .5" too much gun for me but I'm sure many could conceal it just fine.

Tack

[JTJ]

I have owned and carried the P11 and the PF9. The triggers stink. The PF 9 trigger is better than The P11. I have also carried the P3AT. It is not fun to shoot and neither are the rest of the mouse guns. When I need a pocket pistol I carry a Sig 238. Along with size, weight and control have to be a consideration. For me , a carry pistol cant be more than 30 oz loaded. The Ruger SR9c, Glock G36 and Ruger SP101 fall under the 30 oz limit by 2 or 3 oz. If 9mm is the minimum criteria, then the Kahr's are the best for the money. IMHO the 40's are not easily controlled for fast follow up shots in a light gun. I will not own a carry piece with a muzzle brake. Shoot one at night sometime and you will find out why.

[AIKIJUTSU]

Originally Posted by roscoguy

Actually, there are plenty of the newer round of highly concealable handguns offered in .380 (or smaller) caliber:

Ruger LCP
Diamondback DB380
Kahr P380 (the one I own)
Kel Tel P-3AT
S&W Bodyguard 380
Tarus 738 TCP

There are mixed reviews on ALL of them, naturally, but most of them seem to have some real fans. Nothing wrong with these as a class (to me), but I was looking for something within the size constraints of the OP & since I already have a reliable .380, I was hoping that someone knew of a reliable 9mm or .40.

This thread was about the OP's opinion of the perfect size for a CCW and was NOT meant to be another of the ubiquitous caliber wars, but we've drifted a bit off subject...

Maybe a Kimber Solo. A little bigger and pricier than the stuff listed, but 9MM and dependable. I have a friend who carries one and is quite happy with it. I carry a Para Ordnance Warthog (WHX1045R), and it conceals well under a loose shirt, plus in winter I carry it in a coat pocket.

[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by Tackleberry1

Roscoguy

I have not shot the Kel Tek P9 but I did own a P11 for several years which I believe is the double stack predecessor to the P9.

I think the P9's are about half the price of the Kahr PM9 at roughly $300 VS $600. Nothing against Kel Tek but thier triggers are very heavy and no where in the same league as the Kahr triggers.

I would suggest you go dry fire the new Kahr CM 9 and a KT P9 side by side. The CM9 is a budget version of the PM. Not quite as fancy but retained the PM lines EXCELLENT trigger.

Do this and I'm confident you'll drop the extra bill on the Kahr.

Good luck

Tack

I've been thinking of comparing the 2 you mention above, but was hoping to hear from someone who has shot a PF9. According to Kel Tec, the PF9 has a 5lb trigger as opposed to 9 lbs for the P11. I do like a couple of Kahrs, but am a little leery after the initial problems with my P380.

Originally Posted by JTJ

I have owned and carried the P11 and the PF9. The triggers stink. The PF 9 trigger is better than The P11. I have also carried the P3AT. It is not fun to shoot and neither are the rest of the mouse guns. When I need a pocket pistol I carry a Sig 238. Along with size, weight and control have to be a consideration. For me , a carry pistol cant be more than 30 oz loaded. The Ruger SR9c, Glock G36 and Ruger SP101 fall under the 30 oz limit by 2 or 3 oz. If 9mm is the minimum criteria, then the Kahr's are the best for the money. IMHO the 40's are not easily controlled for fast follow up shots in a light gun. I will not own a carry piece with a muzzle brake. Shoot one at night sometime and you will find out why.

So the PF9 trigger is better than the P11, but still pretty bad? Is there any (easy/cheap) way to improve the pull? I've stoned the trigger/sear on several of my guns that didn't require major surgery to get to them. I hate to buy a firearm that I know will need work right off the bat, but since I've 'tuned' many of mine anyway, it's something I'd still consider.

I've heard many times that the mouse guns are unpleasant to shoot. The 2 .380s I've tried - a S&W BG380 and my Kahr P380 - have been no problem at all, even one-handed. I don't have huge, strong hands so it's not just me; a medium-sized woman that I met at the range felt the same about both guns, too. I have no real idea what the difference would be. How bad was the PF9?

[canebrake]

For a visual comparison use this resource:

Comparison of Carry Handguns

[Tackleberry1]

Ok

Which one of you sent my thread to Springfield?

Go check out the new XDs

It's a 5 + 1 .45 ACP single stack XD. Slide width is .90 and height sans rear sight is 4"!

Looks like my PM 9 might get replaced after all.

Tack

[knfxda]

Originally Posted by Tackleberry1

I've had the original "service" 4" XD .45 for many years and it's a great gun but WAY to big to CCW.

I believe the 3.8 "compact" models have the shortened grip and the .45 is
4-1/2" From bottom of mag to top of slide. About .5" too much gun for me but I'm sure many could conceal it just fine.

Tack

Originally Posted by Tackleberry1

Ok

Which one of you sent my thread to Springfield?

Go check out the new XDs

It's a 5 + 1 .45 ACP single stack XD. Slide width is .90 and height sans rear sight is 4"!

Looks like my PM 9 might get replaced after all.

Tack

That was just about to be my suggestion. When I read your final analysis and the other post about the compact XD, I thought there's a good candidate for the new XD-s.

Guns America article on the XD-s

Note: the weight of this gun was repeatedly misrepresented by Springfield reps. They apparent messed up the literature and the incorrect information kept getting out out there. I believe the empty gun is around 21.5oz.

[Tackleberry1]

Originally Posted by knfxda

That was just about to be my suggestion. When I read your final analysis and the other post about the compact XD, I thought there's a good candidate for the new XD-s.

Guns America article on the XD-s

Note: the weight of this gun was repeatedly misrepresented by Springfield reps. They apparent messed up the literature and the incorrect information kept getting out out there. I believe the empty gun is around 21.5oz.

Hope it hits the market soon. I've got $400 burning a hole in my pocket. If it's price pointed like the 3.8 then I'm 2/3rds there!

[Pasquanel]

Cane thanks for the excellent visual reference!
I had both the the Kel-Tec PF9 and th P-11 both had miserable triggers I have since switched to the Ruger LC9 with side mounted laser and its my everyday carry right now.
I work for a small municipality and discreet carry makes life much easier! My second choice is my Taurus Millennium Pro in 45 ACP 11 rounds of "How do you do?" in a small
and concealable package.

[zombihunter804]

This is where being a big guy comes into play! I've been carrying a G19 for near a year now (fairly new to concealed carry) and I've made it through all 4 seasons and havent had issues with keeping it out of sight. Just a flannel shirt in the fall and winter as a full time concealment garment and now a short sleeve button down in the spring/summer. I did recently pick up a keltec PF9 for carry on really hot days but that's so I can pocket carry and not worry with a big slab of hot leather pressed against my side all day.