[jackg]

Currently carry a Walther PPK/S .380 and really like it but I'm wondering what you guys would recommend as the Top 10 list. Suggestions?

[Viking]

My current CCW is a Stoeger Cougar in 40 S&W it has a 3.6" barrel. It's a great weapon but rather heavy, my wish list for a compact carry would be a Kahr PM40, very conceilable. I have a Bersa model 83 .380, pre Thunder but has a steel frame, it's kind of fat due to walnut grips which makes it about as easy to hide as the Cougar. Compactness always puts a balance of less rounds in the magazine against the high cap mags of a harder to conceil weapon like the Cougar. A lot depends on what kind of clothing you wear, the seasons and if you are like me, too skinny to hide much of anything. For now I use a waist pouch that has a grab tab for quick unzip. The Kahr would be a great inside the waist band hider due to it's flatness.

[Dillinger]

Can we narrow the search patterns a bit??

What kind of clothes am I wearing?

Where am I going?

What is the weather like?

Who am I going to be encountering?

Am I protecting just me? Or other people for money??

These are all important factors to this equation....

JD

[jackg]

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Can we narrow the search patterns a bit??

What kind of clothes am I wearing?
Winter in Michigan
Where am I going?
Shopping
What is the weather like?
0-40 degrees
Who am I going to be encountering?
Can't anticipate this, which is why I carry.
Am I protecting just me? Or other people for money??
Could be both.
These are all important factors to this equation....

JD

I'm a newbie to handguns as a hobby & for personal/home protection. USMC Vietnam 1968 combat wounded, VA rated at 100%. Just decided, recently, to be more active. Joined NRA, but perhaps I'm in the wrong place?

[Dillinger]

Hard to say, but I don't think there is a better gun board out there. We are just trying to get information so we can better help you. These are the same questions we ask of anyone.

Okay, Michigan Winter, so you have to anticipate that your assailant is going to be dressed in heavy clothing. Multiple layers and at least two will probably be strong cotton or flannel, plus some sort of out coat.

The .380 isn't getting through that. It's going to be a mild annoyance at best.

How big are your hands? Do you were gloves when you are out?

With winter clothing, I really prefer a big, heavy slug. Something that is going to hit hard and penetrate.

A fast moving round like the 9mm will penetrate, but I doubt it's going to do a ton of damage unless you get the 147gr +p and get some good body hits.

.40 cal and .45 are both a good winter round. I personally only carry a 1911 in .45ACP with the 230gr +P jacket hollow points.

Do you like a compact gun? Or do you like a full sized gun? How about a revolver? Any interest?

What handguns interest you? And what have you tried out?

[canebrake]

Winter carry in MI; I carried a 1911 Government with 8+1. The double tap was a pair of Cor-Bon Power-Ball 185 gr (high velocity will penetrate a windshield and will pass through auto side glass with little deformation). The remaining seven are Hornady 230 gr +P TAP FPD.

I'm comfortable with that.

[Viking]

A .380 could likely be a minor annoyance to a large man in light clothing unless even with adrenaline pumping through your veins you could shoot his eyeballs out. Even though I have a .380, to me, I don't think I'd relie on it to do a job that I'm pretty certain that my .40 weapon would accomplish. On the other hand a .380 might give you time to get to a more powerful weapon, which to me is risky.

[Gojubrian]

Originally Posted by jackg

Currently carry a Walther PPK/S .380 and really like it but I'm wondering what you guys would recommend as the Top 10 list. Suggestions?

1. Dan Wesson CBOB 45acp
2. Springfield EMP40
3. Springfield XD40SC
4. Glock 30 45acp
5. Ruger 44mag snubbie
6. Smith .357mag snubbie
7. ........
8.......

[NGIB]

For cold weather I'd probably opt for a .45 myself. Plenty of nice ones to choose from. For a 1911 I'd recommend a Colt Commander as a solid buy - got mine NIB for $695 a few months back. In a plastic gun, I'd highly recommend an XD .45 Compact - one of the very few plastic guns I own. Carries 10 rounds of .45 in a nice sized package...

[Glock30Owner]

I only have a top #1 for reccomendations.

1. Carry the largest caliber firearm that you can reliably use. I carry a Glock 30 and finally a Glock 21 (the 30 is now my BUG).

Note: If you carry a semi-auto hand gun, carry a spare magazine or two for insurance against firearm/ammunition malfunctions. For revolvers, carry an extra speed-loader or speed strip for the very low chance (but still possible) that 5/6 rounds are not enough.



I do have a -infinity reccomendation, too (for personal pretection). Anything smaller than a 9mm.