What is the best 9mm or .22lr for CCW?

Unless either of you are hitmen for the mob i'd stay away from the 22.

 

+1...If you want something you can both shoot I'd concider the 9, maybe a 380, but I wouldn't go any smaller. If you or she, are new to firearms don't rule out a nice revolver. A small 38 is very concealable and there are good rounds for it. They're easier to use and gain comfort with which is key in self defense. If you would ever have to use it you don't want to have to think about what you're doing.

 

What's better ice cream - chocolate, vanila or strawberry??

Too wide open of a question, but I agree with cane that a .22lr has no business being your PRIMARY C.C. Weapon. As a back up weapon, it's still a little iffy, but that is as a back-up, not as a primary.

9mm is a good cartridge for personal defense. Not great, not a man stopper, but it is a good cartridge for self defense if you load it with 124gr or 135gr bullets.

As for a choice in weapon? Just too many variables. Have you been to the range and have you rented a few types of weapons that interest you?

That would be the best advice we could give you - go and rent a few and find out what you like in 2 or 3 models, then come back and get some opinions of those weapons and their effectiveness/reliability...

Best of luck -

JD

 

Okay - I NEVER suggest this - but if you are not proficient with firearms, then I would recommend either the Springfield XD series, or the ( God Help me ) Glock series.

These are striker fired weapons, which means that both the firing pin and the "hammer" ( which is a mis-nomer in this case ) are much closer to the top of the handle/grip. This leads to better accuracy for SOME novice shooters. They are also pretty much Novice-Proof.

Look - I hate tupperware guns, but if you don't have a ton of experience with shooting, and gun maintenence, either of these weapons is for you. They will run dry, wet, used, new, clean, dirty, etc. All you have to do is point and pull the exceptionally long trigger pull to put rounds on target.

Now, if training and cash are not conditions, then there are only two choices in my world:

1) 1911

2) Browning Hi Power

Anything else is from a realm that JD does NOT easily endorse.....

JD

 

Please don't buy a PF9 as your only gun. That little 9 will beat the crap out of your hand. A short time at the range with this gun will make you want to put it away and hope you never have to use it. I personally LOVE XDs...they are accurate and reasonably priced. Along with the things JD mentioned. PS...I HATE GLOCKS!

Again I wuould support a small relover. If you're on a budget, look at Taurus, a small 38 special will help you both get started in the pistol world. It will also be more reliable, just as accurate and just as deadly as the PF9.

 

I forgot to add the XD sub compact 9mm(also comes in 40 which I don't like) is almost the same size as the PF9 and it is an exponentionally better weapon. I held mine up to a PF9 this week and it was only a 1/4" longer(eye balled).

 

Not a 7.62 but still a military rifle round Section Firearms and Shot - Arcimbold EuroBusiness - DVD - Multimedia

 

Wear an overcoat;

 

You'd be an idiot to carry a .22 LR for self defense. Please do some research on terminal ballistics and fatal shooting. You'll find that 9x19mm is the absolute minimum for defense, and it may even take a couple shots to completely decapitate an attacker.

Read some of the information in this thread and take it to heart before even visiting a gun shop: http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f15/i-hate-bother-you-all-but-here-my-gun-n00b-thread-9579/

The decision to carry a firearm is a decision to take a human life and isn't one to be taken lightly.

 

Q.F.T.

You are either mentally prepared to use the tool as it was designed, or you have no business carrying said tool. There is no in-between on this situation.

JD

 

Have you considered a revolver? They are easier to handle than a semi-auto, although it takes more practice to fire them accurately in double action. But, with some practice even the small 2" snubbies can be surprisingly accurate.

I've got a soft spot for the S&W 640, I love the little chunk of steel and I'm still amazed at the groups an inexperienced shooter like me can get at 10 or 15 meters. There are lighter ones, but I like the steel frame and don't mind a little heft. I carry mine at my store (in a very anti-gun area) all day long and hardly notice it.

If it's going to be your only self defense gun for a while, I think you should go with something a bit bigger than a pocket pistol or a J frame revolver. Something like 3" Ruger SP101 might be a better all around revolver choice (I've got a J frame fetish, but I know that many people don't enjoy long training sesions with them), if you prefer a semi-auto take a look at CZ's line. If the CZ 75 is too big, you can get one of the compact models.

 

I suggest an Springfield Armory XD9 sub-compact or a Taurus Millenium Pro in 9mm.... also a Bersa Thunder .380

 

And as such, you need to carry a weapon that is chambered in a round that is capable of taking a human life with as few shots as necessary.

 

Kel-Tec and Kahr Arms make some good concealed carry 9mm pistols.

Worth looking into, at least.

 

Let it go, let it go - Not everyone was born unto the Earth to carry a 1911 in .45 ACP. Just consider yourself among the Enlightened. The sooner you admit you have a problem, the healing can begin matt.

JD

 

Dude, how many times are you gonna shoot the perp?

 

The only way to drop a zombie is to remove the head from the body.

 

Both?

It sounds like you are a beginning shooter. If so, you may want to get a .22 caliber pistol to help you learn to shoot. The .22 doesn't have much recoil and ammunition is dirt cheap. You also won't acquire a "flinch" anticipating the recoil of a .22-caliber pistol. The .22 really isn't a good defense round because it doesn't have much stopping power. You could shoot somebody multiple times with a .22 and they may still be able to hurt you before they collapse.

The 9mm round is a much more effective round for self-defense and it is also relatively inexpensive to shoot. The recoil of a 9mm is fairly mild in a regular full-sized handgun and shouldn't intimidate your wife too much. Since a 9mm doesn't quite have the stopping power of a .45, you'll want to read up and find out which 9mm rounds are best for self-defense. You'll probably want some kind of hollow point. Any super small handgun in a serious caliber will have pretty stout recoil.

You might consider starting with a .22, learning to shoot well, and renting larger 9mm pistols at your local range until you find one that you are comfortable shooting. I really like my Smith & Wesson SW9VE, but many people say that it has a heavy trigger pull. It is also a fairly full-sized pistol and might be more of a challenge to conceal.

A Handgun Review: The Smith & Wesson SW9VE Enhanced Sigma 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol - Associated Content

Good luck!