Well I'm going shopping for a new concealed carry weapon this weekend and just looking for some thoughts/opinions on what I'm looking at!

 

I've narrowed it down to these 5..

 

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

Springfield XDs

Ruger LC9s

Glock 43

Sig p320

 

What you guys think!?

 

I'm not the kind of guy that NEEDS to carry the biggest gun out there just to meet my ego, I'm looking at it from the idea that most these guns are millimeters different between them, so really it's take your pick on what you want.

 

You may be surprised what a few mm does on a waist band, or a few oz of weight. I know I was quite surprised.

You may be right, I think it's going to be one of those things where I just need to get one, wear it, and it either works or it doesn't. If anything that's just another reason to buy another gun!!

I always like an excuse to buy a new gun!

Oh yea!!

Well speaking of excuses I picked up another BodyGuard today. I have been looking for a 2nd for a while and a friend sent me an ad for one.

 

It came with some Buffalo Bore .380+P which hits with 267 ft/lbs... I'll take it!!

Nice! When you get it out to the range you'll have to let us know how you like the Buffalo Bore!

 

I ended up going with the Springfield XD mod2 in .45! I held most of the guns I had on my list, others they didn't have. The mod2 felt the best in my hand and while a little larger then the rest, still felt like it was concealable enough for my liking. Time will tell with that though! Anyways, I'm excited to get it out to the range!

A bit of useful info.

Ya, I always keep a knife on my belt and a gun in my truck

Ya, I always keep a knife on my belt and a gun in my truck

 

I always keep a gun, knife, and flashlight on my belt while travelling. Daily at home set up is a fire radio, knife, and a flashlight. The only time the gun is left in the truck is when I got to enter a gun free zone.

 

 

I know you want bigger than a .380, but I know many people that didn't want a .380 and bought a bigger gun. Most of them never carry it because after a week or two it got old carrying such a big gun (even a gun size like an LC9). That hasn't happened to any of the .380 owners I know.. just food for thought as the 1st rule of a gun fight is to have a gun.. if the bigger gun is at home it won't matter what caliber it is.

 

Exactly. Yeah larger guns do have better stopping power but what good is a gun if you left it at home or in the truck? Not like you going to ask the attacker to wait a sec while I go home to get my gun. So even my odd duck 9mm is better than nothing.

If you are strictly looking at a CCW have you considered a S&W Bodyguard in .380?

None of the pistols you mentioned are considered CCW IMO. I have played with several of them and in the end they would get left more than carried due to the bulk.

.380 has plenty of power for a CCW, and they are tiny. The S&W also shoots fairly well, at least it is a hell of a lot more comfortable than my Keltec.

Aside from cheap full frame plinking I would never own a 9mm, even then I'd rather have something else.

Ding! Ding! Ding!  We have a winner here!  Yes, my preference is a 45 acp but you have to live in the "real' world.  You can carry what you can 100% hide, conceal, and draw in a tactical situation.  The American public is hopelessly hoplophobic and ANY cintila of the prospect that you may possibly be carrying a firearm will draw MASSIVE UNWANTED attention to YOU.  The firearm that you CAN successfully carry in Church, the supermarket, library, or any other public place is what you want.  Yes, whenever possible I carry a in a Galco Jackass rig, but Summer temperatures and seasonal wear does not always permit that.  In shorts, a T shirt that kind of rig just stands out like sore thumb and is just begging for trouble. A Body Guard in a Desantis Super Fly is concealable like your wallet.  NOBODY knows.  THAT is the best way to carry. A gun you can carry anywhere concealed is FAR better than no gun at all and a gun that grabs much unwanted attention.

 

Edited September 19, 201510 yr by LiveOak

I have a 357 S&W body guard and I hate it. most inaccurate gun I have ever shot. @25 ft at the range just being on paper is the best one can expect.

My personal favorite I go everywhere with is my stainless 357 S&W 686 plus 7 shot revolver with 4 inch barrel, very accurate. I like it so much I actually have 2 of them, my twins.

Just got my Utah ccw permit renewal in the mail yesterday but waiting on my ND ccw class 2 permit to show, wife and I just did the testing for it a couple weeks ago and need one from my state of residence to renew the Utah one so now I wait.

I need to test for the ND class 1 test now as it is now has better reciprocity than the Utah permit nation wide due to testing standards, a lot of states require an actual shooting proficiency test and Utah is just a simulator training test. Minnesota dropped Utah and picked up ND this past legislative session for their reciprocity standards due to this now, they also dropped a lot of states because they require one to be 21 years old instead of 18 like most other states.

Minnesota is no better than California in many ways and getting consistently worse every year. Dam Liberals, its sad because state wide they are a very conservative state over run by immigrants and the biggest population in Minneapolis / st paul are libs and they run the whole state although they have a lot of greenies over running the state as well now too, I think their green agenda is not far behind cali.

 

 

I don't much care for the Body Guard .380 either.  It is barely enough gun and probably not even that but you can't carry that Smith hog leg in gym shorts and a T-shirt.  The only reason I suggest the body guard is due to its small size, light weight and concealability.  A concealed gun is better than no gun.  It is not practical nor safe to carry a gun that can be detected in this day and age especially with the trigger happy, corrupt cops out there these days.  In cooler weather yes........I absolutely get your drift and I prefer a in a Galco Jackass Rig.  For more formal attire and lighter weight I go to the in a Jackass Rig or thin clothed casual a in a Galco Ankle Glove which does take some training and practice to use. 

Edited September 19, 201510 yr by LiveOak

I have owned several of the small 380's and the keltec is uncomfortable to shoot and not overly accurate but the .380 bodyguard is nothing like it. It is more than accurate enough and easy to shoot.

The gun you have with you is always the best one.

I have multiple guns I can choose from for CC purposes but if I could only own one it would be the body guard in .380. It's easy to carry ALL the time.

Back when I had a badge, I clipped the badge next to my holstered gun...  pretty much open carried off duty.  These days I have the best pieces in the safe.  I have a Star BMK 9mm single stack (1911 clone) that is at hand (cocked & locked) out...   I have long kept assorted barn guns (my grand-pa always kept a break action shotgun in the barn) within reach.  A couple of .22s        

Edited September 19, 201510 yr by flagmanruss

I have owned several of the small 380's and the keltec is uncomfortable to shoot and not overly accurate but the .380 bodyguard is nothing like it. It is more than accurate enough and easy to shoot.

The gun you have with you is always the best one. Can't argue that, just showing it would fend off 99% of attackers

I have multiple guns I can choose from for CC purposes but if I could only own one it would be the body guard in .380. It's easy to carry ALL the time.

Maybe the 380 is better than my .38 special p+ for accuracy, mine is horrible. Anything past 25 feet I would be more accurate and dangerous if I just threw the gun at an attacker. It is our night stand gun.

I'm in the process of renewing my CCW permit with Idaho. I still carry my 9mm Star Pistol every time I take off from the house. JAG1 was kind of surprised about that. At first didn't realize I had with me and then after then he paid attention to if I was carrying or not. I'm a firm open carry person but have the CCW for the slim chance that I'm caught in a condition that would conceal the weapon. For me it more of a issue locally of the four legger (Animals) messing with you. Then when I travel to the Big City then you have to worry about the two leggers messing with you.

I was surprised as I don't see it much around here. Just bought a Golden Boy and they would not let me carry it to the front door of the store.

 

I'm glad for folks that CCW.....makes for a safer world.

Maybe the 380 is better than my 357 for accuracy, mine is horrible no matter if I run 357 or 38 rounds through it doesn't matter. Anything past 25 feet I would be more accurate and dangerous if I just threw the gun at an attacker. It is our night stand gun.

Much last 25 feet and you get into a harder time using self defense. Not that I agree with it but it's the current perception.

Depending on the scenario I would feel confident getting at least 4/6 in the chest at 25 feet with rapid fire.

According to my Local Gun Shop, my state now requires gun purchases to be cased or securely wrapped when leaving the store.  They give a cheapo gun sock for long guns w/o a box.  It is their practice for guns in/out to be cased. 

I think it's a good policy...  especially for department stores.  I read in the news, about a kid with a BB gun shot by Police walking around in a WM...  somebody freaked out & called the cops.    

A few years ago, a kid in our extended family & friends thought it would be cool to "make a movie"...  came up with a script...  it included scenes shot outside a local school (closed for the summer).  They did think of asking permission.  They were seen & reported & fortunately, the one holding the toy responded properly when confronted by Police with real guns & real bullets.  It could have ended very differently. 

As I was taught & I taught family members including children, a holstered gun is safe.  The gun has safety features & so does the holster...  in addition to safe gun handling.  (safety on, safe direction, finger off the trigger).    

I used to spend time with my then fiancee' & her children...  on my way to / from duty.  My gun was loaded...  would not be much good if it was not!  I would remove the entire gunbelt & hang it on a peg until I left.   

We took her children shooting...  9 & 10 year old boys...  and taught them that even toy guns had to handled as if they were real.  I think this is something not taught enough these days.   

People ought not feak out over a properly holstered gun.   I have carried long guns in the field "at the ready".   Muzzle awareness is a constant thing & changes with conditions & people & animals.   I've never open carried a long gun in a built up area.  Sometimes in hunting or hiking with a long gun, I've encountered others & would back sling my gun (22 or shotgun).  Sometimes, after a stalk through the woods, we'd hike back along a road or open trail...  with the gun slung.     

 

     

Ding! Ding! Ding!  We have a winner here!  Yes, my preference is a 45 acp but you have to live in the "real' world.  You can carry what you can 100% hide, conceal, and draw in a tactical situation.  The American public is hopelessly hoplophobic and ANY cintila of the prospect that you may possibly be carrying a firearm will draw MASSIVE UNWANTED attention to YOU.  The firearm that you CAN successfully carry in Church, the supermarket, library, or any other public place is what you want.  Yes, whenever possible I carry a in a Galco Jackass rig, but Summer temperatures and seasonal wear does not always permit that.  In shorts, a T shirt that kind of rig just stands out like sore thumb and is just begging for trouble. A Body Guard in a Desantis Super Fly is concealable like your wallet.  NOBODY knows.  THAT is the best way to carry. A gun you can carry anywhere concealed is FAR better than no gun at all and a gun that grabs much unwanted attention.

 

 

Difference between the east and the west... Now if I was in your state with that kind of population... Yes I would agree. Out here on the west side I can open carry without a single word being said. Still do. Matter of fact I've been gone the last 3 day in the Boise, ID and Ontario, OR area. Open carried the entire time never had one issue. Stood in line next to law enforcement and just get wide grins. Come winter time I'll end up covering up the pistol with my overcoat so it concealed at that point. Like this summer my 9mm is just large to hide while wearing shorts and tee shirt. Just open carry be done with it. I'm not going to buy a pee shooter (.22 pocket pistol) so it is concealed nor am I'm going to be uncomfortable trying to conceal a weapon.

 

Average 911 police response time out here is roughly 1-2 hours!!! Even my local Sheriff is please that I do carry and none of the law enforcement in either county (Adams or Idaho) have issues with it.  

 

At 25 foot my 9mm isn't too bad for accuracy. Low recoil and great for rapid shooting.

Open carry isn't frowned upon but it is anything but common in Boise. I haven't seen anyone open carry in recent enough memory to recall. It's not frowned upon here in Boise but CC is the norm.

Funny you call a .22 a pee shooter as it has LOTS more kills than a 9mm and I personally consider it a better CCW round than 9mm but that is all preference.

Most people just don't pay attention. I have always open carried in Yellowstone, since a G22 is too big to conceal, and maybe twice a day, if that, it will be noticed. For the most part people aren't looking.