Help selecting a new pistol (CCW)

[Fess]

Hello everyone. As I mentioned in my introduction post in the Announcements forum I have been a lurker here for quite a while and signed up this week. I hope to be able to contribute to this community in the future like many of you already have. I have learned a great deal from this site and community, for that I am very thankful.

With that said, my birthday is in two weeks and my lovely wife has given me go ahead to "pull the trigger" on a new pistol. My purchase will become my "nice weather" CC weapon. Currently I carry a S&W 5906 most of the year. I truly love the way this gun feels and fires not to mention the great reliability. The only issue is when it is time for shorts and T-shirt weather. It just doesn't fit the part do to it's size and weight.

This week I went to a few shops and spent a few hours looking over possible candidates. My criteria are: 1.) 9mm, Must be small but not too small. I am 6'2", 175lbs with rather large hands. If my pinky dangles, it is not even an option. 2.) Must be thin, light and reliable. I would like to carry ITW with cargo shorts and a T-shirt. 3.) Would like it be out the door around $500.00 +/-

Here is my short list in order of choice:

1.) Kahr CW9
2.) Glock 26
3.) S&W M&P 9mm
4.) Springfield XD Sub-compact 9mm



Thank you in advance for any advice or other options you may suggest.

Fess

[RoyJackson]

Soberbyker had a CW9 he carried for a while. The gun let him down (I don't recall all the particulars), but for real world experiences, you could PM him.
I like the steel Kahrs and owned an MK9 for 10 years. Nice, reliable gun, the MK9...too heavy for what I wanted though (which is why I sold it). No experience with the plastic Kahrs, but read some good, some bad about them.
Anyway, contact Soberbyker...

[Palerider]

I have a PM9 for summer concealed carry. Including the break-in period, never had a failure. I have small hands so the Kahr works well for me. The slim design of single stack 9's conceals very, very well.

I've shot a friend's M&P 40. Very different gun in their grip design and trigger pulls. A nice pistol for sure but I'd personally have a harder time concealing the M&P compared to any of the Kahrs.

I recommend go as 'small' as your hands permit to acheive the best summer concealment you're comfortable with.

[Fess]

Great info, thanks guys. Well to make things even more difficult on myself... I just got home from a friends place. He has a Kel-Tec FP-9. We talked about it for a while and I got his opinions. I got to hold it and even carry it around his house for a bit in his IWB holster. I gotta say, I like it. According to my friend, his major fault on the PF-9 is the trigger taking a while to get use to. In his words, "Once you master "prestaging the trigger it is very accurate weapon at appropriate range.. He also said he has about 900 rounds through it and it never gave him a FTF or jam. The price point is also very very good. Well, gotta love the good old USA and all of these great options we get I guess I have more to think about.

Fess

[JoeWilliams]

My wife owned an M&P 9c. I ended up liking it more than she did. It felt great in the hand, but I do prefer the feel of the full sized M&P 9. It was accurate and reliable, and was a nice gun to carry.

[Nic]

Of your three, I would consider the Kahr.

[tdyoung58]

I'd try and find a Sig P6... they are Sig refurbished German LEO trades.

[Fess]

Thanks again for all of the responses. Man I am having such a hard time finding much of anything at the moment. A month ago when I began my search everyone around here had a decent selection of sub-compacts. This weekend I "made my rounds" again it was pretty barren. I have some people making some calls but so all I found readily available is a G19 and a XD 9mm Sub-compact. Both great weapons but I think the 19 is just a tad large for my needs and the XD may be sold. The CW9 is no where to be found even after many phone calls. I didn't want to have to play the transfer game but to get what I really want I may not have any other choice at this point. If anyone knows a shop with a decent selection right now with-in a 100 miles of Williamspot please let me know about it if you read this.

Thanks,

Fess

[Ophidian]

The G19 isn't too big, you just need a good holster (MTAC) to conceal it. Unless you mean its too big for your hands. If that is the case, just get a compact M&P in 9mm, they are great guns.

Unless you are super skinny and wear tight hipster clothing, you dont need a subcompact. Unless this is a BUG or something.

Also, the other guns you listed in the OP are horrible, except for the M&P.

[Fess]

The G19 isn't too big, you just need a good holster (MTAC) to conceal it. Unless you mean its too big for your hands. If that is the case, just get a compact M&P in 9mm, they are great guns. The 19 isn't a whole lot smaller than my 5906 I carry right now. In summer it is "too big" to conceal to my liking. With a 19 over my 5906 I would be picking up about 3/4" in length, 1/4" in height. The only real advantage I see to the 19 is weight savings as the S&W is a porker. Don't get me wrong I do love S&W but in my area the M&Ps are non-existent as well as many others.

Unless you are super skinny and wear tight hipster clothing, you dont need a subcompact. Unless this is a BUG or something. I don't wear "hipsters" but I am a lean guy. 6'2" 175lbs. I wear cargo shorts and a T-shirt/Polo shirt most of the time in summer.

Also, the other guns you listed in the OP are horrible, except for the M&P.
I agree the Bersa is indeed sub par for my needs and that is why it is now off of my list. Unless you can back up your claim of "horrible" when speaking about the Kahr I will just take it with a grain of salt. I have read about 1 failure in the time I have been researching that firearm. All other reports speak very highly of the CW9

Thanks,

Fess