First gun recommendations & considerations

T

thevinmanfxst

New member
Hey all!

New to the forums here and just looking for some advice… I’ve been shooting rentals on and off since I was 18 but finally decided to go ahead and get my CCW permit and my own gun.

While I’m waiting for the wheels to turn on the permit paperwork, I’ve been researching what firearm to purchase first. This gun will be for both home defense and concealed carry. I’ve narrowed down the field to either a gen 3 Glock 26, or a Kahr PM9 /CM9.

I’m leaning toward the Glock because of its reliability, capacity and because it accepts .22 conversion slides, so I can run cheaper ammo through it while still practicing on the same frame.

The Kahr comes in a close second on the reliability front, from what I hear, but its major advantage is its size and slimness compared to the Glock. I’m just afraid that the Glock will be too chunky for decent and comfortable concealed carry.
Any thought suggestions or any other considerations I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance!
 
I would go with the Glock 26. I own one and I love it I've had it for about a year and it has bot let me down. I own Glock 17 for about 12 years and I have never up till now had a malfunction. So for reliabilty I vote Glock 26.
thevinmanfxst said:
Hey all!

New to the forums here and just looking for some advice… I’ve been shooting rentals on and off since I was 18 but finally decided to go ahead and get my CCW permit and my own gun.

While I’m waiting for the wheels to turn on the permit paperwork, I’ve been researching what firearm to purchase first. This gun will be for both home defense and concealed carry. I’ve narrowed down the field to either a gen 3 Glock 26, or a Kahr PM9 /CM9.

I’m leaning toward the Glock because of its reliability, capacity and because it accepts .22 conversion slides, so I can run cheaper ammo through it while still practicing on the same frame.

The Kahr comes in a close second on the reliability front, from what I hear, but its major advantage is its size and slimness compared to the Glock. I’m just afraid that the Glock will be too chunky for decent and comfortable concealed carry.
Any thought suggestions or any other considerations I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
 
I have owned several glocks, they are nice.
But when I got a springfield xd, my first thought was this is what a glock should be.

Personally, 1911 designs are my weapon of choice. Over tupperware guns.
 
I myself bought a glock for reliability, ease of use, and the fact its the same firearm local authorities use around here and its the firearm I will use in police academy. I have fired aprox 300 rounds through it so far and it hasn't jammed once. I also bought it because it has no saftey. I know I may sound crazy, but if theres a situation were I need to use my gun, I dont want to have to mess with a safety. I dont have kids around so its not a big deal. My vote is for the glock.
 
I have nothing against Glocks at all, but i would recommend a full size 1911 to you, with the right holster there easy to conceal.
 
Here we go again. The right gun for you is the right gun for YOU. You say you have been renting firearms? good. Keep doing so. Try them in various calibers and lengths find something that is comfortable for you to shoot. There are various ways to go about this but I usually recommend settling brand first. It should feel comfortable in your hands, point well and serve your needs in terms of concealability. Once you decide for yourself which platform you are comfortable with, begin looking at caliber. Try your chosen pistol in all calibers in which it is available if possible. You want something that you can afford to practice with regularly.

A word on the use of .22 conversion kits for practice, there is an adage I learned while in the military "train as you fight". In this case I would interpret this to mean actually practicing with ammunition that resembles your carry load as much as possible. This will allow you to strengthen your grip improve your accuracy and overall become accustomed to how your pistol operates in the field. .22 conversions can be good for learning overall function of your pistol such as how to perfom reloads, and operation of safeties, practicing draws, etc. However much of this sort of training can also be done with dry firing alone, or with dummy rounds. (With significantly improved safety) There may be some differing opinions on this point however. There are certainly shooters out there that swear by .22 cal practice. And certainly .22 cal practice is better than no practice at all.

I would also begin looking at how you are going to carry your pistol. Start with a good solid gunbelt, I prefer 1 1/4" because it does not scream "gun" like a wider 1 1/2" or 2" belt. It also does not require changing the belt loops on your pants. Next see if your gun dealer will allow you to try various holster styles before you buy them. As I have mentioned in other threads a really good holster is the secret to comfortable concealed carry. Try the mass market models to determine a carry location and style that suits you best, understanding that you may need to modify your wardrobe a bit to accommodate concealed carry. Once you have determined a carry style that suits you best, find a high quality custom holster maker that will make a holster in what works for you. Custom holsters generally use higher quality leather which is a bit thicker than mass market versions. They will wear better overtime and not stretch out. The means of attaching the holster to your belt can be sized to fit your belt exactly providing minimum movement and holding the pistol securely against your body but not so close as to be uncomfortable. The boning on a high quality holster will be sufficient to hold a pistol in place and prevent it from falling out.
 
glock

It's a tried and true design. I'm a big guy so I can hide full size autos with comfort. I carry a glock21 if I'm riding a lot. Buy I also carry a Colt Government model otherwise. You need to access your own carry situations to decide what's best for you.

If your gonna carry a pocket weapon or a belt weapon. If your gonna carry an ankle weapon or a shoulder weapon. I'm fortunate enough that my carry position and weapon is dictated by my mood and more importantly my dress for the day. Except for an ankle weapon, I have never and will never carry there. I'll be damned if I got to kneel before anyone while going for a weapon.
 
look into springfield xd's line. i carry the subcompact .40 cal. love it. never had an isse with it, plus it has keep it simple stupid safety on it that require no thought or remembering to push on or off, glocks only have the trigger safety, and 1911's have the decoker/ thumb safety. I like the grip and trigger safety of the xd, but again find what will work for you and things that you want on the pistol.

hope you find what works for YOU.
 
my thoughts

No surprise on all the glock praise. They're a great gunmaker. So many pistol manufacturers try to mimic them. I just find them a little bulky for CC. My friend has a Glock 19 but never carries because it's not comfortable to conceal. That's the big thing to remember, make sure it's comfortable in different carry positions and various types of attire. I considered the Glock 26 for a time before trying a Kahr CW9. I wear it all the time because it's comfortable to wear. And it's thin. Less than an inch. I think the K9 is the same gun just upgraded slide, slide release, and rifling. Good luck.
 
I'm an XD guy. I own three of them. But for deep Concealed carry or those days I just want to slip something into my pocket I carry my Taurus LCP.

Find, and choose the gun that works for you.
 
Im on my first auto. I got it due to the low price. I really like my buddys XDm9. Its about the same size as mine. At 5'10" 190lb, I would prefer something a bit smaller like a SA XD4 9mm. Im not familiar how your options compare in size.

I have also found out that not 1 single carry is going to work in all situations. I prefer belt carry on the back but cant sit in the car like that so I hip carry most of the time. Im looking at a shoulder harness set up and possibly a smaller pistol.

Try to rent the specific one your looking at, try on various holsters. Talk to the guys shooting or working at the range... all the guys at my range and gunshop CC while working so I would trust their advice. Most are ex military or LE so lots of background there.

Rich
 
I'd go for a Glock

Glock would be my first choice.

You might also want to consider the Glock 27. With a conversion barrel (such as Lone Wolf) you shoot either 40 or 9.

The other piece of advice that I would offer is to get yourself a Glock 26 training gun (a plastic replica) and see how well you can carry it.

You can try out different forms of carry and different holsters before you commit to the actual gun purchase.
 
1. Don't go less than a 9MM/.38 Spcl
2. Buy a gun that you can carry all of the time, in any weather and in any mode of dress. That will depend on you, your location and your lifestyle. Some people , in some places, could carry a 1911 with ease. Others will have to go smaller and lighter.
3. As a first gun, go with a gun that has a simple drill for putting into action and clearing malfunctions. The fewer "bells and whistles" the better.
4. Get a gun that is easy to clean and maintain!

I EDC and have selected a weapon that can go out the door with me year around and into any social situation. But what I carry and what you may carry will differ as do our lifestyles, home and dress codes. For that reason I think it is misleading to recommend a specific weapon for you. Think out your daily environment and then research what weapon fits the niche. The alternative is to have two or more weapons , each fitting a different mode. But you said first gun, so get one that will cover all of the bases first.
 
Of the choices you named, I would go with the Glock...

I have carried for 35+ years and my Glock19 with the Crossbreed Supertuck holster is the most comfortable rig I have ever carried other than the Airweight .38 snubbie on the hip...and I just wouldn't feel right any more with only 5 rounds.
 
Doc Mustang said:
Here we go again. The right gun for you is the right gun for YOU. You say you have been renting firearms? good. Keep doing so. Try them in various calibers and lengths find something that is comfortable for you to shoot. There are various ways to go about this but I usually recommend settling brand first. It should feel comfortable in your hands, point well and serve your needs in terms of concealability. Once you decide for yourself which platform you are comfortable with, begin looking at caliber. Try your chosen pistol in all calibers in which it is available if possible. You want something that you can afford to practice with regularly.

A word on the use of .22 conversion kits for practice, there is an adage I learned while in the military "train as you fight". In this case I would interpret this to mean actually practicing with ammunition that resembles your carry load as much as possible. This will allow you to strengthen your grip improve your accuracy and overall become accustomed to how your pistol operates in the field. .22 conversions can be good for learning overall function of your pistol such as how to perfom reloads, and operation of safeties, practicing draws, etc. However much of this sort of training can also be done with dry firing alone, or with dummy rounds. (With significantly improved safety) There may be some differing opinions on this point however. There are certainly shooters out there that swear by .22 cal practice. And certainly .22 cal practice is better than no practice at all.

I would also begin looking at how you are going to carry your pistol. Start with a good solid gunbelt, I prefer 1 1/4" because it does not scream "gun" like a wider 1 1/2" or 2" belt. It also does not require changing the belt loops on your pants. Next see if your gun dealer will allow you to try various holster styles before you buy them. As I have mentioned in other threads a really good holster is the secret to comfortable concealed carry. Try the mass market models to determine a carry location and style that suits you best, understanding that you may need to modify your wardrobe a bit to accommodate concealed carry. Once you have determined a carry style that suits you best, find a high quality custom holster maker that will make a holster in what works for you. Custom holsters generally use higher quality leather which is a bit thicker than mass market versions. They will wear better overtime and not stretch out. The means of attaching the holster to your belt can be sized to fit your belt exactly providing minimum movement and holding the pistol securely against your body but not so close as to be uncomfortable. The boning on a high quality holster will be sufficient to hold a pistol in place and prevent it from falling out.
Click to expand...

Words of wisdom
 
Looks like you have done your homework. If you are in a location where printing is an issue I would go with the smaller of the 2 choices.

Previous posters are correct, you will probably have to experiment a bit to find out what way of carry works best for you and the things you do. Don't be too upset if you end up with a few holsters that you bought based on reviews or recommendations that are basically great - just not for you.

Example, I bought a marvelous gunbelt from Blackhawk. Strong enough to hang a hog from it. But ... I use a SERPA belt slide holster and I need to take it off when I get to work. This belt is so good, so thick that it's just too hard to do.
 
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