Shopping for a subcompact

[jetter79]

Hey everyone,

Been doing a lot of internet shopping. Been looking to add another gun to my collection this one will be a pocket pistol or subcompact. So far I have been jumping back and forth on one.. The list I have so far is S&W Bodyguard 380,Kahr cm9,Kahr pm9,Ruger LCP, LC9,Kel-tec P-11 and sig P290 but that one is spendy . I would like any input you guys have for real world use of these guns.. I think my eyes are almost burnt out from reading reviews/looking for deals.. Also if you know anyone selling one that is a good deal that is also appreciate.

Thanks ......

[gunsmith]

My .380 is my favorite gun.

It's always there. Smaller than my wallet. easy back up to the single stack 9mm I carry.

I've thought of getting a Derringer many times but the .380 isn't much bigger and it's got 7 rounds.

It's also the gun that saved my bacon in a robbery....Perp couldn't tell if it was a 9mm or a .45.

The noise and the flame let him know he 'WAS GETTING SHOT' and ran.

Disappears in any pocket and you'll always be armed even when just taking out the garbage.

I have the Kel-Tec 380. Ruger LCP is a clone. about $225

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B22wLsy ... t?hl=en_US

[gunsmith]

BTW ThunderJohn ( Southwest Arms) is a recommended dealer on this forum...his prices are competitive as well.

[jetter79]

Yeah I see him selling a lot on here.Thanks for the chart very helpful..

[grimbeaver]

I've been debating this as well. I was set on getting a new bi-tone LCP but then I pulled the trigger on one and ugh. The trigger pull was too long for me, with how far my finger would have to come back for it to break I fear that I would not be able to keep the gun on target. Would be curious to shoot one but looks like Bills doesn't rent any Ruger. Since I carry an XDS I don't want anything with a manual safety, though I've read many people say they carry their Bodyguard with the safety off. Would love a Springfield XD pocket 380 but that will never happen because they would not be able to import it. Can't decide on the Glock 42, it's a little larger then I was looking for but seems really nice.

[Spartan]

I sold my LCP, I tried to the Glock 42.... the Tauras, I have had 3 Kahrs ..... no no no no ... I am at the sig 938 .... its a shooter .... 9mm ... ok try the 238
its only your life .... what a $200 more ?

[jshuberg]

The Sig P938 is a little larger than some of the other subcompacts, but it's also a "real" gun. It has real sights (optionally night sights), a slide lock, is a 9mm rather than .380. Oh, and you can hit stuff with it. With a little practice you can easily hold center mass past 10 yards, not so much with many of the other subcompacts. It also has an ambi-safety, so you can easily use it as either a strong side or weak side weapon. There are plenty of holsters for it, including the ones that give it the profile of a wallet in the back pocket.

Personally I wouldn't entertain anything other than the 938 until you put one in your hands, and then only if you absolutely need something smaller.

[Randygmn]

FYI, the 938 is a SAO and needs to be carried cocked and locked. I had an original colt mustang I bought in the 90's, and could never get comfortable with that. The 938 is no different.

The glock 42 is perfect. I've got a 1000 rounds through mine already without a hiccup. Soft shooter. Accurate. Great trigger and reset. Slightly larger than the mouse guns, but performs 100% better, like a full frame pistol.

[jshuberg]

FYI, the 938 is a SAO and needs to be carried cocked and locked. I had an original colt mustang I bought in the 90's, and could never get comfortable with that. The 938 is no different.

The glock 42 is perfect. I've got a 1000 rounds through mine already without a hiccup. Soft shooter. Accurate. Great trigger and reset. Slightly larger than the mouse guns, but performs 100% better, like a full frame pistol.

I hate to break it to you, but a striker fired gun operates almost the same way as a SAO gun, just no hammer. The main difference with a Glock is that it utilizes a trigger safety, where the P938 has an external safety much like a 1911 does. If you carry with one in the chamber, your Glock is essentially "cocked and locked", the same way a SAO gun is. If for some reason you feel more comfortable without an external hammer in the cocked position, that's fine, but that's also the state your Glock is in anytime you've got a round chambered.

With a Glock, pressure on the the trigger will both disengage the safety and fire the weapon, meaning only one thing has to go wrong to have a negligent discharge. Comparatively multiple things need to go wrong with other pistol designs to result in a negligent discharge. If you plan to carry the pistol in a pocket, purse, fannypack, etc. where the gun can be out of the holster enough for the trigger to be exposed before it is completely free of it's carry position, it's potentially more dangerous with a Glock. For this type of carry, you really want an additional external safety. Just sayin'.

[jetter79]

I sold my LCP, I tried to the Glock 42.... the Tauras, I have had 3 Kahrs ..... no no no no ... I am at the sig 938 .... its a shooter .... 9mm ... ok try the 238
its only your life .... what a $200 more ?

What didnt you like about kahrs?

[josh2415]

If you don't mind spending $1000, take a look at the Minnesota made Boberg XR9, or the soon to be released XR45.
http://www.BobergArms.com

[linksep]

I have the Kel-Tec 380. Ruger LCP is a clone. about $225

Is clone fair? Probably. I would nit-pick and say Ruger often takes good ideas and makes them into good guns.
Ruger LCP = KelTec P3AT Fixed
Ruger LC9 = KelTec PF9 Fixed
Ruger SR22 = Walther P22 Fixed

I have a PF9 and it's been pretty good but has needed a little "tweaking". I've spent an hour or two doing the famous KelTec "fluff & buff"; which I'm sure is an hour or two I wouldn't have spent on a Ruger... Of course I saved a hundred or so buying a KelTec, so in a Ruger vs. KelTec debate I would ask: Do you have more time than money, or more money than time?

If you're on a budget, and willing to put some effort in, I recommend a PF9. Do the "fluff & buff", straighten the trigger and accessory rail a little, then test various ammo until you find ammo that doesn't work 100% and practice with that. Yeah, you read that right. My PF9 easily digests everything I have tried EXCEPT Speer Lawman. I told a new pistol shooter: "Grip it like you mean it, you're not trying to break it but you do have to be the boss of it." ...well I found out that Speer Lawman works only in my PF9 if I grip it like I'm trying to break it... then it works well. The PF9 gets a bad rap about being unreliable but with my reading and my experience it usually is shooter error. If you practice with it a LOT and really get into the habit of gripping it like you hate it, then it should be 100% reliable.

Or you could just buy a Ruger "clone" and not deal with any of that BS.
*I have very limited experience with the P3AT, about 3 magazines worth; and 1 single round out of the Ruger LCP.
*My post is totally related to the PF9 and shouldn't be referenced in any way or used as a consideration for any decision. I make no guarantee as to the accuracy or fitness of any information contained within said post, if you listen to me you will probably die, etc. etc. etc...

[old guy]

I have a Boberg 9 and I find it in my jacket inside pocket or hip pocket holster or inside the pants in a clip on holster more and more all the time, for deep conceal I use a pf9 on the ankle, the past two years I have deep concealed much.

John

[ZardozCZ]

Like my CM9. Handles +P and is as small as my hand can manage to get accuracy from. Less snappy than LCP, more punch to the ammo. Small enough to go anywhere so it's my constant carry. I got comfortable with the long smooth pull of the trigger and never have had issue with reset either. It does improve after a couple hundred rounds so don't skip that step. It has never failed with factory or hand loads for me, and I run a few mags of "whatchagot" monthly just to stay competent with it, as I don't shoot it for fun.

[jetter79]

Was reading one of my gun mags and seen SCCY CPX-2 looks like a nice little gun. From the reviews it's been getting very good ones. Also Usa made with is nice..
Anyone have one or shoot one?