The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: Galeth005 on April 12, 2008, 02:40:57 PM
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so last month i went out and purchased the new ruger sr9, its in the 330-***** line so i have to send it back to the factory for the new safety and firing mechanism. this was my first pistol, and i only got it because of the way it felt in my hand. the trigger pull is very smooth on mine and accurate, however the size is a bit to large for conceal so i am looking for a good compact to subcompact pistol in a 9mm or .40 cal. i've looked at the s&w m&p .40 the xd9 and .40 as well as the glock 19 and 23. each of these i'm told are very good reliable guns however i am concerned about realiability and accuracy. i dont want the same experiance with my ruger on having to send it back to the factory after only 300 rounds for a factory refit on the safety. so essentialy i'm asking for opinions on a good compact conceal pistol.
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Oh no, here we go again. There are as many opinons as there are members here. Listen to any of them and you can't go wrong (just ask them).
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so last month i went out and purchased the new ruger sr9, its in the 330-***** line so i have to send it back to the factory for the new safety and firing mechanism. this was my first pistol, and i only got it because of the way it felt in my hand. the trigger pull is very smooth on mine and accurate, however the size is a bit to large for conceal so i am looking for a good compact to subcompact pistol in a 9mm or .40 cal. i've looked at the s&w m&p .40 the xd9 and .40 as well as the glock 19 and 23. each of these i'm told are very good reliable guns however i am concerned about realiability and accuracy. i dont want the same experiance with my ruger on having to send it back to the factory after only 300 rounds for a factory refit on the safety. so essentialy i'm asking for opinions on a good compact conceal pistol.
It's just something that goes with buying first year of production of anything.
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so advise for the first time gun buyer, is to get something that has been on the market for a few years?
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Glock 26 in 9mm
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Glock, that may be large for you, Any medium or full size 1911, any revolver that you are comfortable with.
XD and M&P while they seem to be fine pistols are also fairly new models and may have their own teething problems.
Older Ruger semi auto's are not to my personal taste but many find them to be good reliable guns.
Do not let this experiance turn you off from Ruger revolvers, they have been producing excellent quality product for decades, in fact my next pistol will be a GP 100 in .357
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GLOCK........GLOCK..........GLOCK.........GLOCK.................GLOCK.........
But, I am biased. ::) I have also owned an XD and an M&P too. Both of those are good guns as well. Get whatever you want. My receommendation would be Glock, then M&P's, and then XD's..in that order.. My experience with accuracy was in that order too.. Glock being the best.
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How about something from Para? I really love my little Para carry9 (http://www.para-usa.com/new/product_pistol.php?id=58 (http://www.para-usa.com/new/product_pistol.php?id=58)). Very accurate and sweet shooting. It's a 1911 format too. Maybe a Hawg if you want greater capacity or large caliber. They are a bit pricey though. I don't think you could go wrong with a X-D, I just can't get my hand to feel comfortable around one.
There are a whole bunch of very good choices but in the end the best choice is the one you'll actually carry and practice with.
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....... so essentialy i'm asking for opinions on a good compact conceal pistol.
Had to send mine too. Hope it comes back with a better trigger (hit it big...bought an FNP 9 and M&P 45 soon thereafter...M&P trigger is 'da bomb).
How much do you want to spend? Makes a difference....I know. I've got a Browning BDA in .380. Feels a bit chunky, but a small, solid weapon. Maybe you'd like the Ruger LCP in .380....kinda depends on you.
Take a look at the CZ RAMI 2075. Everything I have CZ is a keeper.
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When you say the SR9 is too large, In what way? The smaller auto's that I favor are Kahr, Para, Glock, but Glocks are thick. Since this was your first pistol, and it is already a 9mm, I'd probably stay with it, although you mentioned .40. If you don't mind a caliber change, a second pistol would be the beginning of what We call a battery. I second Tombogan, on a small revolver, I favor S&W over Ruger for several reasons, the first is overall size, the is nothing wrong with the Ruger, but there is not enough right about it to make me buy one. Caliber choice, if they still made it, I would say 9mm, but alas they don't and the older ones have appreciated way too much. I carry a 9mm S&W j frame everyday, but today they go for 700-900 bucks. So I still recommend a .38 or .357 as a carry piece, regardless of your other pistol choices, as it will always work and be there until your autoloaders have been proven.
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When you say the SR9 is too large, In what way?
To large meaning its handle and barrel length are very difficult to conceal on my regular apparel, as well as it jsut is uncomforable to conceal via iwb as how i conceal it. but i find the trigger pull very satisfactory and extreamly smooth at the moment so i hope the trigger pull will remain the same when i get it back. as far as my limit on price i'm looking around $400 - $600
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as far as my limit on price i'm looking around $400 - $600
Go Glock! You won't be disappointed. They are without a doubt the perfectly designed personal defense autoloader. They are also right within your price range - and you might be able to find a nice used one for under $400 if you look hard enough.
I bought a used model 17 for $250 a few years back. It was an older model and the finish on the slide was well worn, but the barrel and everything else about the gun was functionally flawless (Glocks will take a lickin and keep on tickin). About a year ago I sent it back to the factory and had the slide and barrel refinished (Cost about $60) and now it looks as good as it shoots.
Their sub-compact models are great for concealed carry - perfect size, lightweight, easy to conceal and they bring plenty of firepower to the fight. Above all, they are reliable as all get out. There is a lot of piece of mind when you know that your gun will go bang each and every time you need it to.
P.S. Another thing I love about Glocks is that their subcompacts will also take their full size pistol magazines. So I can use a 17 rd or even a 33 rd mag in my subcompact 26 if I ever had too. 33rds of 9mm make a pretty nice little home defense weapon and then it can easily transition into a carry gun with the 10 rd model 26 mag.
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the only problem i have with glock's subcompacts is that they are to small for my hands, i like to have all my fingers on the handle, with the sub's my pinky and ring finger wrap around. if i went glock it would be either the 19 or the.40 cal counter part... they are significantly smaller than my ruger, howerver not as thin. but thats a sacrifice that would is easily overcome do to their reliability...
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the only problem i have with glock's subcompacts is that they are to small for my hands, i like to have all my fingers on the handle, with the sub's my pinky and ring finger wrap around. if i went glock it would be either the 19 or the.40 cal counter part... they are significantly smaller than my ruger, howerver not as thin. but thats a sacrifice that would is easily overcome do to their reliability...
Yeah, my pinky finger hangs off the end of my model 26, but you wouldn't know it when you shoot it. It shoots very well, and when you shoot two handed, you'd never even know that youre not shooting a mid to full sized gun. There is also a +1 pinky extension for the subcompact mags that allow for all your fingers to be on the gun and gives you an extra round in the mag. I've never bought a mag extension b/c I never had the need to. It simply shoots that well (and I am 6'00'' 180 lbs with above avg sized hands).
Here is an example of one with mag extension:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=97293551
If you are going to use it for concealed carry, I would suggest going with the sub compact version though. I personally feel that it is the largest I would feel comfortable with as a concealed carry gun (Don't want to be caught "brandishing" or anything like that).
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If you are going to use it for concealed carry, I would suggest going with the sub compact version though. I personally feel that it is the largest I would feel comfortable with as a concealed carry gun (Don't want to be caught "brandishing" or anything like that).
thats why i'm looking at the 3" version of the m&p as well as the springfield xd 3"... i love the feel and the reliability and durability of the glock, so i was thinking about the 23, or the 19
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thats why i'm looking at the 3" version of the m&p as well as the springfield xd 3"... i love the feel and the reliability and durability of the glock, so i was thinking about the 23, or the 19
MB has mentioned that the SR9 will be getting compact models and more calibers. When...who knows????
Even though I have to send mine in on recall, I like the SR9 being thin and will probably buy another (without a doubt I will buy another one or two if they slick up the dang trigger) once additional models come out. I've put a over 1,000 rounds through it without a single malfunction...so the reliability to fire is top shelf. Also, I appreciate having a recall out in the open...we could talk about the FNP but.....I like when a manufacturer steps up to the plate in the open.
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MB has mentioned that the SR9 will be getting compact models and more calibers. When...who knows????
I like the SR9 being thin and will probably buy another (without a doubt I will buy another one or two if they slick up the dang trigger) once additional models come out.
I love the feel of my sr9 as well... the trigger on mine is the smoothest i've felt in all the handguns i've fire. if they do come out with other models like compacts and subs i will buy once my faith in ruger is restored, i wasnt happy with the recall within 1 month of purchase, i hope that once it comes back i wont have anyproblems with it.
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Sub-compact 3" XD9 works for me. Glock 17 or 19 feels a little larger, but excellent piece.