Buying a Gun to Carry

I'm shopping around for a compact, DAO 9mm for around $500.

I've only shot a Taurus slim, which I liked.  The new Beretta Nano looks nice but I'd like to wait for some reviews on it first.

Anyways, what do you have experience with?  Suggestions?

Thanks

impulse418 wrote: Stay away from the slim.

Reasons?

I despise threads like these because unless I become a police officer, chances of me getting a hand gun are slim to null.

There are a couple of questions you have to know the answers to first. What size person are you? And, how do you plan on carrying it? Also, when/how often/where do you plan on carrying?

A decent sized guy can pretty easily CC most handguns around the 4-5 O'Clock position, let alone a 9mm. I can carry my double stack FNP40 well with a pair of cargos and an XL shirt.(I'm not a huge guy either, only about 6'-6'1 and around 200 lbs, give or take 5-10)

Obviously if you want something smaller that can fit in a large pocket or at your ankle, your options are going to be slightly more limited, but not restrictively so. Does it need to be a composite semi-auto? Taurus makes some pretty slick revolvers that are nice for ankle/back pocket carry, if you're at all interested in that kind of thing.

Not sure what impulse's beef with the slim is, maybe their manual is printed in a government lab and contains brain washing materials in it. I've shot/handled one and thought it was pretty sweet. One of the only single stack guns I've found to be really comfortable in my hand.

I like Sig alot too, as Arthur suggested, they make a great product.

Personally, I can't shoot glocks well, which brings me to the most important aspect of the gun by far. Anything you're considering should get some serious handling in before you commit to it. Ideally you could find a range nearby that would let you should a gun you're considering, but I know that's not always an option. At the very least, make sure you are going and holding/feeling any gun you are considering, some will immediately just not feel right to you.

My beef with the slim is, they all have horrible reviews.

Glock 26, Springfield XD Sub Compact

Would be my first two choices. They are not enjoyable to shoot, but it looks like you want a small gun.

You're approaching this all wrong.

Anything less than this, and you're a weenie.

Honest question here, why all the hate projected at "slim" CCWs? I'm interested in the single-stack 9x19 that S&W makes.

tallen702 wrote: Honest question here, why all the hate projected at "slim" CCWs? I'm interested in the single-stack 9x19 that S&W makes.

I'm gonna let Kayback answer that, because I'm not very experienced with an awful lot of guns.

I do know that, to alot of people, they like the mental reassurance of having the extra bullets. I've heard others say they felt that single stacking defeated the purpose of a polymer gun, and that you were better off with a 1911 style carry gun because they're a little slimmer all around.

Having owned a 1911, a Sig, two Glocks, a Beretta, an XD, and a few others, I love the look, feel, and performance of my slim better than any of the rest. It just feels right, and it suits me for a carry gun far better than anything else. But that's the only single stacked polymer I've owned.

I like my PPK. Just sayin'.

You know what most people never think of? A 1911 is super slim.  They're a tad heavy, but you can conceal them easily.  You can also find some in 9x19, but that makes me slightly ill.