While looking look at a S&W 642 38 spl +P, but it is a revolver. It is a up close and personal weapon. JMO

departments found it more expensive and had a harder time getting officers to qualify with the 40 and 45 compared to 9

a hit with a 9 is worth more than a hundred misses with the 40/45

here is a video that helps to show from a compact gun the 9 vs 45 results in the Meat target ends up looking almost identical to the doctor or coroner

interesting that none of the rounds did much more than go through the target and get caught by the t-shirt , this is essentially because personal defence ammo is loaded to basically stop in a man without causing a lot of over penetration and risk to by-standards

in my limited experience with nuisance raccoon targets I prefer the results of 124gr 9mm vs 147gr 9mm I just didn't get good expansion from the 147

I have a Kel-tec PF9 and a P11 and love them both but I just recently bought a Springfield hellcat and that is a amazing gun and my new favorite but I will still keep and carry all of the depending on mood or circumstances m


But really I do prefer my kimber pro carry2 in 45 but it’s a bit large to carry sometimes

9mm vs 38spl 9 beats it in virtually every load for velocity and energy

I like 38 but there is a lot of wasted case space in 38

if a 38 is enough then a 9 is definitely enough

the tables turn when you go 357mag Mag beets 9mm

nightlife-Had not heard about the Hellcat till you posted about it. Did a little reading and looking and might have to keep my eyes open for one. Thanks...I think.

Moosetrot

Lol I do know what you mean I was perfectly happy with what I already have till I chanced to pick up that hellcat and it was love at first handling it just fit s my hand perfectly

I have been looking at 9's too. Mainly because when I have a bad flare up and my pain is real bad I want to reduce the weight while still carrying. I was looking at the Glock 43x and the Springfield Hellcat for awhile. I finally got to compare them side by side at a gun show. I liked the reset better on the hellcat and is a tiny bit smaller. If I wasn't so slim I wouldn't mind carrying a Canik.

X2 the reset is smooth compared to my shield 45

Sig model P938 SAS. Stainless, beveled edges, wood grips and night sights 9mm. Very concealable plus its a Sig. Not high priced but reasonable for a very good quality gun. Don't go cheap when buying a gun that may save you or your families life.

As others have stated, there is a huge surge for law enforcement goin back to 9’s. I kept hearing how scoring was better in the qualifications with the 9. I stood off to the side of a line of guys shooting, a mix of .40’s and 9’s. You didnt have to pay much attention to see who was shooting what. The .40’s bucked considerably harder with a lot more muzzle jump than the 9’s. It stands to reason the follow up shots would be that much quicker and accurate. Theres definitely a difference in the feel of a Glock to a Sig as their angles are different, but both are great guns.

if your going to carry pick one that feels good in your hand. then shoot it. a lot. not at just a shooting range either. go out someplace where you can walk around and draw/shoot stumps cans and whatever else you see to shoot.

thats a good way to learn how to shoot a bow too. throw away the sights first.

Kimber micro 9 is my favorite. My smith Wesson shield is great but feels twice as hard to conceal compared to Kimber IMO.

The are many advantages of using a revolver. The biggest one is they hold the shell casings. The also make neat holsters that attach to the pistol and of course they are very reliable.

Whatever you do don't get a Hi-point.



Most manufacturers make quality firearms these days and you can't really go wrong with most of them.

As others have said, what do you want the pistol for, home, open carry, concealed carry?

If you have a range that loans guns, go there and shoot some. Find out if you like Single action or double action.

Do you want a semi auto or a revolver? There are pros and cons to both. You might want to try both to find out. The Ruger LCR is a nice revolver in 9mm, also Smith & Wesson makes nice revolvers.

I like striker fired single action pistols with no manual safety. If that is something you like you can look at the Glock G17, G19 or G26. I would recommend also the Springfield XD or XDS also, those are my personal favorites.

Sig makes some great pistols also, the 226, 229 or 320 you cant go wrong with. Don't overlook the Smith & Wesson Shield or any of their M&P line of pistols.

My lovely wife's everyday pistol is the Sig 238 (.380) but you could look at the P938 which is a nice little pistol.

Springfield Range Officer is a good choice if you like 1911 style pistols, they also have a compact version, as well as the EMP which is super concealable.



Whatever you buy make sure you carry it, and practice with it often. Not just at the range. Make sure it is UNLOADED! Stand in front of a mirror and practice drawing the firearm correctly and smoothly, speed will come with time. Draw, target acquisition, fire (get some snap caps), practice reloads....



Practice until you can't get it wrong....

jtg: Also there is no hammer, light, if there is a misfire just pull the trigger again. I had mine cut for moon clips. I like mine, carrying it more and more.

Springfield xd9 sub compact I love mine

There's a near endless list of good carry 9mm pistols. It's a Chevy vs Ford thing. The answers you'll get here are just personal preference, which may not match yours.

There are a lot of different pistols available on the market for concealed carry, which I assume is your intended use given that you asked about "compact" models. My personal choice was a Ruger LC9s, but many others in the same price range are just as good. My advice is more about getting what works for you.

First off, if you are going to carry regularly, get a stainless slide. The bluing will wear off the slide soon enough and then it will rust if it is carbon steel.

When considering different models and calibers keep the weight of ammo in mind. A loaded magazine is a significant contributor to the overall weight of what you carry. For me 7 or 8 rounds of 9mm may not be all I'd like to have but it is all I want to carry. Bigger guys can carry more weight and larger pistols much easier than I can and still keep them properly concealed.

Consider the situations that you want to carry, the clothing you will be wearing, and how you will conceal. Be prepared to change how you wear your clothes. For example, I am old fashioned and like my tee shirt tucked in winter and summer, jeans or shorts. When the only shirt I am wearing is a tee shirt concealment is much better when it is untucked.

Get a pistol with a good trigger and adjustable sights.

Hope this helps.

this company https://shieldarms.com/glock-43x-48-15-round-mag
is making a 15 round flush fit mag for the 43X

although I find I need a pinki rest on the G19 length grips to shoot them right. XXL hands

I really like the Sig P365 with 12 round magazines. It comes with day/night sights and my pinkie finger isn't hanging out in the air. It feels good and shoots well. With modern self defence bullets a 9mm does plenty of damage IMHO.