I have asked this once before, so apologies if you answered then. I tried to find the post, but it was so long ago I believe it has dropped off the forum. I am going to buy a gun for concealed carry.

Here is what I know I want....

I want compact/light
I want a gun with a safety.
I want inexpensive. Preferably $300 range.
I want a semi.

So...... what does the tman tribe recommend for me?

Springfield armory has a couple small inexpensive models, and good reviews

I carry a Ruger LCP2 in .22. I know a lot of people think you need a .45 cal but i prefer to go light. I think they make it in 380 also. It's about the size of my phone, holds 10 rounds and I'm pretty sure once you had to pull it nobody is measuring the size of bullet. .22 lr is a whole different animal than centerfire also. Mine has a clip like a pocket knife, you forget you have it on you.

wws

This is what I carry. Works good for me.

https://www.cabelas.com/p/taurus-g2...;WT.tsrc=Bing%20Rebates%20by%20Microsoft

The Sig 365 is available with an on/off switch.

I'd suggest saving another $200 and getting a Sig365

This is what I was going to recommend but its 500 to 735 depending on model.

Springfield xd 9mm comes in a few sizes and my 13 year old bought his for 300. We have not put more than 300 rounds through it yet but I shoot it as well as my glock and its functional has been perfect so far. My daughter was just given the next size smaller today by one of my friends.

I trust them enough for my family to use.

Been carrying a Ruger max 9 for the last few months, see them on for sale for a lil under or over $300 all the time. So far I love it . Barely notice it half the time and with the red dot I can bounce cans at 15yd all day. It been on my hip through alot of rain mud saw dust ,welding and haven't done any real cleaning past just blowing it off and she's still rocking and rolling .
Not a big pistol shooter and only shoot 50rd or so a month though it .

Also yes it does have a mechanical safety along with kinda a Glock trigger safety deal . Will say the one thing I really don't like is the slide release but it's a small thing imo

X2

X3 on the P365

I’m going to go with the guys recommending the Sig P365. Mine is a 365XL because I like the little extra bit of grip and barrel length. The regular 365 is very small, that is what my wife carries. The 365XL is my everyday carry.

She and I both carry AIWB and find it to be very comfortable and very concealable. We prefer Vedder holsters.

Neither of our P365s have safeties.

I carry a Springfield Hellcat. Love it but it doesn't meet all your criteria




















l

put me in the Ruger Max 9 camp

the reasons I would back the Max 9 it hits your price , it has a manual safety you wanted and it is a Ruger so you have customer service.

if you go taurus and your gun needs to go back , lord only knows when you get it back.

the Taurus is Brazil
the Springfield is Croatia
the smith isn't going to make your price point
the Sig p365 is over budget also
the glock 43x would be closer on price but has no external safety

there are like 40 models of 365 , a few of them have an external manual safety

I bought my wife and daughter smith shields 9mm manual safteys. At the time 250 each thru palmetto state arms.

I know.

remember you can not trust a safety they WILL turn off in a holster or bag it happens the manual safety is really there to have on while you place the gun in the holster , you make sure to run a good holster that covers the trigger.


if I am running my G19 IWB I will pull my holster out of my pants , place on the gun , then place the holster and gun together in my pants.

definitely when running my Ruger LC9 in my pocket , pocket holster Always comes out of the pocket goes on the gun then the gun and holster go in pocket together.

Go to a shop and hold a bunch and ask questions.

Are there any ranges that allow you to rent a gun to try? I let my wife shoot my LCP 380 once and she immediately handed it back to me, some of these little guns are extremely unpleasant to shoot.

I know you said you want a safety, I did also on my first Carry gun. I would recommend going and handling a gun with no safety, I think you may be surprised at how firm/long the trigger pull is, combined with a good holster you'll quickly understand why most small carry guns don't have a safety, to make some of these designed carry guns go off really takes an intentional act.

Ruger does make an LCP max with a safety that comes in right at your budget, a regular LCP is around $200 so under budget but no safety and rough on the hands but incredibly easy to carry. That Max 9 Wolfie posted looks good but the 9mm is gonna rock a bit in that I imagine?

If wolfie can handle it I have no doubt Angela can shoot it without issue.

HolsterIng is definitely the biggest concern when carrying a pistol with no safety, especially when carrying AIWB. My wife, who I mentioned carries a P365 and my daughter, who carries a Springfield Hellcat and myself practice draw, double tap, re-holster drills a lot. We all carry AIWB.

I have always stressed the importance of making sure your finger is not on the trigger and the holster is clear of clothing/fabric before holstering.

I like your idea of pulling the holster, putting it on the pistol and then putting the whole rig back in your pants.

Look into the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 380. I believe mine was just over $400.00.

I'll recommend something like this






https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/the-best-concealed-carry-revolvers/

I would run the 9mm over the 380

my son was shooting the LC9 at age 9 , he was a big kid but anyone who can set a 1.75 with their hands has the hand strength for a small 9

the Max 9 is a bit bigger yet.

always start with 1 round in the gun on your first try that way it is pre unloaded if you do something bad after it goes off. after you have done 1 a few times and are comfortable make it 2 or 3 and when you are happy with that load up.

the think with manual safeties on small guns is you need them off as part of your draw stroke but they have small controls also I also thought I wanted one on my first carry gun , no longer feel that way.

I saw what you describe at rural king.
For something different, look up lady smith.

I'm going to ask. Why a mechanical safety

Here's one that meets your budget

Safe and reliable







https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/the-best-concealed-carry-revolvers/

worn out 2 of them the metal on the hand and the extractor must be soft they come out of time with use.

during the 22lr ammo shortage I was making cast 38spl for around 4 cents a round with 2.2 cent primers back then

if you are carrying a gun to get you out of a bad situation spend some $$ on it really you get a lot more for a little more money.

Looked at some today. I really liked the size of the .380s compared to the 9 or 40s... they look much smaller.

Does anyone know anything about this gun??

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...inless-steel-pistol-101-rounds/p/1895840

As a conceal carry ? .......how many thugs did you shoot ? .......dang !

Price ammo 380 vs 9mm. Then look at performance. I have a few 380s got them befor all the small 9mms came out. Amm ncost more and an 85gr bullet at 800is fps vs 115 at 1100 in 9mm some peope say to use fmj insted of hp ammo since hollow points may not get deep enough to hit vitals.

I wont buy a 380 again with all the 9mm options available.

Call me crazy, i carried a taurus pt111 gen 2 for years. Never once did i have any issues with it. Did i shoot 1000 rounds through it? No but did shoot a few hundred with 0 issues. It carried nice, fit my hands good, was fairly accurate, and reliable enough i would trust my life with it

Palmetto State armory has the SW shield plus on sale right now $360. My wife carries that pistol and I do really like it. Just a little small for my hands. But excellent trigger and grip texture. She had to have a manual safety as well. I’d also look at the Canik tp9 sc. it’s a little blockier than the shield but fits bigger hands a little better in my opinion. As stated earlier. See what feels good in the hand, points naturally and has a trigger you like.

My 2 cents worth: Look at a Taurus 85 in 38 special. Ammo is affordable and readily available. A quality revolver ALWAYS works. No fumbling with safeties, no magazine safety where the gun won't work without the mag in it, etc. Auto's need to be kept clean. You need to "familiarize" yourself with the safety periodically. Many people (especially the ladies) struggle to pull the slide back on an auto. That is just my 2 cents worth.
You want something light to carry, cheap to shoot and accurate at 10 feet.

My wife got one for her first handgun, it was hands down the worst gun we have ever shot. She couldn't hit anything with it because the trigger pull was so heavy that by the time she had the trigger pulled the gun was being pilled all over. Horrible gun highly advise against it.

Yote I don't have a good recommendation in your price range but I will say that I absolutely love my colt mustang .380 if you are willing to up your budget to get quality. Its my go to hole punch and fits nicely into a pocket.

Yep

Yote, you should look at the Mossberg Shockwave. I think it'd be just the ticket for you.

Nothing wrong with a safety if it eases the mind and you are comfortable with it....

Yep

A Smith is better but I have carried a Taurus Ultra Lite 32 mag in my left boot for probably 20 years. I have another 4 inch Taurus stainless 32 mag that went out of time after a BUNCH of rounds. I sent it in and they repaired it free of charge.

Not really it's actually pretty nice to shoot it's got a lil weight to it

160, i always figured you for a "gun in the boot" kinda gal. I just figured it was a derringer or a pepperbox.

LOL Sam.

Steven... I've never had a gun without a safety..... just figure my clumsy arse would end up shooting myself LOL.

I think I've just talked myself into a Taurus 856 38

Safe , reliable, one handed action in a quick emergency....

Almost free

Prefect when I'm bow hunting

Close but no cigar!

My suggestion is to beg, borrow, or rent anything that you think you might like. The money spent on some ammo and rental fees is worth it. If you buy something that you just can't shoot, operate safely, or it hurts you when you do shoot, then you aren't likely to carry it. The resale on common firearms isn't really great and you'll likely lose more than the cost of a couple of rentals if you end up not liking what you bought. I do agree with the suggestions to save a little more and get into the Sig, Glock, S&W, Springfield price range if you can. If you can tolerate the Ruger LCP or LCP Max they are reliable "Always there and going to get beat up" choices.

Did you just quote Richard Boone?

John Wilkes Booth did OK with one of these.
Small, concealable and cheap to shoot!
Has got a safety just like you wanted.

When that first shot matters, just make sure that that first shot matters.

My favorite carry is the Taurus 856 .38 Special with the concealed hammer. Traded into one at a gun show and love it.

Moosetrot

why would any handgun not be one hand operation?

my two were the 4 inch barrel model , carried it in my Carhart coat pocket , plinking and targets of opportunity

remember how it cost the same as a cheap 22lr pistol of the time and it was during the 22lr shortage where they were just unavailable

I had free wheel weights , tightwad and $0.022 primers by the K 38brass basically lasts forever , loaded rounds in one pocket , empties in the other.


also you really should practice with your carry peice often.

sig p 365 9mm

I’m blown away by all the Taurus recommendations. Of the few Taurus, heritage and traditions guns I’ve bought none are reliable enough I’d stake my family’s life on. But that’s the beauty of a free market, I guess

The more you use a gun, the more you respect it.
Your finger should never inter the trigger guard , until you're ready.
Hunting with a safety is different, you're walking in different terrain, and never know if you'll fall or trip.
Know many friends that were killed or injured hunting.
As a weapon for defense , you want it to shoot as fast as you can.
I know people that never carry with a loaded handgun , one in the chamber.
Sorry but by time you (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) it, you're dead.
Same with a safety, that split second , is too much.

I've never figured out how to operate the slide with one hand .........

The price maybe ......

My Taurus G2C has worked flawlessly. I run a clip through it once a month. It shoots any 9mm that I feed it.

Rack the slide with your rear sight or red dot on your belt or a hard surface like a table.

Yes , but if Bigfoot startles me in the woods , my reaction time must be swift

Seems like you could pull a small double action revolver out of your purse or pocket, point and pull the trigger quicker than any semi with a safety. What's the mostly intended use?

My taurus was far more reliable than my smith and wesson m&p 2.0 10mm. Waste of 600 bucks there

the wifes 856 never fails to go bang

why would you operate the slide , also there are ways , but why would you need to.

I didn't know you only had one hand.

if you are drawing right , as you establish grip the safety on decent guns is already off

the thumb sweep it part of the draw

S.&W Airweight 642 .38 if you aren't fond of auto's.

I'd probably go 9mm for smaller size. .380 has some nice looking things but when you read on .380 you'll find the police upgraded from it to 9mm for more stopping power. People think .380 is less effective... but at the same time a .22 mag conceal carry has some benefits too. I assume you have smaller hands? You need something that fits into them well. i.e. The LCP 380 is small and compact but so small it doesn't fit most peoples hand and is uncomfortable to shoot. If its uncomfortable to shoot then it most likely wont get practiced with like it should. You don't want it to hurt your hand when you fire it. LCP380 was known for that. Not comfortable to take to the range.

The Sig 365 is 9mm is well rated and may fit your hand better. The 320 had misfire issues.

Shawn Ryan suggests SIG Sauer P365-AXG Legion model and will probably be my next pistol purchase. But the Legion isn't the smallest conceal carry.

"The SIG Sauer P365-AXG Legion is dimensionally very similar to the standard polymer P365 X-Macro. While the AXG Legion is slightly larger in slide length and width, it holds the same standard capacity of 17+1. The most significant difference is the AXG's metal frame, which adds substantial weight to improve recoil control"

Not to start a debate on here about the safety thing but you can carry on an empty chamber. That makes the self defense people lose their minds b/c you have to take time to rack a round. Depends how you imagine protecting yourself. Someone walking up surprising you from behind and putting you in a choke hold or someone robbing the gas station three people in front of you. With kids around I prefer and empty chamber and taking the extra second to rack one but thats a hot take and a risk Im willing to take, especially with kids around.

I recommend that you purchase from a private party. I don't believe you will pass the mental health evaluation.

If they only knew......... lol

Not sure the price of today, and I believe you can buy compact but the wife carries a ruger security 9 when she goes on trips. I like it alot other then the girly teal color.


Went looked it up its around 300 tad more that color.

Are you also planning to get some professional instruction and a license ?

MS no longer requires a license.

good instruction is a good idea.not necessarily professional , there are professionals who teach outdated or just enough to pass a qualifications target.

Yeah i know MS is permitless but she might want to go to a state that is NOT permitless but does honor MS permits.

I also think it is handy to know the law in your own state at least.

Also nice to learn to run a new gun especially if you've never operated a semi in the past.

Dont over look a gently used model of the more expensive guns recommended that are above what your wanting to spend when they are new. If you decide you dont like it later you will be able to resale it for what you bought it for or maybe a little profit if you find a good deal.

Something to think about. If your thinkin self defense by the time we react and make the decision we need to shoot there was some hesitation and things wer close range to contact shooting. A semi pushed into someone's gut can push it out of battery and it wont fire. Relvovers dont have this problem.
So maybe a hammer less 5 shot revolver or nice model 60 smith. Smith makes a small 5 shot hammer less tsht has a small spur hammer you can pull back and shoot single action will buy if I ever run across one. I cant remember the model # but they are about more than double your budget but I think you would like them.

I've carried my SIG P938 (9 mm) for years and love it. It's above the price you suggested, but well worth it if you're willing to spend more.

MS offers an enhanced carry permit, which allows you to carry in places you otherwise could not. The enhanced carry permit requires a course that involves personal instruction. Getting that permit was not in my immediate plans, anyway.

yotetrapper,

your mailbox is full. Can't send a pm

I was going to say the Hellcat too...
Love'em

Ok, I deleted some messages.

Well, Angela, what are you thinking so far?

I'm rethinking the whole thing altogether at the moment. My reason for wanting one was to carry while at school and it has since been pointed out to me that that would be a felony if I were to be caught doing so. Even so, I'd been considering getting a carry gun for years now anyways, so I may still end up getting one. Getting new guns is always fun.

I was hoping someone had experience with the S&W SD40 2.0 but it appears as though no one does.

Just for the record, my purse doesn't carry. I do!

carry guns are all about fractions of an inch and ounces

those two things are what make a gun fit one person and not another , when you play with how small can you go effectively, there is always the comprimise

the largest gun you can carry easily , the smallest gun you can shoot well.
now play with that line sliding it back and forth to see what works for you.

given the price and features it limits the options.

22 TUC semi auto

And to answer all the other questions on here.... I would be carrying in a bag most likely, not on my body. I have fairly large hands. I have a colt 45 revolver I shoot some so not too concerned about recoil.

When looking for the wife, this was the other suggestion I had to look into by numerous of people

then go with bigger if you shoot it better

don't trust that mechanical safety to stay on , run a trigger guard guard or pocket holster.

Well, why didn’t you say so? Go ahead and get a full-size 45 ACP then! LOL

Because I still want compact, lol. Even most of the 9s seem bigger than what I wanted lol.

I didn’t read all the responses, but I purchased my wife a bodyguard 2.0…
It is smaller than my 43x, has a safety, and holds 12rnds.

Not to nit pick , but it's not really a slide release on the Ruger , it's a slide stop. Owners manual is your friend .

45 colt

because off body carry has a different set of issues and those should be addressed , you need to maintain control of your firearm at all times , so that purse needs to be secured well in a place you would secure a gun or that thing needs to be on you like a holster if you are using it as one.

If you're only planning on carrying in a bag I would highly recommend staying away from the tiny guns.

I'll throw an unconventional thing to look into, CZ 83 in 380, excellent shooting gun that will absolutely hold its value, small enough to easily fit in a bag but big enough to enjoy shooting.

I prefer to walk out of a situation having broken a law than end up on the victims list. I take the no gun thing as a suggestion except in federal buildings or locations with detectors and I have walked through detectors armed with both knife and gun several time places like conventions, and state fare.

I carried at work at different jobs over the years when there were questionable co workers, job/hotel locations . This is where small shines.

Get a permit so you can travel in many other states armed. The only state I go through is am illegal in ILL. Indiana to FL or TX im good.

Maybe have her type up what she thinks of it thats the one shes wanting to hear about.

Is it? It does not say anything about Bodyguard. It is this one....

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...inless-steel-pistol-101-rounds/p/1895840

I will address a few points.
The S&W SD that you provided a link to is an excellent value if you aren't too concerned with size and weight.
The original S&W Bodyguard was a good option when it came out, but nearly everything that came after is superior.
Mr. Dobbins recommend a viable option, however it seems that it is not uncommon to get a bad example. A good Taurus is as a good as anything else, not every one is good.
The Bodyguard2.0 is an entirely different pistol than the original ( higher capacity,better trigger and ergonomics)and it is what I carry most often since I am of fairly slim build.
I also often carry a Shield+ .
If you aren't too concerned with magazine capacity, you could probably find an original Shield or Shield2.0 well within your price range.

Oh i had never seen 2.0 written out like that and just thought it was the same thing.

My G2C runs like a sewing machine. The trigger does take some getting used to.

Glock 43x is what i carry now. Would not hesitate on a taurus though.

You ought to consider doing what I had my wife do when she was considering which handgun to buy. She went to several gun shows and we walked around and handled a number of pistols and revolvers to find one that fit her best. She wound up with a Ruger LCR in .22 Magnum. Very nice gun with minimal recoil. We both like concealed hammer revolvers because they will go bang no matter what the situation.

Really bothers me when friends ask me for advice on which handgun they should buy that both they and their wives can shoot. I always tell them to find one that fits their wife well and she can shoot and then get something for themselves.

Moosetrot

Like a lot of the people on here, I carry a Sig Sauer 365 SAS, if I need to carry something better concealed.



I just wore it a little over an hour ago when I had someone who was supposed to come out for a pigeon at 9:00pm. It's easy for me to conceal even when I'm just wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

If I expect problems. I carry a Glock 17 and a Glock 23.

Keith

You want a carry gun with a safety? Let me guess, you won’t have a round in the pipe either?

Oh, no, I'd certainly have a round chambered.

If you are looking for the perfect gun, you are not going to find it with recommendations.
It is what fits.
I would also get off your but and sell some turnips or something and spend more money

For some reason I can’t upload any pictures right now…
But no that is not the bodyguard 2.0. The 2.0 is about the same size as the p365, but slightly slimmer in my opinion. “I forget that I’m wearing it when I have it on”… I dislike this saying, but it’s less noticeable than my other carry guns.
My wife doesn’t mind shooting it, a bit snappy for her, but she is not also big into shooting or carrying in general. She generally enjoys a heavier gun with less recoil (think 45lc or other subsonic loads). I bought this for 2 reasons 1) I wanted my wife to carry more often
2) I just wanted another micro pistol

I’m sure many have said this before, Shoot what you think you will like before hand if you can. Finding a gun that fits you and you’re comfortable with isn’t the battle. Finding the best holster is.

Bear spray

Ol dad

[quote=ol' dad][quote=yotetrapper30]I'm rethinking the whole thing altogether at the moment. My reason for wanting one was to carry while at school and it has since been pointed out to me that that would be a felony if I were to be caught doing so. Even so, I'd been considering getting a carry gun for years now anyways, so I may still end up getting one. Getting new guns is always fun.

Im not how your schools are set up or if your an employee or what. But my wife is a nurse at our school, they have a company come in do a walk through, stage a school intruder, and teach the staff on what needs to be done. They recommend staff to carry. Not every staff just certain ones, that has a back ground, been trained, and one that wouldnt hesitate to pull the trigger. I know the board approved it with in our school on who could carry. So we do have staff that does, I know that was closed session with in the meeting so im not sure who was approved to do so and what all they had to go through to qualify.. my wife is in charge of the safety, and she doesnt even know. I know not all school systems are like this, but maybe you could do some digging and asking if you so maybe you could qualify. I think more trained staff should be able to carry. But the main question from the instructor wasnt who was qualified to carry, was who would pull the trigger more time then not its going to be a student. Made me set back and think a little on this, be a tough decision.

that is the reality of it , you are 9 out of 10 times going to have to kill one of your students to save the rest.

I know I normally say stop rather than kill , that is the goal to stop the violent action, so you are shooting for a stop and that means rounds center mass and keep shooting till they stop, then be prepared to shoot again if they were to start going for the gun again.

But being honest with the situation of a school , if you shoot them sufficient to stop them by the time they get the school locked down and properly cleared they will likely bleed out. on the flip side they just started a school shooting they had no quality of life left. life in prison the only future they have. they made the decision to take life and you made the decision to stop that taking of life.

next question for everyone , if you knew the intended use was to stop a school shooter , how would you change your recommendation.

mine would be Glock 19 or M&P 2.0 and spare mag , as well as a bunch of training so you can hit what you need to hit without hitting bystanders.

GCP makes a good point...big difference if you need to stop an attacker at 20 feet, or to stop a shooter, school or otherwise at any distance....A G19 or equivalent is a nice compromise, enough barrel and mass to aim and control.
Horses for courses....or... nothing is perfect for everything...