Snub nose or compact 9mm?

[silenthunterstudio]

Not currently carrying any boomsticks as an EDC in the Republic of MD, the horizon doesn't look too good on permits in this state for me either. I've been looking at moving to PA, one of the perks is supposedly easier access to CCP. I don't really go anywhere where I would need a CCP, but it would still be a nice security blanket. I am planning on getting either a 357 snub Ruger, or a compact Kahr 9mm, probably both sometime in the next few years. My question is, any of you out there carry both, and which is more comfortable? If I get a CCP, I would have one of them in a holster on my hip.

[konrad]

I think the Ruger will be heavy. I have a kahr Covert, its very light and flat. The Win Ranger loads are very powerful and effective.
Currently, I like my S&W 351 .22 magnum and NAA Black Widow. The .22 magnun fits my needs well, and I am well practiced.

[Goldtanker]

Carried may different auto's and wheel guns on the job over the years and have many in my collection. Currently I carry a S&W 340 PD .357 as a CCW with Winchester silver tip 145 gr. Very light, five for sure, no snags and no stove pipes. You not only can carry it in your pocket, you can shoot it in there. Remember that as a civilian, a defense weapon may involve contact shooting and most autos will not fire out of battery. Also, as far as holsters go, especially in the winter, if it isn't where you can get at it, it might as well be in the gun safe. Look at pocket holsters too.

[TKC]

I LOVE my Kahr Elite 98 in 9mm, with night sights. It is very comfy for me to carry IWB all day long. I love shooting this gun as well. If you can find a range where you can shoot the guns that you are looking to buy, I would suggest doing that! Do you have a range where you can rent a few guns?

[watchman]

:D Get what you like. and feel good with.

[cynergy]

silenthunterstudio,

I have a Ruger SP101 (3" barrel, 5 shot, .38/.357), a Kahr K9 (all stainless, 3.5" barrel, 9mm, night sights), and an uber-light S&W 337 (5 shot aluminum J-frame with titanium cylinder).* They are all great guns.* I think any of these guns would make a good CCW piece.* Here are my impressions of each gun,

1. Ruger - Strong, well built gun.* Accurate, and although it's got a 3-1/16" barrel, it conceals well and is easy to carry.* I use a Tucker coverup holster (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/rlcompanyusa/coupforjre.html) and it is very comfortable to carry.* Even though it's a small frame revolver, it still is fairly large - I think that its dimensions are similar to a Colt 4.25" Commander.* In spite of its size, it's easy to conceal. The handle of the gun is small and "organic" shaped and the gun melts away in the Tucker IWB holster.* The gun has a smooth, but heavy trigger pull.* I've read that you can lighten this pull by replacing the main spring.* The trigger on the gun had some sharp edges from the factory, but I removed these edges with some emory paper.* The gun shoots well and I even use it for target practice on the 25 yard range.* Also, if you're mechanically inclined, the SP101 is easy to disassemble and maintain.* The factory grip on the gun is very slim and conceals well.* However, if you have big hands (I have medium/large hands with long skinny fingers) the factory grip might seem too slim at times.* You can get some nice wooden aftermarket boot grips for this gun - they conceal well, and they also fill the hand better.* However, I just use the standard fubber factory grips on my gun (although I did have some boot grips on it for a while).* This gun is a heavy duty compact revolver and you can shoot .357 mag loads in it no problem.* However, I prefer .38 special loads in my gun (the noise from a short barreled .357 is tremendous).* It's nice, however, to have the option of carrying full pressure .357 loads with this gun.

2. Kahr K9 - Strong, well-built gun.* Flat, super compact.* I have the all steel K9 and it's a solid, reliable, heavy gun.* It seems a litle heavier than the sp101 - but they are still both relatively light guns.* I like the all steel Kahr - it feels more durable to me and the recoil is minimal with the all steel frame.* This is a great gun.* It is accurate, although the trigger took some getting used to.* *The trigger pull is kinda heavy and long, but smooth.* However, I prefer a long trigger pull on this gun since it doesn't have a manual safety. The "Elite" version of this gun supposedly has a shorter trigger pull.This gun conceals well and it's really comfortable to carry.* I am planning to get a Tucker cover up holster for this gun eventually. Right now I use an inexpensive Desantis IWB holster.* *Like the SP101, the Kahr K9 has a slim and easy to conceal grip.* However, if you have big hands, the grip may seem kinda small and thin.* the Kahr is a little more comfortable to carry than the SP101 since it's flatter and more compact.

3. S&W titanium 337 - this gun is feather light.* It almost feels like a toy cap gun.* However, it is well built and it shoots surprisingly well.* It has a very short barrel (1-7/8") and a very short sight radius, but if you concentrate really hard, you can shoot this relatively accurately, even at 25 yards (although it's definitely not a target gun!).* My 337 has a really smooth trigger and the double action pull weight is not too heavy like the SP101.* The overall quality and finish on the S&W is a definitely a step above the Ruger.* This gun is reliable, super duper concealable, and very, very light.* I have a Bianchi leather holster for this gun that weighs almost as much as the gun itself!* This gun is rated for +P ammo, but I only shoot standard pressure loads with this gun.* The recoil from this gun is violent, but manageable.*The recoil feels like a sharp, smack on the hand/fingers.* *I use 158gr loads in this gun - the lighter bullets make the gun seem to snap more, and you also run the risk of "bullet pull" (where a bullet in one of the chambers jumps out of its crimp and causes the cylinder to bind).* Th 337 is a super light gun and I've worn it in a nylon IWB holster with running shorts.* It's so light you don't even need a belt to hold up the gun & holster! Also, this gun has some factory installed rubber boot grips on it. These grips are really comfortable and the gun handles and points really well, even if you have larger hands.

All of these guns have their merits and I think any of them would make a great CCW gun.* * Good luck with your planned move and with your selection.* Try the guns out at a local range if you get the chance.* I first shot the SP101 at a rental range before I decided to purchase one.

[erh]

"Not being a smart ***..!" Either one will be fine..! Figure out for yourself which suits
your needs & experience level best to begin with, then take it from there..! :)

Eric Howland
Savannah, GA.

[PX]

"Not being a smart ***..!"* Either one will be fine..!* Figure out for yourself which suits
your needs & experience level best to begin with, then take it from there..!* *:)

Eric Howland
Savannah, GA.


AND:* If you can't make up your mind, get both...* :D
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_4765.jpg

J. Pomeroy

[heathah]

AND:* If you can't make up your mind, get both...* :D

That should be our motto. :)

[TKC]

I would suggest renting some guns and seeing what YOU like. I LOVE my Kahr Arms K9 Elite 98, it is perfect for me!! I shoot well with my Kahr. As is my S&W 342 PD. I also happen to LOVE 1911's, but they aren't for everyone!

[gearloose]

I carry a Kahr 9mm every day, I have also carried the Ruger SP101 and the Smith 60 ,The Kahr is the lighter of the three, and gives you more rounds, quicker reloads(Not that you really need it), and for concealed carry the Kahr carries flatter.
Check your local gun store for factory test fires, guns that have been test fired or used in demo's but come with full warranties. We sell them at the gun store here in NC for about $150 off of list.Not bad cause Kahrs generally run about the same price as Glocks.

[TKC]

I happen to be a big Kahr Arms fan myslef, as I have 2!! I had read about them in a variety of gun magazines, and then got to actually shoot them at a gun show in CT. The gun said that if I shot a dime sized target, he would give me $50 off a new Kahr! Well, I shot the dime sized target and did get my $50 off. I bought an Elite 98 in 9mm, with night sights, then I traded in my Firestar for an Elite 98 in .40, with night sights, I LOVE my Kahrs. They are more comfy for me than Glocks. I have sold all my Glocks, my my Kahr's will always be with me. I can EDC my Elite 98 all day long in an IWB holster.

[silenthunterstudio]

I agree that I should get both the Ruger and the Kahr. Suz, I believe that the range about 5 min away from me will rent out rifles, but not handguns. There is a shooting gallery about 30 min from my work that I can rent full auto rifles at, in the inside range, they should have pistols

[TKC]

Bummer that you can't rent something at the place that is 5 mins. from home. Do you have any plans to go to the place that is 30 mins. from work? I should hope that THAT place has pistols.

[Lee1959]

I love my wheelguns, no doubt about it, but for CCW use, I have gone over to the pistol. It is hard for any revolver to compete with a small compact pistol for ease of carry, concealability and being there every day, because you will actually wear it every day no matter what you wear, no matter what weather. There is not a snubbie made that can carry like a Kahr PM9 or a Kel-tec pocket pistol.

However, the revovler has a lot of pluses as Tanker mentioned. They are ultra reliable.

That said, the only handgun I ever had hurt my hand was a small snubbie Smith .38. Little bugger stung to shoot. And I recently tried one of the ligthweigts and it was even worse. Hard to practice when it is no fun.

[nontypical]

Not currently carrying any boomsticks as an EDC in the Republic of MD, the horizon doesn't look too good on permits in this state for me either.* I've been looking at moving to PA, one of the perks is supposedly easier access to CCP.* I don't really go anywhere where I would need a CCP, but it would still be a nice security blanket.* I am planning on getting either a 357 snub Ruger, or a compact Kahr 9mm, probably both sometime in the next few years.* My question is, any of you out there carry both, and which is more comfortable?* If I get a CCP, I would have one of them in a holster on my hip.*


You should be able to pick up a Ruger SP101 for a lot less than a Kahr. If you choose the SP101 and your hands are large, you can install a Hogue (one piece) combat grip on it like I did. It greatly improved control when firing 357 loads and disappears under a shirt better than the medium sized autos I have.

[kamkazmoto]

I grew up with pistols, my first gun was a .380 Star auto, my next was a 1911a1. That being said I think that you should go to a pistol range and shoot some revolvers and some autos. Shoot them a lot, not just a box or two, and find the one that you feel most comfortable shooting. Personally I hate the crack of a .357 and much prefered the boom of a .45acp. Guess which I shot more ;D. Remember that if you are going to carry you had better be prepared to practice.

[traveler]

Both are good guns, but if I had to pick just one,and I have, it would be the Ruger: 5 shots of hellfire is pretty damned good in anyones book, no jams or stovepipes, and as mentioned by Goldtanker, it will shoot in your pocket and in direct contact without a problem. Another thing, and this is rare, but it happend to me none the less, is a case rupture. It happend on the range, no injury, just a powder burn on the shooting hand, but it took out some of the trigger mechanism, rendering the gun useless. My Sp 101 would simply have rotated to the next chamber with a smooth pull of the trigger.

[gadgetjunky]

Both! :D

Actually, I say an Airwieght/Ultralight .38/.357 of some sort and the Kahr. My main CCWs are a S&W 642 for pocket carry and a Glock 26 for use with an IWB holster. Pocket carry (in a pocket holster, of course) can be very useful and I think that you may find the SP101 too heavy for that.

If you were only going to buy one gun, of those two I would most likely pic the Ruger, for all the reasons listed in the previous posts (almost always goes bang, very simple/reliable, wide range of payload options).

[TKC]

silenthuntersudio: Have you chosen a gun yet?

[sean m]

Do you already have a 357 mag or 9mm? If so get something in the matching caliber.

[Toolboy]

I've carried both autos and revolvers CCW for years. The autos seem to be easier to conceal because of the width of the cylinder of the revolver. Also, most pocket revolvers will be limited to 5 rounds (if that concerns you). I personally believe that revolvers may be more reliable for concealed carry and the learning curve for using them is pretty easy.

I'd echo what others who are smarter have said before me- try to find a place that will rent the guns you want to try, shoot them, get a feel for their size and trigger, and then decide. It's really all about personal preference.

[Roadkill Bill]

I tried to get my wife to get a .40 Kahr when they first came out. I liked it. She didn't. She wound up with a 3" SP101. It turned out to be a great choice. She can shoot full house .357 loads in it comfortably. She likes being able to practice with .38s, and carry either .38+P or .357 loads for protection. I got her a Crimson Trace grip for Valentine's Day, and she loves that little red dot.

If she can carry it, it's not too heavy. I carry a .45 Glock 21, so the SP101 feels like a toy to me!

I'm not knocking the Kahr. You just can't beat the reliability of a revolver! And if you carry a speedloader in your pocket, extra ammo is pretty fast, too.

[dkochan]

I find a J Frame easier to conceal in a pocket and to draw from a pocket because it is rounder and has a shorter grip than semi-auto handgun. I prefer carrying a semi-auto (Glock 36/19/27 or Kahr P9/PM9) IWB. If your budget only allows for one CCW, get a J Frame 1st and a semi-auto later.

[watchman]

:D I have tried the .38's and 9mm's now I carry a Sig mod 230 .380. and find it is great
I carry it with federal Hydro-shock hp;s.
I also carry a NAA .22mag as backup. It is also carred with hp ammo. :-X