Posted on 06/03/2016 9:23:17 AM PDT by Reno89519
Good Lord!
I carry that in 4” in Griz country, while fishing, w 200 gr. hard points.
You must be a larger shirt size than me!
My EDC is a Sig P220 Carry, SAO, IWB Milt Sparks, 5 o’clock.
After 25 years, my PPK/S needed the safety spring needed replacement.
Had them do some trigger work at the same time.
OH MY! What a difference!
Kahr kind of has a long trigger pull too, but still pretty good.
My favorite pistol in the world is my PPS 9mm. I like the mag drop, and the different size grips. It is not that concealable on me as I am petite, or I would use it as my concealed carry. It is a gun I would entrust with my life..which is why I bought it.
At SHOTShow, I am always drooling over all the beautiful handguns at the Walther booth.
I personally recommend the Taurus PT-709 Slim. 6+1 rounds of 9mm, and it has worked flawlessly, for me. It is 1” thick,and with the proper ky-dex holster is almost invisible. When I bought it, I put over 500 rounds through it, with no FTF’s, ever. I didn’t even clean it after the first month to test it’s reliability. I’ve had it for over 5 years, and I would stake my life on it. Also, it was my preferred carry piece when I traveled to Detroit.
I got a Sig P238 for my daughter to use several years back, but my comments from post 30 apply. The P238 is on the same complexity as a 1911, and to be honest, the thumb safety is stiffer to work than the 1911. Being a smaller gun, anyone with average or larger hands is going to be slowed by fumbling with the safety after drawing from the holster. Sig would not be high on my list for serious defensive handgun for this reason, but you fight with what you have :)
Ruger LC9s Pro 9mm.
Russian or Bulgarian Makarov, 9mm makarov, single stack, double/single action with decocker, very concealable, can be had for $300.00 . Modern, non corrosive ammo is made for it and is not expensive. Straight blowback, mild recoil. All the fun of a Walther PPK at 1/3rd the price.
cC
They just came out with a 45ACP.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/05/21/sw-announces-mp-shield-45-acp-carry-gun-nra-2016/
One other nice feature of the Taurus PT 709 Slim is it’s unique single- action/double-action trigger. If it fails to fire when needed, you can pull the trigger again for a double-strike capability. And, it works as advertised, I’ve tried it.
Sig P238...period
Personally, I am willing to sacrifice shooting comfort for carry comfort. My priorities are, reliability, required accuracy, ease of carry, shooting enjoyment.
I carry two guns, one for work and one for personal carry. The work gun is an HK. I can't recommend it because it is really bulky for concealed carry, the trigger is weird, and my agency has seen some function issues when exposed to excessive humidity, salt water environments. The personal gun is a Glock 27. Much smaller, same caliber, very easy to conceal in all types of clothing, Always functions. Downside, not that much fun to shoot, light trigger and no hammer can make reholstering risky without training.
I have the PT-740, which is the .40 S&W version of that. It’s very concealable. Muzzle flip is a but much, but I’ve got meaty paws so I can handle it. Biggest problem has been finding extra mags.
CC
Wide metal trigger = equals less perceived trigger pull weight and doesn't feel plasticy. Taller sights than the earlier gens, and no they don't snag.
Add Ft. Wayne Tactical spring kit to pull 8lb trigger to about 5lbs. Instructions on their site and YouTube. (Ebay $27)
Add Wolf calibration recoil spring kit (comes with 11, 12, 13lbs springs. Ensures going into battery and softens recoil impulse. Factory is 9lb. I'm using the 12lb and like it, many use the 13lb. Use the Ft. Wayne Tactical firing pin spring. (Midway $20)
Get a factory 7 round magazine off Ebay for $32 for 7 + 1 capacity and use the stock 6 rounder for spare. Extension improves grip too
Polish feed ramp. This gun feeds FMJ, TC, and HP's no problems.
Add Hogue "Handall" grip. Makes butt a little wider but completely changes the "feel" of the gun and you can hang onto it. (I have large arthritic hands) (Ebay $10)
Get a .380 Snap Cap, file off part of the rim so extractor won't eject it when you cock the hammer and dry fire dry fire dry fire dry fire. Become one with the gun.
Pull it out of your pocket and pull the trigger it goes bang. No fumbling with safeties or decockers etc.
I bought my gun(blued) new at gun show for $230 including tax out the door.
"Photo Luminescence" front sight is gimmick. May want to experiment with sight paint depending on your eyes. No last shot hold open, but as a defense gun, less parts & simplicity = reliability. Train and be aware of last shot.
I was pleasantly surprised how accurate it is. Keep in mind this is a short range defense gun and not a target gun, but it's a great plinker and paper puncher at the range, and can embarrass the fellows in the other lanes.
I'm shooting anything cheap at the range when playing but practice and carry Fiocchi Extrema's(see YouTube) for carry (nickel brass case with Hornady bullet)instead of the exotic$$$. Catch Sportsman's Guide when they have free shipping on $49 and get good selection of ammo pretty cheap.
View Youtube videos by Nutnfancy and Hickock45 on the Gen 2s
LCP been out for a while and bugs are known and or fixed. Stick with Gen 2.
While there are better?? guns out and more esteemed, they come at a price.
It's like buying shoes. Try 'em on.
Many of the comments suggest larger guns, but you say in your OP that you would like something the same size.
For instance, I have a Walther PPK/S, and it's a very accurate gun shooting the same round as your S&W. But it's also considerably larger, heavier (I have the all stainless model - so your 12 oz vs. my 20 oz and has a single action / double action mechanism.
If you want to keep to a very small gun like that you are looking at a .380, and I think the Sig 238 (or similar Colt Mustang) that have short, light single action triggers are the only ones that will give increased accuracy without larger size.
The down side is you have a single action gun in your pocket. Assuming you want to carry it ready to shoot that means "cocked and locked". I am comfortable with cocked and locked in a full size 1911 in a good quality holster. In fact, I carry one pretty frequently.
I am not comfortable with a cocked and locked SIG 238 carried loose in a pocket. At a very minimum you need to use a pocket sheath for this gun.
It's been a long time since I examined the SIG 238, as I recall it has some differences in the manual of arms from the typical 1911. (It also lacks the grip safety, a feature I like on the 1911).
Think about the manual of arms and how you intend to carry it, as well as the size, weight and practical accuracy of the weapon.
Your M&P Bodyguard can be carried with the safety engaged, which combined with the long heavy trigger pull actually makes it even safer than the ubiquitous S&W Model 640 hammerless double action revolver it replaces.
For many years man police agents carried these revolvers in their front strong side pocket or in an ankle holster as a back-up piece. I have seen them for sale with various police agency logos on them, indicating they were official issue at some time. THe M&P is designed as a semi-auto to fulfill that same role, I expect it does so pretty well.
It may be that you have one of the better choices at that size weight already.
Obviously, what works best for an individual is the key. My wife has had no problem with quick & automatic handing of the safety as she draws. The gun is also well sized for her hand. She feels confident that the safety is not an issue. She practices very regularly and I buy her ammo by the case. Practice and muscle memory are the key.
She likes my striker fired 9mm(s), particularly the Kahr, but says the size is just not suitable for carry.
The Sig is right handed safety so not suitable for me anyway. I prefer using no safety regardless.
S&W Bodyguard 380 Upgrade Part I
A more expensive option would be to have a look at Sig Sauer .380 pistols. They make some nice ones.
Bond .45/.410. Light and the badazz pistol on the block. Accurate once you figure it out as it is a bit of a different animal. A whole lot of fun.
There is a facility near Oklahoma City that provides a nifty service, gun fitting. Check it out here and then see if there is a facility nearer to you that provides a similar service:
https://wilshiregun.com/firearm-training/gun-fitting/
Your post sounds like you might be beyond needing this, but maybe it might help someone else to see this.
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