To me the most likely choice for carry out of thiose would be the 1911. (The 9mm is kinda thick due to the double stack magazine.).
But I'd be down with buying a new weapon too. :)
Also, I have no idea what the practial factors are for holster choice.
Comments?
PS: Just to stir the pot, I'd even consider .380...
Forgot to add, This thread won’t get any replies. /BANG SAR
I carry a Sig P220 which is a large frame .45 ACP.
To ‘conceal’ this, it means wearing the right clothing.
I also carry one extra mag as well. That’s easily concealed. That makes 15 rounds available.
I like the .45 ACP with personal defense rounds because it WILL stop a threat in a ‘combat accuracy’ situation. The 9mm requires better placement. The .380 requires you hit them with the weapon after you expend all your rounds. ;-p
IMHO
Can’t beat a 1911.
But there are other good choices. I favor calibers .40 and larger.
Back when I did own guns I carried a Glock 23.
Just stick your 1911 behind your belt buckle, and nobody will mess with you.
when I pack around town it usually is my little Colt Mustang .380 slipped into the pocket of my ubiquitous tactical vest.
when I slip into the woods behind my hunting camp where black bears occasionally habitate...I carry my 1911A1 1943 Remington/Rand or a Ruger old model Vaquero in .45 long colt with 300 grain supersonic loads worked up for Ruger/Contender....either one worn conventionally on my pant belt hidden by my ubiquitous tactical vest.
Kimber Ulta carry 45...great weapon, super easy to shoot with crimson trace grips...it won’t let you down.
or and I know people will say crap about this...The Judge is an excellent handgun with a lot of stopping power. Advantage: as a revolver it won’t jam, super easy to cock and go. Trigger pull is very short. Most people that comment negatively about the Judge haven’t fired one.
In self-defense the critical zone is less than 20 yards and the fight is over in 2-3 shots. You want as much firepower as you can deliver onto the target as quick as you can.
When you look at Hornady critical defense rounds for the 45 it is hard to consider anything else. Winchester and Federal also make some great rounds for these weapons as well.
Once you fire a Kimber it is hard to shoot anything else.
.45 acp. Why? ‘Cause they don’t make a .46.
Holster? Anything from Mitch Rosen. (preferrably inside the waistband)
I’m a revolver guy, but maybe just because I’m old. For an automatic, I like double actions with visible hammer, like a Sig or H&K, and prefer heavy slow bullets to light and fast, like .45 acp for auto, or .44 special revolver. The more bells and whistles your gun has, the more ways there are to screw up when you’re under stress. The main thing is, get a gun of a manageable size that you’ll actually carry consistently-a five shot .38 in your pocket is worth alot more than 2 high capacity auto-loaders in your glove box.
It doesn't matter what kind of gun you buy just as long as it looks pretty! ... ;>
Carry options revolve around a lot of variables. For instance, the best handgun to carry in the winter time when you’re wearing a jacket and heavy clothes may not be the best option during the summer time when you’re in shorts and a t-shirt.
One thing I would recommend is to consider the wheelgun. With all revolvers having a safety transfer bar it is physically impossible for an accidental discharge. You don’t have to worry about jams or thumb safies. Just point and shoot. In a life or death situation, the simpler the better.
People talk about the extra round capacity of pistols but the fact remains that the vast majority of incidents where someone does actually fire, only a few rounds are actually fired. If it makes you feel safer, you can always carry an extra moon clip worth of rounds.
As for holster, I recommend a shoulder rig for winter time/heavy clothes where it’s easily concealed. In the summertime I recommend an inside the waistband (IWB) holster.
Kimber .45, 3”.
Hollow points, makes bigger holes upon entrance and can fragment.
very reliable.
The best firearm is the one that consistently puts the bullet where you want it to go.
Go to a good gun store or show in the clothes you are most likely to be wearing when carrying and try on some options. Are you willing to wear vest or Hawaian shirt to cover or a fanny pack. Want to carry a fake Bible or Day Planner? Special purse with quick access flap? Depending on size/weight of gun chosen best option is usually something inside waist band but you need to prctice getting shirt or jacket out of way. For smaller guns there are some pocket holsters that keep gun in proper position and remove any imprinting. Again you need to practice getting the gun out, practice first unloaded please! I kinda like a shoulder holster but that requires a jacket which sucks in the summer in Houston. A plain brown paper bag will do the job as long as it doesn’t get wet, but that’s just tacky.
I would go with any good compact 9mm or .40 with high-capacity mags and a short (3-in.) barrel (Springfield XD series or Smith & Wesson M&P) or a compact .45 ACP (Kimbers are perhaps the best quality, but pricey). Your needs will likely vary with seasonal temperature/clothing.
Tucker gunleather - Texas Heritage or "The Secret."
My favorite holster that I use exclusively for concealed carry is a Kholster. It is not pretty, but it is not suppose to be seen. Also it works well with my shirt tucked in or out.
I carry a Glock 30 45acp although my Glock 21 fits the holster and works just as well.
The Kholster is very comfortable and I forget I am wearing it. It also is made for many popular models of guns.
www.kholster.com
My favorite is a Springfield Subcompact 40 S&W with a Crimson Trace laser in a Crossbreed IWB holster. I can carry this thing under a tee shirt and it’s totally concealed.