What's everyone's thoughts? Make and caliber and also looking for holster. Most of my pistols are 9mm but are too big for me to carry comfortably. Also, does anyone know of training places close to Bellaire in Houston that I could go to to learn more than just going to range and shooting targets?

Prepare for a 100 different answers. My choice is a G43x MOS with Streamlight TLR7, Trijicon RMRcc, and aftermarket 15 rd mags. Have had good luck with Tier One Concealed, Stealthgear, and Comptac holsters.

What do you have currently that is too big to carry?

What is your carry setup (holster, belt, clothing) that's led to this conclusion?

What are you looking for in a new carry gun?

Best is whatever fits in your hand best and you like the feel of however you're concealing.

I really like the Canik Mete MC9. Nice that it came with a couple mags, a holster, a mag loader, and a cleaning brush/rod

https://www.canikusa.com/mete-mc9

My preferred carry is my Springfield EMP with the 4 inch barrel (single stack 1911 format in 9mm) in an MTR leather IWB holster. My 2nd favorite is my full size Springfield TRP with a Comp-Tac MTAC IWB holster. Anything double stack feels a bit fat so I use OWB holsters for those, usually from Comptac. I do occasionally use their Infidel holster though which is IWB.

The best carry gun is the one you have with you when you need it..... whether that's a 22 mag or a 44mag.

First rule of a gun fight.... HAVE A GUN! Whatever you are in the dark, upside down, with gloves on, blindfolded, behind your back competent with.

And the one that goes bang every time you pull the trigger.

The rest is all just throw a dart to what fits for the moment.

Everyone will recommend what they carry because thats what they spent THEIR money and time on. You need to figure out the above for what YOU will carry.

I like my Kimber micro 9 if you want to stay on the 9mm platform. Very easy to carry.

Sig P365 and Springfield Hellcat are probably the 2 pistols with the best combination of capacity and compact size. I'd start there

Hellcat, got one w/ 5 mags and carry bag from academy for like $480 a few years ago

I am also a Glock 43x carrier with a tlr6 light and I do not shoot red dots well on my pistols yet so just have standard night sights on it. Do not remember brand of holsterbut it is an IWB. I also use after market 15 rd mags. I prefer the PSA micro dagger mags over the shield arms. But have used both and have not had trouble with either.

Edit to add sgrem has it right, best is what you take the time to train with, be good with, amd actually carry.

As long as its reliable, the gun and accessories are literally the least important part of the equation.

The perfect carry gun is one you're willing to carry all day every day that you've done dry fire work with, taken classes with, shot drills with….

NRH had some great questions worth thinking about. Is the gun too big for your daily activities/way you dress or do you need a better belt/holster set up?

Another Hellcat vote. If I could only have one it would be the hellcat

Lots of good advice so far. KR training in Bastrop is my go-to rec for high quality defensive pistol training. I'm sure there are many great ones in Houston but KR is top notch and I've taken many classes from them.

Carry preferences change over time. I started w .45 1911 commander because of familiarity and reliability. Moved to a 9mm 1911 for capacity and ability to get more shots on target faster, then to a Wilson EDCx9, then to a sig P938 for comfort, now using a P365xl that I've got set up just like I want it and will likely run it a while. It basically has a lot of the "best" features of several of those other pistols.

Put the Wilson Combat grip module on it, swapped the trigger and trigger spring out to improve take up and reset and break, and it's my first to have an optic/red dot. Also my first without a manual safety, but if you go shoot under duress at a class, you'll instantly experience how the manual safety adds an extra layer of complexity when attempting to make hits quickly under duress. That complexity can be trained but it takes a lot of time and focus to deal with.

No matter what weapon you choose (go w a comfortable, reliable 9mm w minimum 10 round capacity that you can and will carry regularly), get a shot timer and learn and practice your draw stroke and push out and sight picture acquisition. After learning technique that can all be done at home w dryfire drills.

As said above, gun belt and holster are also just as important in this equation.

Glock 43x or P365-XMACRO COMP are my go to. Any kydex IWB.

It's gonna be hard to beat the x macro.

I currently have a HK P2000SK V3. I don't like double action pistols so I found a small SA/DA thats accurrate, reliable, from a top brand.

Once had a S&P Shield and its a great pistol for carry. Smaller, fits in my hand well, but I couldn't get past the plastic and DA only.

also had a Colt Defender in .40 S&W. That was an awful gun for a novice shooter at the time. The .40 S&W would snap out of my hand.

9MM is my preference because those guns will offer more capacity than .40 S&W / .45 ACP and offer more protection than .380 / .22, but any bullet is better than no bullets. Find out what action you prefer than find a weapon that fits your hand like a glove. You'll be 90% set with these two decisions.

FIDO*98* said:

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Sig P365 and Springfield Hellcat are probably the 2 pistols with the best combination of capacity and compact size. I'd start there

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This is where I am, but I just can't decide between the two.

Ability to easily swap grip frames for the p365 between standard (10rd mags and tiny), XL (12 rd mags, able to get a full grip for medium sized hands), and Macro is a nice plus for the sign, IMO.

I carry the XL grip and have macro (17rd) mags for a reload if carrying a spare mag. Still disappears in a t shirt carried AIWB, and I am 5'11" 170lbs.

AgEng06 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Sig P365 and Springfield Hellcat are probably the 2 pistols with the best combination of capacity and compact size. I'd start there

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This is where I am, but I just can't decide between the two.

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Why not both?

zooguy96 said:

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AgEng06 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Sig P365 and Springfield Hellcat are probably the 2 pistols with the best combination of capacity and compact size. I'd start there

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This is where I am, but I just can't decide between the two.

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Why not both?

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Yep. I went with the Hellcat and then when the Anti-snag P365 came out I got that. Shapeshift holster from Alien Gear makes it easy to carry either depending on my mood that day

I carry S&W M&P Shield 2.0 9mm.

It's a really nice size for CC. The only issue I have is I had to get the extended grip magazine because the handgrip was a little short for my hand.

That SAS is interesting. How do you like the sight system?

AgEng06 said:

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That SAS is interesting. How do you like the sight system?

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Buddy of mine got the SAS. Thought he was really going to like it, but it shot high, and those sights weren't adjustable enough to correct. He traded on a regular p365. He's a big guy, and eventually ended up with a Hellcat, which he shoots better (big hands).

For small-medium hands, I'd recommend the Sig. For bigger hands, you might like the Hellcat, better. I'm somewhere in thr middle, and definitely prefer the feel of the Sig. The Hellcat feels "blocky"..

I agree on KR Training. Drove there several times when we lived south of Houston and a year or so ago for a Red Dot Essentials class now that we live north of San Antonio. It is worth the drive.

I also strongly concur on the holster and especially the belt. For years, I did not appreciate the importance of the belt. I now have several Nexbelt EDC belts. These ratchet 1/4" at a time, vs a standard belt every inch. If you get a Nexbelt, be sure to opt for the EDC. It also has an extra stiffener inside. I bought one of their standard belts. It was fine, but not nearly as good as the EDC for carry.

Mine is a S&W Shield 9mm in an Alien Gear IWB or I pocket carry a Ruger LCP.

I carry the Shield because when I went to a gun show to look at a couple of guns that I was interested in carrying (mainly the Springfield XDS), none of them felt good when I held them. I saw a Shield and decided to see what it was about, and it felt like it was made for my hand. I do not own another pistol that is as comfortable to hold and to shoot for me than the Shield, which is why it's my carry gun. I have shot the XDS, G43, etc, and they do not compare to the Shield for me. YMMV.

The LCP is when I'm in gym shorts or something or don't want to wear looser clothing. Is it as good as a 9mm or larger? No. But I have yet to find someone who's belief a .380 isn't an effective round is great enough to get shot by it.

F4GIB71 said:

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I also strongly concur on the holster and especially the belt. For years, I did not appreciate the importance of the belt. I now have several Nexbelt EDC belts. These ratchet 1/4" at a time, vs a standard belt every inch. If you get a Nexbelt, be sure to opt for the EDC. It also has an extra stiffener inside. I bought one of their standard belts. It was fine, but not nearly as good as the EDC for carry.

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THIS! I took a chance and bought a Kore Essentials belt about 6 months ago and it's amazing. Made carrying much easier.

Which one of their nexbelt edc's did you get? I am using a beltman horsehide w a stiffener in it and it's rock solid, but it's a little bulky and heavy. I've wanted to try a nylon belt for carry for a while now.

I am not overly near Houston, the range is in Elgin.

BUT, I do teach an intro/101 gun class, including aspects of concealed carry that most people don't think of day to day.

2 hours class room.

Approximately 500rds at the range.

You are welcome to message me for more information.

I alternate between a Sig P239 and a S&W J-frame. Both in appendix holsters. I have several other options but those are the two that get carried 99% of the time.

I prefer a double action trigger pull for concealed carry, especially in an appendix holster. I do not want a striker fired gun for appendix carry unless the gun has a 1911 style grip safety. I also do not want a manually operated safety. I do not consider either of those safe enough options. Those are my personal choices and are what is right for me.

Like someone else said, the right answer is the the one you will actually carry, practice, and train with. The great Paul Harrel calls it program compliance. You have to be willing to carry it.

Three other thoughts on this subject.

1. I would not get caught up in capacity and especially extra magazines. I saw a study not too long ago that could not find an example of a reload in a concealed carry shooting. If you are most comfortable with a single stack then get one. Don't think you have to have 15+1 or whatever.

2. Train, but you don't have to get too crazy with it. Don't feel like you have to go all out and spend thousands of dollars on training classes. But you do need to get very good with your gun.

3. Smaller does not equal better. Get something that fits your hand well.


Last, you will never convince me that a 9mm is as effective as a .45 in full size handguns, but in concealed carry guns I would always recommend 9mm for pistols and .38 special if you get a j-frame. The one exception to that is a .380 with a 3.5inch or longer barrel like a Shield EZ. And even then you need a tough bullet like an XTP.

I bought a few of the nylon EDC belt, different colors. Wear one of them every day. Very comfortable and support the pistol very well.

When traveling south of Kingwood, I carry an extra mag.

Humble as become the wild west and Houston is just well Chicago 2.0

AgEng06 said:

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That SAS is interesting. How do you like the sight system?

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It didn't really take any getting used to, but isn't really an improvement either. Turns out I've never snagged my Hellcat, Glocks, 1911s etc. IOW, solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. Everyone I show it to just thinks it's cool and it was an excuse to buy another gun. Realistically a MOS system is the best for accuracy but I think regular tritium sights will work just fine in almost every conceivable CCW situation.

Thanks for that info. I'm leaning towards the 365 for sure.

following

Personally, for a concealed, I'm thinking about a crazy person. Yeah, there's fears about a nut wanting to take my car but ok. I can get a new car, I know their purpose.

The only times I'm fearful are a crazy shooter/s or an illegal/s. So to me it matters how many rounds I'm carrying until I can get back to my rifle