I'm sure it's been asked. I've searched and still have questions. I'm 5' 7", 140 lb. I'll probably end up having a gun for light clothing, and heavy clothing. I'm going to get the larger gun for heavy clothing right now. I figure I may be able to get a higher cap, higher caliber piece for winter. I'm looking for experience. I've set an approximate $600.00 budget.

What features have proven to be most favorable for a carry weapon?

What features have proven to be a nuisance?

Just off the bat, no consideration other than budget, what model would you recommend?

What do you carry now?

Is there such thing as a model that is good for a new carrier?

I'm waiting for the chaos to slow down so I can test some stuff at Bullet Trap. The Shield seems the best right now. I think the Safe action on the Glock is an excellent option for preparedness and safety. I haven't fired a Glock, but it's not my favorite option right now.

I've found that most people quit carrying concealed once it becomes uncomfortable.

That being said, the only pistols that I carry are pocket pistols.

Ruger Lcp

or

North American arms .32

I have others, even compact models but I quit carrying them concealed years ago.

I read a thread of some guys discussing what a real pocket gun is, and the .380 or j-frame was the only thing that really fit the bill. There's a ton of hype, and some very impressive engineering out there. I want to be pragmatic about this.

I carry the Ruger LCP and Glock 23 right now. Best thing you can do is invest in a good holster and gun belt.

You and I aren't much different in size. I'm 5'8, 114 pounds, so fully understand where your coming from.

Wintertime, allows for more options obviously. More clothing. More concealment.

Summertime. I purchased a S & W snub in .22WMR. Revolver weighs in at 10 ounces.

Not my top choice for a defensive weapon, but it beats having nothing and even in shorts and a t-shirt this one will hide well.

i carry a g27 or a lcp everyday. i tried carrying my g22 in the colder months, but didnt care for that option.

god bless.

The only good ccw is the one you actually carry.

Glock 23 day in and day out. Get a quality gun belt and holster and it works fine
Second carry gun is a hammerless Smith .357. Not as many rounds but a proven
Round.

I carry an LCP because its comfortable. I have no desire to carry a larger gun just because I have more clothes on in the winter. Im not looking to get in a gun fight, so im not concerned with the .380 not being large enough, or accurate past 10 yards.

I just want something on me if something bad happens to me.

Right now my carry options in order
glock 23
Kahr P9
Glock 22

As said above......get a quality belt and holster. A really good belt that is inexpensive is the Wilderness. Get either the 5 stitch or the one with the kydex inside

OWB Holster I use the Bladetech eclipse or ones i have made myself that are very simular
IWB holster I use the Crossbreed supertuck

X2 I love this combo, and the holster to me is where it all counts. I can wear the biggest gun made if I have a really good holster to wear it with. You might can find a glock 23 for 450, and spend another $70-100 on a good holster.

M&P Shield.

soje

This is my experiance with the CCW. I qualified with a Glock 17 to get the Semiauto rating. this allows you to cary any legal handgun. I carry a 5 shot S&W 696. It's light and easy to put in my pants pocket. You won't really need a high capacity semiauto. If the Bad guy doesn't run at the site of a gun in your hand, at most you'll be using 2-3 rounds anyway. I'd find a good 5 shot revolver for your carry gun but that is just my opinion. you can do woth it as you wish.

I carry a glock 19 in a raven concealment phantom in all types of clothing. I also use a 5.11 casual belt... Perfect setup.

My go to is the LCR, I have other semis but I like the light weight...

How have you liked that setup so far?
I'm super curious because I've been wanting to do the same.

Btw, I carry a Glcok 19 always and 100% agree on spending for a good holster. I lucked out and had a G19 before and it works great for me as a carry piece. Getting a good holster made it all the more feasible.

Its all up to you. I carry a compact xd40 most of the time. During the winter it depends on my mood, might be a 9mm xdm, a 1911, or even a g20. Im the same size as you. Like others have said get a good holster.

I like my Ruger LC9. I like the manual safety selector and consider it a must. I am most concerned about someone else getting hold of it and that safety can buy you an extra couple seconds. I am not a fan of DAO but for a carry gun it seems to be in theory the best way to go. I think my ideal CCW would be a Sig 938 if it was DA/SA. I wouldnt mind carrying a 938 but SAO is iffy in my mind if called upon in a split second situation. Cocked and locked can snag too easy.

Ruger LCP (.380) in a desantis nemesis in a pocket. Easy to conceal. reliable, accurate, light weight, and double action. Not exactly an heirloom piece but it serves it purpose.

get a lcr wheelgun in .38 +p or .357 and be able to shoot both. Trigger is awesome, the LCP trigger is horrible.

I'd suggest a look at the Kahr CW40 or CW9. It's just a smaller, singe-stack semi-auto that is very light. It is essentially a DAO so it will handle like a Glock or an XD (but interestingly enough, the XD is technically a single-action---it just handles and operates like a DAO). I find the XD40 very easy to carry and would recommend it to anyone.

I like the CM9, really like the PM9. The Kimber solo is beautiful, but seems to have to many problems. I've got a lot to consider. I'm gonna go spend some time and money at the Bullet Trap test firing a bunch of their stuff. I hope to make some headway on this decision then.

I started with the idea of an xd .40 subcompact, and have considered everything under the sun by now. The internet is not the place to make the decision on selecting a gun. Tons of info, but need to get one in my hand. Even then, I'll only know how I handle and fire it. I wont know for sure until I wake up every day and decide if I'm going to carry this weapon.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm excited, but am forcing myself to put in the time to make the best decision I can. It would be much easier if it wasn't a carry gun I was looking for.

I carry a full size Sig Scorpion 1911 with ease. Yes, it is a little heavy but is sits well inside the waistband at the 3:00 position. I agree on the quality belt but my holster is nothing special. The gun slips inside it and sits well on my hip. And I'm 5'10 205 lbs. Oh, and i previously carried a Glock 21.

I'm 5'10", 185 pounds, and carry a 9mm Beretta Nano in a Crossbreed Supertuck. Not a single complaint from me. Started out with a kydex iwb and it was okay, but Crossbreed took it to a whole new level.