Handguns for concealed carry
Cheryl asked for help for a member looking for what to carry. I suggested postings here of what we carry and why we made that particular selection. I had originally purchased a Skyy CPX-1, as it was suggested by a gun store owner as a "better Kel-Tec". It had a nice fit and finish, so I took a chance. Big mistake. It went back to the factory twice and was repaired by the store owner once. I took it to a lesson with Donovan, and he was appalled at its failure rate. Maybe this is the nature of guns termed as "shoot a little, carry a lot." That's not good enough for me, since I have to practice with the gun I carry, or I can have no confidence, and that expression seems to me to be some kind of ad-speak code for "they don't hold up"! I considered one of the compact Glocks, like the Glock 26, but I was a little nervous about lack of a more positive safety than the "safe action" trigger. However, the stiker-fired mechanism, with no external hammer, had appeal. Donovan put me onto the Springfield XD-9 SC. A bit like a Glock 26 on steroids, it is the striker firing mechanism like the Glock but with a couple of safety features which I really like: 1. The chambered-round indicator is on top instead of on the side, and it is quite conspicuous. 2. There is a "cocked" indicator on the rear of the slide, and it is also very obvious. 3. Finally, the gun has a grip safety. In my practicing, I have found it to be accurate...at least up to my level. I did have a failure to feed with an "XD Gear" accessory hi-capacity magazine, but after disassembling, cleaning and lubricating that magazine, the problem has not recurred. Because the grip is pretty small, I found the addition of Pearce magazine bottoms, with place for my pinky finger to rest, made a difference in both my shooting accuracy and general ability to hold the gun. I recommend the Pearce product this gun for anyone with average-sized or large hands. They are inexpensive and easy to install on the Springfield factory magazines. They are available for the small Glocks, as well. This gun is bulkier and heavier than the Glock 26. For me, the safety features--in a loaded and cocked gun in a holster inside my pants--are worth the extra weight. If you are more concerned with thin and light in a concealed carry weapon, the Glock might be better for you. Also, the Springfield Armory XD series, in spite of carrying a legendary all-American name, is made in Croatia. Everything I have read about Springfield support of these guns is excellent, but if Made in USA is important to you, then this is not your handgun. Bill
Cheryl asked for help for a member looking for what to carry. I suggested postings here of what we carry and why we made that particular selection. I had originally purchased a Skyy CPX-1, as it was suggested by a gun store owner as a "better Kel-Tec". It had a nice fit and finish, so I took a chance. Big mistake. It went back to the factory twice and was repaired by the store owner once. I took it to a lesson with Donovan, and he was appalled at its failure rate. Maybe this is the nature of guns termed as "shoot a little, carry a lot." That's not good enough for me, since I have to practice with the gun I carry, or I can have no confidence, and that expression seems to me to be some kind of ad-speak code for "they don't hold up"! I considered one of the compact Glocks, like the Glock 26, but I was a little nervous about lack of a more positive safety than the "safe action" trigger. However, the stiker-fired mechanism, with no external hammer, had appeal. Donovan put me onto the Springfield XD-9 SC. A bit like a Glock 26 on steroids, it is the striker firing mechanism like the Glock but with a couple of safety features which I really like: 1. The chambered-round indicator is on top instead of on the side, and it is quite conspicuous. 2. There is a "cocked" indicator on the rear of the slide, and it is also very obvious. 3. Finally, the gun has a grip safety. In my practicing, I have found it to be accurate...at least up to my level. I did have a failure to feed with an "XD Gear" accessory hi-capacity magazine, but after disassembling, cleaning and lubricating that magazine, the problem has not recurred. Because the grip is pretty small, I found the addition of Pearce magazine bottoms, with place for my pinky finger to rest, made a difference in both my shooting accuracy and general ability to hold the gun. I recommend the Pearce product this gun for anyone with average-sized or large hands. They are inexpensive and easy to install on the Springfield factory magazines. They are available for the small Glocks, as well. This gun is bulkier and heavier than the Glock 26. For me, the safety features--in a loaded and cocked gun in a holster inside my pants--are worth the extra weight. If you are more concerned with thin and light in a concealed carry weapon, the Glock might be better for you. Also, the Springfield Armory XD series, in spite of carrying a legendary all-American name, is made in Croatia. Everything I have read about Springfield support of these guns is excellent, but if Made in USA is important to you, then this is not your handgun. Bill