Compact 9mm
- Thread starter bowhunter1023
- Start date
Found me a gun last night after handling several different options. I settled on the Taurus Slim in 9mm for a few different reasons over the Springfield XDS in 45. While I like the XDS better overall in terms of looks and feel, it was going to feel like a brick as a carry gun. The Taurus Slim felt almost as good in my hand and the trigger was wash next to the XDS. With it being a 9 and slightly smaller, I can boot carry it and throw it in the pocket of my cargo shorts. At $260 cheaper, the Slim leaves me with room to stock up on ammo and save the rest for an overpriced AR when it comes in. I handled about 7 different pistols and believe the Slim with serve its purpose.
Next question. What's my best option of 9mm and .357 ammo? My dad wants to stock up with me...
Next question. What's my best option of 9mm and .357 ammo? My dad wants to stock up with me...
Congrats Jesse.
I heard he would let it go for $425. That would be the no haggle, no shipping, no papers price. Had fired it some. Trying to remember what "he" told me, maybe 150rds? Had 2-3 jams. Might have been the ammo. Might have been dirty. Undetermined issue. After 2-3 jams, it was enough for him to know he wouldn't trust his life carrying it. Just wanted to be straight up.
I heard he would let it go for $425. That would be the no haggle, no shipping, no papers price. Had fired it some. Trying to remember what "he" told me, maybe 150rds? Had 2-3 jams. Might have been the ammo. Might have been dirty. Undetermined issue. After 2-3 jams, it was enough for him to know he wouldn't trust his life carrying it. Just wanted to be straight up.
Glad he was. I'm happy with what I found last night, so I'll stick with it. But thanks for passing that along...
Congrats but it didn't happen without pics hehe
I'd stock up on some magazines as well, especially if the standard magazine for that has a greater than 10 round capacity, and if you can't find any at least get your name on a backorder log somewhere. During the previous weapons ban it was not uncommon for glock magazines to fetch $50+, just a heads up in case history repeats itself.
Secondly, how are you going to carry it? I've never done in the shoe/ankle carry so I can't help you there. My favorite pocket carry is a Desantis nemesis holster, and they make it in multiple different sizes. My wife even uses one to carry her 9mm in her purse that way. Just make sure its big enough to cover the trigger guard, you don't want to Plaxico Burress yourself.
If you want to carry it on your belt then you have to decide between inside and outside the waistband. Outside the waistband (OWB) is generally more comfortable but slightly more challenging to conceal, inside the waistband (IWB) is easier to conceal, slightly harder to get to when you need to, and comfort depends on the holster. The differences between holsters other than style will also be material. Kydex is the hard plastic stuff that can be very nicely form fitted to your gun, can be hard on the finish over time but to me its a tool and I don't abuse my guns but wear marks are part of their story. Leather is softer, some people prefer the feel of it and its more traditional but will generally cost more as it takes more time to manufacture. I personally care in a IWB "hybrid" holster, it has a leather backing with a kydex area to hold the gun, its called the Crossbreed Supertuck, its VERY popular for IWB and there are a lot of similar hybrid holsters but its one of the best. Its also not cheap but I literally only have 3 holsters for my primary carry pistol, that IWB, an OWB and a nemesis for pocket carry. I took a nap with it on the first day I had it, its that comfortable.
If you are going to carry on your belt, I also suggest a good belt that is designed to carry a pistol. This is because they are stiffer and will hold up to the constant weight of the gun on your belt. My first conceal and carry pistol was a very small .380 and it didn't matter b/c it was so light. With my current one (a .45acp 1911 variant) it definitely does and once I got a good belt the comfort in carrying it was much improved. All leather belts will be more expensive, but depending on your normal style of dress you may not have to go that route. I use a wilderness instructor belt, and I love it. I know there are other variations of it made by other companies but I have no experience with those.
Ammo. Any of the major manufacturers defensive ammo will work. I would look around at websites such as defensivecarry.com; buckeyefirearms; ohioans for concealed carry, etc and see what names come up regularly. Those will probably be, Gold Dots, HST, critical defense, critical duty, etc as they are all solid performers against ballistic gellatin. I would also get something that police departments use because they are only going to carry what is known to work. I personally carry Federal HST in both my .45 and its what is in my wife's 9mm. I chose that round because it is a known round that a lot of LEO carry and it has been shown to work well against a lot of barriers prior to getting to ballistics gel. The gold dots perform better against auto glass, but the HSTs performed better against barriers that I as a concealed carry person might have to shoot against better, though both were more than adequate and meet and/or exceed the FBI minimums. I also like that HST is sold at 50 rounds for a reasonable price (see Kylesgunshop here) so I can practice with them occasionally or just run my carry magazine without killing my wallet. Kyle's gunshop is owned by a guy from the OFCC group who is a good guy and one of the few places I've found that you can get HST ammunition at a fair price. I think it runs around $30-35 for a box of 50 whereas Critical defense the last time I bought any was $20ish for 20. As to bullet weight and such I have 147 grains in my wife's 9mm for the most mass on target per round, but there are as many theories on that as there are bullets in a gunstore prior to monday. The main thing is shot placement as we all know as hunters.
I appreciate all the info man!
As for how I carry, I'll be purchasing two holsters. A paddle style for OWB and a ankle one for when I have my jeans/boots on. When it comes to ammo, I'm not particular and will generally look for whats cheap. I'll check out Kyle's and see what I can get my hands on...
As for how I carry, I'll be purchasing two holsters. A paddle style for OWB and a ankle one for when I have my jeans/boots on. When it comes to ammo, I'm not particular and will generally look for whats cheap. I'll check out Kyle's and see what I can get my hands on...
Just ordered a Pearce Grip Extension, Hogue Grip Sleeve, and a Fobus Roto Paddle Holster for it. I'm picking the gun up tomorrow morning. I should be carry ready by Christmas morning and have a private CCW class scheduled for the end of January/early February...
Good stuff Jesse, congrats on the purchase! I would recommend putting 100-200 rounds through it as soon as you get it, just to rule out any defects at all from the factory. No matter what company you buy from, defects happen, and it is nice to find them and get them fixed by shooting in the yard versus finding out something is wrong when you actually need it.
Good luck on your CCW as well, gives you a lot of peace of mind, especially when the little one comes along!
Good luck on your CCW as well, gives you a lot of peace of mind, especially when the little one comes along!
Congrats Jesse. Excellent post by HedgelJ above. Nothing to add but to reinforce some thoughts. First being the belt to carry will make all the difference especially with OWB carry. Here is the one I use and recommend most often, same one he recommended. http://www.thewilderness.com/index.php?p=product&id=2309&parent=209
I have a NIP Desantis Pocket Holster if you want one for days in shorts. Actually after you have it I bet you will prefer pocket over ankle.
200 rounds of mixed carry and target ammo through it before I trust it. Gotta be clean 200 rounds to boot.
I have a NIP Desantis Pocket Holster if you want one for days in shorts. Actually after you have it I bet you will prefer pocket over ankle.
200 rounds of mixed carry and target ammo through it before I trust it. Gotta be clean 200 rounds to boot.
Huckleberry Finn
Senior Member
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I've reloaded probably 500 rounds of it in 9mm and shot 200-300 of it with no issues. That's just the brass itself. I've never bought/shot factory Blazer ammo so not sure on that.
Huckleberry Finn
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Gordo
Senior Member
Jesse, I am also looking.
I have a decent deal working on a used P95 Ruger, but havent decided if I want to pull the trigger on it yet. I really like the Springfield sub compact since I have big hands also. Anyone know if $350 for P95 SS with 2 high capacity extra clips and very good holster is a deal?
I have a decent deal working on a used P95 Ruger, but havent decided if I want to pull the trigger on it yet. I really like the Springfield sub compact since I have big hands also. Anyone know if $350 for P95 SS with 2 high capacity extra clips and very good holster is a deal?
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I looked at that Taurus slim today and you are right, it is a nice weapon. Especially for a carry gun. Get a quality holster and you will probably forget you have it on you. If you don't mind, what kind of price did you get on it?
I decided pick up the Ruger. It has had less than 50 rounds through it and the only reason he was selling was to get a Glock. I will hopefully get a chance to shoot it this week if it stops snowing.