• Have something to say? Register Now! and be posting in minutes!

First post here..."best" self defense/CC pistol

Cobrabit

Resident Polymath
4,540
760
113
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
VA
Hoopla Cash
$ 15,041.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Ok, I'm sorry that I haven't done a search, but considering this forum isn't extremely active and I've got my 2.5 year old on my lap at the moment, I figured it would be easier to just post.

I am currently the owner of a S&W Tactical 45 that is about 15 years old. While I was given this pistol, I've always felt the grip was a little small even though I have small hands. I'm essentially thinking about 'trading' it in for a model that would better suit me and am asking what would be the 'top 5' to look in to.

I don't currently carry on my person, but do have a CC permit and would consider it depending on the outcome of our inquiry on the legality of doing so at my place of business (I'm a professor at a 'higher ed' center that receives state funding, but is located on privately owned grounds.....i.e. a little bit of a gray area). Therefore, concealment may be a factor in my choice, but the most likely scenario would be keeping it at home in a home intrusion situation. This also means that the wifey may need to use it if I'm not around (I plan to have her practice at the local range with whatever option we go with, including keeping the current S&W ).

Any recommendations to try out?
 

bamabear82

I ♥ t-baggin
50,710
7,989
533
Joined
Aug 10, 2011
Location
BAMA
Hoopla Cash
$ 709.73
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Wouldn't take anything for my S&W Shield 9mm but if your 45 tactical is too small this may be too.
 

Bridgeburner

BASSHOLE
4,681
1,583
173
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
Pittsburgh Area
Hoopla Cash
$ 200.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
First of all, the S&W 4513 Tactical (I'm assuming that this is the gun you are talking about) is a fantastic firearm. What kind of controls are you looking for? That's a DA/SA gun. Being that you are looking at possible concealed carry and probably home defense I would recommend something in the CCO size box (4" barrel with a slightly shorter grip frame).

The gun I always recommend is the CZ P-07. I have a thread here on it if you want to look that up and ask any questions. it's a DA/SA but you do have the option to change this one to single action only by switching out the decocker for a safety. It's the only gun you will find with this option and it's a fantastic choice.

Other places to focus your search would be:

Glock 19
M&P 9
CZ P-01
Sig Sauer P320
Sig Sauer P229
Sig Sauer SP2022
HK VP9

That's where I would start my search. Pay attention to the action. Some of these are DA/SA and some are striker fired. I'm not sure what your preference is or if you even have one. Everything here can be had between $475 and $575 except for the P229 which will run you about $750-$800. I highly recommend the 9mm for various reasons.
 

Bridgeburner

BASSHOLE
4,681
1,583
173
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
Pittsburgh Area
Hoopla Cash
$ 200.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Don't overlook YouTube in your research. Some fantastic reviews on that site.
 

Cobrabit

Resident Polymath
4,540
760
113
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
VA
Hoopla Cash
$ 15,041.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Thanks for the info. It is indeed the 4513 and I do like it, but since I was given it as a 21st birthday gift from my father and haven't really shot anything else, I want to see if any other options may be a better fit. I just need to get to the range at the local store and go through a couple mags in a few different options.
 

Bridgeburner

BASSHOLE
4,681
1,583
173
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
Pittsburgh Area
Hoopla Cash
$ 200.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
The one thing to keep in mind is that the 4513 is obsolete now and parts/accessories will be hard to come by. if it's a birthday gift with sentimental value you might not want to put a lot of round through it. If you just shoot 500 or so rounds a year it's probably not a problem. I usually shoot that per month though and I would worry about my volume through that gun.
 

Wild Turkey

Sarcasm: Just one of my many services.
25,071
4,869
293
Joined
May 21, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 14,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I have both a Glock 19 and SW M&P 45C. The 45C is only slightly wider than the Glock otherwise they are almost the identical size. From a shooting perspective I and my 14 year old daughter both prefer the 45C but you are limited to 8 shots versus 15.

I would look at both.
 

Bridgeburner

BASSHOLE
4,681
1,583
173
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
Pittsburgh Area
Hoopla Cash
$ 200.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
The M&P45C is an excellent suggestion if 45 is the flavor you want to stick with. Probably my favorite 45 on the market actually.
 

Neb4life

Eat more BEEF !!!!!!
1,534
352
83
Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Hoopla Cash
$ 1,263.13
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
938-9-SAS-AMBI-large.jpg
Sig P938 is what I carry. Sig P226 in the truck.
 

fknhippie

I'll shit in your shoes.
50,542
16,493
1,033
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
The M&P45C is an excellent suggestion if 45 is the flavor you want to stick with. Probably my favorite 45 on the market actually.

But it is hard to conceal.
 

Wild Turkey

Sarcasm: Just one of my many services.
25,071
4,869
293
Joined
May 21, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 14,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3

fknhippie

I'll shit in your shoes.
50,542
16,493
1,033
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I tend to carry the wife's Walther .40 pps more than the M&P.45.
 

BF4L

Black/Gold Glasses
15,732
868
113
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Location
Home of Champs-Boston
Hoopla Cash
$ 1,520.25
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I have quite a few guns and Glock 19 is one of my favs. Recently I have stopped carrying it in favor of the P238 and the reason is simply size. The Glock now resides in a gun vault in bedroom with 16 in gun and a 17 round mag next to it.

I have heard many many people looking for guns who can do it all. IE: Target shooting and conceal carry and my view on it is there is not a single gun that does all of them well. I prefer the Sig P238 cause it is a good shooter and is a pocket gun. That said I already mentioned it is my conceal carry gun not my home defense gun.
 

Bridgeburner

BASSHOLE
4,681
1,583
173
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
Pittsburgh Area
Hoopla Cash
$ 200.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
My miliage is quite different. I think think the CCO size pistol does everything really well. About 7" long and 5" tall, around 1-1.25" thick. This size gives me a 4" barrell and good capacity in a controllable and concealable package. My P-07 (virtually identical size wise to the G19 and MP45c) conceals fantastic with the Clinger Atom and a regular old dress belt from JC Penny (yeah, not a fan of dedicated gun belts).

I can get a gun that conceals slightly better but then I give up too much on the firing line for my taste. I can get a gun that performs slightly better on the firing line but then I give up too much in concealability for my taste. I've tried both. I've owned many smaller guns and many full size guns and I've shot each exclusively and carried each exclusively. A 4" barrel with a shorter but not quite compact grip frame seems to check all the boxes for me. Body types, comfort level, dress habits, they all play a part. Not everyone will agree, of course.

I shoot A LOT. Probably about 1000 rounds a month on average I'd say. And I like to carry what I'm most proficient with. So that plays a part too.
 

Cobrabit

Resident Polymath
4,540
760
113
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
VA
Hoopla Cash
$ 15,041.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I really do appreciate all of the suggestions guys. I'll try to get the wife to come along with me to the indoor range one day soon while the kids are at daycare. I haven't shot in a while myself or at a true range since I got my CC permit, especially since I rarely carry on my person due to my profession as mentioned earlier.
 

Cobrabit

Resident Polymath
4,540
760
113
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
VA
Hoopla Cash
$ 15,041.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I'll also check with my father to see what options he has sitting in one of his half dozen safes to try out.
 

Yankee Traveler

Well-Known Member
15,584
8,118
533
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Location
Clarksville
Hoopla Cash
$ 1,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I really do appreciate all of the suggestions guys. I'll try to get the wife to come along with me to the indoor range one day soon while the kids are at daycare. I haven't shot in a while myself or at a true range since I got my CC permit, especially since I rarely carry on my person due to my profession as mentioned earlier.

I don't know where in VA you are, but when I was in Hampton Roads area, a lot of ranges carried rentals that you could try to see what you like. just holding a pistol at a dealer will tell you how it fits your hand but not how it shoots. An example is the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 vs. the Springfield Armory XD 9 vs. the Glock 19. (or .40, 357 sig etc), All felt fine over the counter but a couple of magazines through each told a different story.
The Glock has much more squared off grip area and became uncomfortable quickly.
The Springfield has a higher bore center (distance from top of you hand to centerline of barrel) which gives more leverage to the recoil (muzzle flip) and made it more difficult to bring back on target.
The M&P was perfect. For me. You may find it different. Your wife may find it different as well which may be something you want to consider. Or maybe you will want to get her one of her own. Or two. or three.


Or more....



Yeah, definitely more....




I'm goin to the range.
 
Top