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

[Retroram52]

I'll take my new Glock30 Gen4 as a self defense piece. Lightweight .45, great feel on the grips, and very balanced when loaded. A very nice gun and fits nearly in the palm of my hand. Very nice gun for open as well as concealed carry.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Have you handled Gen 3 and Gen 4?

How huch more comfortable is the gen 4 really?

 

[Retroram52]

Didn't like Gen 3 as much as Gen 4. Gen 3 was a little bulkier and not as balanced when loaded as the Gen 4. I liked the Gen 4 for reasons already stated.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Didn't like Gen 3 as much as Gen 4. Gen 3 was a little bulkier and not as balanced when loaded as the Gen 4. I liked the Gen 4 for reasons already stated.

I felt the same about the gen 3. I may take another look at the gen 4.
Legendary dependability.

 

[Retroram52]

Damn straight Yankee Traveler. It is a very nice gun and very compact. I liked it immediately and it went home with me the same day. You won't be disappointed.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

For CnC, a little Kel-Tec P-11 is an inexpensive, compact and well regarded.

 

[night]

Sig P238

Best .380 on market.

I'm thinking about buying the P238 for self defense. I'm a bit torn between it and the P226 but the 238 seems like it is both cheaper and perfectly effective.

 

[romeo212000]

For CnC, a little Kel-Tec P-11 is an inexpensive, compact and well regarded.

I prefer to Taurus to this. I had one of these and for some reason it never did really jive with me.

 

[Bridgeburner]

I'm thinking about buying the P238 for self defense. I'm a bit torn between it and the P226 but the 238 seems like it is both cheaper and perfectly effective.

The P238 and P226 are completely different animals. One is a subcompact .380 (very small) and one is a full size duty gun in 9mm.

 

[night]

The P238 and P226 are completely different animals. One is a subcompact .380 (very small) and one is a full size duty gun in 9mm.

I know. Size isn't a big deal to me.

 

[Wild Turkey]

Size isn't a big deal to me.

Not what she said.

 

[Bridgeburner]

I know. Size isn't a big deal to me.

How familiar are you with guns? Depending on the intended use, size matters a lot for some people. The P238 doesn't lend itself to accurate work beyond 5-10 yards. It can also be punishing for some people to shoot for extended range sessions. The P226 can be a problem if it's a carry gun as some people aren't able to conceal something that large. But while harder to conceal, the P226 could be a lot more fun at the range and more useful as a home defense weapon.

Of course, if you're a collector and this is just a piece being added then the above points are moot.

 

[night]

How familiar are you with guns? Depending on the intended use, size matters a lot for some people. The P238 doesn't lend itself to accurate work beyond 5-10 yards. It can also be punishing for some people to shoot for extended range sessions. The P226 can be a problem if it's a carry gun as some people aren't able to conceal something that large. But while harder to conceal, the P226 could be a lot more fun at the range and more useful as a home defense weapon.

Of course, if you're a collector and this is just a piece being added then the above points are moot.

I'm not an expert or anything. The pro of the 238 is mainly the price, a .380 will get the job done for self-defense, and I won't exactly be shooting long distance in a self-defense scenario. The reason why it's either or is that I just really want a Sig and those are the two I like but I'm not sure I want to spring for the 226.

 

[Bridgeburner]

No interest in the P320 huh? The carry version splits the differences in size and it's cheaper than the 238 and 226. But you might be looking at the metal frame and or DA/SA which would eliminate the P320.

Currently the P320 is my favorite in the SIG lineup.

 

[night]

No interest in the P320 huh? The carry version splits the differences in size and it's cheaper than the 238 and 226. But you might be looking at the metal frame and or DA/SA which would eliminate the P320.

Currently the P320 is my favorite in the SIG lineup.

For a cheaper 9mm I've been kind of looking at the Glock Gen 4. It seems like it would be a nice gun to own too.

 

[Bridgeburner]

You can never go wrong with Glock.

 

[Groo]

You can never go wrong with Glock.

The FBI seems to agree.
BREAKING: FBI Selects Glock for Next Service Handgun - The Firearm Blog

 

[Bridgeburner]

Yeah, and it's interesting too because one of the criteria for winning that contract is that the firearm lack any predefined finger groves (which all Glocks have since generation 3). I wonder if they are doing a special run of the guns for the FBI that will have altered frames?

 

[night]

I ended up getting the CZ P-07. I didn't end up getting a Glock because of the limited magazine capacity. Here is the link to what I bought since my picture probably isn't as good as theirs.

CZ-USA CZ P-07 Duty Handgun Package

 

[Bridgeburner]

I ended up getting the CZ P-07. I didn't end up getting a Glock because of the limited magazine capacity. Here is the link to what I bought since my picture probably isn't as good as theirs.

CZ-USA CZ P-07 Duty Handgun Package

I might be biased but that's a fantastic choice!

A Glock shouldn't have a limited capacity magazine though. The 19 (same size as the P-07) has the same capacity (15) as the P-07. I mean, looking at the picture you have a Gen 1 P-076 so technically it's a 16 round magazine. But most people have a lot of issues getting that last round in. Which is why they labeled the Gen 2 P07's as 15 rounders.