[bigfish5]

So far I am leaning toward the kahr pm9, I am thinking i need to go pretty small , for comfort. I am 6'2" and 265. I am not used to anything being on my beltline and most of the time i am in shorts and sandals.

Today i went to a couple of gunshops and looked at some stuff, i really like the kahr's, the PM45 is very tempting, just barely bigger than the pm9, but it is slighly longer and thicker, I just dont think you could put the pm45 in your pocket , while i think you could get away with it in the pm9. I looked at the kel tecs and the ruger lcp, but i think i want to stay with the 9mm guns.

I already have a pistol i absolutly love, it is the cz p-01, it is a compact gun , and i plan to carry it sometimes when a bigger gun will work, I put the pm9 in a galco iwb holster at the gunshop and tried it on, not to bad but im not sure what would happen with sitting down or riding my motorcyle.

One gun that kinda stuck out today was the "bersa thunder cc" nice looking gun for 325.00 but its as heavy or heavier than the pm9 and its a 380. Can anyone think of any other guns i should take a look at? Remember im hoping to be able to drop it in a pocket when i want to.

 

[Red Dawg]

bigfish5, welcome aboard. A lot of finding a pistol you will like will depend on your personal preference and how much you want to spend. Most folks here, me included, will tell you to go to a gun shop and shoot as many of the pistols that you can to get a feel for what you like and what fits your hand, budget the best. You will also find that most here have a preference for one brand or another. Again, rent and shoot what you can and determine what you like from there. :drinks

 

[Evo1]

I have 2 suggestions:

#1 - Try out the guns you're considering before you buy.

You'll find that the quality of the guns you've mentioned varies considerably, especially once you fire them. Also, especially for a guy your size, you're going to probably find that most, if not all, of these are going to be difficult and uncomfortable for you to shoot.

#2 - Consider changing your wardrobe.

It sounds like you're trying to make your gun fit your wardrobe, instead of changing the way you dress to accommodate your carry gun. Personally, I think this is a mistake. I personally wouldn't carry a pocket .380 as my primary carry gun unless I had no other choice. I do have one, for just such circumstances, but almost never carry it. Instead, I've made changes to the clothes I wear in order to accommodate my preferred carry weapon.

Even in SoFla, it is possible to dress comfortably and still conceal a decent sized gun (even something like a full-sized 1911). It's important to have a good holster and a good belt, and it does take some getting used to, but it's definitely worth the investment in time and effort.

I wouldn't compromise on the caliber, capacity, or quality of the gun I carried just for wardrobe considerations, unless I was forced to by circumstance. Pick the best carry gun for yourself first, and then adjust you manner of dress to accommodate it. That'd be my suggestion.

 

[Tic26]

One gun that kinda stuck out today was the "bersa thunder cc" nice looking gun for 325.00 but its as heavy or heavier than the pm9 and its a 380. Can anyone think of any other guns i should take a look at? Remember im hoping to be able to drop it in a pocket when i want to.

I bought this pistol for my wife...she likes it and it is pretty easy to conceal...My neighbor just bought a ruger 380...little tiny thing made the bersa look like a big gun if you can imagine that....

 

[Steve48]

Welcome aboard, Bigfish5. :drinks

You should also consider how much actual range shooting you plan to do with your carry gun. The cost and availability of ammunition would then be a factor. Right now, I'd avoid .380s just on the basis of ammunition availability. If you plan to become a re-loader, then consider revolvers, since it's easier to recover revolver brass. In fact, consider revolvers in any case.

 

[bigfish5]

thanks to all for the replies. I dont see me changing my way of dress much. I did consider the little tiny keltec and lcp, but i just dont really think of them as more than point blank, I think the kahr could make a 15 yard shot if needed with dependability. I did consider a revolver, something like a 642 or the new lcr. but i dont really think it has an advantage over the karh, the kahr will hold 6 or 7 rounds depending on which mag you use, the kahr has more power than the 38spcl, and size is about the same.

I like the sound of the sig 239, but i already have a cz p-01 and i am not sure if the sig is much smaller than that. I am feeling more and more that i will probably go with the pm9, if i wasnt so adament that it would fit in the pocket i might have to try the pm45, but it is a tiny bit bigger, plus i have a couple of hundred rounds of 45acp that i could use in that gun already. but i want pocket as an option.

got to admit it is a fun dilima, i love buying new guns and the anticipation is probably better than the actuall day of purchase. I figure i have 3months or so before i get my cwl , but i want the gun to have been purchased and broken it by then.

 

[Rvrctyrngr]

Can't go wrong with the PM9. I carry one as a BUG in my off-side pocket in either a DeSantis Nemesis or LittleBear pocket holster (Thanks, Dave!).

Here's a decen thread about that particular weapon...Check out Brownie's post (#6), especially.

Kahr PM9 AAR

 

[SouthSide]

Welcome from another member in Jax. :drinks
I'm a big guy also (6'5" 295 lbs.) and carry a ruger P95 IWB with no real issues, just bought some new jeans 2" bigger in the waist.

 

[Jim45]

Can't go wrong with the PM9. I carry one as a BUG in my off-side pocket in either a DeSantis Nemesis or LittleBear pocket holster (Thanks, Dave!).

Here's a decen thread about that particular weapon...Check out Brownie's post (#6), especially.

Kahr PM9 AAR

First off, welcome to the forum bigfish5. I do not have the PM9, but I can say personally that it is a nice weapon. I have fired RCR'S several times, and found it accurate and easy to shoot. RCR can shoot the heck out of it! With a good pocket holster, it pretty much disappears in his off side pocket as well.
The PM9 is on my short list for my next handgun.
The thead that RCR posted has alot of good info...

Good luck with your decision.:thumsup

Jim

 

[Random Shot]

Bersa's have a good reputation as a good quality, reliable gun. Lifetime warranty.

Bersa makes the Thunder 380 (which I have and like) also in the 380 CC (Concealed Carry).

Nothing wrong with a 380 round. Many use CorBon DPX. See www.bersatalk.com

http://www.gunblast.com/Bersa_380CC.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/Bersa_Thunder380.htm


I just got a Firestorm Mini 9 (Bersa 9UC) which isn't much bigger than the 380. 9x19, 13+1 rounds. Same price $350. istols

 

[NavJAG06]

Welcome to the forum, Bigfish5 from a fellow Jacksonville-area resident. I have a PM9 bought from Curry-Thomas hardware in Jacksonville. They were the first area shop to ensure I received the PM9 when I needed it. Shooters had several in stock when I shopped there a couple of weeks ago. Need a breakin of about 200 rounds. Mine is broken in with only one failure of the slide to lock back after the mag was emptied. That was early in the breakin period and now have over 500 rounds through the firearm. The recommendations of the Nemesis and Little Bear holters are great. I use a very light Kydex #5 holster from FIST holters. If you don't feel comfortable with carrying a larger firearm in your wasteband or oWB, then the PM9 is an excellent pocket-carry firearm with a decent caliber - 9mm. I shot the PM40 and did not like the kick. The 9mm is much easier to control. I have not shot the PM45. YOu're a big man and maybe the kick of the 40 or 45 would be easier to control. Both are small enough for pocket carry.

 

[45Freak]

I am a firm believer that you should carry max. cal. in the smallest poss. firearm. there are a lot of compact options you should consider beyond the 9mm. remember, you may only get one shot off and it has to absolutely count and be effective within a relatively short on avg. defensive range. I carry .45 due to its massively destructive one shot capability. some BGs may be methed out, doped up or just dumped an extreme load of adrenaline. If you remove the anatomic support system the brain may keep running but the body will not respond. Remember you have adrenaline on your side and if you train to live and live to train you will amaze yourself when and if that moment should ever arrive and I am speaking from experience. Study anatomy, it can be a helpful tool.

 

[bigfish5]

Welcome to the forum, Bigfish5 from a fellow Jacksonville-area resident. I have a PM9 bought from Curry-Thomas hardware in Jacksonville. They were the first area shop to ensure I received the PM9 when I needed it. Shooters had several in stock when I shopped there a couple of weeks ago. Need a breakin of about 200 rounds. Mine is broken in with only one failure of the slide to lock back after the mag was emptied. That was early in the breakin period and now have over 500 rounds through the firearm. The recommendations of the Nemesis and Little Bear holters are great. I use a very light Kydex #5 holster from FIST holters. If you don't feel comfortable with carrying a larger firearm in your wasteband or oWB, then the PM9 is an excellent pocket-carry firearm with a decent caliber - 9mm. I shot the PM40 and did not like the kick. The 9mm is much easier to control. I have not shot the PM45. YOu're a big man and maybe the kick of the 40 or 45 would be easier to control. Both are small enough for pocket carry.

good info, i have been in curry thomas a few times, neat gun shop, as far as the pm45 i would it expect it to shoot better than the pm40, 45's always seem to be smooth while the 40 is a little brutal, people always use the word snappy, when it comes to the 40. I will check out the holster you are using, i will probably end up with 5 or 6 for each gun.

 

[bigfish5]

I am a firm believer that you should carry max. cal. in the smallest poss. firearm. there are a lot of compact options you should consider beyond the 9mm. remember, you may only get one shot off and it has to absolutely count and be effective within a relatively short on avg. defensive range. I carry .45 due to its massively destructive one shot capability. some BGs may be methed out, doped up or just dumped an extreme load of adrenaline. If you remove the anatomic support system the brain may keep running but the body will not respond. Remember you have adrenaline on your side and if you train to live and live to train you will amaze yourself when and if that moment should ever arrive and I am speaking from experience. Study anatomy, it can be a helpful tool.

I must admit your post has me thinking, i really like the pm45 even though i have read where people have had some trouble with it. I would have to give up only one round of capacity as opposed to the pm9, But i think i would have to give up the pocketability factor.

 

[bigfish5]

hey 45freak, i actually live in Middleburg also, I put jacksonville because i didnt think anyone knew where Middleburg was at. I am off of bronco road.

 

[NavJAG06]

Here's the link to the FIST pocket holster page

http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/k1/k5.htm

 

[Franklin]

+1 for Little Bear. Dave (owner) is a great guy and builds good stuff. Just as important, he's local and we are supporting someone who is supporting us. That's good.
Good luck finding just the right gun and don't forget, the hunt is half the fun!