hmmm...argue your case...

I've never carried before now, but I'm going to be taking my CCW class soon and I'm not sure what I want to carry. I'm looking at these three:

SAXD-9 Sub Compact- I really like this gun (I have the tactical version) and it would be my ideal carry gun except that it's fairly thick and I don't really want to "dress" around it so to speak. This will be my only carry gun so I'm not going to have a summer carry and a winter carry etc...

Sig 232- I love sigs and am growing on the idea of a single stack pistol for the thinner profile. I'm a little concerned about the .380 ACP.

Snub nose revolver- This is one of those guns that I've wanted for a long time, but really haven't had a reason to buy. I like the idea of a revolver for carry, but I would like to have more than 5 rds.

Help me out...build your case.

There's only one case and it's how much do you want to compromise. Everything is a trade off when you pick a gun to carry. Thick guns more rounds, thin gun feels better, a snubby with a belt slider and you hardly know you got it on. What ever you pick make yourself the best you can be with it. That means plenty of practice. Good luck on your choice.

+1 with Baldy

I am very much like you. I don't like a bulky pistol, I tried carrying an XD for a while but went back to a 1911. I don't have a solution but maybe a suggestion...

Recently Springfield came out with an EMP which is a 9mm single stack in the 1911 platform that's pretty dang thin.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=24

Thats a tuff question to answer for some one else,, First I would do a honest assessment of your "desire" or "need" to carry,, by this I mean are you going to carry every waking moment "some do", or on as a need base, IE going to the bank/store etc.

Once you have done this,think next how your going to carry,inside the waist band or out, this can have a lot to do with what you pick in the end.

And don't forget to include what you may budget for ammo, right now in my area 9mm is the cheapest equaling for some more range time.

I like your picks of firearms but would make the suggestion of looking at a SIG-239 in 9mm as well as the other 232 its just about as thin ,and it can be had in 9mm

Most new to CCW find all day carry a burden and tend to back off to every once in awhile. But what ever you decide welcome aboard, and remember the "Mind is the number one weapon"

Thanks for the replies so far.

I won't be carrying on an everyday basis. This will be more of an as needed thing.

What is your opinion on the ballistic difference between a .380 acp out of a 3" - 3 1/2" barrel vs. .38 Special out of a 2" Barrel.

I've seen the SA EMP and really like it, but there is no way I can drop a grand on a handgun. As far as the 239. Again, I really like it, but I think it might be a bit big for me to carry.

Thanks again...It always helps to have other people drop their thoughts and opinions.

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Originally Posted by Baldy

There's only one case and it's how much do you want to compromise. Everything is a trade off when you pick a gun to carry. Thick guns more rounds, thin gun feels better, a snubby with a belt slider and you hardly know you got it on. What ever you pick make yourself the best you can be with it. That means plenty of practice. Good luck on your choice.

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of all my pistols I find my self carrying my .357 snub on a regular basis, 6 rounds of hollow points and you don't even know its there. I carry mine in a Uncle Mikes Sidekick clip on holster at the 10 o'clock position (cross draw). for me that is the best position for driving and most comfort over all. in a pinch or when wearing tight pants and a t-shirt I carry the little .380 auto in the same position.

Colt Defender..........thin.......light..........45 cal..........8 rounds. :mrgreen:

I can relate to your dilemma because I’ve fretted about the same thing or a while. I carry a Glock 23 or Kel-Tec P3AT depending on the time of year. Let’s do some comparisons.

Glocks average 1.18” thick. The thinner being the new G36, .45 @ 1.13”.

The SAXD-9 is the following thickness.

Width of Slide at Front Site: 1.089
Total Width at Take-Down Lever: 1.274
Total Width At Slide Release: 1.280
Width of Grip at Mag Well Entrance: 1.160
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/i...p/t-17245.html

Or:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...11compared.jpg

There really is very little difference with most guns out there with the exception of guns like the new Kel-Tec PF9 and a few like that. I think about this subject a lot and always seem to lean back toward the Glocks because of the reliability and cost factor. I’d love a nice Kimber but at twice the price, until I get that winning lotto number, I can’t quit justify the purchase yet. That is why I’ve been researching Rock Island Armory lately. I could get a reliable 1911 without the big cost associated with 1911’s.

The Sig 232/230 is a great pistol, but too large for it's caliber if you're going to carry.

A revolver is a good choice, but I too would be concerned about not only how many rounds it holds, but also how slow they are to reload. One has to train for a number of years and thousands of rounds before you can reload like J. Miculik.

An XD Compact would be my choice of the three, as it is more powerful than the Sig and holds more rounds than a revolver.

On the other hand, if I had no handgun at all and were going to buy one for carry purposes, I wouldn't pick any of the three you mention. I would go for a thin 9mm, which solves the thickness "problem" of the XD, the power problem of the Sig, and the capacity problem of the revolver.

PhilR.

All of your choices are good ones, but there will be as many opinions as there are people. I carry a Kahr PM9 most of the time. Other CCW guns that my wife & I have are an EMP, PF9, P3AT (hers), Kahr PM9, S&W snubbie, and Kimber Ultra (mine).
What you carry, and how comfortable it is to carry depends a lot on how you dress. If you choose to carry often, you will learn to wear clothes that make it easier to conceal your weapon. Buy good holsters (I prefer leather). They are much more comfortable than cheapies to wear.

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Originally Posted by redrooster

Sig 232- I love sigs and am growing on the idea of a single stack pistol for the thinner profile. I'm a little concerned about the .380 ACP.

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If you like the idea of a single stack SIG, but don't want the 380 ACP, you should look into the P239. they come in 9mm, 357sig, or .40S&W, and they even make an anti snag version.

Oh, and They currently have factory refurbished and certified ones selling for under $500.00 :smt1099

i carry my 232 just about everywhere i go IWB (live in ga, heat is an issue). it took a couple of weeks to get used to but now i forget its there. a lot of people think it is too big for .380, but its all personal preference. if you are well practiced, it will be more than enough.

bottom line: choosing to carry is a decision that requires compromise. so choose the gun that will allow you to hit your target and dress accordingly

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Originally Posted by Dave James

...are you going to carry every waking moment "some do", or on as a need base, IE going to the bank/store etc.

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Remember, at least in my state, you can't carry in a bank.

Good luck with your decision. The numbers I've seen show the .380 is somewhat more effective than a .38 out of a snubby. Me, I think both are perfectly adequate. My permit should be here soon, and then I'll be carrying my .380 PPK/S until we get some cooler weather.

I practice with my XD9 service. I have put over 10,000 rounds through it and now I shoot IDPA with it. For home defense, I keep my XD45 service near me at all times. For concealed carry, I have my XD40 subcompact. I am very familiar with the XD. The point I want to bring up is that all three pistols operate the same. I have committed reloading a magazine to muscle memory. The sight picture I need to acquire is always the same. If I get into a SHTF situation at home or while CCW, I don't have to figure out if this pistol has the manual safety on it or if this pistol has a special magazine release or if this pistol is a revolver. Why practice with a knife then fight with a sword?

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I won't be carrying on an everyday basis. This will be more of an as needed thing.

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I'm a little curious about "as needed". Personally, I regard carrying a concealed weapon as being in the same class as wearing a seat belt in my car or wearing my helmet when riding my motorcycle. One can go many hundreds of thousands of miles and never need either one but, when the need comes, it always comes at an unexpected time/place and it suddenly makes all those miles when neither was needed - but worn - worth wearing them all the time.

If I knew when one of those safety items would be needed, I wouldn't go there.

That said, one of these is my personal chioce - top one made in late 1970 and bottom one in 2006.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25.../P8100007A.jpg

:smt1099:smt023