Picking out a classic carry piece

[JEFFPPC]

Having a brain wired to triggers of 2 oz or less, it's all about the trigger to me. That means a compact 1911, so I carry a Sig Compact 1911 in 9mm. I had to purchase a new front sight as from the factory it shot 16 inches high at 25 yds. Called Sig, had the worst customer service experience in 72 yrs on this earth. Got problem fixed without their help. Once zero was obtained I like the weapon. But while in a large gunshop last week I tried triggers on about every popular carry gun out there. Yes some are worse than others but they all don't work for me, except one I could learn to like. Not a compact but the Walther PPQ s trigger was far, far superior to every other non 1911 I tried. Check it out.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Cant believe theres no love for the airweight smith 38spl. It would be hard to top one when you factor firepower/weight.

 

[Medic505]

Cant believe theres no love for the airweight smith 38spl. It would be hard to top one when you factor firepower/weight.

Plus they work every time you pull the trigger, As a carry weapon for someone that doesn't want to put in the work to learn to clear a failure to feed or a jam of some sort, they are hard to beat.

 

[jds holler]

The little light weight Ladysmith is pretty great also. Mod 642, 38 spec.
I bought one of these for a lady friend of ours, and could hardly force myself to give it to her. jd

 

[Knotwild]

When only classy and thin will do the job.

 

[jonbearman]

Personally I carry an older smith model 39, no bells and whistles it just functions very well and my other favorite is a model 60 wheel gun by smith as well.

 

[rr2030]

WhenI carry its either a S&W Shield 9mm or a Ruger LCP II .380. Two extra mags each. No lasers, flashlights or the like. Just thousands of rounds of practical practice. Drawing from the holster or pocket, shooting as I move off the X to cover etc. Clearing FTF/FTE etc.

Not so often I carry an ancient Colt Cobra, Combat Commander or S&W M&P .40. My favorite defensive weapon is my 6000 lb truck.

 

[Downhill]

given your list I like the CZ 83. But if your talking old school might I suggest a S&W Model 10 snub nose. I know only 6 shots, but how many times are you planning to miss?

 

[bpd459]

When only classy and thin will do the job.

View attachment 1165046

Cool Colt!

 

[hpshooter]

" are there any solid choices I'm blatantly missing? Any feedback or recommendations are greatly appreciated."

My ancient S&W Mod.38 is worn slick to shiny aluminum even though it has been carried in a pocket holster by myself and its two previous care takers who have passed on. I wanted to pick up something to fill in for it until I got around to re-coating it or having it re-anodized.

Generally not a fan of polymer framed firearms and hadn't looked twice at any Ruger product since Bill acquiesced to pressure to reduce magazine capacity. A friend let me shoot his LC9s two years ago, it was one of the newer ones that had the improved trigger. I bought one the next day and still carry it daily. The second day I had it I ran 200 rounds of mixed ammo through. 115 grain FMJ to 147 grain sub sonic, hand loads with 4.7 grains of Bullyseye to Super-Vel hollowpoints all mixed in the same magazine- not a single malfunction. Many more rounds, 600+, have gone thru it since with no problems. It has been impressive. It is not vintage but it works.

 

[hpshooter]

"When only classy and thin will do the job."

Agree on the "classy and thin" but no way could I bring myself to ditching the original sights if any permanent modifications had to be made to the slide.

Full disclosure, the comments are from someone who drilled and taped a nice M1 carbine for a Lyman 57C receiver sight and milled a dovetail on the original front sight base to put a Lyman globe sight on it.

 

[bobinpa]

Cant believe theres no love for the airweight smith 38spl. It would be hard to top one when you factor firepower/weight.

I agree!! A small revolver can't be beat for dependability. Everyone wants a small thin semi but they have their disadvantages. I want something that I can use with one hand.... With a semi, if the first shot jambs or if your attacker can get his hand on your pistol and drop the clip, you only get one shot. Most guys never practice clearing a jamb with one hand and can't clear a jamb with one hand. In my opinion you should assume that in close quarters you will need one hand to fight the attacker off and one hand to draw and shoot. You probably won't have the leisure of a nice draw and perfectly practiced 2 handed grip.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I agree!! A small revolver can't be beat for dependability. Everyone wants a small thin semi but they have their disadvantages. I want something that I can use with one hand.... With a semi, if the first shot jambs or if your attacker can get his hand on your pistol and drop the clip, you only get one shot. Most guys never practice clearing a jamb with one hand and can't clear a jamb with one hand. In my opinion you should assume that in close quarters you will need one hand to fight the attacker off and one hand to draw and shoot. You probably won't have the leisure of a nice draw and perfectly practiced 2 handed grip.

My airweight with crimson trace on it fits in my back pocket like it was sized for it.

 

[muleystalker]

In your above cited choices I would go with the S&W 69 series, I carried a 5903 and 4006 for many years and put 10's of thousands of rounds through each and they never failed to function, I have a 4013 I also carry now at times. If I'm not caring the 4013 I either carry a S&W M&P Sheild 9mm or a SIG P938 witch is the smallest of the lot and is a single action 1911 style and shoots and functions great (SIG does recommend you use 124gr or above ammo) I use 147gr hollowpoints and it always functions.

 

[JJMoody]

Still on the HKP7 wagon. Nice little horsehide IWB we build, on a Springfield subcompact.
Also....Lady-smith,642s etc are all a J frame. They were mentioned and are awesome.

 

[std7mag]

Alas, i was spoiled with the trigger from my first pistol, which i still have and carry.
Springfield Armory Champion in 45 ACP.
The 4" barrel & 7 round mags instead of 8 keep it fairly compact too.
Weight is an issue though.

So after dry firing, initial and reset, a LOT of different pistols, i bought a Walther PPS M1.
To me it had the best, by far, trigger of all the compact polymer guns i tried.
Light weight, accurate.
I'm hitting those swing targets intended for 22lr consistently at 15 yards.
Steel turkeys at 150 meters.
And with the trigger guard mag release, i use my middle finger to drop mags and aren't changing my grip.

My daughter bought a Springfield XDS, then tried my PPS. She owns one now too.

 

[R.Morehouse]

The little light weight Ladysmith is pretty great also. Mod 642, 38 spec.
I bought one of these for a lady friend of ours, and could hardly force myself to give it to her. jd

This, in my opinion, is the perfect carry gun for the pocket. Hammerless with rosewood grips ( can slip it in your front pocket and the rosewood won't snag on the way out like rubber would). If you are going to choose a semiauto do your self a favor and get 1k rounds just to train with and get some training. God Forbid you ever have to use the thing to protect you or yours and you come down on a dead round or stovepipe with one of those high dollar man stopper rounds in 380 that you couldn't afford enough of to train with. Adrenalin in those situations isn't your friend and if putting your weapon back into service isn't instinctual and automatic.......you loose. The revolver won't jam and if it doesn't go BANG, just squeeze it again.

Regards
Rick

 

[geraldgee]

My daily carry is a Sig P938 Micro. I've carried a few but I stopped looking once I bought this.

Good luck.

Gerald

 

[rkittine]

Now that Walther is producing finished pistols in their U.S. plant with some of the parts from their Ulm Plant in Germany, I am back to a PPK/s. I carried a German made one in the 70s and though I did not like the S&W Variant at all, I like the way it fits my hand when using the magazine with the pinky grip and the added weight to offset recoil. And of course it fit right in with Vesper Martini Night at my Bar in the West Village.

Bob

 

[Herzo]

The Taurus 709 is a 9mm single stack 7 + 1 that is easily carried & reasonably priced.