9mm or 40 for concealed carry

[KI4LIV]

I am looking for advice on a good concealable 9mm or .40 for concealed carry purposes (.45 is also an option - lets not rule that out, but the low capacity would be a draw-back)

The requirements that must be met:

• Low risk for rusting.
• Fairly easy to conceal without having to wear a trench coat or parka to hide!
• Reliable.
• The higher capacity the better.
• Can't be so small that it's hard to hold the weapon.

I currently own an XD-45 Tactical, but it's just simply too big for my tastes for concealed carry. As is my Beretta M9 ...

I've considered an XD-SC but I'm not completely sold on the XD's ability to resist rust.

I've looked at the following:

Taurus 24/7 Pro
Beretta PX4 Storm SC when they hit the shelves
Glock 19
Glock 23
Taurus Millennium

I am open to other options, and gladly will accept any feedback, as I am a bit lost - I thought shopping for a full size was bad - this is 10x worse!

Thanks in advance!

[jon3k]

Well, you could consider the XD-45ACP Service with the 4" barrel with 13+1 rounds of ACP Personally, the subcompact is too small for me, I'm not comfortable hanging my pinky off the bottom like that, but you could get the grip extension. But at that point, whats an extra inch on the barrel?

Are you dead set on an XD for carry? Or are you considering other manufacturers also? I hear the Kimber KPD is a nice little gun, there's always the H&K USP Compact 45, or even a (*gasp*) Glock.

[KI4LIV]

Originally Posted by jon3k

Well, you could consider the XD-45ACP Service with the 4" barrel with 13+1 rounds of ACP Personally, the subcompact is too small for me, I'm not comfortable hanging my pinky off the bottom like that, but you could get the grip extension. But at that point, whats an extra inch on the barrel?

Are you dead set on an XD for carry? Or are you considering other manufacturers also? I hear the Kimber KPD is a nice little gun, there's always the H&K USP Compact 45, or even a (*gasp*) Glock.

Unless I am 100% sure about there being no rust risk on an XD, it is actually my LAST choice as a carry weapon.

I am leaning towards any of the other manufacturers that I mentioned.

[Loves2Shoot]

Don't forget Kahr...

[sa1126]

how about at Glock 30? 10 rnds of .45 in a tiny package. I would have recommended the G36 but you probably want the higher capacity.

[Boma]

Taurus Mil Pro PT145.

10+1 45ACP in a subcompact package. Has pinky extension on the mag. External Safety. DA trigger to prevent accidental discharge.

[Sssnake]

If you don't maintain your firearm, all of them will have a "chance" of rusting, especially one that's carried against the skin. If you can remember to wipe down your firearm once in awhile and keep the slide clean of debris then you won't have an issue. I have carried an XD9 almost every day for the last year and a half. I make it a habit to wipe down the slide with a silicon sprayed rag once every weekend. Not one of the 6 XDs here has ever shown a sign of rust. I wouldn't remove the XD from your list.

[jon3k]

Yeah especially with the new melonite finish on the XD-45ACP. It's no more prone to rust than any other firearm, and probably LESS prone than most.

[DoctorSolo]

Originally Posted by Sssnake

If you don't maintain your firearm, all of them will have a "chance" of rusting, especially one that's carried against the skin. If you can remember to wipe down your firearm once in awhile and keep the slide clean of debris then you won't have an issue. I have carried an XD9 almost every day for the last year and a half. I make it a habit to wipe down the slide with a silicon sprayed rag once every weekend. Not one of the 6 XDs here has ever shown a sign of rust. I wouldn't remove the XD from your list.

^^^^^True. You only have yourself to blame if your gun starts to rust. It's a matter of neglect, not ill design. Plus SA's customer service rocks, if you do let your gun rust, they'll fix it for you.

As for your choice...what can you shoot well? If you can't shoot a mid-size .45(like an XD service) very well, I'd bet you can't shoot a compact .40 either. Get something you can shoot well under stress. Check out the sig P239 and the K series pistols made by Kahr. I like 1911s a lot. If you do too, check out the STI LS series pistols...

In racing, we have a saying: "Buy an 80 dollar helmet if you have an 80 dollar head."

[KI4LIV]

Originally Posted by DoctorSolo

As for your choice...what can you shoot well? If you can't shoot a mid-size .45(like an XD service) very well, I'd bet you can't shoot a compact .40 either. Get something you can shoot well under stress. Check out the sig P239 and the K series pistols made by Kahr. I like 1911s a lot. If you do too, check out the STI LS series pistols...

In racing, we have a saying: "Buy an 80 dollar helmet if you have an 80 dollar head."

I can shoot a full sized weapon very well - the XD-45 Tact, Beretta M9, S&W 5906, etc etc...

I've shot the XD-9SC - actually had one and sold it to someone here on the forum, and even though I shot it very very well, I had real issues with how it felt in my hand without the mag extension. Whats my issue with the mag extension? Why bother with a subcompact if you're going to unbalance it with the longer mag? Just go with the full size!