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I am looking for one that I can take on a trip. Here's a list of requirements:

1. <$500 NIW, cheap enough that if it gets lost, i wouldn't cry. I am willing to go with used ones too.
2. Reliable
3. >= 9mm and >=7 rounds capacity, +P rated
4. Highly preferred to have an external safety
5. Size comparable to Kimber Ultra Carry II, H 4.75, L 6.8, W 1.28
6. No HK product as i am boycotting HK until they sell rifles to civilians.
7. Not G26 - don't like the way it handles

What would be your recommendation? I kind of narrowed it down to the following:
1. Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact 9
2. Walther PPS
3. XD 9 subcompact 2008 edition (a little thick)
4. CZ Rami 9m sub compact

After the TSA "I want to fondle your Kimber" fiasco I selected a KelTec P-11 9mm and a KelTec P3AT as my travel firearms.

My normaal carry is a Kimber 1911 but the long DA trigger of the KTs never bothered me. I shot the KTs as much as the Kimbers since I often went to the range on the road with friends in Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida.

Anygunanywhere

I carried the nickel plated version of the Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact 9 for over three years. I bought a full size barrel to drop in it for special occasions. It's been flawless.

If you buy new, make sure you get the 13 round mags. They are near identical to the 10 round previously stock mags.

Stupid wrote:I am looking for one that I can take on a trip. Here's a list of requirements:

1. <$500 NIW, cheap enough that if it gets lost, i wouldn't cry. I am willing to go with used ones too.
2. Reliable
3. >= 9mm and >=7 rounds capacity, +P rated
4. Highly preferred to have an external safety
5. Size comparable to Kimber Ultra Carry II, H 4.75, L 6.8, W 1.28
6. No HK product as i am boycotting HK until they sell rifles to civilians.
7. Not G26 - don't like the way it handles

What would be your recommendation? I kind of narrowed it down to the following:
1. Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact 9
2. Walther PPS
3. XD 9 subcompact 2008 edition (a little thick)
4. CZ Rami 9m sub compact

The Smith & Wesson M&P series guns are quite nice and the compact 9mm should meet most if not all of your specifications.

I see them for well under $400 at most gun shows.

They do not have an external safety at this time.

The Kel-Tec double stack 9m is fairly inexpensive, but has a trigger that takes some getting used to. I don't know about the Bersa 9mm, but a friend of mine has a 380 that has been very reliable and pretty darn accurate. Something that might really fit the bill is the new Taurus "Slim". The problem is that is not being sold yet - that I am aware of. Tauruses are usually inexpensive and reliabel. They come with a life time warranty, but if you get a lemon it is still a pain to keep sending it back.

Of the choices listed in the original post, I'd go with the Walther PPS or the CZ. They're both rock solid pistols and easy to carry. The XD 9mm subcompact is bigger than a Glock 26 and I've seen more than one Bersa fail at the range.

A great pistol that you didn't list is the Kahr CW9. It meets all your criteria and I've seen a lot of them at the range and never seen one fail. Two of my friends also carry them daily. I have a PM9 that I like a lot but it's a little more expensive than the CW.

Of all the choices I like both the PPS and XD9SC (huge fan of XD's). I'd like to know where you'd find the PPS for under $500 though. I've been looking for one myself but it seems even used, they are still over $500. If you want something that is cheap, I'd go for a KelTec p11 or a Bersa.

Stupid wrote:I am looking for one that I can take on a trip. Here's a list of requirements:

1. <$500 NIW, cheap enough that if it gets lost, i wouldn't cry. I am willing to go with used ones too.
2. Reliable
3. >= 9mm and >=7 rounds capacity, +P rated
4. Highly preferred to have an external safety
5. Size comparable to Kimber Ultra Carry II, H 4.75, L 6.8, W 1.28
6. No HK product as i am boycotting HK until they sell rifles to civilians.
7. Not G26 - don't like the way it handles

What would be your recommendation? I kind of narrowed it down to the following:
1. Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact 9
2. Walther PPS
3. XD 9 subcompact 2008 edition (a little thick)
4. CZ Rami 9m sub compact

What do you carry/shoot now?

Something to consider....is staying with a "platform" as close to what you are "used to" as possible.

If you are familiar with the 1911 platform, then I would choose the CZ hands down (XD would be a close 2nd).

I only mention this because in time of great stress....you don't want to be "fumbling" with features of any weapon that you are not completely familiar with.

The PPS looks real interesting, but I don't know how easy it will be to find one under $500 - even used. I don't know much about the Kahrs, but I've talked to a lot of people who like them.

flintknapper wrote:Something to consider....is staying with a "platform" as close to what you are "used to" as possible.

What he said. . .

I had your same delima a few years ago. I settled with a Taurus PT 140. I think I paid $350.00 for it. Anyhow, Its always been 100% reliable, although it came from the factory with a broken mag catch, but they fixed it quick. Never had a jam and am up to 700 rds, all different kinds of .40. It does have a external safety , but it may be alittle thicker than you want, however, I carry IWB at 4:00 and can conceal with a un - tucked shirt pretty easy. When I'm not carrying the PT I carry a G 21 and wear a vest.

I picked up a PT 24/7 Pro Compact last week. It meets all of your requirements. 13+1 capacity, manual safety, 9mm (or .40/.45), etc... New, they are about $350-375

I took it out to the range once. It worked 100% from the first round. No jams, FTE, FTF, or any other oddities. The single-action is nice, and the gun shoots remarkably smooth. I shot about 150 rounds of FMJ, and a box of Speer Gold Dot hollow points.

The only problem I have with it is that it's a bit bigger than I was planning on carrying, so it may have to go. But beyond that it is a very nice gun.

My advice: don't carry a "cheap" gun; do you really want to entrust your life to "cheap?" Having said that, I realize that what you probably meant was "inexpensive" and there are several inexpensive choices worthy of consideration. Others have made some fine suggestions. There's an importnat distinction between "cheap" and "inexpensive" that is important to make.

Be sure to check out the "certified pre-owned" section at the gun shop!

Kel-Tec PF-9. Heck for you're $$$ requirements you could almost buy two of them.

Mike from Texas wrote:Kel-Tec PF-9. Heck for you're $$$ requirements you could almost buy two of them.

Rodger that. The only way the PF-9 doesn't fir Stupid's requirements is that there's no external safety.