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I know this topic comes up pretty often, but I have been thinking about looking for a new (smaller) gun to carry. I currently have a Sig P239 which I have been very happy with, love the way it feels shoots well (I feel I am getting better with it over time, been shooting for maybe 5-6 months now) back on subject though, I am 5'6 135 lbs and I have a really hard time concealing it when I am wearing a tucked in shirt, and some of my summer outfits. I am looking for ideas and opinions on something smaller probably some kind of single stack 9mm or 380 I just have trouble coming up with ideas.

So I am going to the arms room tonight to shoot with a friend and thought I would use that time to look at a few guns see if I like anything. just kinda thought I would use this time at work to see what everyone else likes / dislikes

I also have the P239.... It's a great weapon and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I also have the Ruger LCP with the Crimson Trace. I looked at all the options in the market before choosing that one. It is a perfect little gun to fit in a pocket. It is surprisingly accurate also.

Look at either the Kahr PM9, or the Kel-Tec PF9. Both are very small single stack 9mm guns. I personally would stick with 9mm due both to the higher power of the round and the cost/availability of ammo. You can get 9mm models like the ones mentioned above that are just as small as the 380s.

BrianSW99 wrote:Look at either the Kahr PM9, or the Kel-Tec PF9. Both are very small single stack 9mm guns. I personally would stick with 9mm due both to the higher power of the round and the cost/availability of ammo. You can get 9mm models like the ones mentioned above that are just as small as the 380s.

I pretty much felt the same way, just figured I would keep myself open to anything.

Hi ... Just me ,,, but I have chosen to change my wardrobe since I started carrying. I started out carrying a S&W 38 special snub-nose (very concealable ... ) but as time has gone on I feel more comfortable with a Kiimber 45 CDP II (not so concealable). The reason to carry, in my view, is for self defense; I feel much better with more firepower. For what it is worth. Good luck in your search for another carry.

Kahr P380

hangfour wrote:Hi ... Just me ,,, but I have chosen to change my wardrobe since I started carrying. I started out carrying a S&W 38 special snub-nose (very concealable ... ) but as time has gone on I feel more comfortable with a Kiimber 45 CDP II (not so concealable). The reason to carry, in my view, is for self defense; I feel much better with more firepower. For what it is worth. Good luck in your search for another carry.

I definitly agree with you, but with my size I have not found a way to dress the way I am required to some times and keep the p239 from being noticable my waste band is just to small and when I tuck in a shirt there is clearly something on one side, even with slightly larger pants it just does not hide as well as I would like it to. the new gun will probably only be carried the 10-15% of the time I have trouble with the sig. I just would rather have a small 9mm on me that 10-15% of the time then be naked

I keep going back that wondering if I will be confident in the weapon though, thats been a big issue for me every time I looked at one.

Be sure to try a Sig P238.
It is the smallest gun I have that is enjoyable to shoot, has full sights, night sites, and is metal frame and slide.
I have a dozen or more small pistols bigger and smaller than it.
Anything smaller is no fun to practice with and has minimal sights.
Anything bigger doesn't fit my pockets.
The only drawback is it's SAO. I'd much rather it were DA/SA, as your P239 probably is.

Of course, as I type this I'm sitting with an LCP in my pocket.

in addition to other guns already mentioned, I'll suggest looking closely at these ...

* Walther PPS 9mm
* a snub-nose .38+P revolver
* a Sig P232 or similar (Bersa Thunder .380 if you're on a budget)

austinrealtor wrote:in addition to other guns already mentioned, I'll suggest looking closely at these ...

* Walther PPS 9mm
* a snub-nose .38+P revolver
* a Sig P232 or similar (Bersa Thunder .380 if you're on a budget)

thanks for everyones replys so far, taking advantage of a slow day at work to do some brain storming here, I am pretty much going to rule out any revolver type guns I think, I just dont like them. I have shot my friends .38 a few times and while there is no question as to it stopping some one, I dont feel I shoot it as well as I would want to shoot my carry weapon and I dont enjoy shooting it enough to get better with it lol.

I will check out the p238 for what ever reason I had not thought about it, I have done a little searching online for the PPS 9mm and it seemed like a possibility just dont know anyone who ever owned one.

Rex B wrote: Of course, as I type this I'm sitting with an LCP in my pocket.

I will keep that in mind lol

In almost every class I teach, one or more people are quite surprised when I pull a 5" 1911 from under my shirt. Invariably, I'm asked if that's my daily carry gun or something I just wear for classes. It's what I carry every day.

You may not want a Government Modle (5") but you should look at the Kimber Ultra Carry, 3" in 45ACP. It's not a pocket gun but it's very easy to concealed even with a tucked shirt. Just get one of Comp-Tac's tuckable holsters and you're in business.

Chas.

Gosh. Hard to conceal a sig 239!! I think that is a pretty compact gun. I would stay with a 9mm. Kahr CW9 and if you want one with a little more weight a K9 are a little thinner but sigs are pretty thin also. I have a S&W 908 which is easy to conceal, I think it is about the same size as a sig 239.

Sounds like your pretty skinny. Also, try to adjust your cloths or the way you wear them if you can. A sig 239 is a fine weapon! Kahrs are the smallest single stack 9mms but a Kahr is not a Sig! After that there are many that are smaller in .380 if you can comprise. LCP would be a good choice for a pocket pistol, or as others have said a small snub nose revolver. I prefer compacts and full size guns for carry and just dress around. I only carry sub-compacts as a backup but that’s just me. Good luck!!

with an untucked shirt I can hide the p239 pretty well, and for normal running out to the store kind of trips its not to much trouble at all. my problem is just with a 28 inch waist I feel like I might as well be wearing it out on my hip when I am wearing something tucked in, or dpending on the outfit a pair of shorts and a Tshirt

not only do I feel like it stands out a lot, but it leaves a decent size spot where my belt is not up against my body because of how far out the gun sticks out.

I am looking forward to the cooler weather, when I will be able to just throw on a jacket and none of it will matter

Man, I haven’t have a 28in waist since junior high school!! 36in and holding, thank God. Well just try everything you can with dressing and then if you can't get it to work I would just step down to a sub-compact or something like the LCP or LCR. Also, like Charles said, some of those Comp tacs work wonders for people. I personally can conceal a Glock 20 with a Polo collard shirt untucked and a S&W 908 and Glock 27 any way I choose. I finally found one thing that sucks for skinny people, concealing a handgun!! Good luck.

congrats on your problem by the way........ it means new gun! i agree with sir chas and try the comp-tac. usually a good holsters takes care of it. but i also agree on the LCP. it's always nice to have options.