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Leave it to my old man to stump me. He's looking to buy two pistols. One full size for home defense. One suitable for pocket carry. Here's the stipulations :

-same manual of arms. Same controls in same locations.
-magazine disconnect safety
-both single action or striker fired
-thumb safety
-caliber-9mm and/or.380

First thought was m&p and shield or 9mm 1911 and p238. The magazine disconnect throws that idea.

Any ideas?

punkndisorderly wrote:Leave it to my old man to stump me. He's looking to buy two pistols. One full size for home defense. One suitable for pocket carry. Here's the stipulations :

-same manual of arms. Same controls in same locations.
-magazine disconnect safety
-both single action or striker fired
-thumb safety
-caliber-9mm and/or.380

First thought was m&p and shield or 9mm 1911 and p238. The magazine disconnect throws that idea.

Any ideas?

Too easy. Ruger SR9 and SR9c. Exactly the same, striker-fired, have a manual safety and a magazine disconnect, in 9mm. Glad I could help.

Thanks! Will look into the Ruger. The 9c is Glock 26 sized, right? Little on the big side for pocket carry?

My idea was to rent a bunch at the arms room so he could try several. Didn't work out well. They were 100% out of range ammo except. 38 special. They had one pistol in the whole store smaller than a Glock 26/M&P 9c (LCP).

Size: if C is 26 size ...
I pocket carry a 26 with a 13 round mag in Desantis Nemesis holster front pocket .... depends on your pocket depth Duluth Trading Co certain models of pants with 12" deep pockets work or if you wear the longtail Tees untucked with shallower pockets, that works too; works fine with my Wrangler jeans too, longtail Tees worn usually

Springfield XD, and 1911 both present possibilities there.

jimlongley wrote:Springfield XD, and 1911 both present possibilities there.

x2

XD9 Compact or Sub Compact and XD9 4" Service Model.

Although you would trade the thumb safety for the grip safety.

punkndisorderly wrote:.... Here's the stipulations :

-magazine disconnect safety
-thumb safety

First thought was m&p and shield or 9mm 1911 and p238. The magazine disconnect throws that idea.

The M&P Shield and the full size M&P both have models with optional magazine disconnect safeties and both are available with manual safeties.

I've got both a Ruger SR9-series pistol and a S&W M&P. The M&P is a vastly better gun, imo.

Why two when one will do? Beretta Nano or Ruger LC9. Both are small enough for pocket carry, and both have 9mm +P punch.

If he's just gotta have two, he could go with something like a Colt 1911 platform in .380 and 9mm, such as a Mustang and a New Agent. That could be quite expensive, though.

E10 wrote:Why two when one will do? Beretta Nano or Ruger LC9.

I've shot both the LC9 and the full size Ruger SR9.

No comparison: the SR9 is far easier to shoot, has a much better trigger, the longer sight radius give better accuracy, and you start with 17+1 rounds.

A full size gun has a substantial shooting advantage over a subcompact.

Why the magazine disconnect? Cognoscenti often remove them from guns that come so equipped. (e.g., Browning HP)

Intentionally buying a pistol with a mag disconnect is a little like deliberately buying a car that requires you to blow into a tube to prove you're sober, even though you're the only driver and are a teetotaler.

Remind us of what a mag disconnect is?

My vote on guns: Glock 19 and a Glock 26.

Abraham wrote:Remind us of what a mag disconnect is?

Slide and/or trigger/striker can't be activated unless a magazine is locked in place. First appeared on the Browning Hi-Power.

Abraham wrote:Remind us of what a mag disconnect is?

If there is no magazine in the gun, the gun will not fire even if a round is in the chamber.

Useful for two scenarios:

1. To prevent jackwagons who think proper unloading procedure is to rack the slide and then drop the magazine from creating mayhem and destruction with the round left in the chamber.
2. Police officers or other in a retention battle with an opponent trying to take their handgun have the option of dropping the magazine if they sense they are losing the struggle, thereby making the firearm unable to fire.

I don't have much sympathy for the first scenario, although reducing shooting injuries and property damage does have advantages.

The second scenario, however, has saved police officer's lives in numerous documented instances.

Thanks Skippr and Jumping Frog,

It also seems that there's a case arguing that a mag disconnect could work against you, i.e., ...down to the one cartridge in the chamber, mag out (for a variety of possible reasons) and your life hangs in the balance of using that remaining round.

Abraham wrote:Thanks Skippr and Jumping Frog,

It also seems that there's a case arguing that a mag disconnect could work against you, i.e., ...down to the one cartridge in the chamber, mag out (for a variety of possible reasons) and your life hangs in the balance of using that remaining round.

My reason for not wanting a magazine disconnect on my handguns.

The M&P in full size and compact size is what I would advise as mentioned above they have all the attributes specified. The 9mm compact is 12+1 rounds and only .4" longer than the Shield. The Shield is thinner but, you give up four rounds. I have pocket carried my full size M&P 40 in Docker style pants and no one knew the difference. Well, except me, that's a hunk of gun to be in a pocket.