I want a DAO 9mm for pocket carry

Don't want striker fired for pocket carry-want DAO.
The BG380 is the ideal weapon for me and I have one and use it often. I bought it specifically because it was DAO as opposed to striker. Problem is it is in .380 and I would like one in 9.
Anything out there that fits the bill. Somebody has GOT to be making a little bitty 9mm DAO for cryin' out loud!!!
I'm going to Court for about an hour and when I get back, I expect some responses!!!

Kahr PM9. Excellent small 9mm, DA. very accurate. They also make a less-expensive model, I think it's a CM9. PM has a "match" barrel, but I think that's the only difference,

Kahr as mentioned in previous post or Keltec PF9.

I've heard/read a lot of good things about Kahr. Somehow, I've never found one in a LGS to fondle. #2 son has a Kel-Tec that's improbably reliable, but take down for cleaning can be a trial-similar to black powder Colts, there's wedge/block you gotta pull.

Please don't forget you still need a holster for anything you carry in a pocket.

The Kel-Tec PF-9 or P-11 (the latter now discontinued) would fit your needs. The Kahr is another option but I have not had a good experience with one, even after the recommended break-in period of 200 rounds.

I'm a big fan of Kahr's and have had good luck with them. Started with a carbon steel K40 when they first came out. Carried an ss MK9 in a pocket holster, in my left front uniform trouser pocket as a backup to duty weapon for several years. If you can live with polymer, look at the PM9 or CM9. The trigger pull to me feels very much like a smooth DA revolver trigger and every pull is the same. I will say the steel guns feel more solid and seem to function smoother, but they are more expensive. Had a Kel-Tec PF-9 and it was OK, but I didn't care for the trigger pull and the radius of the trigger was too tight and the bottom of the trigger chewed up my trigger finger. Was 100% reliable with the Federal Nyclad rounds I have squirreled away.

K40, MK9, CM9, P380

Mr. Cajun, about six months ago I was looking for the same thing. A double action in 9mm and small enough to fit inside a jacket pocket. I looked at everything and finally settled with a Kimber micro carry in a Blackhawk "sticky holster" I know its a single action but, I couldn't be happier with it.

I've pocket carried my Kahr PM-9 for almost 15 years now. It's excellent. An alternative would be a Subcompact Shield. However, they're both striker fire, and the OP excluded striker fire and wants DAO, which sounds to me like an exposed hammer.

Are any exposed hammer DAO semi-autos made anymore? I'm thinking the only option would be an S&W model 442/642.

Sig P290RS. Great little DAO 9mm pistol. I carried one for a couple of years. It was discontinued when the P365 was introduced to replace it, so you can easily find one for around $300. Long, heavy DAO trigger that feels like a revolver trigger. I loved it, but I'm one of those people who loves DAO. The only negative thing I can say about it is that it is a bit heavy. Never really bothered me any, but a lot of people claimed it was too heavy for pocket carry.

The SCCY CPX-2 is DAO with an internal hammer. It might be a little chubby for pocket carry as it has a 10-round mag. It has become the go-to cheap 9mm since KelTec discontinued the P-11.

The Sig 290RS is slimmer at the grip but has the typical Sig bulky slide making the weight and balance a little odd for some. Ours is in .380, so YMMV.

Another gun to look at is the Ruger LC9. It has a true, DAO hammer fired trigger system. Its NOT striker fired, like the newer LC9s is. Its basically a slightly larger version of the original LCP, only in 9mm.

The SIG P250 is also available in a subcompact, and is I believe a traditional DAO hammer fired pistol.

Larry

Fishinfool said:

Another gun to look at is the Ruger LC9. It has a true, DAO hammer fired trigger system. Its NOT striker fired, like the newer LC9s is. Its basically a slightly larger version of the original LCP, only in 9mm.

The SIG P250 is also available in a subcompact, and is I believe a traditional DAO hammer fired pistol.

Larry

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I'd forgotten about the Ruger-that might be where I'm gonna look. I really like the repeat fire capability of the DAO-it is the main reason I bought the M&P380 over the little Ruger 380 in the first place. I wish that SIG would have made the P365 as a DAO design instead of striker-maybe they can do both!!!

After trying all the usual suspects I went with the Sig 938. Great little gun.
You'll be happy with it even through you've been carrying the Smith 380.
I shoot the 938 better then the Smith.

+1 on the SCCY... if it fits your pocket. Works in mine.

Ever considered a S&W 940? J Frame will pocket carry. Culina boot grips on this one.

First gen Ruger LC9.
Long, even, revolver-like trigger pull.
Hammer fired, DAO, dead nuts reliable.
Fairly lightweight, flat, small enough to pocket (for me anyway) and still big enough to get a good grip on it.
Plus you get Ruger's top drawer warranty and support.
<mic drop>

DAO 9

I think some of the CS9 series of S&W pistols were made as DAO... I don't remember if they were true DAO or precocked like the 5946,3953,etc...

Nomadmax said:

I'd do some research on the SCCY before I jumped aboard.

Gun Review: SCCY CPX-2 9mm Pistol [Updated 2018] - The Truth About Guns

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I've shot the CPX-2 that belongs to my wife's buddy. I would agree with the reviewer that the trigger is long and not especially light. However, I found it perfectly serviceable for the intended task. I put this in bold for a reason. Many gun reviewers, both professional and plain old YouTube contributors, cannot get their head around a long DAO trigger on a semiauto. Their mindset says "I see a semiauto, therefore expect short trigger pull and look for the reset."

Were I on the range with them the exchange would go something like this:

Gun reviewer (GR): "This long trigger is atrocious"
Me: "It's supposed to be like a DAO revolver"
GR: "Umm, OK, but I cannot feel a reset, it's awful"
ME: DAO triggers don't have a reset as such, you need full release".
GR: "That's ridiculous! It's a semi, it just can't be"
Me: "Yes it can. Think of it as a bottom fed, high capacity DAO revolver."

No reply from GR as his/her head has exploded due to facts overriding their logic.

Almost every GR complains about slow split times with DAO semis because they see a square gun and expect at least a Glock 17 trigger. Well, the Sig 290RS and the SCCY don't work like that. Fact, get over it all GRs.

As for getting good split times with DAO, ask Jerry Miculek how that's working out for him.

Yep, I read a review from 2019 that was critical of the SCCY as well. I have never shot one, held one, or even seen one and realize that a review is one man's opinion, or in this case, two men's opinions. The long, heavy trigger pull was a chief complaint, but not the only one.

I don't like hammer fired DA autos, but have three, which are fun guns because they're classics, PPK-series Walther. Triggers on these DA are heavy, but smooth. I shoot them usually SA. I had a S&W Bodyguard .380, delightful to carry, but a long heavy trigger and a small grip made it really hard to fire it more than a couple of times before my trigger finger got blocked by the fingers of my firing hand and I couldn't pull the trigger through. Probably just me, though. I also found I had to re-apply my grip because it kept shifting under the snappy recoil.

I don't worry about second strike capability. Can't remember the last time I had a cartridge failure with a an auto, and what's taught in cop school is to rack, slap, and shoot. A second attempt to fire a round only works if one thing is wrong with the primer, which I've not seen much (if at all) with modern ammo. If there is something wrong with the gun, like a light striker impact, I'm not sure another impact is going to help.

I'm not a fan of modern hammer DAs. Drawing back that heavy hammer and cocking the pistol at the same time is requires more force than I want to deal with. Plus, I see no advantages to one.

Have a 642...big mistake! Five rounds of punishing recoil, and you'd better hit what you're aiming at on the first round because with the second round follow up fired quickly, the muzzle is going to be pointed too far north.

One other thing and I'll end this long and opinionated screed...there's only one primary reason to own a pocket gun, and that's SD. Well, there's a secondary reason, which is fun, but a small pocket gun is not fun to shoot. So going back to the primary reason, do you want to trust a pocket gun that's not got a good record because it's cheap? I don't, and will shell out more money for one that has a good rep. I'll save up. But that's just me.

Revolver or Pistol? Go to the AMMO thread, Post #38 and watch the video.
I have a revolver that can be carried in the pocket but my BG with the
Precision One ammo matches just about all 9mm performance in an under
3” bbl. JMO Also, the 6 shot revolver is a lot bulkier than than my BG.
The Ruger LCR 9mm hammerless revolver would be my next choice for pocket carry.

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!