Carry options

[wicat3]

I live in a restricted state so 10 rounds is what I can have so that is another factor that limits choices at time.

As for limited choices I am open to other suggestions but these have been the ones I have come to feel are the ones that I would carry and have read a lot of reviews on.

 

[hardluk1]

wicat3 Why place your tread in the M&P pistol section instead on the Firearm - knife section?

Handle some handguns to find the pone that feels best then rent . Some ranges if slow can let you shoot several different handguns for the one fee using there ammo ! This can help you to decide . But also depending on your body type fat or skinny along with height how will you carry and conceal a handgun?

Since you feel you shoot a glock 19 well try a glock 43X . Or for budget minded shooters PSA has several versions of there Dagger line of pistols that are a lower cost alternative to a glock with extra's glock does not offer and for a great price . Oh Barrel length does not matter for concealed carry when a barrel between 3" to 4.25 lengths are considered .

I do not carry a smaller handgun but my wife has a P365xl and a kimber ultra II 9mm . Her big city carry is a the sig p365xl but with no on round count here !The kimber is her normal daily carry in our rural county . Mine are 4.25 to 5" m&p
s or a alloy frame commander .

Your next problem that can be harder to get right is the holster you use. Please give your self time to adjust to a new holster, like a week or two before changing to another brand . Leather at least against the skin makes for a more comfortable carry holster . These can be known as a Hybrid holster design . If all leather note that many will close upo after your handgun is drawn making rebolsters a problem . Kydex holsters ,,, well I hate them , other love'um . Assuming you will IWB try a holster thats very adjustable so you can change ride height and angle of carry to fit your needs .

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Have you looked at the M&P 2.0 3.6 compact? I kind of think you won't be disappointed. Just sayin'.

I have a 1st gen M&P 9c that has the 3.6" barrel. I shoot it very well and it was my main carry gun until the Shied+ showed up. Looking at the two guns together, there doesn't look like much difference, but when I carry(iwb at 4 o'clock) it is quite noticeable, to me at least, that the Shield+ is the more comfortable to carry.

 

[wicat3]

I see the shield EZ is a bit longer than the plus. Is there any pros or cons to the ez over the plus?

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think all polls should be required to have "none of the above" in the choices.

 

[wicat3]

I think all polls should be required to have "none of the above" in the choices.

I’m open to suggestions. What would you recommend?

 

[hardluk1]

wicat3 Unless your trying to pocket carry there is no carry difference between a 3.5or 3.6" barrel like with the m&p compact models and the 4" where you can have a optic ready model . Its the grip length and handgun thickness for a small person thats a problem .

I'm 5-9 and 205lb old man and I have a a m&p 2.0 PC 5" 40 I do carry
as part of my couple carry choices and I have no problems concealing it for me at 3:00 in a MTAC holster . Even driving a vehicle and being able to draw is not an issue , just clear my shirt tail over the seat belt . I stopped tucking in shirts several decades ago . Carhartt has t shirts you can order p fit your shoulders well but have a fuller cut option that helps conceal a handgun . Many square bottom button down shirts from work to dress up can be bought too . From red cap to wrangler to latin style shorts in cotton linen or poly blends like from COOFANDY .

Just find the handgun that you can point with out adjusting your grip and understand many pistols have a number of grip inserts to fine tune how it fits your hand . Now the P365 series has a small grip but tend to have a nice trigger pull and my little 5-2 wife added a wilson grip module to her XL that is slightly larger and feels more like here thin gripped kimber 1911 .

The only answers you will find here is what others like or carry . Change forums and new choices are found .

 

[old tanker]

No clue. I don't know nuthin' 'bout no plastic pistols.

 

[wicat3]

Can someone tell me what optic fits the m&p 9 2.0 optic ready 3.6 pistol?

 

[Doug M.]

As one suggestion said, go rent a few and try them. Sometimes one's hands and their interaction with the grip make a big difference. I have a Shield with the 4" barrel and RDS, and it works very well for me under most circumstances, although it will not work for pocket carry.

Once you find something that fits you, there are only two criteria that really matter. The first is that it just be utterly reliable with your carry ammo (which you should pick from Doc Roberts' testing). The second is that it must be something you carry at all times when lawful. You can't make an appointment for an emergency.

 

[lrrifleman]

wicat3

I have had experience with some of the pistols on your wishlist. The Caniks that I have shot at the ADSS demo bay have been the full-size pistols. They have been well built and functional. They had acceptable grip angles. However, I really don't know if I could find a use for a Canik.

Last year, at the ADSS demo bay I had the opportunity to shoot a 43X and a 48. I found these pistols to be snappier than my P365s, I think because of the grip angle.

Virtually all of my handguns (except for one or two) are used in some form of competition. I try to shoot: NRA 2700, GSSF, ShootSig, and USPSA. I tend to use my P365 and P320 in the ShootSig, my Shield Plus Performance Center in USPSA, and (obviously) my Glocks in GSSF. My carry is either a P365 or P365-380, both with the metallic sights. I trust irons over optics, since I've shot irons for almost 55 years.

My caution would be directed towards the S&W Shield family. In particular, I've read that the optic cut on many of the Shield Pluses is angled to mostly accommodate the Crimson Trace optics (owned by S&W, the last that I heard). I've read more than I want of owners having to either recut the optics cut or purchase an adapter plate so their pistol would zero with the optic.

Personally, as much as I like my Shield Plus, I'd lean more to the Sig P365 Micro.

 

[M29since14]

To paraphrase the great Townsend Whelen, “You can never go wrong with the 365.”

(Or something like that. For the young whippersnappers who don’t know of Col. Whelen, he said that of the .30-06, and it’s still true. )

 

[grizz700]

I have carried many different guns and calibers throughout my life and at my age I have found one that is easy to carry, points where it is supposed to and has yet to fail to fire. And that is the Sheild Plus, I carry it with a 15 round mag and it fits my hand like the S&W engineers came to house and measured my hand for a custom set of grips. As far as optics I am not a fan of them, in an up close gun I don't need optics to hit my target.

 

[Beju]

Can someone tell me what optic fits the m&p 9 2.0 optic ready 3.6 pistol?

The Holosun SCS MP2 will direct mount, but then you will likely find the stock tall sights to be a bit too tall.

Otherwise, optics like the Trijicon RMR/RCR/SRO, Holosun 407C/507C/508T/EPS/509T, Aimpoint ACRO, and many others will fit with the appropriate adapter plates.

Most will recommend getting aftermarket metal plates instead of the plastic ones that non-LE box M&Ps come with.

 

[Beju]

My caution would be directed towards the S&W Shield family. In particular, I've read that the optic cut on many of the Shield Pluses is angled to mostly accommodate the Crimson Trace optics (owned by S&W, the last that I heard). I've read more than I want of owners having to either recut the optics cut or purchase an adapter plate so their pistol would zero with the optic.

Oh hey, I'm one of those people!

I had Nameless Armament fix and cerakote the cut for $90+shipping. Now my EPS Carry can be zeroed.

There was a rolling change from the RMSc cut to the Holosun K cut/modified RMSc cut that started with the 30 Super Carry models, but I don't know if there's any way to tell what cut a 9mm has without pulling the optic cover plate.

 

[rct269]

"------------in an up close gun I don't need optics to hit my target."

AMEN!!

He might have added I don't need sights at all!

I started out at 10 yards in my quest to become proficient at "point and shoot". In almost NO TIME at all, I was obliged to move back, or use smaller targets. At this point I'm proficient to the point I wouldn't even think about shooting unless my target was visibly armed---and threatening.

Bottom Line: If you're dependent on sights with a defense gun, you're in grave danger.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

… I should be getting my permit in a few months and need some help …

Regardless of what you pick take Professional Training. Thunder Ranch or something similar. It will make a difference because Training is better than being lucky.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Because of the availability of parts and accessories go with the Sig, Glock, or S&W.

Don’t rule out a J frame.

 

[BB57]

Yes I have looked at them the only issue I see is no optic mount versions that I’ve seen and price. I haven’t seen one under $600

An optic s a big mistake on a concealed carry handgun, particularly a new shooter.

The gun industry makes serious money creating new reasons to sell new firearms and optic ready pistols are just one of the latest marketing ploys / fads.

Unfortunately new shooters use optics and far more often than not fail to ever properly learn the essential basics of handgun shooting.

 

[BB57]

Regardless of what you pick take Professional Training. Thunder Ranch or something similar. It will make a difference because Training is better than being lucky.

Don’t waste your money on high speed go fast tactical training until you master the basics of sight picture, grip and trigger control.

That tacticool training is not a substitute for mastering those essentials.