Ranger305

Can't compare to the Smith or the Ruger, but I like my Bersa 9UC, very pleasant shooter.  I would buy it again given the choice. Is this one new or used? The 9UC only comes in black or a nickel like finish they call Duotone now.  I think some of the earlier ones could be had in stainless, but that stopped at least a couple years ago.  If this one is true stainless, it may not be the latest greatest. I believe Bersa's warranty only covers the original owner. 

I own a Rossi 461 that I picked up at Academy on Black Friday last year brand new for $229.  I got the 3" barrel, but it usually comes in 2". The 3" is an Academy only model I think. The usual price is $259 or so.  I find it enjoyable to shoot and it is often easier to carry than my compact 9.  It's a 6 shot that falls between J and K, I have heard that it is the same frame size as a colt D frame.  The only two knocks I have against it is that you shouldn't dry fire it without snap caps due to the design, and it may be a bit heavier other similar revolvers. I find the weight to be a help when firing .357 loads at the range.  The 351 model .38 5-shot is out there too at a bit less $$$.  Rossi isn't high on many people's list of brands, but I think it is a decent enough wheel gun that I carry it on a regular basis. For the price with lifetime warranty, it may be an option for you.   Rossi is owned/made by Taurus. 

A Bersa Thunder 380 (or 380 CC) is a decent option, esp. the ones with rubber grips. Very reliable, but a bit larger than the LCP.  I would also second some of the revolver suggestions. I've been thinking about a Taurus TCP for pocket carry.

Can't speak to that 44, but I have a 461 (the K sized .357) and really enjoy it for the $229 I paid for it on black friday last year. Haven't shot it that much, but it hasn't missed a beat yet and has a lifetime warranty for what it's worth.  

Geekitupsum, I was in a couple hours after you were and was amazed.  I have never seen the gun racks at Academy that empty, There was little .22, .380, or 9mm to be found except the specialty stuff.  Walmart had steel case Tul and some priv-partisan or something, but that was about it.  Saw one person buy every available box, about 5-6, or Remington.38spl.  Looked like there was plenty of .40 and .45 left.

Have a look at phonepower.com. If you pay by the year, the second year is free. Ends up being less that $10/month for the first 2 years. After that, it is still less than $15. I've had them for nearly 4 years with no problems. You can port your existing number too.

I have a .357 #461 in 3" I picked up last year at Academy. Very functional and reliable so far for, I think, $230.

Tongue firmly in cheek, Sleep Study is a unique term. When I go, I get there at 9-10pm, get 20-30 electrodes and monitors glued to your head, face, chest, legs/feet, and fingers (pulse-ox on the finger is most annoying for me), get put in a room that resembles a normal household bedroom with cameras and mics in each corner, and told to try to get some sleep. You finally pass out from exhaustion about midnight,and get woken up at 4:30am to get unhooked, debriefed, and sent home. Not much sleep involved. It's not really a horrible experience, but how much sleep do they expect you to get?

Sorry, that last line didn't come out quite right. Let me know if I can answer any questions, either here or via PM. I'd urge you to call that Doc up and ask ASAP. No need to fight this stuff. It's like firearms, not everyone likes the same one.

No problem hipower. Hopefully, like me, you find the pressure is the real culprit and not the mask itself. The mask is annoying, but you get used to it quickly. The best analogy I can conjure is the feeling is like trying to blow up a balloon with every exhale, then try to relax for the inhale. It just feels backwards to my body, and after 10 minutes or so, it was like a mild claustrophobic attack and the feeling that you have a 200lb weight on your chest keeping you from breathing. All you want to do is get that mask off, at which point your lungs feel tired and heavy. In my case, going from CPAP to BI-PAP required an addition an additional sleep study because you now have two pressures to set, so they have to figure out the exhale pressure you can work with. My "pressure" is 14, while my Exhale is an 8. When I put my mask on and turn the machine on, it takes it about a dozen normal breaths to get in sync and I'm good to go. To help even more, most machines also have a ramp-up timer that slowly builds the pressure. I used it with my CPAP on the longest timer possible. I think the ramp on my Bi-PAP is set to 30 seconds or so, just long enough to get it in sync. The Bi-PAP action is a bit odd the first couple nights, but I'll never go back if I can help it. My Wife tells me I don't open my mouth with the Bi-PAP like I did with the CPAP, so no chinstrap needed. Feel free to PM or ask if I can help.

Don't give up on it yet hipower. It can be a process. I'm fortunate that I don't need the chin strap, but the nasal mask I use took some time. I had some nights with the CPAP that 10 minutes starting, I would rip the mask off, unable to breathe, feeling like my lungs were exhausted and just crowded in. In the grand scheme for me, the constant CPAP pressure was the biggest culprit. My BiPAP is a breeze in comparison. If you aren't familiar with the differences: CPAP is constant pressure. Most folks seem to do well with these. BiPAP is "Bi'-level. It has two pressures, inhale and exhale. It senses or times your breathing and cuts the pressure down as you exhale. I find it much more tolerable. If your Dr. hasn't mentioned them yet, it might be worth a discussion.

Finding the right mask or apparatus is a little trial/error, but a good supplier can guide you to the right ones. I have found the gel type masks work best for me so far, but will probably try the nasal pillows next. Also, with my allergies, I have a prescription for a mild nasal steroid like Nasonex to keep my nose clear. Before I got that, I stayed stuffed up. If you have this problem, Afrin is good for a day or two, but not a long term solution. It will start making the problem worse. Getting the humidity right is also a big help. After you get used to it, you don't think much about it. Best advice I can give is to stay in communication with the Dr. What you start with may/may not be what you find works for you + If you lose or gain weight, you may need to get the pressure adjusted. I started with a standard CPAP 3-4 years ago and gave up after two weeks of frustration. I couldn't stand the constant pressure and just assumed that was the only option. Machine ended up in the closet. Fast forward to last summer. Started feeling drug out and knew it was my apnea acting up. Lost my Dad to a sudden heart attack and decided I better try to take care of this. Talked it over with the Dr. and he suggested we try again with a Res-Med S9 Bi-PAP. Much easier for me to deal with. If your spouse says you snore, get checked. Age is irrelevant- I was diagnosed in my early 30's. Apnea can be hard on the heart and it's much more common than you would think. Until I got it back under control, there were morning I drove to work fighting sleep after just getting 8 hours. As I was told, it's one of the few things that can be treated without medications with a great success rate.