Commander .. or G19 ... or .380 ... HELP !!!

[Hidalgo]

Guys, I'm at a crossroads with my carry piece. I am currently carrying a Colt Govt in 38 Super. While I literally LOVE this pistol, I want/need something smaller due to the circumstances which I carry under.

I have looked at Glock 19s, and while the pistol is "OK", I have reservations. No safety concerns me (old 1911 guy). And it's actually much thicker than my Colt so therefore it doesn't really fix the problem. And the smaller Glock (is it the 26?) doesn't float my boat either.

I have looked at several .380s ... KelTec, Bersa, etc. These little pistols are intriguing, but I'm still not sold on ANY of them.

If you found yourself in this situation ... what would be your direction of travel? I'm open and would appreciate any and all of your suggestions. I gotta make a decision within the next couple of weeks.

I'm leaning towards a Commander that I have located in .38 Super, but I don't know if that will be any better than what I have as far as conceal-ability.

(FWIW ... I'd dearly love to find a Colt Pony .380 for a reasonable price. But we all know those don't exist, lol)

Edited September 12, 2009 by Hidalgo

[Raoul]

Kahr

[pops572]

Kahr

What he said. PM9 specifically.

[Hotshot]

If you are familiar with the 1911 platform, the Sig P238 would seem the logical choice. It's a colt mustang copy. Wouldn't have to learn a new style weapon. My main carry is a Glock 19. When my P238 gets here, it will be my summer carry or what I carry when I'm not carrying a gun.

[Hidalgo]

If you are familiar with the 1911 platform, the Sig P238 would seem the logical choice. It's a colt mustang copy. Wouldn't have to learn a new style weapon. My main carry is a Glock 19. When my P238 gets here, it will be my summer carry or what I carry when I'm not carrying a gun.

I've read several (aka...too many) stories about P238s not being reliable. It was my first pick in the .380, but after all that reading I decided to pass on it. I know there are tons of them out there functioning properly, however.

[Hotshot]

I'd like to read these stories. Can you send me a like to them?

[Raoul]

You should look at the PM series. If price is a consideration the CW series is a good choice. Both are thin and easily concealed. And they come in 9mm, .40, or .45. No disrepect to the .380, but IMHO those calibers are a better choice for a primary SD weapon.

FWIW

[Guest eyebedam]

I'd like to read these stories. Can you send me a like to them?

Yeah me to.

[nightrunner]

I would only choose the .380 for a BUG, personally. or for when you "arent carrying" a gun.

there is a pretty big difference between a commander 1911 and the common .380 on the market now(very small size). is this a primary weapon, summer gun, highly concealable or what?

the walther PPS might be worth a look

might look at a 3" 9mm 1911.

I also second looking at the Kahr's

[Guest Bluemax]

I would check out the Kahrs, if plastic isn't your thing take a look at the MK series, I am very happy with mine

[Guest SureShot308]

The Commander would be my first choice of the 3. I love my Glock 19 but I don't carry it often because that back corner likes to stick out on me a lot.

I carry a 3.5" 1911 Compact in .45ACP as my primary.

I would take the .380 as a BUG to the Commander.

Every new gun has it's issues, and the Sig P238 seems like it doesn't have that many issues. There were the ones that were safety recalled and fixed. Ask hatmaker about that one. It is the closest to the Mustang without paying out 800+ for it.

I have a Kahr P380 I uses as my pocket gun and I love it. It took a little breaking in and had a little issue with the inside of the slide stop making contact with the round coming out of the magazine causing it to lock back with rounds still in the magazine. Once I fixed that and put 250 rounds through it I haven't had a single issue with it, and I'm at 500 rounds through it now.

[Hidalgo]

I'd like to read these stories. Can you send me a like to them?

Do a Google search for "P238 problems" and you can read for quite a while. Of course, I am aware that EVERY pistol can be prone to a failure ... just like an automobile or anything else. But I felt like there were too many different threads with people having to return the pistols. Maybe it's not an "across the board" situation, but I just got a bad feeling about it.

Sorry if I stepped on any toes. That's just a response to what I have read recently.

[Hotshot]

Do a Google search for "P238 problems" and you can read for quite a while. Of course, I am aware that EVERY pistol can be prone to a failure ... just like an automobile or anything else. But I felt like there were too many different threads with people having to return the pistols. Maybe it's not an "across the board" situation, but I just got a bad feeling about it.

Sorry if I stepped on any toes. That's just a response to what I have read recently.

Not at all. Just want to be informed.

SA's EMP would be a thought. Kahr is a good size but it sounds like you want a safety.

[nolo]

What about a Taurus pt145? I don't own one, but shot one the other day and was very impressed. I am not a fan of the trigger pull, but it is very concealable and reliable. Plus it is a .45. If you are going to look at a Kahr, don't get a CW. I had a .40 and found it to be the most unreliable gun I have ever owned with FTFs and FTEs after 300 rounds.

[Guest HexHead]

I pretty much have all the pistols you're considering. That said, I'd recommend the Commander size 1911. It's easier to carry than a full size one (I used to have one of those too) only in that it's being shorter makes it more comfortable when you're seated. Otherwise there's really no difference. I've also been carrying my Glock 19 more lately on days I don't want to wear an undershirt under my cover shirt. "Cocked & Locked" is more comfortable with that extra layer. I'm picking up a G26 for that same reason.

Now all that said, my default EDC is my 3" 1911 Colt New Agent. It's the best of all worlds. Lightweight, easily concealed and at .45, in a serious caliber. Just be careful if you pick a 3" 1911 other than a Colt Defender or New Agent. The other brands don't all run as reliably as the Colts do. My Para PDA for instance, 3" 9mm 1911, took lots of breaking in, my Colt was reliable right out of the box.

For a .380, I have a Mustang and it goes with me when I don't want to hassle with anything larger. It's the platform Sig copied for their 238. Great pistol and fun to shoot, I just wouldn't want it to be my EDC.

[poak]

Do a Google search for "P238 problems" and you can read for quite a while. Of course, I am aware that EVERY pistol can be prone to a failure ... just like an automobile or anything else. But I felt like there were too many different threads with people having to return the pistols. Maybe it's not an "across the board" situation, but I just got a bad feeling about it.

Sorry if I stepped on any toes. That's just a response to what I have read recently.

I've heard some chatter about some problems here and there too.

I think JHat had a few problems w/ his when he first got it, not sure if they're cleared up or not.

Then, there's also this:

SIG SAUER : Product Alerts

[Guest FiddleDog]

Have you considered the CZ 2075 Rami? I'm looking for something a bit more concealable than my 19, and that one keeps popping up on my radar.

[TNTitan]

What about a Taurus pt145? I don't own one, but shot one the other day and was very impressed. I am not a fan of the trigger pull, but it is very concealable and reliable. Plus it is a .45. If you are going to look at a Kahr, don't get a CW. I had a .40 and found it to be the most unreliable gun I have ever owned with FTFs and FTEs after 300 rounds.

+1

hard to beat a gun that weighs only 23 oz, 11 round capacity and packs a 45 caliber wallop with minimal recoil.

[Good_Steward]

Not at all. Just want to be informed.

SA's EMP would be a thought. Kahr is a good size but it sounds like you want a safety.

My EMP is a fantastic little sidearm. +1

[VERO1]

I'd skip the .380's just because ammo is still a pain to find and cost twice as much as 9mm or .45 auto.

[Guest eyebedam]

My EMP is a fantastic little sidearm. +1

+1000

[Guest HexHead]

If you are familiar with the 1911 platform, the Sig P238 would seem the logical choice. It's a colt mustang copy. Wouldn't have to learn a new style weapon. My main carry is a Glock 19. When my P238 gets here, it will be my summer carry or what I carry when I'm not carrying a gun.

The SIG 238 (and the Colt Mustang it's derived from) is only related to the 1911 in general appearance and that it's single action carried cocked & locked.

It shares none of the 1911's internal design. If anything, it's probably closer to being a baby Hi Power.

[redstategunnut]

I have j frames, a P3AT, a PM9, a Kimber CDP Pro II commander size 1911, a G19 and other guns. If I could have only one of them, I believe I would keep the G19. I've got nothing bad to say about the others, but the G19 is the best concealed carry handgun I own that is smaller than a 5" 1911.

[Hidalgo]

I'm extremely grateful for all of the suggestions and experience. It's a lot of information, and will be very helpful in making a decision.

I'll let you guys know what I decide upon. I'm still leaning towards the Commander simply because I love the 1911 operation and also because it's a 38 Super, which I have been shooting and reload for already. Of course ... there's always room for more dies in the reloading bench ...

[Kevo]

Maybe you could buy a smaller lighter shorter & thinner frame and still use your 38 super upper. You will not run out of options with a 1911, only money! That's why my only:( pistol is a G19.