Taurus 9mm for concealed carry

[BRUZR]

Anyone have any opinions on the small frame 9mm made by Taurus? My buddy across the street just bought one of these. Sorry I don't know the model number. It LOOKS like a nice piece, but is it reliable, how does it fire, etc? It has a built in lock mechanism that seems pretty cool... The reason I'm asking is that FOR ONCE, I heard my wife say, "I like that pistol." She would never let me buy a new one before, but now that she's seen and held this one, I think she wants one.

[SavageSun4x4]

Its a fine weapon. That said, I would have wife and yourself "handhold" before you purchase. What fits you hand may not fit hers as well and vice versa.

I favor the Beretta Mdl 92: It has a good grip fits most men and women well, can be had with a 15 rd mag and is also available in SS. SS makes a good car carry. Wrap it loosely in a t shirt cut down to fit but still allow one to pick up and shoot. The t shirt will keep crud out of the innards and the SS will keep it from rusting up. This will allow you to grab and shoot if time is of the essence like in an attempted car jacking. Or you can take the t shirt material off if you have more time to do so. http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg07-e.htm

The Taurus should work just as well.:D

[DsrtJeeper]

...or man up and carry a real gun! Ruger Stainless PT100 .357 Magnum with 6" barrel! :D

[BRUZR]

...or man up and carry a real gun! Ruger Stainless PT100 .357 Magnum with 6" barrel! :D
You got it all wrong... I would never ask my wife to "Man up..." This gun would be hers and that would open the door for me to buy one for myself.:D

[BRUZR]

Besides, in my eyes, nothing says STOP better than a .45 ACP :D

9mm doesn't really have stopping power, but that slow moving BIG OLE .45 lead will knock 'em down everytime!!!

[Crash177]

I have the Taurus PT 111 and really like it. I havent shot it that much maybe a few hundred rounds. It will jam sometimes but I heard them more you shoot it, the better it gets.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=111B&category=Pistol

[Renob]

Nevermind what I posted below, I realized later you were discussing autos not revolvers.
Ruger Stainless PT100 .357 Magnum with 6" barrel! :DI think you mean GP100.

I have found with the cheaper revolvers (Ruger, Taurus, Rossie, etc.) the space between the cylinder and the barrel is larger than with the more expensive ones (S&W, Colt, etc.)

This tends to allow more lead & powder splatter to be expelled out the sides and back at the shooter.
If this is a concern, compare the gap from one revolver to another. Less gap is better.

And stay away from top porting, unless you like having a vertical flame thrower in your hands.

[SavageSun4x4]

This is my personal carry weapon when I know that the lump in my jacket makes a lump in their throat:

http://tinyurl.com/m2htv

[Renob]

This is my personal carry weapon when I know that the lump in my jacket makes a lump in their throat:

http://tinyurl.com/m2htvDon, you must have a big jacket.

[azdesertrhino]

I have a few different weapons I carry. Auto's and revolvers. For pure self defense, a revolver is as simple as it gets. In life threatening situations, simple point and shoot is the best.

Would your wife ( or most people) have the presense of mind to be able to clear a jam or "stovepipe" on a semi-auto when some gang banger is trying to force that person into a vehicle?

[strider]

I carried a PT111 for some time as a back-up. Reliable,fairly accurate,and light. Not a bad combo in my book. As to the 9mm-vs-.45 controversy, I have trusted my life to both for years. Hardball for each is still a bad way to go. Modern defensive ammo is MUCH better than when this debate first started. Good ammo for 9mm guns now are very close to .357 abilities when looking at 1 shot stops. Some are much better than the .45. I carry a .45 ACP daily but would not feel any less safe with a 9mm. In fact, if someone has a 9mm 1911 style ( Officers model size) for sale please let me know. It will be my next social pistol.

[mbuckner]

I bought a Glock 26 (9mm) .. looking back, is there a big difference between the knockdown power of a .40SW (Glock 27) vs a 9mm ?

Mike

[jeeper05]

As the stopping power debate rages on..I carry a springfield xd in 9mm.. fairly light weight 2000+rds fired with 1 jam (custom load) in rapid fire. Needles to say very pleased with this auto.But you need to carry what you can shoot n shoot well not what makes the biggest bang so to speak.If you can handle a larger caliber so be it but its the shot placement that makes quick work of a bad situation,and nothing says ITS OVER LIKE A WELL PLACED DOUBLE TAP.

just my thoughts...Jeff

[SavageSun4x4]

But you need to carry what you can shoot n shoot well not what makes the biggest bang so to speak.If you can handle a larger caliber so be it but its the shot placement that makes quick work of a bad situation,and nothing says ITS OVER LIKE A WELL PLACED DOUBLE TAP.

just my thoughts...Jeff
I'll concur with the double tap:)

As for the carry what you can shoot, I like weapons for carry that have large capacity mags. A prime reason why I like my Beretta w/15 rd fully internal mag. Chances are if you have to reload you could be in a bind:D

[BRUZR]

Well, we went out and shot my buddy's Taurus (It's a Millenium). It jammed once, spit an unfired round and shoots about 3-4 feet low at about 40-50 ft.

My pistol, a S&W .38 Police Revolver (built in the late 60's, used on the force in Brockton, Mass, then given to my father in 1971) shot true at that same range and twice that distance.

I'm not real impressed with the Taurus. Granted, in a self defense situation, there will be no long distance shots taken, but nonetheless I'm not impressed.

[Triple-XJ]

Not sure about the Taurus, but before you buy anything take a look at the Kel-Tek P11. Nice little 9 milly. Just another option. ;)

[shack]

When considering a handgun, the most important consideration in my opinion is caliber. I have seen and been involved in multiple shootings, and I have no respect for the 9mm,.40cal, or .380's. I have personally seen suspect's/victims shot multiple times with good placement, who continue to fight and live their lives. Glendale PD officers shot a suspect 5 times center mass with .40 cal's(black talon's) and the suspect lived. I have yet to see someone walk away from a well placed .357 or .45. I also think a small revolver is the way to go! JMO!

[strider]

As to the calibre debate, I think shot placement is the key. Understand that a handgun is a marginal weapon. There is just not enough energy to do the job 100% of the time.There are good rounds in the 9mm-.45 range that rank at 85-96% one shot stops. but that is with GOOD placement.(not just "chest" hits,but vitals like heart,aorta,spinal column/CNS). If I KNOW I'm gonna be in a gun fight, the old rifle or shotgun come out. Even then I have seen people still up and still a threat. Practice your "fialure to stop" drills everyone.

[strider]

BTW, it is true that friends don't let friends carry mouse guns(lol).

[SavageSun4x4]

Strider: As to the calibre debate, I think shot placement is the key.
Yes caliber is important, but in the heat of combat on the battlefield or the intensity of shooting at the dark figure trying to come at you down the upstairs hall there is often little time other than to point and shoot.

Shack: When considering a handgun, the most important consideration in my opinion is caliber.
Caliber is important and be it a .22 or a 45 ACP they can all kill with one shot or not. For every story about X who took X shots and lived there are those who took X shot and died. Maybe it has more to do with your time to go than anything else?:confused:

My Dad took 9 from a .380, left leg shot in half, rest to the gut. Intensive care for over 3 mo and in hospital for nearly a year. He lived 20 more years.

My best buddy in HS had a wild brother who came home one night after a terrible fight in a bar, something he was known to do quite often. He woke up the next am with his usual hangover booze and fight headache, but asprin didn't seem to help. Finally after 3 days of a splitting headache he went to see a doc. Had a .22 slug right between the eyes at eyebrow level. He lived many more years until he took a .357 in the temple outside of another bar.

Ask me or any combat vet from Nam about how many hits a Viet Cong take before he stops coming at you, that is stoked up on pot and morphine?

Shot placement: Between the eyes does not always work, neither does shooting a leg in half or filling a gut full of lead, and even a well aimed and placed shot into the spine or heart is a good but not sure bet.

Caliber: Pick any one, they all kill, albeit some might do it better than others, sometimes.

In my early racing days we had an ole saying: "There is no substitute for cubic inches". To that end, I say, get the biggest caliber you can in a pistol that fits in your hand comfortably and has a OEM 13-15 round clip. This now meets all MY 3 criteria: Acceptable caliber 9mm with an OEM 15 rd clip, [Beretta Mdl 92] and my ability to place a rd in a critical area if I have the opportunity to do so if not they get to play doge bullet.

[mingoglia]

When considering a handgun, the most important consideration in my opinion is caliber. I have seen and been involved in multiple shootings, and I have no respect for the 9mm,.40cal, or .380's. I have personally seen suspect's/victims shot multiple times with good placement, who continue to fight and live their lives. Glendale PD officers shot a suspect 5 times center mass with .40 cal's(black talon's) and the suspect lived. I have yet to see someone walk away from a well placed .357 or .45. I also think a small revolver is the way to go! JMO!

Black Talon's balistically really aren't that great of a round. It's mostly hype. I carried them in my .45 several years back because I thought they "were cool". With the energy they had in a .45 I doubt they could have even opened all the way. You need to have a reasonable amount of energy for a hollow point to operate properly. I stopped carrying them after the Oklahahoma city bombing as I ready Timothy Mcvey carried them and people were trying to stereotype him as a particulary cruel person based on this. I figured if I was in a defensive situation I really don't need the potential for the same stereotype.

It's my believe and shared with others that you should carry the highest caliber you can be effective with. Carrying a Desert Eagle .50 when you're a 5' tall woman is probably not a great idea. My suggestion would be to try different calibers and hit the range. The best thing you can do is qualify with the round you're planning on carrying.

I for one am a big .45 fan. I carry Cor-Bons in my G21. It's a fast and light round designed for minimum penetration (I believe it's designed to penetrate 11"). My thinking behind this is in a defensive situation at the house I'd much rather have a round that's more likely to fragment in my wall then go through it and kill my neighbor (like a full metal jacket might).

I also agree about the shotgun. My 870 Super Mag is definitely the first weapon I'd grab if it was at my disposal.

Mike

[LOST TJ]

I carry Cor-Bons in my G21. It's a fast and light round designed for minimum penetration (I believe it's designed to penetrate 11"). My thinking behind this is in a defensive situation at the house I'd much rather have a round that's more likely to fragment in my wall then go through it and kill my neighbor (like a full metal jacket might).


X2 on the Corbons. Another plus on the lack of penatration of the bullet is that the intended target gets hit with all of the energy of the bullet. That will give a higher chance of knocking the target down or exploding the liquid filled organs(which is usually what kills them.) You can actualy get hit harder by a big slow moving .45acp at point blank than a .308 rifle(depending on bullet type and or rifling). The bullet that just passes through, takes alot of energy with it. Glock 27 is what i prefer to carry.

[knockonit]

Just about anything is better than a bat or knife.
I have four daughters that i have taught gun safety and shooting, via several local groups.
All have used revolvers and autos, they were all required to shoot x amount thru each one over a couple months, each actually became very good with almost all the weapons used. It was then that they chose the weapon that would be provided for their use. NO matter what weapon you choose, use without practice is only a lark, practice, practice makes any weapon proficient for use.
It orginally started out as a gun safety issue, especially when one of my teenagers called me to pick them up at a party where a young man was showing off his weapon (Handgun) the oldest was interested enought to start the program and we just carried it out with the others.
I highly recommend weapon handling knowledge even to those that don;t believe, it could or probably will keep heartbreak away.
good luck on your choice and good shooting.
and remember you cant throw enought lead at'm
weapons of choice, one uses a 40cal, 9mm, 9x18 throw away, 32 auto, and my wife carries a ppk,
I can't decide, it changes from day to day. Although i do favor revolvers.
I'm crazy that way, cant' have enought of em', guns that is.

[Allen]

I carry the S&W 4006TSW (with night sights) loaded with the Federal 180gr HST!

For a woman you might want to look at the Smith and Wesson 3913LS 9mm Ladysmith!

[strider]

Don, you are correct. hand guns are feeble stoppers when all things are considered. That's why I said I'm bringin a scatter gun to the gunfight!!! That is only because I don't have my M-60. After all, happiness is a belt fed weapon!!!!

[BRUZR]

I've made a decision for myself and a sidearm. Springfield Armory XD .45ACP (Service Model) (http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-45acp.shtml) :D

The 2006 model feels perfect in my hands. The only thing that might change my mind is the fact that the local gunshop doesn't have one to rent at the range, so I can't see how it shoots. They only have a .40, 9mm, and a .357 to fire. I may go shoot the .40 and see how that is, but I wonder how close it will be to the real thing.

I'm still torn on a choice for my wife. I'll have to take her to the range and let her fire a few. She's a really small woman with tiny hands, so she may be a hard fit for much with any punch.

[mbuckner]

Have your wife try a Glock 26 (9mm) and a Glock 30 (45 ACP).

Both are subcompact size.

Best regards,

Mike

[AZG23]

Have your wife try a Glock 26 (9mm) and a Glock 30 (45 ACP).

Both are subcompact size.

Best regards,

Mike

IF you need to check either of these out...Ive got both...

although you are pretty far away...LOL...for some reason I thought you were closer...

If you do get the XD...get it in stainless..or Springfields bi-tone finish...the standard finish models are prone to getting some surface rust..

[AZG23]

oh..and I think the G30 will be too big...its pretty thick, its what I carry..w/230 gr Speer Gold Dots..