Hey guys. Wanted to see what your thoughts were. i am about to get my carry permit and am looking for a gun to keep in my truck. I dont have a 45 and am thinking about a 45 but have also looked at a 380 out of the compact size. Do any of you know a semi compact 45 that wont cost an arm and a leg?

 

I have a smith and wesson .40 cal. thats nice and compact, perfect for carrying. Its a nice gun and I don't remember it costing much

 

Springfield xd. I personally don't like it in the 45 but love the 9. Its perfect for a dirty ole truck or jeep. $500 should biy this gun just about anywhere.

 

Thanks for the move. I overlooked the firearms thread.

 

The Glock 36 is a very small single stack .45 which is totally reliable and concealable. My carry is a G39. Personally, I would never carry a .380 for self-defense, but 9MM would be good.

 

I have a glock 357 sig and love it. Its almost as fast as a 9, hits harder then a (if i remember correctly) 45 and all you have to do to shoot 40 is change the barrel ($100) its 2 guns in one cause the brass are 40 tapperd down to a 9 bullet like a rifle brass. Many state troopers are going to this cause it has so much penitration abilities. Its just a badass round. And the sound is like no other. Thats my thoughts on the subject.

 

What ever you buy see if there is a way you can shoot one just like it before you buy one.

 

I second the Glock 36. I carry one on a regular basis. Compact, dependable, and accurate. My next Glock will probably be a g30, which is basically the same size with a double stack mag.

 

I would recomend a Beretta 92fs also called a M9.
very reliable, easy to clean, just about bomb proof...

 

You need to be a bit more specific with your requirements. You mention a "carry permit" but then make it seem as if the firearm will be sitting in your truck. Which is it? Do you plan to carry concealed or do you simply plan to conceal it within your truck and not really have it on your person? Or do you plan on both?

Also, does "semi compact" mean "semi-automatic *and* compact" or does it mean "semi-compact" (as in kinda small)?

Ultimately you need to decide on two factors:

1. Your most likely tactical situation (e.g. carjack, mugging while walking down a dark street at night, self-defense in a Wal-Mart, etc.). Do a risk analysis and you'll be able to at least get an idea of your likely scenarios.

2. Which weapon is most comfortable for you to shoot.

Don't forget that the *best* weapon is the one with which you are accurate, proficient, and comfortable. I'd worry about caliber after figuring the rest of this stuff out.

BTW, you get what you pay for, which is why we only buy Sig, H&K, or Kimber pistols. The Springfield XD is definitely a good platform for the money. People either love or hate Glocks, so I won't get into that debate. The aforementioned 92FS/M9 is a good weapon (it has been standard-issue to several military and law enforcement groups worldwide for a couple of decades), but firearms have improved quite a bit since its original design.

-Dawn Marie