Micro 9's For Everyday Carry

It's hard to beat a micro 9 for concealed carry, especially if you have a hard time concealing a full sized 9mm pistol. I like the idea of replacing my .380 pocket pistols with micro 9's, simply because it eliminates having to keep two different types of ammo on hand. In addition to that, the micro 9's have a greater capacity. My pocket .380 holds just seven rounds (6 + 1), but some of the micro 9's are 13 + 1. If you're thinking of getting one for yourself or someone in your family, here are some things to consider.

How Does It Feel?

First of all, how does the gun feel in your hand? There is no way to know unless you find one in a store and get it in your hands. Is it comfortable? Everyone's hand is different, and I know that a couple of my pistols are uncomfortable for my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter even though they are fine for me. Check to see how easily your trigger finger reaches the trigger, then see if the texture of the grips is right for you. The texture should be great not only for your hand, but you should also consider how it will feel if it rubs against your skin when you carry it.

Go To A Gun Store

If you can, go to a gun store like Shooters World that has a firing range so you can rent the pistol you are considering. Put some rounds through it. Do you like the trigger pull? Can you feel the trigger reset? By this I mean that after you fire the gun, can you release the trigger part way and feel it reset so that you can fire again quickly? Hopefully, you'll be able to both hear and feel the reset.

Check out the reviews. Is the gun ammo sensitive? Believe it or not, I've had handguns that had a hard time resetting if I used certain kinds of ammo in them. Read reviews about the pistols you're considering, and read the manufacturer's recommendations.

If you like to add accessories to your handguns, be aware that some of the micro 9's are so new that there may not be a lot of choices out there in things like different grips, lasers, different sights, and even different types of holsters. It sometimes takes a while for accessory manufacturers to catch up.

The Biggest Is Probably Best

My advice is to get the biggest micro 9 that you will find convenient to carry regularly. Make sure you are comfortable with the size of it and that you are comfortable – and accurate – shooting it. Be aware that the smaller a gun is, the harder it can be to shoot with. The smaller the gun, the more aggressive your grip and hold needs to be in order for it to reset after firing. Margie had to get rid of her Glock 42 because no matter how much she kept it in mind, half the time it wouldn't fire a second round for her. It was just too small. She even took it to a gunsmith and he was kind, but he had to tell her that the only way he could get it to misfire was to hold it with two fingers. If you can possibly help it, never buy a handgun without firing it a few times first.

Some Recommendations

That being said, here are some recommendations:

Kimber R7 Mako

The micro 9 that comes with everything is the Kimber R7 Mako. It's a high-capacity 12-round micro compact that will carry 14 with the extended magazine. You can get it with a Crimson Trace ® CTS-1500 Reflex Sight installed, and you can also mount any sight that fits the Shield pattern RMSc footprint on either model. The one that is optics ready is $599 and with the Crimson Trace Reflex sight it's $799. Both models have tritium night sights with a Glock-cut dovetail, and a performance trigger. It's a polymer, striker-fired pistol.

Ruger Max 9 Talo

The best buy I found on the micro 9 is the Ruger Max 9 Talo with optics installed. This is also a polymer striker-fired pistol, and it holds either 10 or 12 + 1. Comes with factory installed Crimson Trace Red Dot sights for $539. It comes with one 10-round mag and one 12-round mag.

Other Micro 9's

Ruger Max 9 Talo

Other micro 9's I'd recommend include the Glock 43X MOS, the Sig Sauer P365XL, the Springfield Hellcat Micro, and the S&W M&P 9 Shield Plus. These handguns are apparently selling like hotcakes, so go online and see if you can find one near you. By the way, Shield Arms makes an aftermarket magazine for the Glock that holds 15 rounds. If you go to http://www.handgunhero.com you can choose any two models of handguns and visually compare their size, weight, capacity, and more. It's pretty cool.