I'm not a gun nut, but got my CCW permit last year. I carry a Keltec .380 all the time. May not be the biggest, baddest gun, but it slips in my pocket and is light enough I forget it's there.
Try some of the Sig offerings... IMHO, better than the Glock. Best out of box trigger pull. Alloy frames are still light weight and even more durable. Come in all the popular calibers (I like 9mm, with +P hollow points they are effective, the bad rap is really FMJ standard loads).
Google "Ohio State Trooper Handgun Trials", they tested 10 Sig P-226 with 12,000 rounds each and they out performed all other models tested including the Glocks. The Sigs finished the test with NO failures in 120,000 rounds that were not the ammo's fault.
Several vendors in Shot Gun News have been selling factory refurbs from police trade ins that are really reasonable.
You will get a lot of good advice here, but perhaps you should provide more details. How will you carry the weapon? Fixed-wing aircraft? Rotor? Ship? Vehicle? Tracked, or untracked?
I carry a Walther PPK in .380. I know it's just a pop gun, but it's small and tough and real easy to conceal.
Take a look at the real small Para Ordnance LDAO. It's a .45, has a double action trigger that's pretty light and lets you carry it cocked and locked. Fpr a revolver, look at the Ruger SP 101 5 shot .357 magnum with the 3" barrel.
I LOVE my hammerless S&W 38SP Airweight.
As for autos, try the CZ's. I qualified with one and fell in love with it. Out of 20+ CC students, I promise I was the least experienced shooter, but I had BY FAR the tightest pattern!
I purchased a Springfield Champion lightweight (28 ounces!) a year ago. Own two Springfield 1911-A1's and they are totally reliable. They DO need to be broken in, though. After 400-500 rounds, most teething problems go away. Other 1911-A1 is a Ultra Compact V-10 Hi-cap. Compared to the Champion, it feels like carrying a brick.
Whoo Hoo! Gun porn and it's not even Friday! My personal preference is a wheel gun for simplicity and reliability. I carry a ruger sp101. .357 magnum provides plenty of stopping power.
Glock 30 In A Comp Tac C Tac Holster.......
Ultimate pocket gun (9mm) you will carry every day:
www.rohrbaughfirearms.com
Pricey ($1200) but it's your life.
Gun Nut? Hey! I resemble that!
Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck! Seriously, I'd go with the Sig P229 SAS in 40 or 357 Sig. I cranked 250 rds thru one last weekend and it's going to be my next purchase. It will probably become my standard for carry. I have owned a Glock 30 in the past and currently own a Glock M27 although I most always carry a Sig P245. I have just never before experienced the DAK trigger pull and the "melt job" done on the SAS is nothing short of phenomenal!
But if you want some really expert advice go check out this site:
COMBAT CARRY Post this same question on THAT board and print the responses! Free to join of course.
The .357SIG round is basically a nominal 9mm bullet loaded into a slightly elongated .40SW size casing, therefore many guns that fire the .40SW can be converted to .357SIG with nothing more than a barrel swap (I have both barrels for my SIGs), and they use the same mags.
It is close to the 10mm in performance and is one of the flattest shooting rounds you can fire from a semi-auto pistol. Some folks have reported being able to make 100yd shots without using a rest (I haven't, it's just what I've read). It is LOUD outdoors but interior walls and other surfaces attenuate the noise to the point that it is bearable.
IMHO recoil is better than the .40SW (the .40SW being a quick snap and the .357SIG being more of a hard push), probably due to the lighter bullet weight (I am NOT a ballistics expert so this is just conjecture). I do know for a fact that many police departments have switched to the .357SIG and have watched their officers' range scores improve dramatically.
The ammo is a bit pricey, but if you shop around you can get some great deals.
Good choice. I highly recommend it.
Double action first shot, single action after, decocker (not a safety) lets the reasonably careful carry loaded with one up the pipe and be ready to go when you clear the holster.
They are a little finnicky about cast (unjacketed) bullets, but I have never had a problem with JHPs or XTPs.