The Bersa Thunder in .380 ACP.
Very light...weighs about 18 ounces fully loaded.
Has adjustable rear sights.
SA/DA with decocker...which some folks have to get used to, but once learned it is instinctive to use.
Cheap!
If you ever have to use a concealed carry weapon for defensive purposes, you should realize that you are going to lose that weapon.
You may or may not get it back, even if you are determined to be fully within your rights to have used it.
Fact of life.
I would much rather have to give up a weapon I paid less than 200 bucks for, than my race-tuned prized 1911, that incidentally, weighs about 40 ounces fully charged.
I use a Kydex molded holster for my Bersa, clip on style, easily removed for those times that you MUST disarm (Courthouse, school...you know) and very difficult to detect.
I carried a 1911 for years...years of constantly adjusting my waist, pulling up my pants...well, you know the drill.
Some of the .380 loads are approaching 1400 fps and with wound channels that exceed .38+P and some 9mm.
It's not a long distance round...never was and should never be used as such...but it's a hell of a lot better than a .22 or a .25 ACP.
And for us gnarly old dudes with arthritic hands...it's one of the easiest semi-autos to rack.
I have three of them (One is actually the CC 9mm) and I have put thousands of rounds thru them with only two malfunctions, both attributed to reloads.
The PX (one of those places that you have to disarm) has a sale on them now...I think you can get one for about 170 bucks, and if you have a coupon for the Star Card, even less.
***I would much rather have to give up a weapon I paid less than 200 bucks for,***
I agree with you on this! My carry is a Makarov which I paid $99.00 for in the year 2000.
Agree on the Bersa Thunder. 380. Great gun and is what I carry. Has an all steel version and a lighter weight carry version, which I have. Looks like the Walther PPK.