[blackbart.223]

If I might suggest, I have a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special. It is light and doesn't have any square corners to slow down the draw. Even though it's a double action revolver with five shots it will get the job done.

[ASOC]

At the risk of being flamed
Take a look at the Smith&Wesson AirWeight in 357 Mag
5 shot, alum frame, small as a Keltec and you can practice with .38 spcl.

Light weight and can be had as a "bodyguard" style - shrouded (sp?) hammer.

Wish I had waited - the .38 is a +P but the gunsmith who keeps putting the screws back in sez I should use a lighter load.....

[paul51]

Roger all the Sig recommendations

[Lurker]

It weighs less than a pound, carries five rounds of .44 Spl ammo, doesn't jam, and I can put five rounds through the head of a standard police silhoutte target at 21 feet.

I paid around 350 bucks US for mine brand new.

IMO, can't beat it.

L

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

I would recommend without hesistation the Glock 23 .40 S&W handgun. It's light, reliable holds over ten rounds and is powerful. I've never had a jam with it when using factory magazines after firing over 300 rounds through it.

Glock 23 .40 S&W Handgun

Glock 30 .45 ACP handguns are also good concealed carry guns. Kimber .45 ACP guns I hear are good but expensive.

[Vic3O3]

Chuck, I second everyone's suggestion to buy good holsters. You'll likely use/need several for different situations anyway. I also suggest a SmartCarry holster for an alternative (and hot weather suitable).

As for your weapon of choice, you COULD consider a 2" Taurus Tracker in .45acp. I've been lusting after one for about a year now! Imagine...the reliability & simplicity of a revolver with the hitting power of a 1911 .45acp!

My choice du jour? Kimber Ultra CDP in a Tucker Gun Leather paddle rig.

[SauronOfMordor]

If your budget permits, you might consider getting two guns: one for maximum concealability (in either 9mm or .40) for times when concealability is the major factor, and a good-size, large-capacity .45 able to take +P ammo for when you care much more about having something that can get you out of a bad scene.

If I'm just tooling around in the suburbs during the day, my choice might drift one way, and if I'm going to need to be coming home thru "inner city" areas at 3am, my choice might drift the other way

[ExSoldier]

Got our Newfoundland pup from a breeder in Blanco. Getting her little sister from there this spring. I carried my Glock M27 all the way from Miami to Austin (thru Blanco) and back in perfect comfort (thanks to reciprocity laws in all adjoining states) in a Blade-Tec IWB covered by the ever present photgraphers vest. The "uniform" of the CCW holder.

I carry either a Glock in 40 or 45...OR a ParaOrdnance LDA for one reason only (aside from the fact that I love 'em)....to handle the aftermath of any shooting incident. I have spoken to tons of prosecutors and judges who shoot with my club. The results of those range conversations have led me to believe that anti-gun and anti-self defense prosecutors and civil attorneys are going to take a jury of equally stupid, UNINFORMED people on the subject of guns and have them dry fire the single action trigger pull on my self defense gun. The object will be to show them exactly how "easy" it is to pull that nice crisp trigger. The result will be one of two outcomes based solely on that gun: Either I carry condition one "cocked and locked" because I'm looking for a fight....looking to kill some poor soul....or I must not have KNOWN the gun would fire with that easy pull and all that body "stress" so the verdict is manslaughter.

That's why I like a nice long, smooth takeup and break so there can be no doubt that anyone would know the piece is about to go "boom!" That's why a Glock 27 or 30...or the even more easily concealed Para C6. That's why I gave my daughter a DAO Ruger SP101 in .357.....for exactly the same reasons.

[Shooter4u]

One model I have found to really work well for a CCW is the Taurus Millenium Pro in 45ACP. It is small, simple reliable and has a 10+1 capacity in addition to fulltime DAO with restrike capability. The Pro model has the 3rd generation trigger that is very smooth and it has night sights along with anh acessory rail for a light if I need it.

[Shooter4u]

One model I have found to really work well for a CCW is the Taurus Millenium Pro in 45ACP. It is small, simple reliable and has a 10+1 capacity in addition to fulltime DAO with restrike capability. The Pro model has the 3rd generation trigger that is very smooth and it has night sights along with anh acessory rail for a light if I need it.

[BOOTSTICK]

A snub nosed Titainium .357 magnum, is your best bet. Remember revolvers never jam, and don't have to "feed" ammunition.