Then get a sidearm in the same caliber and size with a manual safety? Most manufacturers these days don't put out crap, pick the one that fits your hand and practice and call it good.

All right! Another woman! I don't feel so lonely now... Yeah, sometimes the testosterone is a little heavy, but the guys are always unfailingly polite and helpful.

When I started researching which gun I should carry, my feathers were ruffled for quite a while. My boys are 3 and 5. I was looking for a handgun with a manual safety because I do carry with a round chambered. I ended up with an M&P compact 9mm. It still chunky - not a tiny gun. I still conceal quite well with IWB holsters fully covering the trigger, and wearing "girly" blouses. The holsters need to have some good retention, though, so the kids don't knock it. And, of course, I train with the safety every time.

After I got my M&P9c, the Shield came out. It too has a manual safety. I suspect it would be a much better gun for conceal. It feels great, small, balanced. There are some great reviews, and I just see in Shelley Rae's post that she has one too. I didn't follow up because it's set up for right hand only.

Hmm, I might need to check out that Flashbang.

The Flashbang is awesome, I have a Flashbang and a Marilyn holster for my P238 and love them both. The Marilyn is more versatile.

I intend to get the Flashbang as well as the Marilyn for whatever I end up carying at the end of my search. I'm leaning toward the Charter Arms Ladies .38 special snubbie right now.

the concealed weapon is *you*, keep that first in your mind. Any handgun that you carry and are trained/prepared to us to defend you and yours makes *you* the weapon. Having said that, i reccomend the xd9 sub compact as a great compromise combo of concealability, safety, caliber, capacity, cost and reliability. Use the flush mag with self-defense ammo and you sacrifice the least on any one part of the equation. If you enjoy it and shoot it well, best choice IMO.

If the XD9 sc is anywhere near the same size as the XD40 sc, you are telling a woman to carry a brick. (size and weight wise).


Why not just open carry? Nothing says "don't touch my kids or me" more than a pistol on the hip of a mom.

A couple of thoughts:

- Shelley_Rae has probably tried all of the gadgets and gizmos out there, and has written reviews of many of them. Heed her words.

- A couple of people have mentioned the Sig P238, and I'd recommend checking it out. It's small and light, like the TCP, but it has a couple of key advantages:
1) It has a manual safety, which is important to you.
2) It has a short (though not particularly light) trigger pull. I find the looooong trigger pull of guns like the TCP very unpleasant, and they make it difficult for me to shoot accurately.

Someone mentioned carrying the P238 with a loaded chamber and hammer down. The P238 is similar to a 1911, and I do NOT recommend doing that because it means lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber . . . which without a proper decocker is taking unnecessary chances.

I live in Renton. You're welcome to try my P238 (or anything else I own) . . . let me know if you're interested.

I always recommend an sw 642

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My opinion on the S & W 642 is that it is a purse gun to be fired from the purse. Reach in, grab it, point the whole purse at the target, and start pulling the trigger as hard and fast as your fingers will allow.

The good points are that it is hammerless, so nothing in your purse can get between the hammer and bullets, and it has a key lock safety for when it isn't in your purse. The trigger pull is long which will make an accidental discharge nearly impossible. I say nearly because one cannot discount anything when humans are involved. I would recommend keeping it in an empty compartment in any purse so nothing obstructs the trigger.

My friend bought one of these for his daughter and I shot it a few times, and with hearing protection on, I couldn't hear the cylinder ( two quiet clicks ) cycles on the first part of the trigger. Then there's a dead spot where nothing seems to be happening, then I begin to feel some trigger resistance, then a Bang! It's either that or for stuffing in BG's belly and pulling as fast as you can. I couldn't get used to that long of a trigger even with time, it just isn't for me.

I'd take Shelleys' input over mine though, she's all about the women with firearms! Ultimately it is the person carrying who has the final say. I also support MadPicks OC suggestion as well.

Here's my 2 cents. I would say M&P40c/M&P9c, but since it seems you want one in the chamber around kids, maybe you should check into the Beretta Px4 Storm Sub Compact in a 9/40, and their are not going to break the bank. You should be able to find one close to $500.00

There are some M&P models that have thumb safeties as well as the M&P shield either way the PX4, and M&P are great guns.