First option.

Taurus Model 617 all the way.

I have a friend that carries one of them for CCW for when he's transporting the days cash at end of business and he let me pop off a couple shots. It feels great, quality construction, easily concealed and surprisingly accurate up to about 15 feet.

I rarely carry but when I do it's a Springfield XD9 and it's the best pistol I've ever shot. It actually feels like it's an extension of your hand. Puts all other pistols I've shot to shame. Strictly for CCW purposes however I wish I would have bought the 617 after shooting one.

pew pew pew

No need for a sissy 357 magnum, why not go all the way and get the 600 nitro express on a Thompson Center Encore action? Here's a youtube video of a guy shooting it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yzI0AIpUUA


(another feeble attempt at imbeding that probably won't work)

http://www.youtube.com/v/1yzI0AIpUUA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0">
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The story behind it is the owner built it as a showpiece only with no intention of ever firing it. This guy at the range kept bugging him about letting him shoot it. He finally got tired of the guy asking and let him see for himself why it was a showpiece only.

DAYAM! That guy's lucky he didn't get his skull broken!

C'mon man

if your gonna go get a good CCW gun then buy this, its what I carry OD

http://www.vanguardnc.com/specials/images/glock23.jpg

Caliber =.40 S&W
Action = Safe Action (constant double action mode)
Overall length (slide) = 6.85 in. (174 mm)
Height, including magazine = 5.00 in. (127 mm)
Width = 1.18 in. (30 mm)
Barrel length = 4.02 in. (102 mm)
Sight radius = 5.98 in. (152 mm)
Rifling = Hexagonal profile with right-hand twist of one turn in 9.84 in. (250 mm)
Weight, without magazine = 21.16 oz. (600 g)
Weight, empty magazine = 2.46 oz. (70 g)
Weight, full magazine = ~9.87 oz. (~280 g)
Magazine capacity = 13 rounds
Standard trigger pull = ~5.5 lbs. (~2.5 kg)
Trigger pull length = 0.5 in. (12.5 mm)
Number of safeties = 3

<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/775030/glock_23_40_vs_car_door.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/775030/glock_23_40_vs_car_door/">Glock 23 .40 Vs Car Door</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">Funny home videos are a click away</a></font>

I have a Berreta .40 and it is sweet. But I wouldn't want to carry it....too bulky. When I worked at the liquor store I kept a .380 on me or a .38 snubnose. Those were perfect. Easy to hide, comfy and still would do the job.

FYI the penetrating power is the reason carry it OD, if you only have 13 +1 you better make sure you can hit whatever your target might be hiding behind

yeah I carry a Beretta 9mm on Duty and man that would be a PIA to carry concealed...but the G23 is a compact gun so it conceals easily

If money were no object I'd get a Kimber Ultra Carry II.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/images/...tracarrylg.jpg

Model: Ultra Carry II/ Night Sights (LG)™ .45 ACP
Caliber: .45 ACP
Features: Kimber aluminum frames have been tested to over 20,000 rounds without evidence of meaningful wear.
Ultra Carry .45 ACP pistols weight just 25 ounces.
Shortened frame retains 7-round magazine capacity.
7075-T7 aluminum frames have been tested to over 20,000 rounds without meaningful wear.
Ultra Carry slide has the longest cycle time of any small 1911 pistol, ensuring unequaled reliability.
Bull barrel design keeps maximum weight forward, reducing muzzle lift and recoil.

Specifications: Height (inches) 90° to barrel: 4.75
Weight (ounces) with empty magazine: 25
Length (inches): 6.8
Magazine capacity: 7
Recoil spring (pounds): 18.0
Full length guide rod

Frame: Material: Aluminum
Finish: Matte black
Width (inches): 1.28

Slide: Material: Steel
Finish: Matte black

Barrel: Length (inches): 3
Steel, match grade
Twist rate (left hand): 16
Ramped

Sights: Meprolight Tritium 3-dot night sight, fixed
Radius (inches): 4.8

Grips: Tactical gray
Crimson trace lasergrips

Trigger: Aluminum Match Grade
Factory setting (approx. pounds): 4.0 - 5.0

Suggested
Retail Price: $1263.00 Ultra Carry II/ Night Sights (LG)™ .45 ACP

.45 has stopping power but not penetration...if your target is hiding behind a car door or some other sturdy object the .45 is basically useless

True, but I'm more worried about over penetrating and hitting an innocent bystander than trying to shoot someone hiding behind something like that.
I'm not too worried about long range, and I'm not worried about capacity. I'm not carrying to get into a shoot out, and if I'm shooting at someone over 30 yards away or spraying the target it's harder to call self defense.
If it wasn't for Glaser Safety Bullets I probably wouldn't have chosen a Magnum either.
But I think with a short barrel .357 I'll have the small size and versatility of being able to plink with .38's and load a combination of Glasers for knock down and a couple of Magnums later in the cylinder just in case I need to stop something big.

is that the specs of the judge with the 3" barrel? i ordered one in stainless, i pick it up tomorrow, morning of course:)

thats why i went with the judge for the house, i also have a HK .45 but in the house i wouldnt want to shoot it

The fact that you still have both arms has everything to do with you not having to touch off a few rounds at a bear with my .454 loaded with Corbons the day I loaned it to you. :)