Opinions on a couple handguns.

[John Schmidt]

Not being well educated on the pros & cons of particular pieces, maybe someone can give me some insight on these two, both are right at $200.

Kel Tec PII 9mm

SCCY CPX 2", 9mm, comes with two 10 rd. mags.

Thoughts...good or bad? The SCCY doesn't have a manual safety which I'm not crazy about, just looking for something for CC/self defense purposes with a reasonable price tag. I'm open to suggestions as well but keep price in mind. 

[hubcapsc]

I have a knowledgeable friend who has a KelTec 9mm (that one?)
and likes it a lot.

-Mike

[John Schmidt]

Thanks Mike, problem....just ckd and it's sold. Oh well....

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Ruger EC9s for $50 more. Very popular and great small CC gun. You should be able to find one for $249 or less.

[Jess from VA]

John, I have no personal experience with the SCCY CPX2 (2 is a model number, not a barrel length, the barrel is 3.1"), but I have read a couple reviews about their new handguns and they are quite mixed.  Some like them and others really don't.  Just type in the make and model and add "review" and read them.

I know you are on a budget, but without a carry permit, I would recommend against any budget small (to tiny) handgun primarily made for pocket carry.  Most have small fixed sights with short barrels and it's tough to hit things with them other than minute of bad guy standing in front of you.  

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-sccy-cpx-2/

https://gununiversity.com/sccy-9mm-review/

There's more.

Kel Tec has a decent reputation, but it's also a very small carry gun.

https://gunsgunsguns.net/kel-tec-p-11/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-kel-tec-p-11-report-review.789778/

There's more

If you don't have a permit and can't carry legally, I'd save up a bit and look for a Glock 19 (or shorty G26) or some other more reputable mid size 9mm, all of which are much better handguns than small pocket guns.  And still easy to hide though not in a pocket.

If you really want a small and reliable handgun, consider the budget Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .38 snub (with or without crimson trace laser on board).  https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-smith-wesson-bodyguard-38-and-bodyguard-380/

Look in the Wisconsin ArmsList for good used ones. (78 pages, new and used) (you can narrow the search for closer to where you live)

https://www.armslist.com/classifieds/wisconsin/handguns

I just picked up one of these quality budget small single-stack 9mm Kahr CM9s used with holster (and the same Talon grip tape, but only 2 mags) for $300 last November.
Green Bay
https://www.armslist.com/posts/10634380/green-bay-wisconsin-handguns-for-sale-trade--kahr-cm9-compact-9mm-with-holsters



 

[John Schmidt]

Thanks guys, that info gives me something to dig through. I no longer have a CC permit, going back more years than I care to remember I did. Wasn't exactly the same as current CCs but served much the same purpose. Got some kind of paper from my HS buddy's dad who was a captain on the local police dept. I don't think getting a permit would be all that difficult, guess it depends on where you live. I think in Florida....or maybe all over....if you were ex-military it was pretty much a done deal. No classes, instruction, etc., required however I'd most likely would do it simply for safety purposes due to the passage of time.

[Jess from VA]

https://www.usacarry.com/wisconsin_concealed_carry_permit_information.html

https://concealedcarry.doj.wi.gov/ccwonline/steps/startApplication.html#!

Wisconsin permits honored here:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

[DGS65]

Florida is a shall issue State just take the NRA basic course and pay the fee as long as there is no reason not to issue, you will  be granted a CCW.  NY is an entirely different story!
Take care of the paperwork first,  then go to a range that has loaner or rentals for you to try and see what you like and shoot well.  What's good for one is not for another!  Guns and holsters are very hard to got right on the first try.

[Jess from VA]

Florida is a shall issue State just take the NRA basic course and pay the fee..... and get the background check.

So is Wisconsin, his legal residence (the same requirements, but costs may differ, looks like Wisconsin is only $40).  

But John, the Wisconsin permit is good all over, but not in FL for some reason.  

After you get the Wisconsin permit (or even if you don't), you can apply/pay for a FL non-resident permit by mail (with proof of training, yada).  IF you want to be able to carry when visiting down there.  And that FL permit also gives you reciprocity all over.

Now interestingly, if you get a FL nonresident permit, but not a Wisconsin permit, Wisconsin is said to recognize it but with some limitation.   It appears to be limited to any non-resident permits only issued/renewed after 8/1/2013... which your new one would be.  So a FL non resident permit may be the better choice (if you want FL coverage).

But if deciding to only get one state permit (FL or WI), you want to look at each State's list of reciprocal states;  FL and WI probably overlap some, but one of them may cover more states you may travel in than the other. (The US Carry site below will give you reciprocity maps to compare.)

Finally, WI license lasts 5 years to renewal, but FL is 7.  

FLORIDA: At the time this is going online (2016), the Florida nonresident permit cost $112. You may deduct $42 for the fingerprint processing fee if you have your fingerprints digitally scanned by your local law enforcement agency and are submitting a digital copy.

https://dailycaller.com/2016/06/29/9-things-to-know-before-applying-for-a-nonresident-pistol-permit/

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/fl-gun-laws/

https://carrypermitapplication.org/florida-assistance/

https://licensing.freshfromflorida.com/forms/FormsRequest790.aspx

[Black Pearl's Captain]

It's always best to have a CCW permit for the state in which you reside for one main reason. The Gun Free School Zones act.

You can only legally CCW carry (outside) within 1000' of a school in the state you reside per the GFSZ act. In other words MANY of us who have permits are bad boys every time we ride on the highway by a school out of state. I've never heard of any prosecutions.

Read the Carrying section in the below link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun-Free_School_Zones_Act_of_1990

[old2soon]

           IF yer not in an azz bustin hurry to git a pistol when Ross and I git up thataway I'll make sure he brings his SCCY and I'll bring my compact S&W .40. I have a KelTec but It's in .380 caliber. Both of us have S&W SVEs but his is in 9MM and mines in .40 cal. Is there a range close by yer casa cuz we can drag up a few rounds fer any and all of our "stuff"!  The SVEs are a bit more than CCW without a shoulder rig. The pocket on my leather M/C jacket is Not large enough for either one of the SVEs-9 or 40. The compact 40 Smith resides nicely in that pocket however.  And my compact 40 is also sans safety. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

           IF yer not in an azz bustin hurry to git a pistol when Ross and I git up thataway I'll make sure he brings his SCCY and I'll bring my compact S&W .40. I have a KelTec but It's in .380 caliber. Both of us have S&W SVEs but his is in 9MM and mines in .40 cal. Is there a range close by yer casa cuz we can drag up a few rounds fer any and all of our "stuff"!  The SVEs are a bit more than CCW without a shoulder rig. The pocket on my leather M/C jacket is Not large enough for either one of the SVEs-9 or 40. The compact 40 Smith resides nicely in that pocket however.  And my compact 40 is also sans safety. RIDE SAFE.

Dennis, I'll have to check about the gun range, still a newbie in these parts.