New carry pistol - advice?

[Lohman446]

Oh man, taking my required pistol class today and I am so going to end up wtih a new pistol in the next few months - my current carry piece is a Taurus Millenium in .45 but wow The Taurus is an awesome carry gun, relatively light, relatively small, and in .45... I just want a higher end one.. well just because.. something a touch more "exotic"


Thinking

There was a compact custom Kimber there for $700 in .40ACP

HK in .40 - forget what model at about $800

A couple of the Wilson Custom Combat pistols in .45 at $1200 or so

I really liked the Kimber - except for the beavertail safety thing on it... just an awesome gun. The HK fit my hand soo well without that beavertail safety... the Wilson was awesome - built soo well, but I really am not sure that I want a full-size .45 and again.. that safety bugs me.

I tried the Glocks - I really really want an external safety and just cannot get over not having one. The Sigs were nice but just did not "click" A couple of the Para Ordanance were nice guns and I could easily see having one.. and I could stand the compact ones. My other thoughts are just a small .357 revolover - or something chambered in .357 mag in an autopistol - any such animal??

I really liked the Kimber though... man once I get a few bills paid... any advice on new pistols? I know you have it, lets hear it.

[BlackVCG]

HK USP .40 S&W Compact.

[CasingBill]

My Uncle has a couple of Kimbers.....Friggin Sweet!....I'm poor so I only have a S&W.

Highly recommend the Kimber.

[Miscue]

I want to get a small Kimber .45.

[Target Practice]

I've heard a lot from law enforcement offices where they've had issues with the USPs. I would definately read up on them.

I'd skip the USP, and go for the Kimber (Or, if you can easily afford it, the Wilson). Yeah, it's gonna cost you more, but you'd have the reassurance of having a Kimber. The LAPD SWAT has switched to the Kimber Custom II as there sidearm. It went up against SA, Glock, S&w, And HK. Definately check on out.

[Eatem Alive]

I've heard a lot from law enforcement offices where they've had issues with the USPs. I would definately read up on them.

my brother in law works for a local pd and they also had issues, especially with the durability and longevity. they ended up going with glock .40's

[SAW]

The LAPD SWAT has switched to the Kimber Custom II as there sidearm. It went up against SA, Glock, S&w, And HK. Definately check on out.

I read up on an article outlining the tests (NRA magazine I believe). Kimber is way up there when it comes to reliablity, it will take care of you.

[Steelrat]

IMHO, Colt .45-style pistols are terrible carry weapons. In order for them to be of any use in an emergency, you need to carry them "cocked and locked" which creates a whole host of safety concerns. People who use them for such situations either train A LOT with them, to where handling them becomes second nature, or are just trying to act cool.

I think the best choice is an H&K or Sig-Sauer DA, DAK, or whatever that DA only system that H&K uses now. The various DA type triggers are the absolute best for situations where your adrenailine will be pumping, since the normal DA/SA triggers are far too light after the first shot. I have seen a lot of videos of accidental discharges that can be directly attributed to stress/adrenaline and light DA/SA or glock-type triggers.

For recreational shooting, I do love the .45 colt-type pistols.

[Steelrat]

I've heard a lot from law enforcement offices where they've had issues with the USPs. I would definately read up on them.

I'd skip the USP, and go for the Kimber (Or, if you can easily afford it, the Wilson). Yeah, it's gonna cost you more, but you'd have the reassurance of having a Kimber. The LAPD SWAT has switched to the Kimber Custom II as there sidearm. It went up against SA, Glock, S&w, And HK. Definately check on out.

LAPD SWAT trains and trains with their guns. Just keep that in mind.

[Target Practice]

LAPD SWAT trains and trains with their guns. Just keep that in mind.

Oh, yeah, I know that. However, for a carry pistol, the situation SHOULD be the same.

I don't believe that you have to be "locked and cocked" to carry it effectively. For example, IIRC, the Israelis sidearms with an empty chamber. Wheh they draw, they are forced to rack the slide as they are coming into their stance. Test have shown that needing to take that extra time to chamber a round leads to more time spent viewing and assessing the target, and improves overall accuracy, without sacrificing lots of time. Try it next time you're at the range, and see if you notice a difference.

[Steelrat]

Oh, yeah, I know that. However, for a carry pistol, the situation SHOULD be the same.

I don't believe that you have to be "locked and cocked" to carry it effectively. For example, IIRC, the Israelis sidearms with an empty chamber. Wheh they draw, they are forced to rack the slide as they are coming into their stance. Test have shown that needing to take that extra time to chamber a round leads to more time spent viewing and assessing the target, and improves overall accuracy, without sacrificing lots of time. Try it next time you're at the range, and see if you notice a difference.

US Police experience is the exact opposite. Usually, the engagement happens within less than 5 seconds, and very often it ends up being point shooting (not using the sights) or firing from the hip. Every last millisecond in a gunfight is essential, and you cannot sacrifice any of it, especially if the situation is developing so quickly that you have not had time to draw your weapon beforehand. If you are a police officer, and you carry an weapon without a round in the chamber, chances are that you will die if you get in a gunfight. If a weapon is intended to be used for self defense, I would never, ever carry it without a round in the chamber.


Most PD personnel (including FBI HRT) that carry the colt-type .45s carry them cocked and locked.

[Target Practice]

Have you noticed that in almost all sudden shootouts, the police don't hit ANYTHING? Look, if your getting a CCW permit, you sure as hell better be training to use the weapon properly.

In any event, he is not a police officer. If, however, he trains with a weapon with an empty chamber, he will become proficient with a weapon with an empty chamber.

[Alpha]

Ahh teh world of Firearms. Too bad I live in Massachusetts. If you say the word gun, you get trmpled by a crowd of flaming liberals claiming that you own a thermonuclear device and are going to destroy the eastern united states with it.

[Steelrat]

Have you noticed that in almost all sudden shootouts, the police don't hit ANYTHING? Look, if your getting a CCW permit, you sure as hell better be training to use the weapon properly.

In any event, he is not a police officer. If, however, he trains with a weapon with an empty chamber, he will become proficient with a weapon with an empty chamber.

The police hit stuff just fine in shootouts, trust me on that. You'd see a lot more dead cops if they carried their weapons unloaded. The reason I am talking about engagements is because he said he wanted a carry pistol. The only reason I can think of to carry a pistol around is for self defense, unless he meant carrying it to and from the range, which i doubt

And there is training with a pistol, and then there is training with a pistol. I don't think he intends to train with it like LAPD SWAT practices with theirs, but I could be wrong

[Steelrat]

Ahh teh world of Firearms. Too bad I live in Massachusetts. If you say the word gun, you get trmpled by a crowd of flaming liberals claiming that you own a thermonuclear device and are going to destroy the eastern united states with it.

Ugh, I feel your pain. I had to get a handgun permit while living there, it was like pulling teeth. And god forbid you should want the permit to cover anything other than target shooting.