Gun Shopping Update with Question

[TLynnHughes]

Sorry to hear that you and the Kimber are not for each other, but glad you found out before spending the money.

I'm sorry too. I was really bummed
They're nice looking guns and everyone has spoken so highly of them. Oh well...

T.

[RiverRat]

T, here is what the Mrs. carries, had it custom made with the short trigger and small grips, it's a 4";



Here's what I'm carrying, it's also a 3.9". Both are much more accurate than the shooter;


I think either would satisfy your accuracy requirement. If you are ever down this way, you are welcome to take them out and see if they work for you. Both of us have small hands and were never satisfied with any of the black gun options......I love my XD's, but the grips were still too large....I can't even reach the trigger on a Glock.

[glbedd53]

I'm not a Kimber guy but I think if you bought it and shot it for a while you would get better with it. It's probably just to different than what you're used to.

[Salty1]

Could be worth looking at the Sig 239 if you have not decided on the 1911 platform. It comes in 9, 40 and 357 sig. On the 1911 side, the STI's are really nice and have a 2 stage recoil rod & spring (cannot remember the official name of it) that takes a lot of the recoil out of it. A friend has the Escort and it is quite a pistol............

[glbedd53]

I wanted to say that about the P-239 too but I thought maybe I've said it too many times already. Sig is my first choice for quality and reliability.

[Excaliber]

Well I'm going to have to change course. The Kimber is not for me I shot the Pro Carry today and was really disappointed. I'm reasonably accurate with my H&K but I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the Kimber. I've shot my brother's .45 and I even do ok with that. I'm sure glad I rook the time to shoot before I plunked down the $$$.

Back to shopping. Any thoughts?

T.

Yes. It's most likely not the gun.

The problem is very likely the difference between a long, heavy double action trigger like the H&K that you're used to and the short light single action trigger of a 1911. If you're leaning toward going with a single action gun of any brand, you'll have to spend a little time on single action trigger technique or you won't be happy with any of them.

[TLynnHughes]

Yes. It's most likely not the gun.

The problem is very likely the difference between a long, heavy double action trigger like the H&K that you're used to and the short light single action trigger of a 1911. If you're leaning toward going with a single action gun of any brand, you'll have to spend a little time on single action trigger technique or you won't be happy with any of them.

Oh it absolutely was NOT the gun. Williamkevin shot just fine with it. It was me and the gun as a team. I still think they're fine weapons, they just aren't for me. My H&K has had a trigger job so after the initial DA trigger pull, the subsequent SA ones are short and light. I love it and I actually liked the trigger pull on the Kimber. I think it was the single stack vs a double stack. I have fairly large hands and really long fingers, so it just wasn't a good fit. I couldn't get the heel of my palm on the grip. I dunno if that made a difference or not. Overall, I just wasn't "feeling" it so to speak.

I am going to take a look at that Sig since more than one person has recommended it. I have a coworker who is in love with his Kahr and I'd like to shoot that. If I don't love either one of those, I may just stick with the H&K Compact for my carry and spend the money on a Texas edition Bushmaster.

And RiverRat, if I'm ever up that way, I'd like to take you up on shooting those guns. Those are fine looking firearms!

T.

[RiverRat]

And RiverRat, if I'm ever up that way, I'd like to take you up on shooting those guns. Those are fine looking firearms!

T.

You are always welcome. Just point the Mustang South. I have to edit the post, I said she shot a box and went to her TRP.....she shot 150-200 rounds with the WC before swapping over to her TRP. I stand corrected. Anyhow, ya'll hollar if you get in the neighborhood sometime.

[CaptWoodrow10]

Ok. Somethings wrong. There is talk about Kimbers and 1911's in general... Where is TAM?

[USA1]

Ok. Somethings wrong. There is talk about Kimbers and 1911's in general... Where is TAM?

He's busy on another thread giving the Glock guys a hard time.

[Kevinf2349]

Ok. Somethings wrong. There is talk about Kimbers and 1911's in general... Where is TAM?

He's busy on another thread giving the Glock guys a hard time.

What for? For buying a reliable, dependable gun that nobody should see anyway?

[Excaliber]

Yes. It's most likely not the gun.

The problem is very likely the difference between a long, heavy double action trigger like the H&K that you're used to and the short light single action trigger of a 1911. If you're leaning toward going with a single action gun of any brand, you'll have to spend a little time on single action trigger technique or you won't be happy with any of them.

Oh it absolutely was NOT the gun. Williamkevin shot just fine with it. It was me and the gun as a team. I still think they're fine weapons, they just aren't for me. My H&K has had a trigger job so after the initial DA trigger pull, the subsequent SA ones are short and light. I love it and I actually liked the trigger pull on the Kimber. I think it was the single stack vs a double stack. I have fairly large hands and really long fingers, so it just wasn't a good fit. I couldn't get the heel of my palm on the grip. I dunno if that made a difference or not. Overall, I just wasn't "feeling" it so to speak.

I am going to take a look at that Sig since more than one person has recommended it. I have a coworker who is in love with his Kahr and I'd like to shoot that. If I don't love either one of those, I may just stick with the H&K Compact for my carry and spend the money on a Texas edition Bushmaster.

And RiverRat, if I'm ever up that way, I'd like to take you up on shooting those guns. Those are fine looking firearms!

T.

The Kahr's are good guns, but their claim to fame is very small size. I've got one, and it took about an hour of range time before I figured out a way to hold it so it shot well and I didn't unintentionally either hit the slide release and lock the slide open or drop the magazine when I fired it. If the 1911's grip is a too small challenge, you likely won't find a solution there.

One of the nice things about 1911's is that there are all kinds of grips made for them. Before giving up on this time proven design, you might try a set of Hogue's wrap around grips that add considerable meat to that area without making it harder to conceal. Hogue also makes a non wraparound style that's thicker than standard grips but without the front strap. They're very comfortable and they work great with my big paws. The front strap version is shown in the image below.

Another adaptation that can help is the rounded mainspring housing. (Also shown in the image below).



The most important thing is to find a reliable gun in a decent caliber that you can shoot like an extension of your hand.

[TLynnHughes]

The Kahr's are good guns, but their claim to fame is very small size. I've got one, and it took about an hour of range time before I figured out a way to hold it so it shot well and I didn't unintentionally either hit the slide release and lock the slide open or drop the magazine when I fired it. If the 1911's grip is a too small challenge, you likely won't find a solution there.

One of the nice things about 1911's is that there are all kinds of grips made for them. Before giving up on this time proven design, you might try a set of Hogue's wrap around grips that add considerable meat to that area without making it harder to conceal. Hogue also makes a non wraparound style that's thicker than standard grips but without the front strap. They're very comfortable and they work great with my big paws. The front strap version is shown in the image below.

Another adaptation that can help is the rounded mainspring housing. (Also shown in the image below).



The most important thing is to find a reliable gun in a decent caliber that you can shoot like an extension of your hand.

Excellent ideas!! Thank you! Fortunately, I can kind of experiment with grips on the Pro Carry (if williamkevin will let me ) and I'm in no hurry to buy. I know it kind of didn't make any sense if the grip of the Kimber was too small, that I'd be going to an even smaller gun. I was thinking since the Kimber was out of contention, I'd get a smaller, cheaper, yet reliable gun that would be easier for me to conceal on those days when the H&K Compact was too big.

Thanks again for your feedback. It has been very helpful.

T.

[Excaliber]

The Kahr's are good guns, but their claim to fame is very small size. I've got one, and it took about an hour of range time before I figured out a way to hold it so it shot well and I didn't unintentionally either hit the slide release and lock the slide open or drop the magazine when I fired it. If the 1911's grip is a too small challenge, you likely won't find a solution there.

One of the nice things about 1911's is that there are all kinds of grips made for them. Before giving up on this time proven design, you might try a set of Hogue's wrap around grips that add considerable meat to that area without making it harder to conceal. Hogue also makes a non wraparound style that's thicker than standard grips but without the front strap. They're very comfortable and they work great with my big paws. The front strap version is shown in the image below.

Another adaptation that can help is the rounded mainspring housing. (Also shown in the image below).



The most important thing is to find a reliable gun in a decent caliber that you can shoot like an extension of your hand.

Excellent ideas!! Thank you! Fortunately, I can kind of experiment with grips on the Pro Carry (if williamkevin will let me ) and I'm in no hurry to buy. I know it kind of didn't make any sense if the grip of the Kimber was too small, that I'd be going to an even smaller gun. I was thinking since the Kimber was out of contention, I'd get a smaller, cheaper, yet reliable gun that would be easier for me to conceal on those days when the H&K Compact was too big.

Thanks again for your feedback. It has been very helpful.

T.

You might take a look at the S&W M&P line of pistols. They're good, reliable guns, come in compact versions in multiple calibers, and have a unique interchangeable backstrap system that allows the user to adapt the size of the grip to his or her hands. Pic below, and sample specs here.

[G.A. Heath]

The M&P isn't unique with the interchangeable backstraps. Beretta's PX4 storm, Springfield Armory XDm, some Taurus models, Some FN models, and even the 4th gen Glocks. Out of all the guns I have handled with this feature I like the M&P's system the best, followed by Glocks, and then followed by Beretta's. For the record I do not own any of those at this time, and only owned the PX4 storm in the past. I absolutely hate Springfield's system (yet I own two XDm pistols).