Daguerre
Member
Well guys, I've got a bunch of 1911's, lots of Government-sized models and a couple of Kimber Compacts. And I love these guns dearly. But I'm considering buying a sub-compact pistol in a potent caliber, though probably not a 1911 pattern pistol.
No disrespect to owners of them, but I'm pretty leery of the 3" 1911's.... I know there are examples of them which run beautifully, but they can be so damned finnicky that I think I want a more current DA/SA or all DA design. I am NOT interested in a Kimber Series II, though I love my Compact CDP and Compact Stainless Series 1 pistols. The Springfield Micros & Kimber Ultra II's are not guns I wish to consider.
I like .45 caliber quite a bit, but I am every bit as confident in the stopping power of .40 and somewhat comfortable with the stopping power of 9mm +P. I already own two Browning Hi-Power pistols in .40 and they are absolutely superb guns... so I'm well into the .45 and .40 calibers already. I don't yet own any 9mm, though.
Some of the guns which I feel are excellent choices and which I'm considering for a subcompact are these:
• Kahr MK9 - 9mm, excellent quality, reasonable power, very good reliability, very compact, pretty good trigger, 3" barrel, steel frame, 6+1 and 7+1, 24 oz.
• Kahr MK40 - .40, excellent quality, excellent power, very good reliability, very compact, pretty good trigger, 3" barrel, steel frame, 5+1 and 6+1, 25 oz.
• Glock 36 - .45 ACP very reliable (the most important criterion to me!), fairly compact, excellent power, funky trigger, blocky feel, 3.78" barrel, 6+1 capacity, 22.6 oz.
• S&W CS45 - excellent reliability, excellent power, very compact, not sure about the trigger feel, but owners of this very small .45 TOTALLY love them. 3 1/4" barrel, alloy frame, 6+1 rounds, ambi safety lever, 24 oz., looks like a real winner.
• ParaOrdinance ParaCarry 6.45 LDA - excellent reliability (I think???), excellent power, very compact, supposedly excellent DA trigger. 3" barrel, 6+1 rounds, 30 oz. HEAVY.
• HK USP Compact 45 - excellent reliability, excellent power & capacity, semi-compact, blocky design, reasonable DA/SA trigger. 3.6" barrel, 8+1 rounds, 26 oz. One of the world's best guns.
• SIG 239 .40 - excellent reliability, excellent power & capacity, compact, sleek design, trigger ???. 3.6" barrel, 8+1 rounds, 29.8 oz. Another of the world's best guns.
So there it is... have I missed anything that ranks as highly as this bunch of pistols?
Here are my thoughts:
If the Glock had a better trigger, it would probably be that, even though I think they're ugly and don't like the blockiness. They're reliability and simplicity are great draws. Or maybe I could get used to that trigger.... hmmmm. But this gun isn't much smaller than my Kimber Compact CDP. I think this is a good choice, though.
That S&W CS45 sure looks tempting... I hear it's an awesome little pistol. I'm drawn to it a lot more than the Glock. And it's quite a bit smaller than my smallest 1911, my Kimber Compact CDP. So size and weight and caliber are big plusses. Being from S&W is a big plus to me as well. Could be the one.
I hear the Paras are nice, but I'm not sure they are crying out to me... so far anyway. Perhaps I could be convinced about the 6.45 LDA, I'm not sure.
The HK USP has a top quality reputation, but it's probably not much different in size than my Kimber Compact CDP and I don't really like it's "swat-team" looks or blockiness... too bad, but I'm sure it's a great gun. Might as well just pack the Kimber Compact CDP.
The SIG 239 looks like a great pistol and I'm a believer in the .40 caliber as a defense round, just as much as .45. I like it's looks & design & quality. But this gun is similar in size to my Kimber Compact CDP and it's a fair bit bigger and heavier than the Smith CS45. Again, might as well just pack the Kimber Compact CDP. I'm leaning toward lighter and smaller, and this gun isn't quite that. Great gun though. Hmmmm.
I'll probably wind up with two of these guns. I know I want a Kahr MK9 any way you slice it. That's a done deal in my mind. But I'll still want a .40 or a .45 that is smaller than my Kimber Compact CDP, as well.
I'm interested in hearing others views on what gun would be best suited as the "other". My initial gut feeling is to go with the Smith & Wesson CS45 because it's notably smaller than my Kimber Compact CDP and I know Smith & Wesson products are top notch. None of the other guns are as concealable. If you were in my position, which would you pick, financial considerations aside...?
No disrespect to owners of them, but I'm pretty leery of the 3" 1911's.... I know there are examples of them which run beautifully, but they can be so damned finnicky that I think I want a more current DA/SA or all DA design. I am NOT interested in a Kimber Series II, though I love my Compact CDP and Compact Stainless Series 1 pistols. The Springfield Micros & Kimber Ultra II's are not guns I wish to consider.
I like .45 caliber quite a bit, but I am every bit as confident in the stopping power of .40 and somewhat comfortable with the stopping power of 9mm +P. I already own two Browning Hi-Power pistols in .40 and they are absolutely superb guns... so I'm well into the .45 and .40 calibers already. I don't yet own any 9mm, though.
Some of the guns which I feel are excellent choices and which I'm considering for a subcompact are these:
• Kahr MK9 - 9mm, excellent quality, reasonable power, very good reliability, very compact, pretty good trigger, 3" barrel, steel frame, 6+1 and 7+1, 24 oz.
• Kahr MK40 - .40, excellent quality, excellent power, very good reliability, very compact, pretty good trigger, 3" barrel, steel frame, 5+1 and 6+1, 25 oz.
• Glock 36 - .45 ACP very reliable (the most important criterion to me!), fairly compact, excellent power, funky trigger, blocky feel, 3.78" barrel, 6+1 capacity, 22.6 oz.
• S&W CS45 - excellent reliability, excellent power, very compact, not sure about the trigger feel, but owners of this very small .45 TOTALLY love them. 3 1/4" barrel, alloy frame, 6+1 rounds, ambi safety lever, 24 oz., looks like a real winner.
• ParaOrdinance ParaCarry 6.45 LDA - excellent reliability (I think???), excellent power, very compact, supposedly excellent DA trigger. 3" barrel, 6+1 rounds, 30 oz. HEAVY.
• HK USP Compact 45 - excellent reliability, excellent power & capacity, semi-compact, blocky design, reasonable DA/SA trigger. 3.6" barrel, 8+1 rounds, 26 oz. One of the world's best guns.
• SIG 239 .40 - excellent reliability, excellent power & capacity, compact, sleek design, trigger ???. 3.6" barrel, 8+1 rounds, 29.8 oz. Another of the world's best guns.
So there it is... have I missed anything that ranks as highly as this bunch of pistols?
Here are my thoughts:
If the Glock had a better trigger, it would probably be that, even though I think they're ugly and don't like the blockiness. They're reliability and simplicity are great draws. Or maybe I could get used to that trigger.... hmmmm. But this gun isn't much smaller than my Kimber Compact CDP. I think this is a good choice, though.
That S&W CS45 sure looks tempting... I hear it's an awesome little pistol. I'm drawn to it a lot more than the Glock. And it's quite a bit smaller than my smallest 1911, my Kimber Compact CDP. So size and weight and caliber are big plusses. Being from S&W is a big plus to me as well. Could be the one.
I hear the Paras are nice, but I'm not sure they are crying out to me... so far anyway. Perhaps I could be convinced about the 6.45 LDA, I'm not sure.
The HK USP has a top quality reputation, but it's probably not much different in size than my Kimber Compact CDP and I don't really like it's "swat-team" looks or blockiness... too bad, but I'm sure it's a great gun. Might as well just pack the Kimber Compact CDP.
The SIG 239 looks like a great pistol and I'm a believer in the .40 caliber as a defense round, just as much as .45. I like it's looks & design & quality. But this gun is similar in size to my Kimber Compact CDP and it's a fair bit bigger and heavier than the Smith CS45. Again, might as well just pack the Kimber Compact CDP. I'm leaning toward lighter and smaller, and this gun isn't quite that. Great gun though. Hmmmm.
I'll probably wind up with two of these guns. I know I want a Kahr MK9 any way you slice it. That's a done deal in my mind. But I'll still want a .40 or a .45 that is smaller than my Kimber Compact CDP, as well.
I'm interested in hearing others views on what gun would be best suited as the "other". My initial gut feeling is to go with the Smith & Wesson CS45 because it's notably smaller than my Kimber Compact CDP and I know Smith & Wesson products are top notch. None of the other guns are as concealable. If you were in my position, which would you pick, financial considerations aside...?
