Good guns for CCW (Vanity)

http://www.freerepublic.com ^ | 11/17/2008 | Me

[Red in Blue PA]

I am currently thinking about getting a Kimber .45 Custom II, but am probably going to put it on hold as I would like a gun for CCW.

I tried my dad's Ruger LCP and it was very nice and light, but I would like greater stopping power with a CCW. So I was thinking about taking the plunge and getting a Kimber Ultra Carry .45. Does anyone here have one? And if so, how accuarate are they? A 3 inch barrel is about the same as the Ruger LCP I think, and I am concerned about its accuracy.

Many TIA

[SkyDancer]

A LEO friend of mine said that the majority of gunfights happen around 9-12 feet some even closer ... I carry a .32 Beretta Tomcat with Glazer Safeties ....

[Red in Blue PA]

If that is the case then the LCP may fit the bill, and save me a boatload of money.

[AlaskaErik]

The Ruger LCP is a poor choice as a primary carry pistol. I have one and would only use it in the summer as a pocket gun when I can't conceal anything else. My normal carry gun is a Glock 23. It is a compact .40 pistol that conceals pretty well, is not too expensive and is extremely reliable. Kimber is all right, but I don't like “cocked and locked” type pistols, so I stay away from the 1911s. Best thing to do is go to a range that rents pistols and try them all out and get the one that works best for you.

[Shyla]

I know this is not relevant to the thread but my grandson turned one Friday.

Part of his gift is a AK 47. He will not gain full possession of it until he is 21, but he shall learn how to use it when he is 10.

Thought if we waited (well, not we, my hubby) it would be outlawed by then.

[Red in Blue PA]

A local store (with a poor reputation IMO) had Glocks on sale this past weekend for $499 (approx 5 models). Maybe I should check them out.

[Red in Blue PA]

In the past 4 weeks, I bought:

Ruger P95 9mm
Remington 870
Rossi .223
Henry 22

And now I am lookng for a CCW, though I would really like to get a Kimber Custom II .45.

And I just applied for my CCW. I grew up with guns but am just getting back into them after about 20+ years.

[Shyla]

We do have quite a collection. Hubby’s goes back many years.

Sigh, he is not done yet...with the collection : )

It does make sense. Sad but true.

[Frantzie]

I am considering the newish Beretta 9 mm carry or the XD 9 mm or the new Ruger carry 9 mm SR9(?).

Any suggestions?

[bmwcyle]

I vote XD 9.

[Doohickey]

This is my carry. It's not exactly small, but then neither am I. It works pretty well for me.

[OKSooner]

There's only one piece for CCW, that would be the S&W 642 or 442 revolvers.

Okay, make it two. Check out "The 642 Club at www.thehighroad.org.

[Billthedrill]

Love Kimbers. Beautifully made, reliable, pack a punch. The model you're asking about is more than sufficiently accurate for CCW - my personal definition of which is A-zone hits at 25 meters, which is quite outside the normal range of an urban social affair. BUT

You will need to maintain it. Ultra-compact .45s can be touchy with respect to recoil springs - change yours annually. And make sure you check for potential feed problems with the same self-defense ammunition you plan on carrying. It's an expensive way to practice but what's your life worth?

There are other alternatives that are worth considering, depending on how you usually dress when you carry and what you're used to in terms of training. In the wintertime I've carried a full-frame gummint model .45 (yes, a Kimber) with no fuss and I'm a little guy. In the summer, though, I'll opt for a .40 S&W Glock, a 9mm Kahr, or a .38 spl snubbie because there just isn't room for the bigger platform. Your mileage will certainly vary! With decent shot placement at social distances they'll all do just fine.

Oh, and budget for some decent leather. It makes ALL the difference in CCW.

[Kirkwood]

My advice will depend on how/where you plan to conceal it.

[Red in Blue PA]

How big are you? I am relatively tall but was concerned that the P95 would be too large. But your carry looks to be larger than my P95.

[Red in Blue PA]

Thanks for the post. Kimbers, from all I have read, have excellent reputations.

I have shot my dad’s Custom II and it is very nice, though I am not nearly as accurate as he is;-)

[mylife]

XD

[MaxMax]

I've had the Kimber Ultra Carry II for over a year now with over 800 rounds through it.
It's extremely accurate and very light weight. I've tried many other .45s and found
this one to be just right for myself. With the right holster it's
invisible even with your shirt tucked in.

Go check it out.

[mylife]

I got a 442 and you forget its there.

[Hugin]

A concealed carry gun doesn't do you any good if you aren't carrying it. IMHO nothing is easier than a small, light snubby revolver that you can slip into your pant's pocket even on hot days.

Smith and Wesson Model 340PD Revolver 357 Magnum

"Smith & Wesson combined a Scandium alloy frame with a Titanium cylinder to build the strongest and lightest weight .357 Magnum revolver made. The result...maximum power in a small, lightweight, easy-to-carry package. Scandium alloy is used for small, medium and large frame revolvers. Smith & Wesson's lightest and strongest revolvers deliver dependable power every time."