Took CCW class today.

[Sidekick]

And I passed easily. I'm not sure what my score was on the shooting part. All I can tell you is that the instructor looked at the ragged hole surrounded by a few fliers and said "You passed".:cool1: And I have never considered myself a particularly good pistol shot but....damn, I was waaaay better in my shooting and gun handling than most of the folks there. I was surprised at the number of people that fumbled around with their weapons. It was obvious that they weren't familiar with them. One thing that I did that probably helped me more than anything was that for ten days prior to the course I fired 5 rounds each out of both pistols at different ranges at home. It was good practice and I think I'll keep doing that for a while.

Now I just have to find something better suited for carrying than what I have now. An L framed S&W is just a little much for the belt. And I'm a die hard shirt tucker so that will make it difficult too. I was thinking maybe something like a S&W model 60 might be about right. I really really like 1911's but their just a little on the big side for that. Although a Kimber CDP or a Colt Defender do look tempting. Any suggestions?

[Gil Martin]

Good job passing the course. I am carrying a Smith & Wesson Model 60 as I type this. It depends what you prefer, can handle well and afford. All the best...
Gil

[Dennis Keith]

Being large framed, and poor, I carry what I carry at work, a full size 1911A1 Springfield. It works, even in the summer, but then I got over tucking in my shirts a long time ago, at least those without tails.

[Sidekick]

I hear you, the poor part anyway. My first experience with the 1911 was in the military. Those pistols were at least 40 years old by the time I got my hands on one. And they acted like forty year old pistols that had been owned by 745 people. And I have to admit that I was never that impressed with them until several years after I was discharged and I got the chance to shoot a friends Springfield Armory 1911 National Match that had a little work done on it. MY GOD!!! I picked that thing up and it just magically hit targets. He offered to sell it to me once but I was on hard times and just couldn't do it. It still haunts me. But I'm in a bit of mental turmoil. Here's the problem. I like the simplicity of a Glock style pistol. They shoot well enough and are affordable. But they have no soul. 1911's do. Good ones anyway. Blued steel and walnut grips always feel more "alive" than plastic coated "whatever". And here is the problem with my auto pistol choice. Cheap and functional or NOT cheap and fantastic. My revolver choice is easy. I already have a full sized S&W .357 so a smaller snubnose is already in my muscle memory. I'm torn by what I want versus by what really makes more sense. But then again it doesn't make much difference right now anyway because until I get my cancer crap paid off I ain't buying anything...btw, don't get cancer. It's nothing but trouble.

[Bushman]

Steve, one of my first cf handguns was a S&W M60 and I still have it. Being stainless it was my truck gun for a lot of years because of the condensation. Bullets today for the .38 Special grew it up some from back in the '70's. A big improvement this last year was putting a larger set of Pachmayr rubber grips on it. It made it less concealable, but way more shootable. Later on I built up a 1911 with all the goodies including night sights. There is no question that I would least like being on the wrong end of that .45 ACP if I was a bad guy, but it is too big to carry casually. The cutest little compromise that I rather like is the Colt MK IV Series 80 .380 Government. It is flatter than the M60, holds more rounds, has a longer barrel, is ss for combating perspiration and it has a longer grip than the .380 Colt Mustang or Pocketlite so it fits in my ham hand. That one just goes in a pocket better than anything else in the gun safe.

[Sidekick]

Thanks, I'll check that out. I have a little cheapo Bryco .380 already but you can throw that thing more accurately than you can shoot it. It's very concealable but it's small enough that the slide just barely misses the top of my hand and it makes me a little nervous to shoot. It's the finest piece of crap that money can buy. I think the M60 is probably what I'll end up with.

[GF.]

i just checked that one on Google... Wiith adjustable sights and a 3" barrel, you could probably even hit something with it.

Seems pretty close to perfect, IMO. At least if it fits your hand.... But I'm confused about cost.... The image result I found at first was listing the price at $440, vs. nearly 2X that on Smith.com. Kind of a huge gap there.....

[Sidekick]

If you're talking about the M60 the .357 is priced higher than the .38 only model. You can buy just about anything cheaper than the manufacturer's suggested price.

[Altjaeger]

Question? I do not hear much about CZ pistols. Their rifles are well regarded and I would expect that to run throughout their line. The pistols seem compact and moderately priced w/ a wide selection of chamberings. Can anyone comment?

[GF.]

Well, just judging from what I see & read on their site... They obviously supply a lot o f police & military outfits with their sidearms, and since they're building some mighty pricey Dan Wesson -labeled 1911s, I would expect that the industry would be pretty intolerant of the sticker price if they weren't worth what they're asking...

Every time I've seen a write-up on one, the reviews have been solid, but of course, the stuff the writers don't like simply never get mentioned in public.....

The P-6 seems like a likely choice, IMO; not sure exactly what's the difference between that and the 75 compact, other than 3/4 of a pound - which must be an alloy frame. Surpised that the difference in price is so slight...

Anyway, these are definitely on my list of options to check out when I'm ready to proceed, though I'm probably leaning more towards the advice I got here to start off with a compact DA wheelgun... More like the aforementioned Model 60, but perhaps a Charter to save a few bucks.

I suppose you're ultimately limited in choices by the frame itself, but it seems like there are far more options for dialing the fit to your hands with a revolver, because you don't have to accommodate the magazine in there....

[Phil T]

A 1911 is easier to conceal than you first think. They are relatively thin compared to a revolver (no round cylinder to bulge). Unless you spend the extra $$ for an aluminum frame, they are heavy, however. I've carried a stainless one for years.
If the price of a S&W revolver is scarey to you, check out Taurus. My wife has a snubby 38 with lasergrips that cost me around $450.
Most importantly, buy a handgun whose grips and trigger reach allow you to put your hand in a position so the gun's length aligns with the bones in your wrist and arm. If your hand ineeds to be on the side of the grips for you to reach and control the trigger, you'll never shoot the gun well.

[Altjaeger]

The other thing is when talking about price most people look new. I have bought several centerfire rifles off the Internet gun auctions and been pleased with them all both in price, plus condition. Recently I decided I want a .38 special revolver for a kayak gun. I load the first two chambers with CCI snake shot loads and follow with 4 Winchester plus power loads. At home and when traveling it is loaded with 6 full house loads.

Shopping the auctions I found a S&W K38 for $225, or $265 after all shipping and transfer cost. Its blueing is well worn from holster use so I suspect it was once a service arm. Although worn cosmetically it is mechanically sound and the finest double action trigger I have used on a revolver. Now a carry gun is likely to pick up wear also. If budgets are strained those auctions are an option I recommend.

[GF.]

Definite agreement there, Alt - think how little use most carry guns get and how much cosmetic wear & tear they see, and it almost seems ridiculous to buy new....

[Sidekick]

I stopped at a gunstore on my way home from the hospital and looked at some S&W Airwieght snubnose .38's. Wow. Really light and smooth. The guy behind the counter says that he never gets any used ones. People seem to keep them.

[GF.]

Ain't that the hell of it? If you know what you want and can't find it used, then you should probably bite the bullet, no? Good news is that with supply and demand working the way they do, the amount you'd save buying used won't amount to much....

[Altjaeger]

Ain't that the hell of it? If you know what you want and can't find it used, then you should probably bite the bullet, no? Good news is that with supply and demand working the way they do, the amount you'd save buying used won't amount to much....

The reason I use the auctions is that I can find the guns seldom found locally. If you just cannot take the thought of seeing a gun before paying then keep going. Hundreds, perhaps thousands use them daily.

[swamp]

take a look at a S&W 642

[Glockboy]

A
I really really like 1911's but their just a little on the big side for that. Although a Kimber CDP or a Colt Defender do look tempting. Any suggestions?

Sidekick:

Although I love 1911's big time, I don't know much about them to be able suggest one that I have experience with. That being said, here is a small 1911 "type" by Sig that you may want to consider. Very small, cute and awesome looking!

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=67&productid=265

Let us know what you end up buying and your evaluation of your new gun!

CT

[Sidekick]

Interesting. Definitely compact!

[Bushman]

Much as I like my little 1911 look alike Colt Government Mark IV Series 80, finding .380 factory ammunition is getting to be a real challenge. 9mm ammo is everywhere, but the smaller .380 ammo really gets scooped up fast. The advent of these little pocket pistols that are actually fun to shoot has really choked down the available ammunition supply around here.