i keep searching

[Deleted]

Every day I look to see what's new or that I've overlooked in the handgun line for concealed self-defense purposes, and I still can't find anything better than the Glock 30S.
If I were a 9MM guy I'd choose the G26; for .40S&W, I'd take the G27.

Everything else continues to fall short for compactness, affordability, decent cartridge capacity, ease of use and durability.   And if the 26 & 27 are as accurate as my 30S, the deal is definitely complete.

[Deleted]

Glock 43 is the ultimate concealed carry handgun although I wouldn't carry one. I prefer more capacity, sight radius, etc. which is why my choice is the the all German made version of the SIG SP2022 (SigPro) 9mm. I wouldn't mind the SIG 357 version though.

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Jul 27, 2017 19:53:33 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Glock 43 is the ultimate concealed carry handgun although I wouldn't carry one. I prefer more capacity, sight radius, etc. which is why my choice is the the all German made version of the SIG SP2022 (SigPro) 9mm. I wouldn't mind the SIG 357 version though.

The G43 doesn't offer anything that you can't get in a Colt Detective Special loaded with Buffalo Bore +P LSWCHP's (which is what I carry in my Colt Agent).   [OK, technically you get one more shot.]
And why would anyone in his right mind choose a 7 shot 9MM (G43) over an 11 shot .45ACP (G30S)?   That's just plain stupid.

I am researching small concealed carry defensive handguns where sight radius doesn't matter.  If you waste time getting a sight picture you will probably lose or at least get hurt.  I'm talking 7 yards or less where you draw and fire instinctively, point shooting from the hip.
Try a simple test.  On a range where you can do it, stand 10 feet from a B-27 target (make it easy).  Look at the target, then close your eyes. Draw your gun and fire from the hip with your eyes still closed.  IF you hit the target in a critical area, consistently, then you and your gun are well matched.  Your gun is an instinctive pointer and so are you.

25 yards is about my limit for a precision aimed shot with a handgun to instantly disable a human being, and the Glock's sights are perfectly capable of that.  When shooting targets or animals at longer distances, I can afford a bad shot.  Not to mention, 25 yards when adrenaline is pumping and fear is kicking in is a LONG distance.  It's easy to be cool when the target doesn't want to kill YOU first.

A 9MM is easier on the shooter, for sure, but a 10 lb. DA trigger (P2022) doesn't help anything, and then you have to transition to a much lighter SA trigger.  The absolute best DA trigger I have ever felt on a DA semiauto is my S&W 645.   Maybe mine is an anomaly, but that's how it came from the factory.  All I know for sure is that I would NOT trade that gun for any other DA semiauto.  I don't care if the other one is gold-plated.

I want simplicity, small size, firepower and reliability, and nothing beats the G30S for those features. I also want my gun hammerless so there is nothing to snag on clothing, which usually happens at the worst possible time.  I've refined my needs and survival thinking in my old age.   Carrying guns with exposed hammers concealed was fine when I was younger and dumber.

Again, these are MY thoughts.  What anyone else wants to do is up to him.

[roxalot]

Thanks for your input, Bryan. Although your bottom line, is well, the bottom line. Still can't believe the G19 wasn't brought up here. one in the pipe and 14 more ready to go... it's a 15+1 but that's the way I carry mine. I carried a G43 for a long time with an extra mag. Now I don't really need to carry an extra mag on my person. Me likey.

[roxalot]

Jul 27, 2017 19:53:33 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Glock 43 is the ultimate concealed carry handgun although I wouldn't carry one. I prefer more capacity, sight radius, etc. which is why my choice is the the all German made version of the SIG SP2022 (SigPro) 9mm. I wouldn't mind the SIG 357 version though.

You sound like Brett Farve hawking german made razors. "better blades, made in Germany"...

I know, I know, Glocks are made in Austria. LOL

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Jul 29, 2017 8:52:08 GMT -5 roxalot said:

Jul 27, 2017 19:53:33 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Glock 43 is the ultimate concealed carry handgun although I wouldn't carry one. I prefer more capacity, sight radius, etc. which is why my choice is the the all German made version of the SIG SP2022 (SigPro) 9mm. I wouldn't mind the SIG 357 version though.

You sound like Brett Farve hawking german made razors. "better blades, made in Germany"...

I know, I know, Glocks are made in Austria. LOL

Just sayin I bought mine when they were only made in Germany with Ilaflon treated slides before they started making them in Exeter, N.H. with Nitron treated slides. My dad has the latter. I like my German better, verstehen? I don't think they can do Ilaflon here because of EPA bullshit. Same with the Tenifer treated Glocks.

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2017 8:49:10 GMT -5 roxalot said:

Thanks for your input, Bryan. Although your bottom line, is well, the bottom line. Still can't believe the G19 wasn't brought up here. one in the pipe and 14 more ready to go... it's a 15+1 but that's the way I carry mine. I carried a G43 for a long time with an extra mag. Now I don't really need to carry an extra mag on my person. Me likey.

I didn't bring up the G19 for at least 2 reasons. 1 it's not all that small, and 2, it's not a .45ACP.
You gotta remember, I am looking for the best carry gun for ME, not the entire world.

MY criteria for my everyday carry remain:
1)  .45ACP caliber
2)  Revolver simplicity -- draw and fire
3)  Adequate magazine capacity
4)  SMALL size and negligible weight
5)  Proven reliability
6)  Quality construction and durability
7)  Accuracy

Just about every major manufacturer can cover 5, 6 & 7.  That's the easy part.  They are all good.  1-4 are harder to find, and only 2 guns have all 7  --- the Glock 30 and 30S.

Where else can you find an 11 shot .45ACP that is as simple to handle and about the same size as a 2" Colt Detective Special?

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2017 15:02:15 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Jul 29, 2017 8:49:10 GMT -5 roxalot said:

Thanks for your input, Bryan. Although your bottom line, is well, the bottom line. Still can't believe the G19 wasn't brought up here. one in the pipe and 14 more ready to go... it's a 15+1 but that's the way I carry mine. I carried a G43 for a long time with an extra mag. Now I don't really need to carry an extra mag on my person. Me likey.

I didn't bring up the G19 for at least 2 reasons. 1 it's not all that small, and 2, it's not a .45ACP.
You gotta remember, I am looking for the best carry gun for ME, not the entire world.

MY criteria for my everyday carry remain:
1)  .45ACP caliber
2)  Revolver simplicity -- draw and fire
3)  Adequate magazine capacity
4)  SMALL size and negligible weight
5)  Proven reliability
6)  Quality construction and durability
7)  Accuracy

Just about every major manufacturer can cover 5, 6 & 7.  That's the easy part.  They are all good.  1-4 are harder to find, and only 2 guns have all 7  --- the Glock 30 and 30S.

Where else can you find an 11 shot .45ACP that is as simple to handle and about the same size as a 2" Colt Detective Special?

At Mutt's house?

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2017 15:41:15 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Jul 29, 2017 15:02:15 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

I didn't bring up the G19 for at least 2 reasons. 1 it's not all that small, and 2, it's not a .45ACP.
You gotta remember, I am looking for the best carry gun for ME, not the entire world.

MY criteria for my everyday carry remain:
1)  .45ACP caliber
2)  Revolver simplicity -- draw and fire
3)  Adequate magazine capacity
4)  SMALL size and negligible weight
5)  Proven reliability
6)  Quality construction and durability
7)  Accuracy

Just about every major manufacturer can cover 5, 6 & 7.  That's the easy part.  They are all good.  1-4 are harder to find, and only 2 guns have all 7  --- the Glock 30 and 30S.

Where else can you find an 11 shot .45ACP that is as simple to handle and about the same size as a 2" Colt Detective Special?

At Mutt's house?

To be more specific ..............  with ME.   It's my American Express.


I'm not gonna put down anyone else's choice.   ANY gun is better than none, since simply showing one will usually end a threat.
I just haven't found a better choice for little ol' me.  I'm not a big person ( 5' 11" --- today's weight of 173 ), and the LA climate is not conducive to wearing bulky clothing very often, so a compact gun size is imperative for me.

[Deleted]

What's the recoil like on that little thing? Pinkie finger hang off the end of the grip or can you get an extended bottom plate for the mag?

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2017 17:50:19 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

What's the recoil like on that little thing? Pinkie finger hang off the end of the grip or can you get an extended bottom plate for the mag?

Recoil isn't much .....  no different from a full size 1911.   The light slide from a G36 (which is used on the G30S) has less mass, which translates into lighter recoil, faster cycle time and quicker recovery on target.  The double concentric recoil spring does its job well.
The 10 round mag has an extended baseplate to use for the pinky.   The 9 round mag is more or less flush.   Last year when I qualified with mine, I used two 10 round and one 9 round magazine.  When I switched from one to the other, I really didn't notice any difference.  The 10 rounder does feel a bit better when you casually hold the gun.  The 9 round mag gives a bit more concealabilty.

Using lighter than 230 gr bullets would lessen the recoil even more, but that defeats the purpose of carrying a .45.  Big & heavy is what I want.

Find one and try it out.   If you are a .45 fan, you'll like it.   Like I've said from the beginning ........... I always hated Glocks and swore I'd never own one.   My prejudice almost kept me from buying the best (for me) CC .45ACP out there.  I had never even FIRED any Glock before I bought this one, so I was taking a huge gamble.  And trust me, I'm not "stuck" with it.  If I didn't like it, I'd dump it.   I don't keep guns I don't like. 
Nor do I call it the "best" just because I own one.   My hide is too valuable to stick with one gun if something better comes along.   That's why I keep looking.
But hell, I've got revolver simplicity, a major caliber with decent capacity in an easily concealable gun without being TOO small.  I don't see anything better coming along.  S&W tried copying Glock and got sued for it   Why buy a copy when the real thing is out there?  

I even owned a S&W SD40VE for a while.   Junk compared to a Glock.   I bought it from my daughter who hated it.  I dumped it, too.

[Deleted]

Good write up, Muttley. Ever considered a G29?

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2017 18:44:26 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Good write up, Muttley. Ever considered a G29?

Thank you and no.   I've never been a 10MM fan.  Bring it down to people-shooting power and you might as well carry the 10MM short, aka .40S&W.  The .40 was developed after the FBI complained the 10 was too much.  10MM is not as common either, while you can get .45ACP ammo anywhere.
Call me prejudiced, hard-headed, stupid, or whatever, but my carry caliber of choice will always be .45ACP.  I admit to carrying my Colt Agent .38 for about a year, but it was the only truly small handgun I owned at that time.  I did make sure it was stoked with those Buffalo Bore thumpers, though.

[Deleted]

My G20SF is the perfect woods gun, although if I wanted to hunt in Alaska I could put a scope on my 8" Dan Wesson 44V and take down whatever came my way.

[roxalot]

Stay with your .45, Bryan. I'll stick with the BEST Glock to date. The G19. Get educated, boys.