Comments on: what is in your pocket? http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html defending our rights from the ramparts Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:07:52 -0500 hourly 1 By: Linoge http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-826 Linoge Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:00:17 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-826 Bits falling off your gun is never a good thing, whether they are integral or not. After all, if they were not, in some way, important, they would not be there. As for the PPS, my local dealer... er... supplier... er... shop cannot seem to turn one up anywhere. And he has a good six suppliers himself. Perhaps the gun gods are trying to tell me something. As for the EMP, it does sound damnably nice, I am just not sure if it is what I am looking for... It is tempting with the customization and niceties available for the 1911 frame. Unfortunately, cost is going to be a factor, but that has to be balanced with quality as well... Curses for more choices! :) 'Least I can agree that H&Ks are a bit chunky for most carry purposes. Bits falling off your gun is never a good thing, whether they are integral or not. After all, if they were not, in some way, important, they would not be there.
As for the PPS, my local dealer… er… supplier… er… shop cannot seem to turn one up anywhere. And he has a good six suppliers himself. Perhaps the gun gods are trying to tell me something.
As for the EMP, it does sound damnably nice, I am just not sure if it is what I am looking for… It is tempting with the customization and niceties available for the 1911 frame. Unfortunately, cost is going to be a factor, but that has to be balanced with quality as well… Curses for more choices! :)
‘Least I can agree that H&Ks are a bit chunky for most carry purposes.

]]> By: Chad Crayton http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-825 Chad Crayton Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:44:05 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-825 I had an H&K P2000SK for concealed carry. Was a little too thick for me, so I picked up a Kahr CW9. I loved it, and really never had too many problems with it. But certain issues with the frame kinda turned me off of it (the polymer only rails started to peel off. These are not used for structural support, and supposedly the gun will work fine without them there at all. But it still bothered me). I wanted a PPS, and looked high and low for one. While looking for it, I learned about the EMP (no, it's not on the spreadsheet). I finally found an EMP, and picked it up that day. Expensive, yes. But it's the tightest, nicest pistol I've ever fired. I have a Pro sized Kimber that I bought at the same time (traded in my H&K's), and while I'll carry it with no problem in the same Crossbreed IWB I carry the EMP in, the EMP is just a step above in my opinion. Like I said, it's way more expensive than the other choices you have on your list. But with SA's warranty and customer service, and the quality of this firearm, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. In fact, I'm looking to spread out and get an EMP in .40 now. Good luck with your decision! Chad I had an H&K P2000SK for concealed carry. Was a little too thick for me, so I picked up a Kahr CW9. I loved it, and really never had too many problems with it. But certain issues with the frame kinda turned me off of it (the polymer only rails started to peel off. These are not used for structural support, and supposedly the gun will work fine without them there at all. But it still bothered me).
I wanted a PPS, and looked high and low for one. While looking for it, I learned about the EMP (no, it’s not on the spreadsheet).
I finally found an EMP, and picked it up that day. Expensive, yes. But it’s the tightest, nicest pistol I’ve ever fired. I have a Pro sized Kimber that I bought at the same time (traded in my H&K’s), and while I’ll carry it with no problem in the same Crossbreed IWB I carry the EMP in, the EMP is just a step above in my opinion.
Like I said, it’s way more expensive than the other choices you have on your list. But with SA’s warranty and customer service, and the quality of this firearm, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
In fact, I’m looking to spread out and get an EMP in .40 now.
Good luck with your decision!
Chad

]]> By: walls of the city http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-827 walls of the city Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:23:58 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-827 <strong>talk about dissemination</strong> So my primary reason for developing my concealed carry pistol spreadsheet was to help me determine what hardware to eventually carry when I decided to do so. However, I am not an entirely greedy man, and figured I may as... talk about dissemination

So my primary reason for developing my concealed carry pistol spreadsheet was to help me determine what hardware to eventually carry when I decided to do so. However, I am not an entirely greedy man, and figured I may as…

]]> By: Linoge http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-824 Linoge Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:39:18 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-824 Been into firearms for a little while now... everyone needs a hobby, eh? A shame about the difficulties with your father-in-law's collection, though... I knew of quite a few people living in that particular area who had storage boxes rented out in Florida, Nevada, and other gun-friendly states. Even more a shame that you had to do so after going through the copious and eye-of-a-needle hoops for a MA license. Of course, compared to the impossibility of Kalifornistan's licensing system (at least, depending on where you live... up north, I hear it is not too hard), it is better than the alternative. Considering joining a club here, but you definitely have to go enough times to make it worthwhile. And, unfortunately, laws never become more open... just their existence alone is a limiting factor, and people only pass more of them to further limit the populace. After all, when was the last time you saw a law that said, "You <em>can</em> do X."? Been into firearms for a little while now… everyone needs a hobby, eh?
A shame about the difficulties with your father-in-law’s collection, though… I knew of quite a few people living in that particular area who had storage boxes rented out in Florida, Nevada, and other gun-friendly states. Even more a shame that you had to do so after going through the copious and eye-of-a-needle hoops for a MA license. Of course, compared to the impossibility of Kalifornistan’s licensing system (at least, depending on where you live… up north, I hear it is not too hard), it is better than the alternative.
Considering joining a club here, but you definitely have to go enough times to make it worthwhile.
And, unfortunately, laws never become more open… just their existence alone is a limiting factor, and people only pass more of them to further limit the populace. After all, when was the last time you saw a law that said, “You can do X.”?

]]> By: Andy http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-823 Andy Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:30:25 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-823 I didn't know you were into firearms... My father-in-law told me one time about 9 years ago - "i'm leaving my collection to you, so you better get a permit before its to hard to do so..." I was living in MA at the time, so I got a Class A, concealed carry license after going through some crazy hoops (lots of training, joining a gun club, etc.) When I moved to SoCal (or Southern Kaliforniastan as you so eloquently put it) I was dismayed to realize that I'm not allowed to own most of the guns that I originally got a permit for. Of course, there IS no conceal carry for anyone but law enforcement here, and high-capacity is also a no-no. I currently have no handguns, but have been looking at some of the Glock 45's. I like the way they shoot, but 45's are expensive for your everday range target practice. I joined a club out here, and for my $400 family membership (yup, H will come with me occasionally) I've gotten about 2 sessions out of it. Stupid, given that the range time would have cost me around $50 for how much I've used it. Oh well, stupid me. :) A good buddy of mine is LAPD, so I get to fire a lot of his stuff when we go, which is fun. I still don't know what I'm going to do with my Father-in-laws guns. God willing, it will be a LONG time before its an issue, but I don't think laws will become more <i>open</i> - just the opposite I'm sure. Anyway, there is my "stream of conciousness" on that. :) I didn’t know you were into firearms…
My father-in-law told me one time about 9 years ago – “i’m leaving my collection to you, so you better get a permit before its to hard to do so…” I was living in MA at the time, so I got a Class A, concealed carry license after going through some crazy hoops (lots of training, joining a gun club, etc.)
When I moved to SoCal (or Southern Kaliforniastan as you so eloquently put it) I was dismayed to realize that I’m not allowed to own most of the guns that I originally got a permit for. Of course, there IS no conceal carry for anyone but law enforcement here, and high-capacity is also a no-no.
I currently have no handguns, but have been looking at some of the Glock 45’s. I like the way they shoot, but 45’s are expensive for your everday range target practice.
I joined a club out here, and for my $400 family membership (yup, H will come with me occasionally) I’ve gotten about 2 sessions out of it. Stupid, given that the range time would have cost me around $50 for how much I’ve used it. Oh well, stupid me. :)
A good buddy of mine is LAPD, so I get to fire a lot of his stuff when we go, which is fun.
I still don’t know what I’m going to do with my Father-in-laws guns. God willing, it will be a LONG time before its an issue, but I don’t think laws will become more open – just the opposite I’m sure.
Anyway, there is my “stream of conciousness” on that. :)

]]> By: Linoge http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-822 Linoge Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:15:48 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-822 Yeah, I would guess they are as well, now that I found a brand-spanking new one at the same store where I found the PPS. Speaking of, they are almost impossible to find in my area - the three gun stores in the immediate area failed, the gun show failed, and I was only able to find one at a hybrid golfing and gunning store. How cool is Tennessee? However, now that I have found one, me likey. Maybe I will graduate to a full-sizer, or at least some variant of a 1911 (which is the gun I should have purchased instead of my Baby Eagle, in retrospect), in the future, but I think I am going to stick with the "small is beautiful" trend at the moment. LCPs were going for cheap (with a box of ammo thrown in as additional encouragement) at the Bass Pro Shop nearish to me. Of course, I do not know if those are pre-recall or post-recall, but I guess you can call up Ruger when you get home with it. Otherwise, they do seem to be rather nice guns, and definitely all the rave at this point. Yeah, I would guess they are as well, now that I found a brand-spanking new one at the same store where I found the PPS. Speaking of, they are almost impossible to find in my area – the three gun stores in the immediate area failed, the gun show failed, and I was only able to find one at a hybrid golfing and gunning store. How cool is Tennessee? However, now that I have found one, me likey.
Maybe I will graduate to a full-sizer, or at least some variant of a 1911 (which is the gun I should have purchased instead of my Baby Eagle, in retrospect), in the future, but I think I am going to stick with the “small is beautiful” trend at the moment.
LCPs were going for cheap (with a box of ammo thrown in as additional encouragement) at the Bass Pro Shop nearish to me. Of course, I do not know if those are pre-recall or post-recall, but I guess you can call up Ruger when you get home with it. Otherwise, they do seem to be rather nice guns, and definitely all the rave at this point.

]]> By: chris http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-821 chris Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:21:25 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-821 I do not know if the PPK/s are still in production or not, I believe they are... My FFL had someone trade in a ppk/s German made model the other day that was unfired in the original box, man it was pretty. The PPS isn't all that hard to get, my local dealer has one in his case right now. As for the size of a 1911 or other full size frame, I carry the Ruger SR9 in a IWB holster and it is just as large as most 4" 1911s, though it is a bit thinner. My next purchase will probably be a pocket pistol, I'm thinking probably the Ruger LCP if i can ever get one., though the PPS and the ppk/s are both possibilities. I do not know if the PPK/s are still in production or not, I believe they are… My FFL had someone trade in a ppk/s German made model the other day that was unfired in the original box, man it was pretty.
The PPS isn’t all that hard to get, my local dealer has one in his case right now.
As for the size of a 1911 or other full size frame, I carry the Ruger SR9 in a IWB holster and it is just as large as most 4″ 1911s, though it is a bit thinner.
My next purchase will probably be a pocket pistol, I’m thinking probably the Ruger LCP if i can ever get one., though the PPS and the ppk/s are both possibilities.

]]> By: Linoge http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-820 Linoge Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:33:18 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-820 <strong>Sevesteen</strong>: Thanks for the breakdown on your logic concerning the J-Frame. I may, eventually, branch into the world of revolvers, but given that what I was trained on and am familiar with is semi-automatics, I think I am going to stick with them for the time, especially since equivalent-caliber'd revolvers are, generally, a bit thicker - like I said, a <em>leetle</em> bit paranoid about carrying, still. As for the XDm, it would seem as though they changed a few stylistic elements that everyone is hoping will filter down to all of the XD platforms, but I guess that is just a "wait and see" at the moment. And I certainly would not want to carry one, but I will add its information to the spreadsheet once I can dig it up. And you are right about the Kahrs - their full-metal framed pistols are a bit on the more-expensive side, so I guess I should strike the "you get what you pay for" comment (though, since you pay more for them, arguably you would get more... ;) ). However, having handled a couple Kel-Tecs at the gun show this weekend... yeah, no. Speaking of, while I was not able to dig up a PPS at the show, I was on the way home, and once I am able to clear it past Better Half, I do believe that will be my purchase. It was as small as advertised, and the options of six- or seven-round magazines either make it more concealable, or give you the extra round and a pinkie rest. Need to find a place where I can side-by-side my top three, but I guess I should take what I can get. Sevesteen: Thanks for the breakdown on your logic concerning the J-Frame. I may, eventually, branch into the world of revolvers, but given that what I was trained on and am familiar with is semi-automatics, I think I am going to stick with them for the time, especially since equivalent-caliber’d revolvers are, generally, a bit thicker – like I said, a leetle bit paranoid about carrying, still.
As for the XDm, it would seem as though they changed a few stylistic elements that everyone is hoping will filter down to all of the XD platforms, but I guess that is just a “wait and see” at the moment. And I certainly would not want to carry one, but I will add its information to the spreadsheet once I can dig it up.
And you are right about the Kahrs – their full-metal framed pistols are a bit on the more-expensive side, so I guess I should strike the “you get what you pay for” comment (though, since you pay more for them, arguably you would get more… ;) ). However, having handled a couple Kel-Tecs at the gun show this weekend… yeah, no.
Speaking of, while I was not able to dig up a PPS at the show, I was on the way home, and once I am able to clear it past Better Half, I do believe that will be my purchase. It was as small as advertised, and the options of six- or seven-round magazines either make it more concealable, or give you the extra round and a pinkie rest. Need to find a place where I can side-by-side my top three, but I guess I should take what I can get.

]]> By: sevesteen http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-819 sevesteen Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:32:42 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-819 The J-frame is a product of really good compromises, and a few cases where compromise is unnecessary. Size and weight are near perfect--Small and light enough to be very comfortable, not so light that recoil is nasty. (The P3AT is an example of "so small the recoil is nasty--Despite being only a .380, the minuscule weight makes for an unpleasant sting when it recoils) Small enough that I can carry in a pants pocket, and the shape makes it less likely to print, and less likely to look like a gun if it does. Revolvers don't need to worry about feeding ammo, so the bullet shape can be optimized purely for optimum penetration and expansion. I can carry more powerful +p (I use the Gold Dot +p 135 grain hollowpoint, designed specifically for short barrel guns) and practice with lower-recoiling standard rounds, or handload even lighter ones, without worrying about the slide cycling. With my lifestyle, the chance I will actually need my gun is low. The chance that having more than 5 rounds will make a difference is nearly nonexistent. I'll carry whatever I've got to full capacity, but won't worry about not having enough. I wouldn't worry about the XDm as a carry gun, especially if you don't like .40. The main advantage over the standard XD's is they widened it a bit for a 16 round magazine, rather than 12. The standard 9mm is already 16 rounds in the full sized, and wouldn't go up by much if they used the XDm frame. I also doubt you will want to try to concealed carry any full-sized double-stack pistol. Kahrs other than the CW models are not particularly cheap--Mine was about $100 more than the XD that replaced it--The CW40 wasn't readily available at the time. The J-frame is a product of really good compromises, and a few cases where compromise is unnecessary. Size and weight are near perfect–Small and light enough to be very comfortable, not so light that recoil is nasty. (The P3AT is an example of “so small the recoil is nasty–Despite being only a .380, the minuscule weight makes for an unpleasant sting when it recoils) Small enough that I can carry in a pants pocket, and the shape makes it less likely to print, and less likely to look like a gun if it does. Revolvers don’t need to worry about feeding ammo, so the bullet shape can be optimized purely for optimum penetration and expansion. I can carry more powerful +p (I use the Gold Dot +p 135 grain hollowpoint, designed specifically for short barrel guns) and practice with lower-recoiling standard rounds, or handload even lighter ones, without worrying about the slide cycling.
With my lifestyle, the chance I will actually need my gun is low. The chance that having more than 5 rounds will make a difference is nearly nonexistent. I’ll carry whatever I’ve got to full capacity, but won’t worry about not having enough.
I wouldn’t worry about the XDm as a carry gun, especially if you don’t like .40. The main advantage over the standard XD’s is they widened it a bit for a 16 round magazine, rather than 12. The standard 9mm is already 16 rounds in the full sized, and wouldn’t go up by much if they used the XDm frame. I also doubt you will want to try to concealed carry any full-sized double-stack pistol.
Kahrs other than the CW models are not particularly cheap–Mine was about $100 more than the XD that replaced it–The CW40 wasn’t readily available at the time.

]]> By: Linoge http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/07/what_is_in_your_pocket.html/comment-page-1#comment-818 Linoge Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:18:11 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=599#comment-818 Ack. And in the time it took me to write a coherent response to Chris, two other people showed up. I need to type faster. <strong>Thirdpower:</strong> Bah. The evil 9mm-round-that-is-not-really-9mm, right? Each to their own, eh? ;) <strong>Sevesteen:</strong> Sorry about the comment difficulties to start with... My site has been quite slow and cantankerous the whole day, and I am not sure what the problem is. I just deleted some awkward code that was causing it problems in the past, so that should have <em>helped</em>. Or not. Anywise... Why the Airweight, I might be so bold to ask? And, yeah, the "First Edition" PPSs have a significant problem with their slide getting stuck in the back position, permanently (or at least until they are sent into Walther/S&W). The non-First-Edition variants do not seem to have this problem, and since the First Editions are all sold out, I should be good to go. And, yeah, the engineer part of me knows that the trigger-safety is pretty much useless, but it is still <em>a</em> security blanket, which I guess I still need (hey, I am going from having a fully-manual safety switch to arguably nothing... big step for me). Kahrs and Kel-Tecs seem to fall under the heading of "you get what you pay for". This is not necessarily a bad thing, since cheaper self-defense pistols will mean they are more available for more people, but I do want something I can depend on (hence sticking with some of the largest names for my short list). <strong>Chris:</strong> One last thought that came to mind just now - are PPKs still being produced, or are they down to used-only? Ack. And in the time it took me to write a coherent response to Chris, two other people showed up. I need to type faster.
Thirdpower: Bah. The evil 9mm-round-that-is-not-really-9mm, right? Each to their own, eh? ;)
Sevesteen: Sorry about the comment difficulties to start with… My site has been quite slow and cantankerous the whole day, and I am not sure what the problem is. I just deleted some awkward code that was causing it problems in the past, so that should have helped. Or not.
Anywise… Why the Airweight, I might be so bold to ask? And, yeah, the “First Edition” PPSs have a significant problem with their slide getting stuck in the back position, permanently (or at least until they are sent into Walther/S&W). The non-First-Edition variants do not seem to have this problem, and since the First Editions are all sold out, I should be good to go.
And, yeah, the engineer part of me knows that the trigger-safety is pretty much useless, but it is still a security blanket, which I guess I still need (hey, I am going from having a fully-manual safety switch to arguably nothing… big step for me).
Kahrs and Kel-Tecs seem to fall under the heading of “you get what you pay for”. This is not necessarily a bad thing, since cheaper self-defense pistols will mean they are more available for more people, but I do want something I can depend on (hence sticking with some of the largest names for my short list).
Chris: One last thought that came to mind just now – are PPKs still being produced, or are they down to used-only?

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