Ideas on a Compact Polymer CC Gun

I've have the USP Compact, in 40 cal, G19, 23, 29, SA, Colt, Kimber in the shorter BBLs in 45 cal....and quite a few others....The 40 cal is snappy. The 9MM might be slightly underguned in ome situations. The 45 is a manstopper, BUT, it ALL depends on your situation, and/or type of weapon YOU feel most comfortable with in your hands. :biggrin:
Simple test... Take several handguns.. hold rach one of them up, in a shooting stance position, while having your EYES CLOSED as you bring the weapon up to your prospective "target" As you bring the weapon into a position where you're about to fire it, OPEN your eyes, and see where your sights are pointed, and the weapon is sighted on. I have them perform this test, because if they're in a low light, night shooting situation, they basically know that they're weapon is pretty much dead on their target :biggrin:
This simple test will help you make your decision, based on what feels, or fits best in your hands. I do this with prospective buyers, and they are amazed with the results they find. :biggrin:
Most find the Glocks point high. The H&Ks, Rugers, SA XDs, and 1911s point dead on, and the rest vary to a certain degree. Try it....you'll like it :biggrin: Let us ( the forumites ) know how you make out with my simple test. :biggrin:

My current compact polymer inventory includes my two favorites (both Kahrs), a P9 Covert and PM9. They are small, wonderfully thin and accurate, with very nice DAO trigger pulls. I'm quickly becoming enamored with their "big brother", a Kahr P45 which I reviewed and posted on this website. It's compact (for a .45 ACP), but not as much as the 9mm Kahrs. It is also accurate but has a longer DAO trigger pull and reset that takes getting use to.

My other favorite compact polymer guns are my Steyr S40 and S9....they are smaller than the Glock 19/23, but larger than the Glock 26/27. They are also hard to come by NIB since they have been discontinued...but they are superb guns.

Lastly, on those days that even my small Kahr PM9 is too big, my tiny Kel Tec P3AT .380 ACP semi automatic makes it appearance out of the safe and into a kydex pocket holster....but then again, it is smaller than a 9mm.

Another vote for the Kahr line, and in particular, the P9. I have one and simply love it. Trigger is smooth and long on purpose becasue it's for self defense, not target shooting. Theres no external controls except a mag release and a slide release. It's has to be about the thinnest gun out there; less than an inch wide, which makes it easier to conceal than anything I own. I got the one with a blackened stainless slide and night sights. It was pricey but shoots anything I put in it and has never failed, ever. The ergonomics are the best I've every felt. It's a perfect three finger grip for me. Many like the higher capacity pistols but I find their grip a bit fat for my hand and the bulk heavy and more difficult to conceal.

If you want a shorter grip so the gun will fit in a large pants pocket, the PM models fit the bill.

My P9 is super accurate, cutting a single ragged hole at 10 yards.

I'd put them up against glocks any day from what I've read and shot for my self. I like glocks on the whole but they're thick and I don't care of the angle of the grip.

Anyway, enjoy whatever you end up purchasing!

Gideon

Hivoltage--
It sounds like you have issues with Kel Tec. Did you have a generation 1or 2? I've read there were a number of problems with the original gun that seem to have been corrected in the new models. Most of the posts I've seen concerning first generation 3AT's said a quick trip back to the factory (usually returned in a week or so) cured the problems. As for price, don't make the mistake of equating price with quality. Got to any forum on Glock, Springer, Kimber, S&W or other upper end gun maker and you'll see they all have their share of problems, often more than their less expensive cousins. Good example, Walther's PPK and the Bersa 380. Walther is usually known for it's craftsmanship (and cost), but in every newsgroup, forum or chat room where they’re discussed, there is a constant complaint about feeding problems, FTF an other issues. Check out the Bersa and they are universally praised for their value and reliability. The two gun's are almost clones, visually at least, and the Bersa sells for about 1/3 the price of the Walther. Anyway, to paraphrase an old saying, you DON'T always get what you pay for.