What to do?

[W Turner]

A few months ago I traded for a CZ P01. I love shooting this gun (never thought I would say that about a traditional DA/SA), but I hate carrying it (the main reason i bought it).

I am using a quality belt slide form FIST and a good stiff belt (either Aker or Safariland), but it is just too thick for me to feel comfortable with how I conceal it in OWB carry. IWB carry is uncomfortable due to the thicker alloy receiver and accessory rail of this model.

I had decided to sell this in favor of a SW Sc1911 that I had found at a local shop or trade for a Glock 19/23. I posted it here and on glocktalk and got very little interest, but did receive a trade offer for a Kahr K40.

Here are my thoughts....

1- The Kahr is much thinner, which is the main reason I don't like carrying the CZ.

2- 9mm? .40? .45? They'll all do the part if I do mine, so caliber is not an issue.

3- Everytime I have held/looked at a Kahr pistol, the grip always "felt" too small for my hands, which are very large. The only one I have ever shot (K9), I liked.

4- Weight is a wash as the smaller size overall of the all-stainless K40 offsets the fact that the CZ has an alloy frame.

5- Where to find less expensive Kahr mags ($40 for a single stack 6-7 rd. mag from the mfr. ?), as the Kahr only comes with 1 mag.

To add confusion to this, I am also not a huge proponent of any particular action style (C'N'L carry, DAO, Safe_action, etc.) other than not typically liking DA/SA guns. I seem to shoot equally well with all of them

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
W

[faustulus]

Well if thin is what you want, I wouldn't go with the glock, I can't imagine it is much thinner than the P01. The Kahr is thinner as the 1911 should be. But the 1911 will be a bit longer, a consideration in OWB carry. I have medium to large hands and found that the trigger reach for the Kahr was too short and when I pulled the trigger I ended up twisting my finger sending the shots all over the place. Not sure if any of that helps. A 1911 might be your best bet, espeically if you could find a commander lenght model with an aluminium frame. Since you like DA guns you might try a Sig 225 for 220, both are a little thicker than the 1911 and have alloy frames.

[W Turner]

The glock is actually noticeably thinner thru the grip area than the CZ due to the extra grip width of the CZ. The SW 1911 that I was looking at is a Commander sized model with a Scandium frame and is VERY reasonably priced.

I was concerned about the same thing you experienced with the Kahr. Every time I grip one and pull the trigger, my trigger finger ends up touching my thumb toward the end of the trigger stroke (very distracting).

This problem is compounded by the fact that I am receiving absolutely zero buying response on the CZ.


Oh, well, thanks for your comments.

W

[Jim4003]

Get what you want instead of settling for something else even though you might get a great deal or it is quickly available. If you get something besides what you really want you will just spend more money later.

[gigmike]

Have you test fired all these guns? If not I recommend renting them at a range and seeing how you like them. I did this, I fully expected to buy a Kahr K-9, but didn't like shooting it that much, something in the grip and recoil. I ended up with a Kimber pro series .45. There's not a thing that I don't like about this gun. Now the Kimber is a little larger than the Kahr and won't fit in a pocket, but it works great in an IWB holster and I enjoy shooting it full time. It just depends on what you want the gun to accomplish and how versatile you want it to be.

[jercamp45]

the 40 out of a small piece is gonna kick more, and if the grip feels smallish now....wait till you touch a few off. But Kahr's are great CCW guns..and little skateboard tape would help.
I have been carrying 1911's for decades and they are sweet for many applications...the Commander and CCO sized guns are by far my favorite. They just disappear IWB, and though you never quite forget it is there, it is actually quite a comfortable feeling!
The CZ is a nice pistol, sorry you feel it is too chunky....a good IWB, belt and proper clothes should hide it nicely
Jercamp45

[halvey]

The Kahr .40 kicks like crazy. I couldn't keep the shots on paper at 7 yards. And no I don't generally suck!:)

My compact .45 is WAY easier to control. The kahr in 9mm is nice, but I have average sized hands.