Carry Pistols: If price isn't an issue ...

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FWIW, I considered price to not be an issue when I purchased my current primary carry piece. After all, my life is worth more than I would possibly spend. I got a big-name custom 1911 in .45 ACP, 5" with an aluminum frame and night sights. I love it, but frankly, I think I overspent and could do just as well at half the price. Today I would wait a bit and see if S&W will make the 1911 Sc 5" with a rail. Just my $.02.
 
The P229R sounds like it has everything you're looking for.
You won't be dissapointed with the SIG.
 
People are really low-balling their "price is no object" guns here. :evil:

If price isn't an issue, have a custom 1911 built from scratch. HINT: they don't have to have "things that stick out." ;)
 
From your post I would say that your not looking for a carry gun but a bedside gun with a light rail....

For a bedside gun I wouldnt go with anything less than a .45...
Price not an issue I would say H&K Mark 23.....Big combat gun with a light rail and should be stone cold reliable...

A 9mm might go threw awall and hit someone its not supposed to and for the safety of myself and family in my house I wont use anything less than .45
I also wouldnt rule out a Glock in .45ACP.....drf
 
That's on my list, drf.

I was also thinking of something a little smaller that I could carry if I wanted to.


Bruno and Rocky ...lol
 
http://www.yost-bonitz.com/

Realize what you are getting into, though. His no-frills 1* package guns are $1,295. You can easily break $2,000.

I've had 3 guns done by them. I like them for alot of reasons:

1) They aren't prima donnas. Some gunsmiths, frankly, are snotty punks who think they are God because they can drive a Dremel. :rolleyes:
2) They know their stuff.
3) They have a pretty wide range of work they can do... some guys will just do a couple variants on .45 ACP 1911s, and not know much about anything else.
4) Their guns work... no excuses.
 
As price is not an issue, I would without doubt chose a full house custom pistol built on the 1911 platform from Ted Yost, John Harrison, or another top gunsmith. I have two custom-built pistols, and both are completely reliable and deadly accurate. While I own other pistols, I find that 1911s can be the most accurate, most reliable, and easiest to shoot. They can be more complicated when they need repair, however, because parts are not necessarily "drop in" and generally need to be fit and tuned. However, IMO, the fitting and tuning permits a level of precision not otherwise obtainable in another platform.

Here is the link for John Harrison/Precision Gunworks' gallery. http://www.precision-gunworks.com/Gallery.aspx
 
Wait a sec. Is this gun gonna be for BOTH carry and bedside? If you opened it up to 9x19, I'd say CZ P-01 for that purpose. But a .40 cal, compact, with light rails? What is there besides the USP compact, P229R, and Glock 23 that meets these requirements? Of those, I'd go with the Sig. There may be others, but I cannot think of them. The new CZ 75 SP01 and SP01 tactical will probably *eventually* come out in .40, but who knows when, and besides they are full sized, so though not impossible to carry by any stretch, are a little on the big side for what most people like to try to conceal. Oops, yeah, I suppose a custom 1911 could be made compact, in .40, with a light rail. Maybe even some already out there from the factory...lemme check Springfield, etc...well, no, those would be in .45 only, even though the operator has a rail, etc...hmmm.
 
For what it's worth, I know of at least one expert who considers rail-mounted lights to be a safety risk. The problem is that whenever you want to illuminate something or someone you hafta point your gun at it. Remember Rule #1: Never ever point a gun at something your not willing to destroy.

I'd go with a handheld Surefire instead of the rail-mounted light. It's far more versatile. There are plenty of times you might ant to light something up without having to draw your weapon.

Sig makes a quality gun. I'd just buy whatever model is the big brother to your 239, and spend the rest of my money on professional training and practice ammo. Superior skill counts for so much more than a superior gun.
 
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Geez, I hope none of my 1911 buddies see this, but you might want to try the Glock 23. I carried one for several years (prior to the light rail craze) amd it also served as my bedside gun. It is certainly worth consideration.
 
Ya know how many handbags and shoes I'm gonna have to buy my wife to justify these purchases ... ?

Basically, whatever these guns cost, I'll have to double it.

I just haven't shot a glock that feels right in my hand.

I like the idea of a custom 1911, but I should probably think about some serious training before I can rely on it for *everything*.

Thanks for those links.
 
Re: The "expert" who doesn't like weapon mounted lights. Apparently he is unaware that most tac lights snap on and off as needed, but you gotta have the rail to have that choice. Also, you can illuminate with a mounted light without pointing your gun at the subject by using the periphery of the light beam. OTOH, it's kinda hard to aim a light, control the weapon, dial the phone, work the cuffs, hold the door, fight off the crook, etc. all at once.
 
I'm an S.O. for an IDPA club and I've witnessed more 1911 hang ups on the range than I care to recall. Usually an FTF or FTE which forces the shooter to rack the slide back and sometimes drop a mag to clear the jam. Not exactly what you want when trying to defend your person.

I still like 1911's, however, this experience has led me not to trust them for self defense. Its likely not always the pistol's fault...I'm sure there are reload issues spread amongst the problems. However, I always go and look at the ammo the guy is using and its generally always factory ammo of some type.

Anyway, I'd lean towards what I see shoot reliably at the range. Glocks, Sig's and HK's for defensive purposes. If price were no object I'd already have an HK M23, but not for carry. I currently carry an HK USP .45 compact and it is ULTRA reliable.
 
Hey, DaliGene...

If you like your P239, then a P229 or P229R should be a good choice for you.
It functions the same as the 239, and has the same controls, so there'll be no confusion if you have to use it in a hurry and in the dark. Really, you can't go wrong with the P229.

Then again, if you're just in the mood for a new gun, and want to try something different, quite a lot of the other suggestions will work too. ( There's nothing like a new "toy", after all. :D )


Oh, and one other thing....
A 9mm might go threw awall and hit someone its not supposed to and for the safety of myself and family in my house I wont use anything less than .45
Click to expand...

Uh.....drf.... What makes you think a .45 auto is less apt to go through common building materials than a 9mm is?

Sorry, but unless you're using fragmenting rounds like Mag-Safe or something, most handgun bullets will whiz right through the average house's walls. ( Hollow Points tend to plug up with drywall, wood, insulation, etc. and behave like hard ball, no matter what caliber they are. )

Here....go take a look at THIS if you want to see what the average handgun can do to the average wall.


Anyway... just my 2 cents worth.

J.C.
 
Jamie, From my own testing which was not threw drywall the 9mm rd always penetrated more than .45 whether it be hollowpoints or FMJ.....

Not to mention if someone breaks into my house and threatens myself or my family I want the full power of .45 compared to a 9mm......drf
 
You said you wanted a Carry (compact) gun. In .40S&W
With a rail to attach a light, to make a good bed-side gun.

The first thing that came to mind was the
Springfield Armory Xtreme Duty Sub-Compact .40 w/Optional XML light.
You can See this version with the light attached Here

(You know, every gun grip feels weird to me untill I actually test fire it, If you can find a local range that has this weapon for use, you might be surpised)

I know this firearm costs only 500, but its on par with the glock with more features for less $ (however the glocks finish is no doubt better)
 
I have both the P229 (no rail though) and the CZ P01 and I can highly recomend both, but you seem to be leaning toward the .40 so that rules out the P01. Other options for you that I am less experienced with would be an XD .40 or USP compact in .40 or .45 ACP. However, I tend to agree with the one poster who suggested that if you like your P239, but want bigger and a rail that you should go with the P229R, less potential for confusion in a high stress situation. I am personally hoping to get a USP fullsize in .45 ACP as a HD gun to back up my shottie. Big .45 hole, light rail, high capacity- what more could I ask for?
 
You already have the P239 which is a perfectly good carry gun. It sounds like you are really looking for a home defense pistol. A full-size would give you a better sight radius and more controllable follow-up shots so it seems to me you'd be better served using your P239 for carry and buying a full-size as a dedicated home defense gun. Why do you want the second gun to be compact? Are you looking to trade the P239 to help pay for it?

Anyway, for what you are looking for (compact, concealable .40S&W pistols that have a light rail and can be used for home defense) there are several options.

-The SIG P229 as mentioned can be had with a rail and would be very similar to what you have and are used to.

-The CZ 75 Compact .40S&W seems to have a rail (http://www.cz-usa.com/01.detail.php?id=63). I love my CZ 75B and can attest to their quality.

-If you like CZs and if you like polymer there is the CZ 100B, though it is far from the most popular CZ.

-I do believe there are a handful of 1911s available now with rails. There are also .40S&W 1911s out there. I don't know for sure if there is overlap, but it may be worth looking into whether you can find a 1911 in .40S&W with rails (or would you consider a .45ACP?).

-I know you said "price isn't an issue", but I love my Taurus PT140 Millennium Pro. It has so far been 100% reliable, it is well made, and it is quite accurate for a small concealable handgun. Mine (thankfully) doesn't have the rails, but most do now. Mine is so good that I would definately consider it over more expensive guns.

-With the quality of the PT140 M. Pro, I would also be inclined to consider the Taurus 24/7 if you want a larger gun.

-There are the Springfield XDs, now in several sizes so you can get that which works best for you. I've shot the full-size a few times when it first came out and I was very impressed.

-Of course there are the Glocks.

-I'm pretty sure both the SIGMAs and the SW99 can be had with light rails. The SIGMAs made today are good guns, if you don't mind the trigger. The SW99 is a much nicer gun, and priced that way. The SW99 is available in various sizes.

-I'm also pretty sure the Walther P99 can be had with light rails and it is made in various sizes.
 
A commander length 1911 hicap, built on a caspian titanium race ready frame, with lightened slide, SV triglide trigger, heine slant pro night sights, hard cromed by virgil tripp and topped off with some carbon creation grips. Nestled snuggly in a Josh Bulman AIWB with shark skin trim.
 
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