Had another gun-fondling, er, research trip to a couple gun shops today. Mainly in search of DD's .22 revolver, but I took the opportunity to handle some potential carry guns.
I saw and handled the Kahr P9 and thought it a bit top-heavy empty and, while small enough to conceal, the controls were a bit awkward.
The Taurus Millenium Pro sat well enough in my hand, but I couldn't reach the controls and when I got the slide locked back I couldn't manage to release it. The shop owner had to do it for me.
I eliminated the Kel-Tec P11. How can a gun that small still manage to be too big? Its the same problem as the 1911's -- everything is too far away and I can't reach.
I didn't get to handle the PF9.
I got to handle a LadySmith and another S&W J-frame, .38 special. The LadySmith is OK except that the trigger is extremely heavy in double action. The regular J-frame is not only extremely heavy in double action, its also hard to cock and, like every S&W except the LadySmith, everything feels just a little too big. (My DH has smallish hands for a man and they are exactly the same shape as mine, just about 15% larger -- S&W's always feel perfect in his hands).
If I were going to choose based on feel alone I'd absolutely pick the Taurus 85, .38 special revolver. The grips are perfect in my hand. The trigger is the perfect distance. I can reach and cock the hammer easily. The trigger is heavy enough to feel safe about it in double action and nearly as smooth as my Mark III in single action. Held against my side it vanished curves into curves. The sights, well, its a snubby revolver and you can't ask for much on those. The negatives are that I don't like shooting revolvers and the 5-shot capacity.
And just because I can't resist the thing, I fondled a Taurus PT-92 again. After wrestling with the Kahr, the Millenium Pro, and the Kel-Tec I easily dropped the magazine, worked the slide, locked it back, and put it all right again. Why can I handle that monster when I can't manage the little ones? I WILL have one of those when I can afford it. It sticks to my hand and doesn't want to be put down.
DD, despite shooting so well with the Single Six, has decided that its too hard to cock and has decided that the one gun in the world for her is the S&W Model 63 Kit Gun and that she can live with the black rubber grips since wooden replacement grips would cost $50. The problem being that it would be the most expensive gun in the house and double the price we allotted for her gun. I'll be searching online for used ones and strongly doubt I'm likely to find something.
