Please help with this decision!

[inthelineofire]

Hi all-

I am contemplating my next firearm purchase and want everyone's advice. I'm going to try and make a poll for the first time on here- we'll see how it goes.

I am currently looking for a carry gun. I want something I can conceal easily IWB. I'm either looking for a J Frame or an "Ultra" 1911. Those are the choices. Please, if you have a suggestion other than the two firearms mentioned, make sure your suggestion is offered in .357 or .45.

My best friend from High School called me up today and asked if I wanted to go gun shopping. I had things to do today, so, like any firearms enthusiast, I bumped a few things around and we went gun shopping! Long story short, I saw two guns I am interested in for Carry. The first is a S&W model 60 Pro Series. It's a brushed stainless finish, wood grips, Trijicon inserted front ramp sight and an adjustable rear sight, in 3". I LIKED that, and have been looking to get a J frame for a while now. I'm confident it will fit IWB nicely, and, IMO, it's far nicer then the "bare bones" J frames for only $60 more.

Then, the guy that knows me in the store suggested I look at a Kimber Ultra Carry II. Now, I swore after my first gun I would never buy another Kimber, but this looks nice. Sidenote- I have never had issues with Kimber's firearms, I simply had warranty work done on a magazine from a .22 conversion kit and they angered me; story for a later time). This 3" 1911 would certainly fit nicely IWB and would hold more, and it's in my favorite cartridge. It was ALL black except for the trigger. Very sharp looking.

So, please help me decide. As always, feedback, comments, and questions are greatly appreciated.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Get the 1911 but get a Colt Defender not a Kimber .

 

[Nushif]

J-Frames are great pistols. Yup.

 

[JEB]

i havent had direct experience with either of your choices but i have a ruger sp101 with a 3" barrel and i really like it. the model 60 i believe is a little slimmer and lighter which would make it very comfortable all day long.

 

[wlewisiii]

J frame. IME & all that, easier to carry & easier to shoot well. Put Buffalo Bore FBI loads in it and don't look back.

 

[NMPOPS]

Get a 642 or a 638, no need for an exposed hammer.

 

[papa_bear]

I'm guessing you have never shot a j frame magnum with no hearing protection. I did once. Needless to say I switched my concealed carry gun. If you going to carry 38 spec. it would be a great choice. However I get the feeling you want a hand cannon for your ccw. Also I think there are better choices than a 1911 chopped. Its a bit heavy for what you will be getting. Right now i think the pps is a great ccw in .40 or a g30/g36 or if you can settle for 38 spec id go with lcr or any smith j.

 

[rhubarb]

Between a J-frame and a Kimber? That's easy, J-frame every time.

Between a J-frame and a dependable .45 like a G21, M&P or XD? Tougher call.

 

[stork]

My daughter in law has the M60 3" 357 that so far has only shot 38's. I own a Colt compact 1911 that I've used for over 15 years as my carry gun. I have shot several Kimber Ultra Carry II's. By far the kimber is much more accurate than either the S&W or my Colt. I have one on order right now w/ the Crimson carry grips.

At 50' my Colt will hold 2" CTC at best. Both the Kimbers shot well under an inch excluding a called round on one of them.

Now, in answer to your poll question, I didn't vote. You can't make a bad decision in either choice. I would settle on the one that fit your hand the best and pointed the best. There are so many other things you can let enter in.
1. Dud round
S&W-pull the trigger again
Kimber-slap the mag (to make sure it's seated), rack the slide (to chamber a new round), and pull the trigger again.

2. Both cartridges are proven self defense rounds. Is the round count available going to be an issue? S&W-5 rds...Kimber-7 rds.

Just a thought, will you ever be carrying in snake country? If yes, go with the Smith just from the standpoint of carrying CCI's shot loads.

Best of luck in your shopping.

FWIW

 

[mbogo]

I like revolvers for their simplicity and (usually) smooth triggers. I also like .45 autoloaders for their fight-stopping ability.

However, I think a .357 might have a bit too much muzzle flash at night (I know this can be reduced by using the correct powders). It will also be loud, especially in confined spaces.

I'd go with the compact .45 of your choice, with a laser module replacement for the spring rod guide (if available). Sometimes, the intimidation factor of the laser may be enough to deter the confrontation from escalating.

mbogo

 

[ForumSurfer]

I haven't had experience with the Kimber ultra's. I do have a 3500+ trouble free rounds through a kimber pro cdp II.

My warranty experience was pretty dang good. I explained that I broke the ambi-safety when I fell on it (against a concrete curb with an extra 60-100 lbs in my arms). They replaced my safety free of charge, in spite of admitted abuse and being out of warranty. Granted...they just sent me a new safety, but it was still above and beyond in my book. I simply wanted a part number and a price, but a guy in the shop that answered the phone simply mailed me a new one free of charge.

 

[NMPOPS]

Is price a consideration? you can get 2 J-frames fro the cost of the Kimber.

 

[wow6599]

I don't like the .45 ACP in 3" guns, so I went with the .357 Mag........both are nice guns though.

 

[bartman06]

I didn't vote but I probably would get the Kimber. The 45 ACP is made for 5 inch barrels and has had expansion issues in anything less. So maybe that means the model 60 is the answer but i don't know that much about them. Good luck

 

[KodiakBeer]

I've been carrying and shooting a Kimber Compact for 12 years, with zero malfunctions (well, there were a pair of aftermarket magazines that I had to throw away). Anyway, it's an easy gun to carry.
On the other hand, the J frame is probably cheaper and is an excellent gun also.

So... I guess I'm no help at all.

 

[inthelineofire]

Thanks for all the input. To the poster who said I was interested in a hand cannon- not necessarily true. If I were to get the J frame (leaning towards it) I would more than likely keep it loaded up with some hot .38+P loads. I simply want the .357 option for the versatility.

I've priced them both out, and I can get the J Frame Pro Series for around 675ish, and the Kimber listed at 819 at the gun store. I like the Pro Series over the regular J frames for the refinements- the matte stainless finish, action job, night sight, etc.

SUCH DECISIONS!

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Get a version without the adjustable rear site. The simpler the better for a carry gun. But stick with the J frame.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

Get them both Ultra on the hip, j frame in the pocket

 

[gearhead]

The J is more versatile, you can load it with any factory load and carry either IWB or pocket. Weight should be less with the Smith, also.

 

[Captcurt]

I like 1911s but the Ultra Carry ll is a handful with full powerhouse loads. The short barrel is so loud that I wanted plugs and muffs, plus the recoil is really sharp. I had a Springfield Champion Operator that I liked better. I wish that I had kept it.

 

[ForumSurfer]

FWIW I owned a Para p12 (think early version of the warthawg). It was trouble free, dependable, accurate and very manageable. Then again, it was slightly heavier than the small Kimbers.

 

[jad0110]

I like both 1911s and S&W wheel guns, but between the 2 choices you listed, I'd go with the 60. Though 3" 1911s can be quite reliable (some who have posted here have good ones), generally speaking 3" 1911s can be pretty darn finicky and unreliable, much the way AR pistols can be tempremental. I'd also offer that I used to carry a 5" steel 1911 almost daily with out any discomfort of concealment issues.

And as others have mentioned, if you are looking a 3" M60s, you may as well check out it's direct competitor, the 3" Ruger SP101. I generally prefer Smiths, but in that compact class I prefer the feel of the Ruger myself, but YMMV.