Small Compact Pistols These Days

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tiffa

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The 9mm and 380 handguns are really getting small these days... I took interest in purchasing a compact 9 a couple weeks ago and im so undecided. From Sig to Kimber I have no clue. I really want to stay on the lower cost of things so I went into a drastic change today... The Diamondback DB9. I have watched some videos such as

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW19fWomAyE


As you can see he is no biased character.... So if you had the choice of a small compact 9mm what would it be?


I am also ok with you mentioning a weapon I have yet to name.

thanks in advance.
 
Is this gun is basically a re-branded, and slightly re-designed Kel-Tec product.

According to Google, the two business addresses are less than a mile apart.

I've got a Kel-Tec .32 that is quite impressive for the size and the (low) cost.
 
I did see the Kahr PM9 which was also on the list of choices but I am not really a kahr guy. I do want to keep them in mind as I do love the "feel" of them..
 
Kel-Tec PF9 is tough to beat. Diamondback will have to earn a little better reputation before I try them. They seem to be a little hit or miss.
 
Is this gun is basically a re-branded, and slightly re-designed Kel-Tec product.
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Not even close. Kel Tecs are hammer fired, DAO. The DB 380 is truly striker fired with a long DAO trigger pull. The DB 380 is mechanically far more like a Kahr than a Kel Tec. Diamondback is a CNC shop - turned Air Boat maker - turned gun maker.
 
My dad has a LCP, nice gun and it gets the job done. My brother has a Kel-Tec P32, same thing. I bought a PM9 and almost a year to the day later bought a Kahr P380. I bought the PM9 on a recommendation from a local gun store owner I trust, I was hesitant and then I was wowed. I needed something smaller for summer, the P380 is amazing too.
 
I was dead set on a Kimber CDP II, but after hearing how much trouble they are out of the box. I started shopping around again. Now after spending a week looking around for a new compact pistol, I found alot of good reviews on a Springfield EMP (9mm & .40). If you where considering about getting a kimber, the price is in the same bracket. But I'm looking forward on getting a EMP when I get back to the states in a few months.
 
KelTec PF9 ain't pretty , but gets the job done...

Mine eats everything I feed it with no problems .
 
" I am not really a Kahr guy"

You will be if you try a CM9. I bought one about a month ago and it has been perfect through 250 rounds of assorted fmj and jhp ammo. That is not a lot of shooting but I also own a CW9 and a CW45. Both have been extremely reliable with over 1000 rounds through each.
I had a Diamondback DB380 and it had several problems. Trigger reset and failure to feed problems continued after a trip back to the factory. They sent me a new gun after the second trip to the factory and I traded it for an LCP.
 
Thanks for the help guys! I will let you know what I do go get!
 
Isn't the DB380 the gun Frank Burns got caught with by the Chinese officer during the injured soldiers exchange? Don't forget, the chinese laughed at it.
 
I was dead set on a Kimber CDP II, but after hearing how much trouble they are out of the box. I started shopping around again. Now after spending a week looking around for a new compact pistol, I found alot of good reviews on a Springfield EMP (9mm & .40). If you where considering about getting a kimber, the price is in the same bracket. But I'm looking forward on getting a EMP when I get back to the states in a few months.
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I just got a Kimber SS Ultra II TLE model the other day and took it out for a test run this morning. It shot like a dream and had less recoil than my friends Sig P226 SS in 40 cal. I found out that Kimber's normally like the heavier loads for break-in, 230gr RN. But it looks like this one may not need much. I shot some mid range 200gr FP through it with out any issues. It actually had less recoil than the rental gun I shot last week. There springs in the rental gun may need replacing.
 
Sig P232. It's a 380, but very shootable and the sort of thing you can practice with, concealable, reliable, simple, fun to shoot, more than adquate for civilian defensive use (i.e., make noise and run away). Uber-small concealed cannons have the drawback that, while concealable, are inaccurate and painful to shoot and so, you rarely practice.
 
I went out bound & determined to find a Kahr CM9 locally...
I was on the hunt for over 3 hours and into my 5th shop when I bumped into a 9mm Sig Sauer P290...it came packaged with nightsights, a paddle holster and a Sig laser for $599. I put a review up on it already, suffice to say I'm very happy with the P290 and it keeps getting better, I've also made it my EDC.


DSC03478.jpg
 
Don't make the same mistake..

Hey Tiffa-- being new to handguns, I got caught in the price problem:banghead: I figured wrongly that most 380's would perform the same! Not so. My first was a Taurus. damn thing almost self destructed at the range. Then I went for the Kahr 380. What a difference. It has a quality make with a small recoil. And it is VERY accurate. If you can find a good used one in the mid-fours, I think you will be very pleased. Dependability may save your life. Good luck with your search.
 
I'am partial to the Kel-Tec P11. I have over 500+ rounds through it, but have had a few FTF. They occured while using the 12rd magazine. I just loaded the 10rd mag and the FTF stopped.
 
If the unneeded mag safeties don't bother you, the LC9 is great. I've got over 600 rounds through it without a single FTE or FTF.
 
I haven't bothered with the 12 rounders for my P11. I've had it since I got a CHL in 1996 and it's eaten over 11K trouble free rounds. It is very accurate and reliable, love that thing. Also have a Radom P64 I rather like, though it's a little snappy on recoil and I had to add springs to it to lighten the DA which was aweful. It is a very accurate gun and, now, the DA is quite decent. I can actually hit at 25 yards DA with it, now, don't have to cock the hammer to hit anything. :D The spring kit (Wolff) was cheap. The gun was under 200 bucks at Gander Mountain.

I also have NAA mini revolvers for the REALLY demanding concealment assignments, but these two and a Taurus M85SSUL .38 Ultralite snubby revolver are my primary pocket gun choices. These guns are all accurate and 100 percent reliable. I also have an old Grendel P12. It's reliable, but I never carry it, don't like the trigger and don't like the ergos and the accuracy isn't up to the other choices. It's small and light and carries 12 rounds of .380, though, in a package similar in size, though a little thicker than a Ruger LCP. The nine isn't much bigger and is a LOT more powerful and, in the P11, more accurate. The trigger is smooth and long, just what I like in a pocket gun.
 
I agree the P11 has been somewhat put to the side in most peoples minds, since the PF9 came out and all the others putting out their own small 9mm. I shot 500 rds in the period of 3 hours, and my hand was fine. Not sore at all.
 
I took apart the 12rd magazines for the P11 and noticed the follower does not have the stabalizing legs attached like the 10 rd follower does. Thats what caused the follower in the 12 rd mag to tilt up and jam my rounds into the feed ramp and not the chamber.
 
I took apart the 12rd magazines for the P11 and noticed the follower does not have the stabalizing legs attached like the 10 rd follower does. Thats what caused the follower in the 12 rd mag to tilt up and jam my rounds into the feed ramp and not the chamber.
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Thanks for that. I'd thought about buying the 12 rounders, but put it off. I don't think I'll mess with 'em. I'm quite happy with 11 on tap, beats the five I am carrying now in my snubby. :D I've got a Hogue handall jr on it and have one mag with a finger extension. I carry that mag as a reload on the belt as the gun pockets better without the finger extension. I have 3 10 rounders total and if I carry the two reloads, I have 31 rounds on tap. Hell, if I need more'n that, I deserve to die. :rolleyes:
 
Based on moderate experience with a CW9, PM9, and CM9, I'm learning to really like Kahrs for a very concealable (honestly pocketable--usually), ergonomic, reliable, powerful (for a pocket pistol), accurate, light-weight, and good-looking pistol. I'm not really a fan of the long, albeit very smooth, trigger pull, but it's just the thing for a close-range, pocket pistol. I had an issue with the mag release dropping mags on the CW9 (used), but Kahr fixed it quick with no troubles since (I've heard this used to be a design problem). When I can't carry my XD45, I carry one the above models in 9mm and, when I can't carry a Kahr, I carry a Ruger LCP.
 
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I've been flip-flopping on this lately.

I bought a Ruger LC9 a while back and liked it at first, then recently I've been thinking of trading it off on a Kahr because I don't care for the trigger or safeties.

Today I really took a close look at a Kahr CW9, and I have to say, I'll pass. The Kahr just didn't seem to be built as sturdy as the Ruger. The frame material seems flimsy compared to the LC9, I don't like how the slide rails are designed, the mags didn't seem to fit well.....I really wanted to like it since it fits me hand a little better and IMO the trigger is better.....but I think my LC9 will stay put for now. I know some folks have had troubles with theirs but mine has performed solid.

Another little pistol I really liked the feel of was the Taurus 709. Fit my hand almost as good as the Kahr, felt as solid as the Ruger, had the best trigger out of all three (for me at least). I just don't know if I can trust a Taurus. I've read of some bad experiences with the 709.....but then again, I've read of a lot of troubles with Kahr & Ruger.

I tend to be really indecisive with things like this....LOL.
 
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