Everyone seems to bash extant guns for one reason or another but just as a mental exercise, what would be the ultimate CCW semi-auto? I don't mean fantansy gun, I mean a gun that could be made tomarrow in a existing caliber. Does the gun exist already? Some times it is just a tweaking of an existing gun that would make it perfect.
Here is my stab at it. Based on today's world, there are some things that would make sense.
1. It should be chambered in 9mm because it is the cheapest centerfire ammo right now and there are plenty of different loads for this cal.
2. It should hold 7-10 shots. Since the mag ban, there is no point in it being able to hold more if mags are not available.
3. It should weigh less than 16ozs unloaded.
4. It should be as slim as possible because that is the most important dimension in a CCW. Slim is easier to carry than fat.
5. It should have no safeties or lever of any kind that will make it unable to shoot by simply pulling the trigger. De-cock levers are O.K. but no safeties that stop the trigger from working.
6. The grip should be as slim as possible and it should be long enough to get at least two fingers on it or three with an extension maybe.
7. It should come stock with express style night sights.
8. It should be made of all non corrosive parts for protection against sweat.
9. It should sit as low in the hand as possible. Also the bore axis should be as low as possible to reduce recoil.
10. It should have less recoil than normal for a gun of this size.
11. It should have a DA/SA or a DAO trigger.
12. It should have double strike capability.
13. The trigger should be light and smooth, it can be long however.
14. Most importantly, it should be RELIABLE, if it is not 100% reliable, it is worthless.
15. It should be priced at a level that most can afford. Less than $500 street price seems right.
That is my ideal CCW, I'm sure others have differnet views as to what makes a gun "perfect" for CCW but that is mine. The Kahr P-series and Kel-Tec P-11 are the closest to what I have in mind but niether fit the bill perfectly for various reasons.
I suppose the Kahr PM9 with finger hook extension mag and Ashly Express night sights would be the closest existing gun for me. Why don't I own one? I am not 100% sure if they have worked out all the bugs of the design yet and I don't want to be a beta tester again.
Here is my stab at it. Based on today's world, there are some things that would make sense.
1. It should be chambered in 9mm because it is the cheapest centerfire ammo right now and there are plenty of different loads for this cal.
2. It should hold 7-10 shots. Since the mag ban, there is no point in it being able to hold more if mags are not available.
3. It should weigh less than 16ozs unloaded.
4. It should be as slim as possible because that is the most important dimension in a CCW. Slim is easier to carry than fat.
5. It should have no safeties or lever of any kind that will make it unable to shoot by simply pulling the trigger. De-cock levers are O.K. but no safeties that stop the trigger from working.
6. The grip should be as slim as possible and it should be long enough to get at least two fingers on it or three with an extension maybe.
7. It should come stock with express style night sights.
8. It should be made of all non corrosive parts for protection against sweat.
9. It should sit as low in the hand as possible. Also the bore axis should be as low as possible to reduce recoil.
10. It should have less recoil than normal for a gun of this size.
11. It should have a DA/SA or a DAO trigger.
12. It should have double strike capability.
13. The trigger should be light and smooth, it can be long however.
14. Most importantly, it should be RELIABLE, if it is not 100% reliable, it is worthless.
15. It should be priced at a level that most can afford. Less than $500 street price seems right.
That is my ideal CCW, I'm sure others have differnet views as to what makes a gun "perfect" for CCW but that is mine. The Kahr P-series and Kel-Tec P-11 are the closest to what I have in mind but niether fit the bill perfectly for various reasons.
I suppose the Kahr PM9 with finger hook extension mag and Ashly Express night sights would be the closest existing gun for me. Why don't I own one? I am not 100% sure if they have worked out all the bugs of the design yet and I don't want to be a beta tester again.
Or light weight and small size and low recoil.
