Biggles Wrote:Paul,
I know Ken and I will disagree on this one, because he favors .45 ACP over 9mm, but I see a couple good choices.
Not exactly Biggles. For a "main" gun, yes I prefer a .45 ACP. But for a back-up I'll go as far down as a .380 ACP. Although I'd prefer either a 9mm or .38 special. My choice in ammo for the .380 and 9mm would be Eldorado Starfire. In .38 Spl., Winchester Silvertip +P.
Quote:One is the KelTec P-11, a light, small 9mm that holds 10+1 rounds and can accommodate hi-cap mags. It's designed to take the S&W 659, etc. mags. It's DAO, but I have one and the trigger weight is light for DAO, about 9 lbs. It also has a nice optional feature: a metal spring clip that attaches to the right side of the frame that allows you to carry IWB without a holster, which I have done many times. It also fits into an ankle holster. The P11 may be the most "size efficient" pistol made. With a locked breach, you can fire hot CorBon loads and dispense with having to use frangibles to increase wound ballistics as you do know with a .380.
The Kel-Tec P-40 also sounds intriguing. It's similar to the P-11 but is chambered for the .40 S&W. Capacity is 9+1. It weighs about two ounces more than the P-11 (16 vs. 14 oz.'s.) For only 25-dollars more, why not?
(The .40 S&W ammo itself is heavier though . . . but not much.)
Nice that the P-11 can accommodate the S&W 59 Series Magazine's, although they would stick out below the butt of the grip by more than 1-1/2 inches . . . the over-all length if the 59's mag is nearly five inches. Not something you would want in an ankle holster, as it is both visible and snagable. If the trigger is really nine pounds, then that is excellent! My Walthers have a double action first shot of about ten pounds . . . although it is silky smooth. And the rest of the shots are a very smooth 5 pounds.
Quote:If you want to stick with an even smaller gun (and calibre) than 9mm, the KelTec P-3AT is a .380 like the AMT, but much smaller, lighter, and with a lighter trigger.
Yes, the AMT back-up has a truly horrible trigger. The one's I worked on felt like you were dragging a stick through gravel. Which for me is equivalent to fingernails on a blackboard.
I normally wouldn't recommend a gun that I either don't already own, or haven't worked on. But the Kel-Tec does sound interesting.
Good choice Biggles.
Ken V.