Help me choose. - The Firearms Forum

Velocity · 01-05-2004, 05:01 PM

I'm looking for a new carry gun and I have narrowed my search to two guns. It was hard to eliminate Sig, Glock and Springfield however I have come up with HK USP Compact 45 and Kimber's Ultra Carry. Which would you choose and why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?

Thanks in advance for your suggestion.

gpostal · 01-05-2004, 05:48 PM

It would have to be between sig ,Springfield ,hk,kimber ,I would rule out the glock myself ,if you are unaware or unfamiliar with the glock ,I would suggest the same

My first choice of what you offered would be the kimber {series 1 only} ,then the Springfield ,but after I changed out the mainspring housing lock ,h&k ,sig would be a toss up ,I guess it would depend on the deal I could get

pickenup · 01-05-2004, 06:17 PM

First off, Welcome to TFF.
Pull up a stump and join in the melee.

I am not a fan of “grip” safeties.
I prefer the mag release location on the HK. (lower trigger guard)
If there is a round in the chamber, will a Kimber fire it, if the mag is not inserted?
You can fire that round with an HK.
Polymer frame? Lighter weight?
If you could not tell, I vote for the HK.

Why did you rule out SIG’s?

Shooter45 · 01-05-2004, 06:54 PM

If a Kimber has a round in the chamber and no mag inserted, it will fire. So will any 1911 clone. Just FYI.

pickenup · 01-06-2004, 01:12 AM

Thanks Shooter, I did not know. That is why the "?"
I know that there are a lot of handguns that will not shoot it.

gpostal · 01-06-2004, 06:00 AM

mostly smith and wesson ,i think they even started it with the 645

45Smashemflat · 01-06-2004, 06:20 AM

HUGE grip profile difference between the HK and the Kimber. They are both great guns. Go with the one that fits your hand and lets your each all the controls with minimal grip shift.

01-07-2004, 08:59 AM

it's all in what you want out of it

Smoky14 · 01-07-2004, 09:31 AM

I carry a 1911 when I carry exposed and revert to my HK USPc40 with LEM trigger group when I carry covert.

Both run when required and the HK is a good compromise between size and power.

Smoky with 2 cents.

01-07-2004, 09:34 AM

I still like my Sigs...

01-07-2004, 11:36 AM

Let us know what one you get.

Velocity · 01-07-2004, 05:24 PM

Well I have decided to go with the HK 45c and I have decided this with the thought that I will get a larger frame Kimber Like the Pro Carry later on for target practice.

I can not wait to shoot it. The double action seems a tad heavy however the single action has about a 1/4 " of slack then a nice trigger. I like it alot. Does anyone know about dry firing the HK?'s? Is it safe or should a snap cap be used?

Smokin Guns · 01-07-2004, 07:02 PM

Quote:

HK 45c

Just want to start out by sayin' "I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer"...but, I like the decision your makin'...

Smoky14 · 01-08-2004, 06:42 AM

I would recommend a snap-cap. The HK has a history of breaking the firing pin. It breaks at the block pin cutout.
The INS is recalling the USPc to get spring and pin replaced after 500 rnds or as soon as parts become available.

I just wet fire

Smoky

merc · 01-10-2004, 02:20 AM

Here is how YOU decide.
They are all great guns. What do YOU prefer and which feels right to YOU.
Except for the glock I don't think you would be unhappy with any of your choices.
Handle each----point and see which comes to line the most comfortable.
Consider weight and size and how you will carry it.
then pick with 20 of your head and 80% of your heart and you can't go wrong.

kaj611 · 01-10-2004, 09:40 PM

Velocity you need to look at what fits your hand. I have many different kinds of hand guns but some I truley do not like becuase they do not fit my hand right. When this happens it feels uncomfortable and so you will most likley lose some accuracy. The gun that I have found that works the best for me are the glock model 22 and 27 which are both .40. I carry the 22 for a living and know I can always depend on it. All the guys who say glocks are bad choices have probably never shot a glock and are scared to becuase they know they would probably change their view. But in the end it is what feels right to you not what someone else feels is the best gun. Because if you talk to 10 different people each one is going to have the best gun in the world.

Smokin Guns · 01-11-2004, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Because if you talk to 10 different people each one is going to have the best gun in the world.

kaj611 is "Dead On" on that one! I try to get a lot of advice and opinions on different guns...but it always comes down to how it feels in my hand and how it actually performs. The one's that fit well stay. The one's that don't go home with someone who wants 'em more than me...

stash247 · 01-11-2004, 09:54 PM

What feels good? I have small hands, and I like the skinny gun. With the skinny grips, of course. Your hands may/will differ.
For me, the 1911 frame is a learned thing, over the course of 35/40 years; being too old to re-learn motor skills, I stay with it.
If you have friends with different pattern guns, by all means shoot them, at length, before making a buying decision, and consider the worth of buying, with return priveledges, from a shop, rather than from an individual.
Seems stupid to pay more, I know, but if it doesn't fit, what recourse have you, except with a dealer???
More to the point, choose carefully as to caliber. What looks good now, may not, in two weeks.

01-05-2004, 05:01 PM	#1
Velocity Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Maine Posts: 3	Help me choose. I'm looking for a new carry gun and I have narrowed my search to two guns. It was hard to eliminate Sig, Glock and Springfield however I have come up with HK USP Compact 45 and Kimber's Ultra Carry. Which would you choose and why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? Thanks in advance for your suggestion. -->

01-05-2004, 06:17 PM	#3
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,838	First off, Welcome to TFF. Pull up a stump and join in the melee. I am not a fan of “grip” safeties. I prefer the mag release location on the HK. (lower trigger guard) If there is a round in the chamber, will a Kimber fire it, if the mag is not inserted? You can fire that round with an HK. Polymer frame? Lighter weight? If you could not tell, I vote for the HK. Why did you rule out SIG’s? __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

01-06-2004, 01:12 AM	#5
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,838	Thanks Shooter, I did not know. That is why the "?" I know that there are a lot of handguns that will not shoot it. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

01-10-2004, 02:20 AM	#15
merc V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pelham, NH Posts: 309	Here is how YOU decide. They are all great guns. What do YOU prefer and which feels right to YOU. Except for the glock I don't think you would be unhappy with any of your choices. Handle each----point and see which comes to line the most comfortable. Consider weight and size and how you will carry it. then pick with 20 of your head and 80% of your heart and you can't go wrong. __________________ Merc Living without Liberty is not Living

01-11-2004, 09:54 PM	#18
stash247 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,815	What feels good? I have small hands, and I like the skinny gun. With the skinny grips, of course. Your hands may/will differ. For me, the 1911 frame is a learned thing, over the course of 35/40 years; being too old to re-learn motor skills, I stay with it. If you have friends with different pattern guns, by all means shoot them, at length, before making a buying decision, and consider the worth of buying, with return priveledges, from a shop, rather than from an individual. Seems stupid to pay more, I know, but if it doesn't fit, what recourse have you, except with a dealer??? More to the point, choose carefully as to caliber. What looks good now, may not, in two weeks. __________________ Don't start no s**t and there won't be none, Terry

01-05-2004, 05:48 PM	#2
gpostal Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,552	It would have to be between sig ,Springfield ,hk,kimber ,I would rule out the glock myself ,if you are unaware or unfamiliar with the glock ,I would suggest the same My first choice of what you offered would be the kimber {series 1 only} ,then the Springfield ,but after I changed out the mainspring housing lock ,h&k ,sig would be a toss up ,I guess it would depend on the deal I could get

01-05-2004, 06:54 PM	#4
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,755	If a Kimber has a round in the chamber and no mag inserted, it will fire. So will any 1911 clone. Just FYI.

01-06-2004, 06:00 AM	#6
gpostal Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,552	mostly smith and wesson ,i think they even started it with the 645

01-06-2004, 06:20 AM	#7
45Smashemflat Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,494	HUGE grip profile difference between the HK and the Kimber. They are both great guns. Go with the one that fits your hand and lets your each all the controls with minimal grip shift.

01-07-2004, 08:59 AM	#8
Zigzag2 Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	it's all in what you want out of it

01-07-2004, 09:31 AM	#9
Smoky14 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Nowhere NM Posts: 656	I carry a 1911 when I carry exposed and revert to my HK USPc40 with LEM trigger group when I carry covert. Both run when required and the HK is a good compromise between size and power. Smoky with 2 cents.

01-07-2004, 09:34 AM	#10
Zigzag2 Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	I still like my Sigs...

01-07-2004, 11:36 AM	#11
warpig Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Let us know what one you get.

01-07-2004, 05:24 PM	#12
Velocity Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Maine Posts: 3	Well I have decided to go with the HK 45c and I have decided this with the thought that I will get a larger frame Kimber Like the Pro Carry later on for target practice. I can not wait to shoot it. The double action seems a tad heavy however the single action has about a 1/4 " of slack then a nice trigger. I like it alot. Does anyone know about dry firing the HK?'s? Is it safe or should a snap cap be used?

01-08-2004, 06:42 AM	#14
Smoky14 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Nowhere NM Posts: 656	I would recommend a snap-cap. The HK has a history of breaking the firing pin. It breaks at the block pin cutout. The INS is recalling the USPc to get spring and pin replaced after 500 rnds or as soon as parts become available. I just wet fire Smoky

01-10-2004, 09:40 PM	#16
kaj611 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 10	Velocity you need to look at what fits your hand. I have many different kinds of hand guns but some I truley do not like becuase they do not fit my hand right. When this happens it feels uncomfortable and so you will most likley lose some accuracy. The gun that I have found that works the best for me are the glock model 22 and 27 which are both .40. I carry the 22 for a living and know I can always depend on it. All the guys who say glocks are bad choices have probably never shot a glock and are scared to becuase they know they would probably change their view. But in the end it is what feels right to you not what someone else feels is the best gun. Because if you talk to 10 different people each one is going to have the best gun in the world.