Range report: Ruger LCP, LC9s, Kahr CW9, Sig 250, and..

[LVSteve]

We FINALLY got to the range today. Plan A was to shoot the LCP and the Sig P250SC 380 for the first time. Plan B was to compare the LC9s with the Kahr CW9 I just bought. Plan C was to see if the no name .25 pocket gun I have would actually function.

First up was the P250SC. Gorgeous smooth trigger, easy to rack for my fiance, very mild recoil. I started off hitting low with this gun say 2-3 inches at 5 yards. But as I learned the DAO trigger, the groups got much better centered. My fiance found the gun easy to operate, and was also having the same issue with her groups initially.

Next was the LCP. Is Fiocchi 95 gr FMJ particularly hot? Last time I shot a KelTec 3AT I found the recoil very mild. This time I could feel a bit of zip. I had a tendency to shoot low again, more DA trigger time needed. Biggest issue was that my fiance found the gun impossible to rack reliably, especially when her hands got a bit hot. She was pretty disappointed as she fancies one for CCW because of its size. Maybe its back to the Sig 290RS we have.

I grabbed the CW9 during a recent sale. I was a bit worried how it would shoot considering I found the LC9s a bit of a handful. I shouldn't have worried, the gun shoots very smoothly and the way it absorbs recoil is almost spooky. More DA trigger fun with the initial groups going low, but they got better. Sadly, this was another gun that my fiance had trouble racking, but she agrees that it is much nicer in the hand.

The LC9s is easier to shoot accurately because of its trigger, but it leaps around in my hand. Maybe it would be better with a sleeve. My fiance can work all the controls on this gun just fine and also shoots better with it.

Lastly, we tried a .25 ACP Unique style pistol. It is unmarked apart from a serial number. Story is it came back from Europe after WWII. It could be a scrubbed Spanish piece, but exhaustive Web searches have not turned up one with the angular frame this gun has. Shooting it is hysterical. It has no sights, just a trough in the top of the slide. The trigger isn't half bad, and with its monster weight there is no recoil to speak of. After shooting 9mm and 380 it made little more than a soft, high pitched crack like a loud nut crack. It proved surprisingly easy to shoot over 5 yards and fed from both magazines, #2 being a guesswork item I grabbed at a show.

All in all, a fun and informative afternoon.

 

[CDR_Glock]

The best handling 380, though I don't carry mine anymore, is a Sig Sauer P238. Easy to operate the slide. It is SAO so if you carry it, it's Condition 1. I carried it in my back pocket for years in a Talon Wallet Holster with issues. It takes a lot more effort to disengage the safety before firing. It handles well, and hitting controlled pairs at 25 yards is not an issue.

As for a 9mm, a Ruger SR9C is a pretty substantial sized subcompact. It's something you may want to consider. Another one is a S&W Shield or Glock 43.

Before live firing any gun, I dry fire it to get an idea of trigger feel and how it breaks. I may do that a couple of times, except for a rimfire. Even before the range, I use my boresighter to see if the sights are set for Combat shooting or a 6:00 hold.

Lastly, smaller sized guns have significant recoil and are more difficult for follow up shots. Then again, it takes a certain balance of all factors to find the right gun for a person.


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[LVSteve]

The best handling 380, though I don't carry mine anymore, is a Sig Sauer P238. Easy to operate the slide. It is SAO so if you carry it, it's Condition 1. I carried it in my back pocket for years in a Talon Wallet Holster with issues. It takes a lot more effort to disengage the safety before firing. It handles well, and hitting controlled pairs at 25 yards is not an issue.

As for a 9mm, a Ruger SR9C is a pretty substantial sized subcompact. It's something you may want to consider. Another one is a S&W Shield or Glock 43.

Before live firing any gun, I dry fire it to get an idea of trigger feel and how it breaks. I may do that a couple of times, except for a rimfire. Even before the range, I use my boresighter to see if the sights are set for Combat shooting or a 6:00 hold.

Lastly, smaller sized guns have significant recoil and are more difficult for follow up shots. Then again, it takes a certain balance of all factors to find the right gun for a person.


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Much as I admire the 238 design, I'm not sold on a cocked and locked carry gun. My fiance is pretty new to shooting and that won't work for her, I know.

The SR9c is too big for me to conceal. My build is in the alarmingly svelte category. I nearly bought a Shield, but I thought the LC9s was just a bit more concealable. I should look at a Glock 43 but they were VERY new to the market when I was getting my first CCW so I didn't get to try one.

As for my trigger pull, I will confess that it comes down to lack of practice. Am I minute of bad guy at 7 yards? Sure, but right now I'm not as accurate as I hope to be after more practice with the CW9.

 

[hardknocks]

The remmington 380 is easy to rack and not bad at all on recoil.
Mine was reliable but I sold it off. Wish it was 9mm.
Regards
Mike

 

[glenncal1]

you might want to try the finger hold extension for the mag on the lcp. made a big difference in controllability for my gun.

 

[Iggy]

My wife bought a Kahr CW45 when her J frame smiths started hurting her hand.. Liked the Kahr but liked the size of the LC9s better, and bought one. I was concerned about her manipulating the manual safety on the Ruger after carrying a revolver for 40 years.

I bought her a Kahr CW9 and she loves it. No safety and revolver like trigger pull won her over very quickly. The slide will get much much better with more rounds down the pipe.

I wound up with the LC9s. I carried a 1911 for years and found the safety on the LC9s not to be a problem. Grip sleeve on the Ruger makes a lot of difference.

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

***"My fiance is pretty new to shooting"***

If you get the chance have your fiance try the "Walther PK380".
It's certainly not a "Bug" or "Pocket Pistol", but it carries light and easy for CCW. The slide is easy to manipulate, it balances well in the hand, very little felt recoil, almost zero muzzle flip, a smooth, easy, very accurate shooter. Newbies especially enjoy shooting this pistol, as do those who are recoil sensitive and/or those who have difficulty loading magazines and/or manipulating the slide.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHWFp-9cuE[/ame]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ldhfoZtTGvY[/ame]

 

[CDR_Glock]

Much as I admire the 238 design, I'm not sold on a cocked and locked carry gun. My fiance is pretty new to shooting and that won't work for her, I know.



The SR9c is too big for me to conceal. My build is in the alarmingly svelte category. I nearly bought a Shield, but I thought the LC9s was just a bit more concealable. I should look at a Glock 43 but they were VERY new to the market when I was getting my first CCW so I didn't get to try one.



As for my trigger pull, I will confess that it comes down to lack of practice. Am I minute of bad guy at 7 yards? Sure, but right now I'm not as accurate as I hope to be after more practice with the CW9.

Kimber K6s at 15 yards, free handed.

Not my carry gun (Glock 30s). My carry gun is a Glock 19 MOS. 15 yards.

I carry Number 3. Number 1 would be fun to carry but I'm concerned about effectiveness of 5.7 mm.

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[ladder13]

The Kahr's are amazing. No safety, pull and fire. Long smooth trigger, little chance of an AD.
The downside is the tight slide.
I put my J's to sleep in the warm weather and carry a CW380, hides very well, better than my J's.

 

[Ranger514]

When it comes to sub compacts, check out the hammer-fired DAO Sig P290 RS. It comes with standard 6-round magazines and an additional 8 round mag in 9mm. The slide is hefty to help control muzzle rise and recoil. It has a smooth, longer DA trigger similar to that of a S&W revolver.

 

[Arik]

Much as I admire the 238 design, I'm not sold on a cocked and locked carry gun. My fiance is pretty new to shooting and that won't work for her, I know.

The SR9c is too big for me to conceal. My build is in the alarmingly svelte category. I nearly bought a Shield, but I thought the LC9s was just a bit more concealable. I should look at a Glock 43 but they were VERY new to the market when I was getting my first CCW so I didn't get to try one.

As for my trigger pull, I will confess that it comes down to lack of practice. Am I minute of bad guy at 7 yards? Sure, but right now I'm not as accurate as I hope to be after more practice with the CW9.

I found that svelte build helped concealability. At least for me it did. When I was 165# I carried full size guns and wore slightly looser than tight fitting shirts. As I gained weight I found it harder to avoid printing

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[LVSteve]

When it comes to sub compacts, check out the hammer-fired DAO Sig P290 RS. It comes with standard 6-round magazines and an additional 8 round mag in 9mm. The slide is hefty to help control muzzle rise and recoil. It has a smooth, longer DA trigger similar to that of a S&W revolver.

We have one in 380 and my fiance has operated it just fine. Problem is when she saw how much more compact and light the LCP is, it became the preferred option until yesterday. I think next range trip will be the 290RS and a 38 revolver. Wonder if I can rent a 38 SP LCR for her to try....