Had a chance to do some side by side

[riffraff]

Hello all,

I stoped by the new local Gander Mountain today after work.  I wanted to take a look at the new Remington 798 rifles.  I found them not to be of my likeing.

Also stopped at the handgun counter and handled the Kel-Tek P-11, P3AT and NAA Guardian.  I found none of them to be suitable for me.  But this is the first time I handled them back to back.

I AM SPOILED.  The R9 is the best fitting/feeling small handgun I have ever held.  Ergonomically it has NO rival.  And the trigger just can not be beat!

I am open to suggestions, if anyone knows of a gun I should try to get my fingers on and give it the twice over please let me know.  So far, the more small handguns I handle the more I appreciate the R9.  Is there anything else I might be happy with???

Mike

[MountainMan]

Mike

I have two R9s and I also feel the same way about my Seecamps - same attention to detail but smaller caliber.

Dave

[Richard S]

[Aglifter]

A seecamp is too small for my hands -- I think they're well made, but I just can't safely get my fingers in them -- at least, it seemed that way.  
My Ruger SP101, with badger custom grips, and tuned by Gemini customs is my favorite small gun, other than the pup -- and my primary/plant gun -- It hasn't had any corrosion issues so far.  I think the pup's might have stemmed from being a combination of steel, copper, alumium, bleach, and water -- seems like it my have some galvanic action in that combination.  Either that, or because I only started carrying the 101 after I switched to eezox, and most importantly, degreased it before applying the eezox.

[ROKTMAN]

I`m hard pressed to pick another ergonomically equal handgun.The Seecamp comes close but not quite.My S&W custom tuned 638 with Spegel grips is close too....maybe equal. A S& W Performance center Quad Port with Badger grips is close too but 23 ounces and heavy.I just like the pup.

[Reinz]

I know you are looking at ergonomics, but to me, I want to compare apples to apples.  That is, stay within the same caliber.  And that's where the R9 has them all beat!  Ever since I read about the pup in AMERICAN HANDGUNNER magazine a few years back I knew I had to have one.  I was just looking for the opportunity.  I finally saw one at a gun show a few weeks ago and jumped on it.
I've always carried the smallest with the largest caliber ratio gun-wise.  For example, when Kel-Tec came out with their 380, I quit carrying their 32 when wearing jeans and went to the 380 for my "jeans" gun.

But back to the subject.  To me if you have to stay with a 9mm, the closest would be a Colt Pocket 9 .  Very ergonomically similar, but larger.  I have one that my gunsmith shaved off enough weight to give me the equivalent of the free mag with ammo(weight wise)  It works very well for pocket carry.    Unfortunately, they are not made anymore.

Next, I would pick the Kel- Tec P-11.  Double action, 9mm, eronomicly similar, lightweight.  Drawback, a little thick for front pocket carry of jeans unless very loose.  I used mine in front pocket of dress slacks with Kim Ahrends Natural holster.  Conceals, very well.  Even got pulled over by an anti-gun state trooper for speeding and was asked to get out of the car,  when I told her I was carrying, she asked multiple times " WHERE was I packing a nine?"
Oh but now, I have the Holy Grail!, the R9!   No more searching needed.      
Unless I need one for my left pocket, or maybe a backup, or............


Reinz

[Richard S]

Reinz:

Do you plan to sell that "chopped" Pocket 9.  If so, do you have any photos of it?

[Fud]

The Colt Pocket Nine was definitely a sleeper and ahead of it's time.

I keep HOPING that Rohrbaugh introduces a 'beefed-up' version of the R9 similar to the Pocket Nine ...

[Richard S]

Fudster:

Great side-by-side photo of two superb DAO pistols!  

Am I right in recalling that you collect Colt Pocket Nines, or was that another member of the Forum?  I passed up a Pocket Nine NIB at my dealer's shop some ten years ago and have been kicking myself in the backside ever since.  

[Reinz]

Richard S -  My Colt Pocket Nine is not chopped.  The slide has a melt down and my gunsmith went inside and shaved a few tenths of an ounce off here and there.  He did not jeopordise the integrity of the weapon.

He did the same to my 32 Gaurdian.  And it saved me a loaded mag - weight wise as well.

I am not to computer savy as far as posting pictures.  I do not even have a digi cam.  But I heard that guns could be scanned.  I will try to see if I  can get one of my kids to help me.  

Reinz

[Reinz]

Bear with me, this is my first try to post an image.

Reinz

[Reinz]

Well not bad photos for a scanner.  I can't take credit for the post either, my daughter did it for me since she had the photobucket account.  I didn't have a clue what she was doing.

Since she is still here I will post a pic of my Gaurdian on "Other Guns".  It has the melt down also plus a pretty cool holster that stays attached to the gun during the draw and shoot.

Reinz

[Richard S]

Reinz:

Very nice, indeed!