I have a friend (yes, this really is for a friend…) who has been wanting to take ccw more seriously, is looking to take some classes and also do some competing.
So, he is going through the “pick a platform” proccess.
Anyhow, the crux of the issue for him; he wants to carry a single stack at work and during the summer. It’s hot out here in AZ and he works in a non-permissive environment. In trying on various guns/holsters combinations (provided by friends, at gun stores, etc) he has determined that on work days, a smaller single stack is the what he is looking for.
He was leaning toward a G19, but does not like the width of the G26.
He has read enough on this forum and others that he wants a couple of pistols that will provide training commonality between class/competing and his ccw gun.
I recommended a G19/Kahr combination, and he liked the idea.
The other combo he is interested in is a PPQ/PPS…
Anyhow, to get him over his analysis peralysis hump, I told him I would post a poll on here.
So, if you were starting form scratch in terms of platform/s and wanted to have a single stack for ccw at work, a full-size or compact for carry on the weekends/ winter as well as for use during classes and eventually competition, which combo would you choose and why?
EDIT: If you put other… let us know what you would suggest.
He’s overthinking it. Have him buy a matched pair of any of those four (I vote PPS), plus 6-8 extra magazines, a good holster, and a shitload of ammo. Then send him to the range to bring forth order from chaos.
I actually have the G19/Kahr PM9 combo. I ended up carrying the PM9 almost exclusively.
I carried a Colt Officers Model .45 for nearly 30 years and then went to a PM45. I still use the PM45 but lately have been relying on the PM9 due to it being a little smaller and easier to conceal.
I really like Kahr’s quality and they are quite accurate for such a small size handgun.
I have the PPS/PPQ combo currently, so you can guess how I’d vote. I’m about as accurate with Glocks as the Walthers, but having the same platform for both guns on the Walthers is very nice. I really like the ambidextrous mag release location on the Walthers, and prefer it over the Glock release.
The Walther quality is top notch, and the only downside I can think of for them is that the magazines are more expensive, but in the grand scheme (like compared to cost of ammo we all run through these guns) that’s pretty irrelevant in the long run.
That would be a training issue. My real vote (and my ccw choice) would be g23(19) and g27(26). I’m one of the unlucky fools that has had bad luck with Kahr reliability and if I had to get a single stack would go pps over kahr.
I love the Glock 19. But mine is an older Gen3 that was made before Glock start having issues.
I own a reliable PM9. But reliability on these guns can be a crap shoot. The trigger is vastly different from the Glock and the gun is almost too small for my hands. Great pocket gun, but for IWB carry, I’d get something I can shoot more effectively.
I bought a PPS 9mm last summer. This thing is much more accurate and shootable than I would have ever expected. The trigger is similar enough to the Glock that it’d be a good pair.
The difference in mag releases is a non-issue for me. But the more time I spend with the Walther mag release, the more I like it, especially for a gun that is concealed or deeply concealed.
I’ve only dry fired a PPQ, but I was impressed with the stock trigger for a NIB gun.
For your friend, I’d get a PPS for his single stack gun. Get a 6 rd and a 7rd mag to adjust the size of the gun. (I own an 8 rd mag that came with the gun, not impressed personally.)
Then get either a Glock 19 or a PPQ, whichever one he likes better.
A Glock 17 / Glock 26 combo would make worlds of sense. but for me, i like and shoot the Walther PPQ better than anything, and have always been impressed with my PPS. I carry the PPQ all the time, and use the PPS for areas where I just have to fit the gun in somewhere because i can’t CCW, such as a laptop bag pocket, etc…
I think the idea is sound to try and keep as much similarity between the shooting gun and the carrying gun. If Kahr made a 10 round magazine I’d almost carry a PM9 and shoot with a T9.
The G26 can still be a bitch to carry especially for someone new to carrying and going IWB. You really don’t gain a whole lot over the G19 if you’re doing IWB (although I notice less discomfort sitting for long periods with the G29).
I have a Kahr CW9 and I had a Glock 19 for many years. That combination fulfilled my needs for a couple of years, but the difference in the triggers and the difference in the way they point (ergonomics) is something that may or may not leave a person shaking their head and half way frustrated.
I owned a PPS for a short time, but I got rid of it because of reliability issues and the subsequent loss of confidence. I have handled and dry fired a PPQ. The PPQ does have a very nice trigger with a short reset. A person could do a lot worse than the PPQ/PPS combination.
I am an old school 1911 guy and my present carry combo is a Dan Wesson V-Bob and a Springfield EMP in 9mm. Of course the problem with the 1911 route is finding a small (thin), reliable, lightweight, pistol that you can trust that won’t break the bank.
If I had to choose between the combos given by the OP, it would be go with Walther. Of course that assumes the ergos are suitable.
I’ve noticed a g26/27 with the pinky extension is a great size for me. The back corner of the g19/23 tends to print easier the extended 26/27 and the extender gives a good grip.
I’ve been tempted to pick up another g23 and chop the grip down to 27 lengths and see how that does. But I picked up an M&P compact which has the barrel length of a g19 and grip length of a g26.
If commonality is what he wants the PPS/PPQ would be the best route due to the trigger and magazine release. He could also consider a PM9-MK9-CM9/TP9-T9 combo for the same reasons. As someone else said, he’s making it more difficult than it needs to be. Pick what you like and what shoots best for you and train.
He’s thought about this exact set-up but seems to have two concerns; is it going to be a pain to run the smaller, single stack Kahrs at classes etc (with the PPS he has the PPQ for classes and outside of work carry) and two, he’s read a lot about being able to learn to run the gun faster if it has a shorter reset, hence his interest in the Walther’s. My wife carries a Pm9 and I have one of the old E9’s. He likes both, but does recognize the Kahr has a long reset.
I won’t disagree with you on the long reset of the Kahrs.
The smaller PM9 sized version may be a pain but the TP9/T9 provide a long enough grip that it shouldn’t be a problem. The TP9 looks to have the same grip thickness as the CM9/PM9 which won’t exactly fill the hand but the T9 with its wooden grip panels should feel much better.
Also, if the polymer sub-compacts are to unbearable to shoot or handle the MK9(metal frame version) does provide more comfort and less recoil but at the cost of more weight and a slick grip. The grip feels slick but it was never a problem for me while shooting. You can always put a rubber grip sleeve or some grip tape on it if you need.
Between the 2 options listed, I picked the PPQ/PPS. IF he has the money for them. they are better mated than a Glock and a Kahr.
The new Glocks have issues, and I do not care for the Kahr. I carry Glocks exclusively (19 + 26). If I was doing it over again right now, I’d probably pick the PPQ/PPS. That said I am quite happy with my G26 and G19 and will not be replacing them in the forseeable future.
I respectfully disagree. I used to say this until I got a G26 of my own.On MY frame, the G26 conceals much more comfortably under just a T-shirt, which I wear most days during the summer time. The G19 does not conceal well under just a T-shirt and I found myself not carrying as a result. A PPS or other single stack might be better, yes, but the G26 does the trick for me.