Ken Nelson

As some readers will know, I became concerned about the reliability of my 1911 Smith & Wesson 1911PD. Not so much that particular gun as the 1911 design itself, which is fussy and must be religiously maintained.  I’d experienced jams in recent matches with it out past 80 rounds or so without cleaning.   Now, as a carry gun that is fine I suppose. I don’t expect concealed carry situations to go beyond 2 or 3 rounds. BUT I like to compete with what I carry because it helps me get better with it. AND the jams to provide a nagging “will it work when I need it” concern. 

So I’ll be selling the 1911PD to someone more savvy with 1911’s.  And a shopping I went.

After review of guides and reviews, I narrowed the field down to the Sig P226, Glock 22, and the HK USP, all in .40. 

I liked all three guns, but the Sig and the HK felt heavy and bulky and I didn’t like their initial double action trigger.  The Sig was $750, the HK $680 and the Glock $450.

So I went with the Glock.  And later today I shot it for the first time.

It shot… like a Glock.  Compared to my race Glock and my other customized guns the trigger was long. It shot dead on, or maybe slightly left, but not enough I wanted to drift the sights over.  Without a bench to hold it super steady I couldn’t be sure, but I could hold it in a 4 inch circle freestyle at 15 to 20 yards.

And a pleasant surprise awaited me… it fits my SuperTuck holster I got for my 1911PD. So no new accessories are needed. I’m typing now with it on, and it is noticeably lighter than the Smith.  And… I don’t have to carry an extra magazine and I still get 16 rounds of .40.

All I have to do now is put some night sights on it, and skate tape for the grip and it will serve me fine for many years…. with few to no jams and very little cleaning required.

Just the ticket for a mechanically challenged fellow like me.

So the carry plan going forward is… in shorts and untucked shirt carry the Glock 22. In Sunday clothes the LCP.