deerslayer

I bet Neero is right--the target carriers get blasted enough when people are trying to hit center mass. Head shots batter the target carriers at one local range, and they even have a sign requesting that you refrain from headshots.

What did you not like about the Rangemaster class? Who was your instructor/instructors? I've never taken any classes at RangeUSA, but I know a few who have. Most people that take the carry permit class seem to get a lot more out of it when they go to Rangemaster.

Mars, FWIW, I had a second generation Glock 23 (made in Oct. 92) before my current third generation 23 (made in 05), and there is a definite difference in chamber size. Glock seems to have tightened up the chamber along the way, but it remains to be seen if it's enough. Also, the New York trigger springs add weight if desired (8 or 12 pounds), and take three minutes to put in. A friend has an M&P 9mm WITHOUT the magazine disconnect, and he says he must dryfire before field stripping.

well said

Ok, I voted best gun out there, but I only feel that it is the best gun out there FOR MY PURPOSES. It may be a lousy weapon for others--different strokes for different folks. I simply have not found anything else that outperforms a Glock as a CCW first, and an IDPA gun second, and I've tried pretty much everything. I don't have a Gaston statue that I bow to, and I don't preach to everybody that Glocks are what they need and everything else sucks, but they suit my purposes better than anything else currently made. If you're very casual about concealed carry training and practice, then they probably aren't for you. They should only be carried by those who are very conscious of their trigger finger and use a sturdy holster, but so should (IMO) an M&P, Kahr, XD, 1911, etc. I don't understand why so many claim that it's so easy to shoot one's self with a Glock, but think an M&P or an XD is perfectly safe. THEY ARE ALL THE SAME THING! Yeah, yeah, an XD has a grip safety, but as soon as you touch the gun, that goes out the window. I witnessed an XD negligent discharge this weekend, but I haven't posted that everyone should throw away their XDs. If someone states a negative opinion about a Glock, hey, it's a free country. On the other hand, when certain members of this forum post their OPINIONS, but arrogantly expect everyone to regard them as FACT, I am often provoked.

I don't think I've ever seen a single one of your Pulitzer prize winning explanations on this site. All I've ever read is a bunch of arrogant, irrational rants. BTW, who made you the final authority on what is a good CCW for concealed carry? I am beginning to wonder if all your anti-Glock rhetoric is the result of your shooting yourself in the leg back when you supposedly owned a Glock. Fess up, Mars. Did you have an ND?

Oops, I almost forgot, you've never been proven wrong.

The button lined up perfectly with the trigger. We all took a hard look at it after the ND. Like I said before, I haven't seen any other Serpa holsters, but I don't like the one he had. Also, so much for the grip safety (a highly overrated safety device, IMO).

Actually, I was talking about Mars, not you.

I never would have known.

...did not happen today. Sorry to disappoint. However, I did witness a Springfield XD40 ND. At our IDPA match today, we had a new guy who is a relatively new shooter, but has been through some decent training. He did pretty well, but on the last stage, he fired the gun before the muzzle even cleared the holster, which was a Blackhawk Serpa. Bad technique, for sure, but I believe the holster played a big part in this ND. For those who are not familiar, the Serpa has a button which must be pressed while drawing, and this releases the gun. This release button, at least on the holster for the XD, lines right up with the trigger; when the user draws and puts pressure on the button, as soon as the trigger clears the holster, that pressure is right over the trigger. Maybe with some practice this issue could be avoided, but I don't think I'll be getting a Serpa any time soon. The shooter was fine, altough he got a DQ. The XD went off before he got it out of the holster--bullet went through the bottom of his holster, ripped about a 15" gash in his pants, and luckily hit the ground about three inches from his foot. One lucky SOB. He may not be as lucky when his wife sees his pants, however. I have not heard of any other NDs with them, but some shooting instructors will not allow Serpas in their classes. I don't know if all Serpas are made like his (release button and trigger lined up), or that is only a serpa/XD thing; if they are, it seems like a major design flaw to me.

Unlike some, I don't preach what everyone else should or should not use, and I don't arrogantly claim that I'll admit being wrong if somebody finally does prove me wrong. Glocks are no different from many other designs, but they are more numerous. They work quite well for me, but I don't tell people that is what they should go get. For the record, I've never shot myself with a 1911 or a Glock, and I don't even have the commando/ninja training that some do.

Wow, does the Helmsman have a new editor yet?

I carry a Glock with one in the chamber in a rugged, leather thumb-break holster. I have no idea how one can accidently shoot himself more easily with a Glock than he can with a Kahr, XD, or M&P. I don't give a rodent's rump what the cops use--as a matter of fact, most of the local cops don't even use Glocks. After using and owning A LOT of different guns, I eventually chose a Glock because it is the best option that I have found for my personal needs, which are mainly concealed carry and competitive shooting. For me, nothing else can fulfill both roles more safely or efficiently. YMMV.

I think it's "Mogadishu on the Mississippi."

Sounds like your luck was better than my friend's--congrats.

no, it's just gotten so expensive, but my better half never leaves home without it.

A friend just bought one (Mosquito) used and has had problems with his. It seems to run a lot better when drowned in gun oil, but he is not happy with it so far. He mentioned selling it, but I don't think he is really ready to give up on it yet.

The article i read about it said the magazine disconnect safety is easily removed--a feature that Ruger apparently planned.

Hmmm...pretty much all positive responses so far--that's what I was hoping to hear. The only guy I personally know with a Kahr ended up getting rid of it after shooting a few IDPA matches with it. He said it always ran fine when punching holes in paper, but when he started running-and-gunning with it in a match, it always malfunctioned. He is an experienced competitive shooter; he wasn't riding the slide release or limp-wristing, etc. I don't know the model number, but I believe it was a polymer frame 3.5" barrel 9mm. I personally despise the trigger on these guns--it's not too heavy, but the reset is four feet long and it feels just like a DA revolver (exactly the same all the way through the trigger stroke). I prefer guns with slack in the initial trigger movement (which facilitates shooting from the reset), but my other option is a DAO J-frame, so the trigger issue is moot. Other than my friend's negative experience, I have heard nothing else bad about these little guns.

Hmmm...I know someone else like that.

I am by no means knocking your XD, but I hardly consider 6000 rounds to be "strain."

What happened in Bartlett last night?

nice avatar!

+1 I recently picked up a Bushmaster Carbon 15 9mm http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_carbon15_AZ9-C15R16FT.asp and it runs like a top!