Well guys,
I decided a while back to put together a carry gun that married all the characteristics I desired in a carry gun. Given my indosyncratic desires it wasn't as easy these days as it would have been in the past. But I am 50 now so I just do whatever I want so here's what I wanted...
1. .45 ACP or 10mm. I know, I know. OK boomer, etc. I have been pilloried here but I still believe that there is a benefit to 230 grain .45 caliber projectiles over 124/147 grain 9mm projectiles. Yes I understand the FBI now says different. Just my opinion and the arguments otherwise are not persuasive to me. I feel the same way about 10mm but I don't like the selection of 10mm guns.
2. DA/SA. I love DA/SA. I love the safety of the first DA shot. My main concern is bump in the night handling of the gun, but I also like the added margin of error during draws.
3. Bomb-proof reliability.I am talking about boring, Toyota reliability here. I am a huge 1911 fan and have always owed one (I currently own a CQB), but they are not boring in the reliability department.
The above three are all tied and were deal-breakers. And realistically, I have dozens of pistols so there really isn't any reason for me to deviate from the plan.
4. Concealable. Now, I am old enough to have concealed full size 1911s, SIG 220s, G17s, Beretta 92s, etc. So I am pretty flexible, and I carry a J-frame in my pocket unless I am in the shower or in bed, so I don't need a micro pistol. I was thinking compact carry guns like G19s, Not Shield/Kahr/Hellcat stuff.
5. Accurate. Duh
Anyway, so I picked up a HK45C. I have owned them in the past, and have always had perfect reliability with all types of ammo so I knew it covered 1 and 3. I considered LEM but I really wanted the DA for a little extra security so I picked up one of the ArmsUnlimited B&T imports from Germany. This was stupid. I should have just picked up one of the very reasonably priced American Hk45cs that litter the gunshops around here. But at first I was beguiled by the extended barrel and the fact that they were German guns. That was dumb.
Well, out of the box I swapped in some HDs. These are my favorite sights so that was a no brainer. I picked up a black point IWB but quickly discovered I didn't like the extended barrel sticking into me while I drove around so I picked up a std length barrel. I also swapped out the extended base plates for flat base plates for $7 each. I don't need the extensions and it does trim the gun up a bit.
GOOD STUFF..
Base Gun. Great idea
HDs Good IDEA
Flat Base plates. Good for me (I wear medium to large gloves depending on the brand, so your milage may vary).
Standard Barrel Good Idea (I guess I have an extended barrel for shooting with my tirant.
Then I got stupid....
First, I picked the slim slide levers. I did this 1. To improve concealablity. That is silly, and truly guilding the Lilly stuff. I guess if it was an LEM it might offer something but if you are keeping the regular lever it is basically pointless. But 2. I prefer low profile slide levers to minimize accidental slide lock when shooting on the move, shooting behind barriers and other non-standard shooting positions. Skip this
Greyguns short reset kit. I guess I got spoiled shooting my LTT Beretta 92s, but the HK trigger is pretty heavy, especially in DA. It's totally manageable, but I was spoiled. Well you can't really get a match hammer spring and I didn't want to bubba up my gun, so I just left the factory spring in place. The Grey guns short reset kit adds a barely perceptible change in trigger play and reset. The drop safety spring supposedly helps but it is also subtle. I just compared it with my buddies bog standard HK45c and you really can't tell if you swap the gun from hand to hand without paying attention. Skip this change. I may even reverse it.
Take it or leave it.
1. I swapped from V1 to decocker only. I prefer this. I am trying to remove any possible failure point from the gun and missing the safety can be one. So I swapped in the proper detent plate. I like this but you might not.
2. Bobbed hammer. I like this. It actually improved my carry comfort and I am not a thumb-cocking type of guy. It is fairly involved process to swap for a novice but I am pretty comfortable inside the plastic HKs.
Anyway, I have about 770 rounds through the gun and I am carrying it. I have a very comfortable holster I picked up off eBay, a used black point. I am running it with 230 Grain HST and I keep it beside the bed with a 10 round mag and swap in the 8 rounders at night. The HDs, thankfully, were perfectly regulated for the drive the dot style of aiming I prefer. It's a very comfortable gun to carry and a comforting gun to carry. The gun is as accurate as my CQB, so there is no practical way for me to expect anything better. And the gun can be shot fast. It would be a lie to say I can shoot it as fast as my LTT or even my Glocks, but it's damn close (I am taking about splits, there is not real difference on draw from concealments and barely anything on Devil drills, etc.
What would I change? Honestly, I wish I could replicate my LTT Beretta trigger but since that is my favorite trigger ever I understand how it falls short. Other than that, the gun is perfect and is exactly what I was looking for.