TheWombat

and your addition was correct :-) TheWombat

When I was picking up my Walther PPQ from Arms-n-Ammo I picked up an Ed Brown Special Forces 4.25" Commander that Paul had in stock. In my short gun career the 1911s have never really appealed to me in the way that they appeal to my wife (Mrs Wombat). However there was something about the Ed Brown that just stole my heart. The very first dry fire was an amazing experience and in my mind justifies the reputation of this brand. While I didn't buy the Special Forces (it was in a tan/brown color that didn't appeal), it did send me on a journey I did not expect. After a weekend of researching I realised that the Kobra Carry Lightweight would make a great EDC (when I am not in PRNJ). The only problem was that none of the NJ dealers had them in stock, neither did the other non NJ dealers and this meant a 5-6 month wait for a new one from the factory. As I have one more permit left which expires at the end of December I decided this was to be my Christmas present... somehow, even if it meant not receiving the discount I could get from A-n-A by ordering and waiting the 5-6 months. Mrs Wombat was fully supportive and my previous plans to get a H&K 45/45c or Walther PPS had just been trashed. After the broader search found the recommended dealers also all out of stock I found 7 listed on the internet.. GunsAmerica, GunBroker, Jackson Armory and a couple of other places. 2 out of the 7 had ambi-safeties which was not desired so that meant 5 were left. My wife bought her P228 from Jackson Armory so I decided to give them a call and see if I could get a bit of a discount. Alas they had sold the firearm a couple of days earlier. Moving to the next one on my list.... they had also just sold the firearm a few days ago... The next 2 listed the Kobra Carry Lightweight however they would have to order them from Ed Brown meaning a 5-6 month wait. At this point I was feeling like things were not meant to be... I called the last dealer.... and it was in stock and they confirmed it was a single sided safety...... The next challenge was to find a good IWB holster. The Milt Sparks VM-2 is widely recommended however once again there is a 6 month wait to receive one, otherwise you can pay 2x to 3x the price and pick one up from eBay. Luck also came to play, I came across a forum post about an authorised dealer who sold VM-2s on GunBroker for the normal price, and there was an auction available.... So while I have to wait till mid December due to the 30 day rules, I now am a proud owner of a 1911 and a VM-2 :-) So I have my P226 USPSA for competitions, my PPQ for home defense and occasional carry, and the Kobra Carry Lightweight for EDC (where permitted) and unlike my usual excessive research, this was more of an impulsive purchase. A very happy Wombat!

Just bought a few rounds of .45 ACP to tide me over until I get setup for reloading thanks for the link! TheWombat

The P228 is having CRRAP (Carry Reduced Reset Action Package) which is the equivalent of Reduced Reset Comprehensive Duty Package $295 but only costs $245 on the current special offer. The P226 is planned to go the whole way with the Enhanced Leverage Competition Package (ELCP) $425. Although they will call me to discuss. hth TheWombat

Having only been in the US for 2 years I think that: 1. In order to get a firearm permit/buy a gun you should have to undergo some training to show basic proficiency. e.g. NRA Basic Pistol. While it is not perfect it still would be of benefit to many. 2. In order to get a CCW then you should have to undergo additional training to understand aspects such as 'not shooting someone who is running away' etc. I have both my Utah and Florida CCW and I see it as part of the responsibility of owning and carrying a firearm. I know my views will be at odds with a number of forum members, however I still believe that there needs to be some responsibility attached to the 'right'. The US is a very different place to 150+ years ago. Would the training make much difference, perhaps not, but I believe it would help at least some people think and that in itself is worthwhile. TheWombat

There are a number of holsters becoming available I've just purchased a DeSantis 002 Speed Scabbard http://www.desantisholster.com/store/SEARCH-BY-GUN-MANUFACTURER/WALTHER/ppq/belt-holsters They normally cost ~$65 however Natchez Shooter Supplies had them for $37.49, except I just bought their last one. I'll post once it arrives as to how good it is. It is OWB leather and a few people on the Walther Forum have recommended. I'm also in contact with http://www.ttgunleather.com/ who will have IWB PPQ leather molds in a couple of weeks. If you prefer Kydex then you can also try Raven Concealment holsters http://www.ravenconcealment.com a few people on the Walther forum have recommended them although I have not ordered one. TheWombat

Also if you are a member of the SigForum and let them know then you get a faster turnaround. They also have a special offer on at the moment called 'CRRAP' which gets you a bit more of a discount, check SigForum for more details TheWombat

I may be there Friday or Saturday morning this week, probably with MrsWombat. TheWombat

No worries, I really like my Sig and learnt a lot just from lurking on forums. About time I helped others :-) If you want to learn how to completely strip the 226 then there is a very good DVD you can buy from TopGunSupply that was created by one of the SigForum members. I bought it and managed to completely strip my 226 and then put it together successfully... and I was a novice. enjoy! Alex

Have you tried any other competing guns? I've just bought the Walther PPQ as the M&P didn't feel right for me (I rented one at ShoreShot). It sounds like you're trying to make the M&P fit you, whereas there are enough similar handguns that might be a better natural fit without having to make compromises, e.g. Walther PPQ/P99, H&K P30/P30L, Springfield Armory XD/XDM, Beretta PX4 etc. As others have posted, if you go for the M&P then the Apex trigger job is meant to be easy to fit and a highly recommended upgrade. hth TheWombat

I picked up a new P226 USPSA a couple of months ago. I took it home and field stripped, lubed it before I shot it in order to get to know the gun, and also to practice getting used to the controls, decocker, how best to grip since it was my first handgun I've owned. I'd also highly recommend joining the SigForum. In terms of lubrication - I go by Florks Lubrication Guide for Sigs. He wrote this when he worked at Gray Guns who are noted as one of the top Sig gunsmiths if you want trigger jobs etc - In fact both my P226 and my wife's P228 are there now for some work. Flork's Lubrication Guide is also posted on the SigForum, the summary is that this guide recommends a high quality grease and a lot more lubrication then you would do on a Glock. congrats and welcome to the Sig Club. BTW - if you have small hands then the E2 grip conversion costs around $45 to order from TopGunSupply and is easy to fit. TopGunSupply is also a highly recommended place for buying a lot of Sig parts, e.g. new springs, components etc. Enjoy! TheWombat

In August 2011 Secaucus was 6 weeks and a very positive first experience for my wife and I. :-) TheWombat

Welcome and enjoy. I've shot at Bayonne once however I much prefer RTSP and ShoreShot even if it means an extra 30 minutes drive. Irrespective, have fun! :-) TheWombat

Welcome, we started renting at ShoreShot 3-4 months ago. Now my wife and I own our own handguns and are really enjoying our new hobby. We will be trying some competition shooting early in the new year and looking forward to it. Enjoy! TheWombat

Hey Tony, Any reason for the recommendation of the carry ultra or carry ulta+ over the EMP? TheWombat

Definitely a wider gap in the rear sight than on my wife's Kimber. It didn't seem to be too much of an issue and a PPQ is more a combat gun than a target shooting gun. I was a little surprised though at the gap. TheWombat

TheWombat

You are the perfect wife :-) So general consensus in complexity/time to field strip/clean from easiest to most difficult/time consuming is: PPQ P226/P228 Kimber 1911 Being an ugly gun does have some advantages TheWombat

My wife and I were at RTSP this morning (from 10am to 11am). Have to say that we were both very impressed. It is obviously clean and new, the computerized range changers were just great! A few points of feedback/opportunities/comments There will be obvious comparisons to ShoreShot for me as both are places I would typically shoot. ShoreShot is slightly further away. I find it really distracting when someone is shooting a rifle at an indoor range! The noise/air push is just too much (note this is not about what earplugs or headset I am wearing) Would be great if they offered a 10-pass membership like Shoreshot. i.e. you can come 10 times, are classed as a member, and allows you to try it out before committing to the full year's membership. The staff were very helpful, friendly which is A+ for me I sent through a price request from the NJ Gun Forum and they responded on the same day. That is A+, whereas I've never had a quote response from ShoreShot via the forum Would be great if they could post their rental list on this forum!!! They are still building up their stock, however it was still reasonable. Non-member prices of $20 an hour are fine. I will take a look at what rentals they have next time. We will definitely go again. TheWombat

Both the 226 and 228 are currently on there way to Gray Guns. If the results live up to the expectations then both the 226 and 228 will be amazing. Maybe MrsWombat will post on this thread if we all ask nicely :-) She's a little shy.... TheWombat

I've been watching the Walther forums (PPQ sub-forum) and there are a few suggestions in there for holsters that are either made for the PPQ or fit. I'm still researching to see what I'll go for, once I make the decision I'll let you know. :-) TheWombat

Hey congrats - they are meant to be absolute great guns to shoot. I considered getting one myself based on the rave reviews from the SigForum! :-) TheWombat

Having just finished giving it a clean I should also add: It is very quick and very easy to clean, takes around a quarter of the time that it takes to clean my Sig P226 The magazine release is different to the normal push button however I had no problems whatsoever with it Luckily unlike my wife I choose my guns based on form and function, rather than just on aesthetics :-) :-) TheWombat

My wife picked up her new Kimber and I picked up a Walther PPQ. The only modification to the PPQ was fitting some Trijicon Night Sights as it will be a home defense firearm and possibly a carry gun. Background My first firearm was a Sig P226 which is great, however for my second permit I had a "shortlist" that seemed to keep growing. The only two clear constants were: Had to be 9mm Was not to be a 1911 or Single Action pistol I've just received my Florida CCW so additional considerations were: 1) a home defense firearm 2) something that I could carry if I desired - although if I ever ended up carrying often I would consider a sub-compact. Shortlist The short list included Sig P229 - so similar controls to the 226 and has a rail for a light Sig P228 - similar to the P229, better quality, but no rail Sig P225 - similar to the P228/P229 but thinner for carry Sig P250 - a good idea for NJ as buy one pistol and have the ability to switch between sub-compact, compact, fullsize, 9mm, .40 and .45 without using additional pistol permits Sig P2022 - plastic and highly regarded Glock 19 - purely by specification this was the obvious choice! H&K P30 or P30L - Plastic, good reputation, many negative comments about trigger S&W M&P9 - removed from list after I tried one at Shore Shot. It just didn't feel good in the hand Springfield XD9 or XDM9 - I've shot a few of these as rentals and always had some of the best groupings I have ever shot. Also buy before end of November and get 3 additional free magazines Walther PPQ or P99 - a late addition to the list. Plastic, Striker Fired, Short Reset Trigger At some time or other there were also Desert Baby Eagles, CZ 75 variants and other hand guns on the list. While the obvious winner based on price, size (width), capacity the Glock 19 just didn't appeal to me based on looks and ergonomics, although I've shot both the G17 and G19 a few times now and always had good groupings. The M&P9 left me feeling 'cold'. The front runners were the H&K P30/P30L and the SA XDM9 and I had started looking on GunsAmerica when I began to see positive comments on a couple of the forums regarding the PPQ in comparison to the H&K P30. I couldn't find anywhere local with the PPQ so after a month of reading forums, reviews etc I decided to take a gamble and order one. Some of the reasons the PPQ appealed to me were: Price - they are in the $500 to $600 price range Trigger - It has a very nice Quick/Short Reset Trigger. One of the constant positive feedback points is how good the trigger is right out of the box and having shot it I would now agree Size/Weight - It is a bit smaller and lighter than the Sig P228/P229 Fit & Feel - Walther are known as a quality brand in Europe (where I come from) and it comes with interchangeable backstraps Also for variety having a striker fired gun would be a nice compliment to my DA/SA hammer P226. Day of Purchase The first time I had a chance to see and touch a PPQ was at Arms-n-Ammo yesterday when I went to pick up the PPQ. I can honestly say that as soon as I picked it up I could tell it was a good choice. It felt right in the hand and the trigger, even when dry firing, felt very good for an unmodified trigger. The short/quick reset is exactly as it says and overall look and feel of the gun is good. Once home I spent an hour dry-firing and racking the slide in order to get the feel of the gun - after first taking it into a dark room to check out the tritium night sights - AWESOME! The gun slept on the night stand beside me and all through the night I had 3 green orbs looking over me. Range Visit I took the PPQ to RTSP for it's first range trip. In the bag I had 250 rounds, a mix of Winchester Ranger Nato 124gr, Speer Lawman 124gr and 147gr, American Eagle 124gr and 147gr. I ended up firing 110 rounds, a mix of all those taken, and I had no failures. The trigger is amazing, and I can see that the short/quick reset trigger could catch you off-guard the first time if you're not aware of it. Shooting at distances of 5, 7 and 10 yards almost all shots were within 2" groupings, the only stragglers were my own fault. The PPQ is very easy to shoot, however it is a light gun and does have more muzzle flip than the P226. The sights are zeroed in as combat sights rather than 6 o'clock and I am fine with that. In the case comes a manual, lock, small & large interchangeable spare back straps, test fire target and shells, manual, 2 magazines, magazine loader and the PPQ. The photo below shows the 'backing target' as RTSP don't have cardboard and I like to use my NJ Gun Forum bullseye targets. Of the 110 rounds there are < 10 outliers. The grouping in the middle is tighter than it looks as I had stuck 6 different bullseye targets on top. My wife also tried a few shots with the PPQ and commented how easy it was to shoot.. She just doesn't think it is aesthetically pleasing unlike her Kimber! General Photos Some quick photos below Final verdict is that the PPQ is a GREAT striker fired firearm. If you're considering buying a striker fired plastic handgun then I'd recommend considering the PPQ. hth TheWombat

A big thanks to Paul (PK90) for managing to track down a Kimber Custom Aegis II in 9mm for my wife. MrsWombat chooses a gun based on one of two criteria: Does the character she likes in a TV show use the gun (she only watches one TV show so the options are limited!) or Is the gun aesthetically pleasing Her first gun was a Sig P228 as that is what Gibbs uses in the NCIS TV show Her second gun is the Kimber Custom Aegis ii Her third gun, not yet ordered, will be the Springfield EMP Here is the Kimber: We had our first range visit today to RTSP - I highly recommend you all try and at least one visit - it was impressive. MrsWombat fired 200 rounds through the Kimber with no failures which were: 100 x Winchester Ranger 9mm NATO 124gr FMJ - RA9124N 100 x American Eagle 9mm 124gr FMJ - AE(AP She likes the Kimber and all went well. The grips became loose however nothing that a bit of loctite won't fix after she's finished cleaning it. So a positive thumbs up from her!!! I fired 9 rounds through the Kimber with good shot placement although I didn't find the trigger pleasant as I had just been shooting the Walther PPQ. The Kimber slides, the PPQ pivots, and this was my first time with a 1911. I am however sure that I would get used to it after a few more rounds. TheWombat