Alpha Foxtrot s15 ? Sig P229 Legion SAO ? Kimber KDS9c Rail ?

[@willy4869]

From those options i would say the 229 legion. I rented one at the range probably 10 times. Absolutely love it. The only reason i don't own one yet is that i have a huge soft spot for the elite full stainless model and have not been able to find one yet. But, I would get da/sa instead of sao. I rented a sao 226 and the safety was a bit loose, or worn out, and didn't give me the warm fuzzies. I'm sure it was rode hard and put away wet, and you would probably do a better job of maintaining it than the range would with a rental that has god knows how many rounds on it. Good luck!

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks, Willy, again, for the good input. Yes, I'm leaning more (if anything) to the Sig over Kimber - but very well might keep my A F. which is excellent when running reliably. Going today to do a shoot-off between a 226 Legion DA/SA (closest imitator I found to rent) and my A.F. That'll probably be the decider. Will have a follow-up in a few weeks. Thanks for participating!

[@willy4869]

Awesome. I'm excited to see what you pick.

[@brandonh4527]

The SIG would be a no brainer for me. Definitely has a great track record. I have one got to shoot the DA/SA models, but I imagine the SAO is also great. I personally like my SAO with the grip safety, but I’m sure it is fine without that. I’m also a 1911 platform guy, but have found minimal issues with learning and utilizing the DA/SA guns.

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks a lot for the comment & feedback, Brandon - worthy of consideration ! I hope you'll check out my 2 follow-up videos about this ... Car Gun Quandary Part II & Car Gun Quandary Part III ... to see how it's been playing out. Part II will be especially worthwhile to you, given what you wrote about the Sig and 1911 platforms. Much appreciate your participation - and keep shooting straight & fast. Cheers !

[@2agunguy5]

I think either one is great other options would be the DWX compact with rail and optics cut, any of the CZs shadow compact is a great one.

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks a lot for commenting, 2aGunGuy ! Much appreciate your commentary & recommendations ... and good ones at that. Definitely would have gone with the DWX compact, but really didn't want to spend that much on a purely a car gun. If you want to see what I ultimately did ... on my channel, I made 2 subsequent "Car Gun Quandary" videos that brings you up to speed in how my car gun journey developed. And my latest video (out just last weekend) gives you the full & final conclusion to how it all finalized. Hope you watch & enjoy. Happy Holiday & all my best to you ! Cheers !!!

[@2agunguy5]

@ awesome man looks like you went with the Kimber 💪. I have held one never shot one but am sure it is great from all of the great reviews it gets...enjoy!

[@PBPistoleer]

@@2agunguy5 Thanks a lot, but. Like getting your informed approval - appreciated ! First shooting impressions video coming out soon. Now I'll go check out your channel 👍🙏. Have a great rest-of-weekend & HAPPY HOLIDAYS !

[@minormunitions]

I currently have both in my possession the 229 is growing roots and I’m keeping it. The kimber seems fine, but the SAOs trigger is better. Also the 229 has a more direct feed than the kds9. The kds9 had a tendency to jam when held by weaker hands also. No problems when it was held tightly

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks, Minor, for the informed, helpful input - exactly what I sought. Yes, I'm leaning more (if I do anything) to the Sig over the Kimber. But, I very well might keep my A F. - which is beautiful & superb when running reliably - and it certainly now should be. I'm going today to do a shoot-off between a 226 Legion DA/SA (the closest imitator I found to rent) and my A.F. That'll be the decider. Boiling it down to, from here, 5 remaining factors : differences between grip, trigger, muzzle rise, accuracy & overall shooting experience. I'll certainly post a follow-up in a few weeks. Thank you very much for participating & assisting !

[@maybe5883]

229 legion - high performance, proven reliability, great ergonomics.

[@PBPistoleer]

Thank you for your input, Maybe ... much appreciated ! If I do anything, I'm leaning toward the Sig for it's reliability & reputation. But that Kimber is surprising me in the highly positive reviews I'm seeing - and I know that Kimber put a lot of work into their first DS to try to get themselves back to their former, better rep. I can report that I've have made progress on my Car Gun research. Did a shoot-off last Saturday between my repaired & upgraded AF vs one of those two (which did eliminate 1 from the calculus). And found a friend that has the other - on which I'll soon be doing shoot-off #2. So stay tuned, my good man. Cheers !

[@Jon-nw6br]

I hate the AF had the issue. Love mine!

[@Jon-nw6br]

And I’m a Kimber fam.

[@robertallen8841]

The Sig will be more top heavy and you probably won’t like the position of the slide release at all. I haven’t had one malfunction with the Kimber with 124 grain yet at around 300 rounds. I don’t have the rail version.

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks for your helpful Comment, Robert ! If I do any change at all (might well not), I was originally leaning toward the Sig for it's reliability & reputation. But that Kimber is surprising me in the highly positive reviews I'm seeing - and I know that Kimber put a lot of work into this - their first DS - to try to get themselves back to their former, better rep. I can report to you that I've have made progress on my Car Gun research. Did a shoot-off last Saturday between my repaired & upgraded AF vs one of those two (which did eliminate 1 from the calculus). And found a friend that has the other - on which I'll soon be doing shoot-off #2. So stay tuned, my good man. Cheers & thanks again !

[@robertallen8841]

You’re very welcome and best of luck. (Snubby in my console). Never a worry.

[@chrisperry1590]

I've owned my KDS9C rail since February. I've well over 3k rounds through it. It's absolutely my favorite pistol I've owned. It's also my go to EDC pistol and throughly trust it. How has yours been?

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks for commenting, Chris - much appreciated. Wow - that's a strong endorsement of the Kimber ! The KDS9c seems to be Kimber's effort to modernize (a double-stack), get their Quality Control back up to where it was & should be (the 5 years prior to this seemed outright brand-damaging), and reintroduce themselves as a 'premium-production-scale-pistols-for-fair-price' manufacturer in a tough competitive field. And the reviews HAVE been supportive of this. So, given that it checks my necessary boxes, I'll definitely give it a shot vs my Alpha Foxtrot. I don't own & haven't shot the KDS9c, but have a friend who has one. So, I'm trying to wrestle him down for time to do a shoot-out between his & my repaired & upgraded Alpha Foxtrot as my car gun (proving harder to schedule with him than I though. But please know that my A.F. now represents a very high bar for the Kimber to clear - given how GREAT the S15 shoots for a mere 3.5" barreled pistol. Based on what you wrote me, it seems you haven't seen my Part II video - so check that out for an updated status as to where I stand in my car pistol research & ultimate decision. Stay tuned for that ! TGIF & Cheers !

[@chrisperry1590]

@@PBPistoleer I'm also a big fan of that pistol.

[@PBPistoleer]

So you own and/or have shot many many rounds thru BOTH the Kimber KDS9c Rail & the Alpha Foxtrot s15 ? If so (fingers crossed), which 1 would you choose (if you had to) specifically for a Car pistol (not carry) ? And why (what preferences, dislikes) ? Don't have to write back to me now - but whenever you have a good few minutes to write me something meaningful / with detail between the two, Chris, PLEASE do so. Haven't had a single other 'Commenter' who has experience with both. In advance, THANK YOU !

[@chrisperry1590]

@PBPistoleer I have had very little experience with the Foxtrot, 1 mag is all. However, it felt fantastic. I went with the Kimber because it was available and loved the look of it.

[@PBPistoleer]

Understood & appreciated, Chris. THANK YOU for giving me as much feedback as you thoughtfully could. Enjoy that Kimber ! And stay tuned for my final decision (after the Part II video eliminate the Sig from the calculus).

[@enricollanes7655]

DWX compact...

[@PBPistoleer]

Thanks for the suggestion, Enrico ... and a good one at that ! The DWX Compact certainly does qualify for what I like & what I've been interested in. And I 100% gave it serious consideration, as well. BUT - my Alpha Foxtrot cost me $1250 all-in back in early '23 ... the Sig P229 Legion would run me just about the same ... and the Kimber KDS9c Rail you can get for $1550. The DWX Compact (GREAT gun!) can't really be acquired for anything less than $1900 all-in. And, given that my A.F. (and the other two) are really really good, capable, easy-and-enjoyable-to-shoot options - I just don't see the value (since I already own the AF, and would have to go thru the process of selling that for a reasonable price to spend a good amount more for the DWX) in making that partricular switch. Check out my upcoming Car Gun Quandry - Part 3 video to see how this ultimately plays out. And, until then, THANK YOU very much for your participation ! Cheers !

[@4chub896]

the kimber rail is an amazing gun but the fact kimber didn't come out with that style kds9 in the first place is sus and to up charge 400 dollars for a rail ambi safety is lame.

[@PBPistoleer]

Yes, I've heard that, 4chub, from a number of KDS9c owners - including my friend from whom I'll be borrowing it to do the final shoot-out with my Alpha Foxtrot. Not too good advanced planning by Kimber - not a great way to breed loyalty. But this pistol seems to be their effort to modernize (a double-stack), get their Quality Control back up to where it should be (the 5 years prior to this seemed outright brand-damaging), and reintroduce themselves as a 'premium-production-scale-pistols-for-fair-price' manufacturer in a tough competitive field. And the reviews HAVE been supportive of this. So, given that it checks my necessary boxes. I'll happily give it a shot !

[@PBPistoleer]

Gotta schedule with my buddy with the KDS9c to do that final shoot-off. The Alpha Foxtrot (newly repaired & upgraded) really shoots beautifully & soft & flat for merely a 3.5" barrel - so, it's going to be a high bar to clear for the Kimber. But the results will be the results - and I'm still open to changing (if warranted). So, stay tuned - it'll likely be 2-3 weeks (apologies). Cheers !

[@unixfool]

The KDS 9C Rail has more than just a rail and ambi safety. It also comes with an extra mag and night sights. A rail, ambi safety, extra mag, and night sights are the reason for the $400 increase - IMO, that's a reasonable cost increase and they're just not going to give away a gun.

[@PBPistoleer]

@@unixfool Thanks, Ron, for commenting / participating ! Yes, that Kimber seems to provide good value & quality bang-for-the-buck ... exactly what I'm / my channel is all about (great stuff that's worth the higher price tag). I hope you'll watch my "Car Gun Quandary - Part III" video. Still very interested in the Kimber, but definitely want to shoot it before I'd even think of retiring my Alpha Foxtrot. Any chance you have one & live in southeast FL 😁 ? Again, thanks for writing & now I'll go check out your channel. Cheers !!!

[@unixfool]

@@PBPistoleer Ah...no, I live in Northern VA. I'm also the owner of an Alpha Foxtrot S15 (1200 rounds shot with no issues). If it weren't for the fact that I'm more in love with the Bul Armory SAS II Ultralight, I'd be carrying the S15 on a normal basis. Kimber is also doing smaller guns, too...they've the CDS9, which is probably better equivalent to the S15. I've subscribed to your channel!