I have a dilemma - I just became legal to own firearms in California, being a non-immigrant alien of a certain status. I'll only be here until next spring and it's risky to plan for being able to export any firearms back to EU... ITAR and all that, you know. So I'd need to optimize a purchase of a nice but basic pistol with the expectation of having to sell it off within half a year.
The plan is to get into some USPSA matches and perhaps get acquainted with IDPA given the opportunity.
I've handled a Kimber TLE II a bit lately. Back home, I do the bulk of my training and competition with a CZ-75 SP-01 in IPSC Production guise, so the overall heft and the accessory rail of the Kimber were a welcome touch. I also have an STI Lawman back home in the safe, and the traditional dust cover never provided my left thumb the comfort that the railed frame of the SP-01 and the TLE II allow.
WDYT, folks? Should I get the TLE II, an SP-01 Shadow with ridiculously handicapped magazines, or something else? In the balance, I see the selection of Division and PF Major vs. Minor - and there is the overhanging consideration of quite possibly having to get rid of the pistol by next Easter, with just a couple of thousand rounds thru it.
I'm in the Bay Area, and would also welcome pointers to your favorite gunshops and clubs/ranges/matches. So far, I've been to the Gun Vault in Mountain View and was impressed with the selection and service attitude, but not quite so with the prices. As to clubs, I've heard really good things about the Sunnyvale Rod and Gun Club, but that's just about it.
Let's spare the usual banter about the People's Democracy of Kalininfornia for another time... suffice to say though, the Hunter's Ed guys in SF were absolutely top notch.
The plan is to get into some USPSA matches and perhaps get acquainted with IDPA given the opportunity.
I've handled a Kimber TLE II a bit lately. Back home, I do the bulk of my training and competition with a CZ-75 SP-01 in IPSC Production guise, so the overall heft and the accessory rail of the Kimber were a welcome touch. I also have an STI Lawman back home in the safe, and the traditional dust cover never provided my left thumb the comfort that the railed frame of the SP-01 and the TLE II allow.
WDYT, folks? Should I get the TLE II, an SP-01 Shadow with ridiculously handicapped magazines, or something else? In the balance, I see the selection of Division and PF Major vs. Minor - and there is the overhanging consideration of quite possibly having to get rid of the pistol by next Easter, with just a couple of thousand rounds thru it.
I'm in the Bay Area, and would also welcome pointers to your favorite gunshops and clubs/ranges/matches. So far, I've been to the Gun Vault in Mountain View and was impressed with the selection and service attitude, but not quite so with the prices. As to clubs, I've heard really good things about the Sunnyvale Rod and Gun Club, but that's just about it.
Let's spare the usual banter about the People's Democracy of Kalininfornia for another time... suffice to say though, the Hunter's Ed guys in SF were absolutely top notch.