new to the forum

I can't say that I have actually looked into any wheel guns. My only experience with them is a (can't remember make/model) 38/357, 5" barrel. I want to say it was a S&W, but no clue honestly. Running it DA felt like a crime, but going SA, it had an amazing trigger, pretty good basic sights (good radius and not hard to see in broad daylight), ridiculous overmould/ergo grip, I only shot some 38 SWC's (probably a light powder charge) and with the 5" barrel, awesome grip, good trigger, and decent sights, it was very easy to do 1" groups at 10 yards, especially as a VERY inexperience pistol shooter. I'm really a rifle guy. I'm a firm believer in rifle cartridges that start with 7.62 and end in X51 , but they aren't exactly applicable to all situations.

Things that turn me off of revolvers: capacity, DA/SA (manual cocking or poor trigger), reload time, thickness, carrying a reload or two seems bulky compared to a more-less flat magazine, even a double stack 9mm mag should be easier to conceal than a moon clip.

Not to say that I couldn't find one to suit my needs, I just don't feel it as practical. By today's standards, a 1911 platform has a laughishly low capacity, yet still more than a revolver (even in something like 22wmr, no?, which I wouldn't waste my time carrying past a backup). Sure a 357, 44 special, even a modern 45acp revolver, will do the job just fine when lead connects to target in the correct fashion, but for the above reasons I don't feel it adequate in overall performance in my hands.

I like the idea of being able to draw, cocking the hammer back in the motion (going off a 1911), thumbing off the safety (even a RH only safety, I shoot government M16/M4 lefty, and have no issues, even so far as to being able to operate/reload/clear jams, faster than most right handed shooters), squeezing off rounds as necessary, dropping a magazine (if I have to reload that bad, I'm not retaining an empty!), throwing in a new one in a smooth motion, hitting that slide catch, and being back in action.

Also, for comparison, a M9 doesn't really fit my hands oddly enough. I don't like the thickness of the grip, although in actual function I haven't shot one that was maintained well so I can't comment on that. I held a PX4 and that felt OK, a P226 felt pretty good (also had an airsoft one, not that it means much, but it was an excellent clone in dimensions and controls, easy to learn). I had put a few rounds through a Ruger autoloader in 9mm, and it again wasn't in great shape by any means. It felt better to me than the M9, but still wasn't quite there. A M&P Shield? (The smallest one they make) felt horrible, cheap, toyish, and even 9mm was very snappy and hard to control. The 1911/.45acp has the best feel for me. I've found 9mm to be very hard to keep on target. Maybe I'm just weird. I'm told .40/10mm is the same "recoil" as a 9mm, but more "snap". I think it's the velocity that makes it "jump" instead of "push".

Hopefully someone has a lot of experience specifically with Kimbers/paras/p220's. Like a real fan-boy that's not afraid to admit shortfalls. Or if someone can let me know of any real "known issues" with any of the models.

Thank ya'll again.

You should probably consider wheel guns, even if only to ultimately reject the idea.

My daily carry (have it with me as I type this) is a Ruger GP100. The gun shoots better than I do, and even in DA the trigger is smooth enough for good shooting. I haven't had it tuned or modified at all except for replacing the stock (the original was showing a bit of wear after some years of regular use).

On the topic of rifles, I'd also like to put in a vote for rifles which start with .45 and end in -70, but that's just me.

Here are some answers for things which turn you off revolvers:
- Capacity isn't that much lower than the state of California wants you to have in a pistol anyway, and there are quite a few seven shot revolvers out there as well.
- Reload time is a matter of practice. Take it shooting often, invest in moon clips or speedloaders, and learn the technique. Also, the top measured stopping round in a handgun, as of the last data I saw, was a revolver round so efficiency is an argument too.
- DA/SA is up to you. Single action with a longer barrel works nicely if you have to shoot a dog after your livestock across a field, while double action is fine at interpersonal conflict resolution ranges. Also bear in mind that a modern double action revolver has fewer controls to mess with. Pull the trigger, and it goes bang. If a dud round doesn't go bang, pull the trigger again and it goes bang. No accidentally tapping the safety with your thumb or anything like that.
- Reloads for revolvers should pack differently from magazines. Will they lie flat taped to your ankle? No. But I carry a couple of speedloaders daily as well and I usually don't even notice they're there. Under a flannel shirt they're basically invisible.

Go to a shooting competition. Bowling pins, cowboy action, whatever. You'll see some wheelgun shooters who are better than I am doing things which will amaze you. And I'll bet you a box of ammo that I will keep you very busy even with your best loved 1911 keeping up with me shooting bowling pins.

If you're dead set on a self-loader, give some thought to the CZ family. There are some very nice tools in that line.

As a competitive shooter I've seen a cheap 1911 outshoot a fancy Kimber - it's in the shooter's hands.

In fact, I have, myself, outshot a guy with a Kimber, using a Hi-point .45. No joke, no lie. Granted, I was on top of my game that day, but all the dollars he spent extra on his shooting iron didn't help.

Buy cheap, build skills. Wheelgun or autoloader makes no meaningful difference on that scale.