You can get either a Mark III / 22/45 or a Buckmark with a 4-5.5" barrel that would be smaller than your G17.
That being said, if you want a 22 for some plinking, I would probably recommend either a Ruger SR22 or a Ruger SP101 22.
you have probably spent more on test ammo.....as my 9th grade band director used to say, take it home and make a lamp out of it.
Lamp Making Kits with Medium Edison Style Sockets - National Artcraft
Any sort of typical cleaner will work. I use breakfree and ballistol primarily, but hoppes or FP-10 will work too. As for brake cleaner, my friend uses it on his SIS and it has had no impact in the finish.
Assuming I get to keep all of the others, I would have to choose either a Cabot Jones 1911 or an SVI 1911 built exactly the way I want it.
'Cause if I am going to buy just one more, I am going to spend like 5 grand on it....
Most guns sold at gun shows are sold by dealers and you have to get NICS approval and pay sales tax just like if you were in the shop.
Now if you stick to FTF transactions, at a gun show or not, you will avoid the NICS check and paying sales tax.
I would look at the FNX or FNS series guns. It has ambi controls and interchangeable backstrap inserts. 9 MM should be fine...especially with 17 rounds in the magazine.
Also, what sort of competition are you interested in? That makes a big difference. For IDPA and similar, you can get a...
The Kahr P series holster or CW series holster would probably fit. More likely the CW version - The CM9 and CW9 are the same thickness and have what appear to be identical trigger guards.
Black is OK but bead blasted matte would look sweet and would not blind you....since Kokomo is crawling with people who like classic American cars, you could probably find a body shop or similar that could hook you up.
A defensive pistol should shoot roughly to point of aim at 25 feet. Ammo could be an issue, but the sights seem to be the issue. And a 12 o'clock hold is just unnatural.