Best overall pistol for my scenario?

Statistics also show that most shootings are under 7 yards, and after action reports often indicate that the shooter was lucky if he or she reported seeing the sights at all, let alone lining them up. At 7 yards "front sight, press" is the name of the game.

Basically I have a hard time envisioning a scenario in which I can clearly identify a deadly force threat, but I can't see my sight edges at all, and a front dot only shot isn't safe, but a three dot shot is. I can, however, envision a number of scenarios in which perfect sight alignment is not necessary, but speed and an intuitive sight system (dot on target) is.
 
Flash sight picture. With practice you can be just as fast as with front sight press. This is where muscle memory comes in. This is why I prefer a rear one-dot or two dot set up. In dim light, it will be more than enough to use. The shooter is accountable for every shot. I suppose when it's just you and the baddy in one room with no one else around, you can be a bit more reckless. If I'm doing a front sight press, I'm pressing the gun out into my line of vision so the front sight comes into view. A single dot rear or two dot rear gives me enough visual cue. I also practice not going into full extension since I shoot both weaver and modified weaver stance.
 
MOST PEOPLE will never shoot enough in their life to reliably shoot from muscle memory. Maintaining that skill takes a huge amount of effort.

For normal shooters, minimal training will cut the time difference between shooting unaimed and with a rough "front" sight picture. If in doubt, study the credible shooting schools training materials or even better, take one or more their courses. ;)

And don't forget, the only hits on the bad guy that count are the ones that stop hostilities.
 
Ok, last post on sights. I own both setups. I've trained with both setups. I went to swat school at Camp Blanding with three dot sights. I qualified as a law enforcement firearms instructor with three dot sights. I shot competitively with three dot sights on my stock auto for years. I've worked late evening shifts for most of my career with three dot night sights. I switched to the tritium front dot only setup on my duty weapon about two years ago, and I'll never go back. I've had my gun pointed at a number of bad guys after dark, and there was nothing "reckless" about my tactics or equipment with three dots glowing or one. What I found was that one dot was faster on target, and easier to keep on target if one or both of us were moving. I have yet to encounter, nor can I envision a scenario in which I needed more accuracy than "front sight, press," but I was willing to take the shot without acquiring a perfect target sight picture using the edges of my sights. That is some of my experience and my recommendation for the OP. Yours may vary.
 
AustinOX said:
Ok, last post on sights. I own both setups. I've trained with both setups. I went to swat school at Camp Blanding with three dot sights. I qualified as a law enforcement firearms instructor with three dot sights. I shot competitively with three dot sights on my stock auto for years. I've worked late evening shifts for most of my career with three dot night sights. I switched to the tritium front dot only setup on my duty weapon about two years ago, and I'll never go back. I've had my gun pointed at a number of bad guys after dark, and there was nothing "reckless" about my tactics or equipment with three dots glowing or one. What I found was that one dot was faster on target, and easier to keep on target if one or both of us were moving. I have yet to encounter, nor can I envision a scenario in which I needed more accuracy than "front sight, press," but I was willing to take the shot without acquiring a perfect target sight picture using the edges of my sights. That is some of my experience and my recommendation for the OP. Yours may vary.
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Wasn't trying to fault your viewpoint. Sorry if it came off that way. Just easier for me with some kind of reference on the rear sight. And in hindsight, reckless wasn't the best term I should have used, but I meant it in differentiation between your method and the other method. Anyway, I would hazard a guess most mortals will probably never obtain your kind of training unless they were also in some form of law enforcement or military. So, I still think for a lot of people having a form of reference in the rear sight is helpful. But yea, of course, YMMV.

I will say that having used XS Big Dots did make quick target acquisition in ranges <10 yards. Whether that was because I just used the front sight or whether it was because the rear sight was basically non-existent, I won't know for sure. It worked though and seems more similar to the shooting technique you described. The Big Dots did have some reference in the rear sight, in this case a tritium vertical bar.

I did end up swapping the sights to 3 dots because I could not get the groupings I wanted at further ranges, because of, well, the golf ball front sight.

Once again, no disrespect was intended in my earlier response.
 
Would this change your mind about getting an Ed Brown?

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&client=mv-google&hl=en&feature=relmfu&v=BMs8b7U2tsI&rl=yes[/video]
 
paltak said:
Would this change your mind about getting an Ed Brown?

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&client=mv-google&hl=en&feature=relmfu&v=BMs8b7U2tsI&rl=yes[/video]
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Not really. If I'm buying a gun, I'm not thinking about the person or the company that makes it. I'm looking for accuracy, reliability, and durability. If the gun were made with the blood, sweat, and tears of 1000 virgins with parts sourced from conflict, I wouldn't buy it. Could care less otherwise.

If it has a track record and warranty to back, I'm not gonna think twice if it's something I want.
 
paltak said:
Would this change your mind about getting an Ed Brown?

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&client=mv-google&hl=en&feature=relmfu&v=BMs8b7U2tsI&rl=yes[/video]
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I just watched that, I think that youtube presenter is at fault not Ed Brown.

He didn't make an appointment, couldn't take no for an answer, and now is trying "wield his power".
It just comes off whiny and needy.
 
I'm going to buy an Ed Brown after watching that video :)

Who cares if he chose not to give that parasitic Internet goof an interview
 
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It's funny. The guy says that because of his video negatively portraying Ed Brown, he could cost him a lot of sales. I wonder how many people WILL BUY an Ed Brown, because of the video :D
 
I appreciate the feedback guys. I should be placing my order for EB Kobra this week.

And already thinking about the next one :) ......LB TRS, with the thinner grips it should work just fine.
 
I own several pistols but find myself shooting my Ruger MkIII 22/45 the most. All you to do after you pick up the pistol is slap on a HiViz front sight (really easy to do) and change out that stupid magazine disconnect with a replacement part from TANDEMKROSS (there are great videos that take you step by step through the process). Adding magazine bumpers to your magazines makes things easier to use but you can live without them. The 22/45 is a great training aid for anyone that shoots 1911s since the grip and controls are all patterned after the 1911. But you can work on your fundamentals and apply them to any other handgun as well.

If you want something for fun and self-defense, then look no further than the Glock 19, shooting perfection. Add night sights (what ever works for you), a factory extended slide release, and maybe a TANGO DOWN & VICKERS TACTICAL EXTENDED MAGAZINE RELEASE (not too long and not as short as the original) and you are set for life. The Glock extended version does feel like it just sticks too far off the grip, in my opinion.

Glock_Mag_Releases_Names.jpg

Ruger MkIII 22/45 stuff:
http://www.tandemkross.com/
http://www.eabco.com/store/ruger-mark-iii-pistol/

Glock stuff:
http://www.redstatetactical.com/Glock-Gear_c_31.html
 
I also think highly of the G19, and still own one despite being an XD convert when it comes to tupper guns, but with a one gun requirement and limited capacity I think with the OP's budget he's made a great choice with a quality 1911.

The Ruger would be a great choice for the wife- and may also lead to the one gun limit going away ;) My wife had never fired a gun before we met, and was scared to death of them. When she moved in I insisted that we go to the range since I have so many in the house. She LOVED it, and is always ready to go shooting with me. I started her on a Sig mosquito, but one of her favorites was an M&P 40 because the grip ergonomic were perfect for her (very important for new & unsure shooters). I ended up buying her an M&P 9c.
 
KISS(keep it simple stupid). Purchase a double action revolver. S&W .357 686 is a fine choice. In a stress situation you can not afford failure.
 
Eddie47 said:
KISS(keep it simple stupid). Purchase a double action revolver. S&W .357 686 is a fine choice. In a stress situation you can not afford failure.
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I take it you've never seen a revolver fail?

We had a Smith and Wesson 17-2, and the 17 is considered one of the finest 22 revolvers ever made. Well, normal shooting from one of the guys that I work with (he was planning on buying it), the lift arm broke. On a K frame .22lr, the lift arm broke.

I've seen a .357 Ruger LCR fubar and seize up after 4 rounds of Hornady 38+p loads because something in the crane broke.

Smiths, Rugers, Tauruses, hell even a Dan Wesson.

Long story short, anything man made can and will break and fubar. Revolvers aren't a guarantee.
 
M67 said:
I take it you've never seen a revolver fail?

We had a Smith and Wesson 17-2, and the 17 is considered one of the finest 22 revolvers ever made. Well, normal shooting from one of the guys that I work with (he was planning on buying it), the lift arm broke. On a K frame .22lr, the lift arm broke.

I've seen a .357 Ruger LCR fubar and seize up after 4 rounds of Hornady 38+p loads because something in the crane broke.

Smiths, Rugers, Tauruses, hell even a Dan Wesson.

Long story short, anything man made can and will break and fubar. Revolvers aren't a guarantee.
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This.

I had a round jump crimp on one of my revolvers. That completely deadlined the weapon until I could ram that round through the barrel back into the cylinder.
 
paltak said:
Maybe a 1911, maybe Wilson Combat?
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Glock 19 or 17. I've had too many 1911's in my hands to trust them to go boom when I need them to. Every Glock I've shot has run flawlessly. German made Sig 226's are also really nice.
 
6 months later this beauty came in yesterday...... definitely worth the wait! Can't wait to shoot the heck out of it :D:D:D

Since so many members weight in on this post, I feel it's only appropriate to post an update. Thanks for looking!

Sorry for the crappy pics.





With the other grail :)
 
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