The favorite hand gun thread

[Boats]

But I have seen them fail under tests where guns were subjected to muddy conditions and a cylinder locked up. Yep, that's right. A cylinder locked up. No weapon, I said NO WEAPON is fail-proof. I want a gun that works with high reliability under severe conditions. Agreed, a revolver is right up there but it is not fail-proof.

I was at one class and the instructor told everyone to drop their gun in a mud hole, pick it up, clear the weapon and start shooting. A coupe of nice .45 owners refused. They were told to leave the class. If you can't or won't practice under potentially severe conditions and baby your weapons then they are not tools. They are collector pieces. They will fail you at a time you may not expect. A gun is a freakin' tool. Just like a knife.

The cylinder possibly binding is still one point of failure compared to many for the auto. The SEALS situationally used revolvers back in the day because they were more sand resistant than the autos of the 70s and 80s. Revolvers have a tremendous history of field service, from the mud of France to the sands of Africa, to maritime operations as noted above.

I'd drop any of my pieces in the muck, FWIW. The Ruger is at least easily field stripped if something needs deep cleaning, not something that can be said of every revolver out there.

 

[R.A.T.]

I find it amazing that we all have these thoughts and ideas that some particular tool is the best for the job. We fall into a belief that since TOOL A has less moving parts that it is better, or since TOOL B has such a good name it must be better. It's all bullshit for the most part. Same with knives. RAT Cutlery knives are really no better than anyone else's when it comes to being a cutting edge. We just happen to have the best warranty in the business

Bottom line: Until you put your gear through hard use under varying conditions that may not suit how you like to roll, you will never know what is truly the best *most of the time* I see cops wearing 511 pants all the time because it's the "in" thing to do. They pretty much suck in the real world of hard knocks. After introducing a couple of my cop buddies to Carhartts, they won't be caught dead in 511s anymore. They have realized that the un-cool tool works better for the real world.

I don't have a clue if a Glock is a good combat pistol. I'm not a soldier. It has worked under some pretty extreme conditions and I'm not afraid to let it get dirty, muddy and grimy. It's a tool.

 

[SuicideFO]

A gun is a freakin' tool. Just like a knife.

Amen. The "User Mind-Set." I have no safe queens, don't have the money.

 

[glefic]

I find it amazing that we all have these thoughts and ideas that some particular tool is the best for the job. We fall into a belief that since TOOL A has less moving parts that it is better, or since TOOL B has such a good name it must be better. It's all bullshit for the most part. Same with knives. RAT Cutlery knives are really no better than anyone else's when it comes to being a cutting edge. We just happen to have the best warranty in the business

Bottom line: Until you put your gear through hard use under varying conditions that may not suit how you like to roll, you will never know what is truly the best *most of the time* I see cops wearing 511 pants all the time because it's the "in" thing to do. They pretty much suck in the real world of hard knocks. After introducing a couple of my cop buddies to Carhartts, they won't be caught dead in 511s anymore. They have realized that the un-cool tool works better for the real world.

I don't have a clue if a Glock is a good combat pistol. I'm not a soldier. It has worked under some pretty extreme conditions and I'm not afraid to let it get dirty, muddy and grimy. It's a tool.

Well put. I had a glock and got rid of it when i got my XD-40 because the XD fells better in my hand. if you look at them they are just about the same tool.

 

[R.A.T.]

I'm not a "gun guy" since guns have never been tools that impress me that much (nor have knives). I carry an EDC every day and it rarely gets cleaned but it has gone "bang" every time I shoot it. It may indeed let me down some day. I just know that I am not qualified to speak on combat weapons, so take whatever I say as being purely subjective based on my own experiences.

 

[WhiteWhale]

I don't post much here, but do have a few RAT's . Heres my collection.

CZ-75 9mm

CZ-83 380

Glock 19

Glock 26

And my favorite, CZ-52 1600 fps of pure fun.

Like most of you the Glock is what I carry. I like that if I can get my finger on the trigger and pull, it will go bang. No external safety's to worry about.

 

[shotgunner11]

I think you guys are all nuts. Glocks are the most boolit proof guns evar made. Did u evar see teh torchor tests?

The guy drops it into boiling lava and then shots it 200 times strate wifout a malfunkshun.

Then, he drops it off a 900 story bilding and pickes it up and shots a bullseye from 1000 yards away 170 times wifout a malfunkshun.

Glocks never fail.

 

[Pointshoot777]

Well it all depends on the details of where it will be used and under what conditions. City, woods, or wilderness ? Griz country or just up to black bear/cougar, etc. ? Will I be backpacking with a full pack over several days, or with just a day pack ? What will I be doing ?
Favorites include - 1911s in 45ACP & 10mm, hi-cap XD 5" Tactical in 45ACP, S&W 629 4" 44 Mag, ultra lightweight S&W 329PD in 44 Mag, S&W 625 Mountain Gun in 45 Colt, USFA Rodeo in 45 Colt, S&W 317 ultra lightweight kit gun in .22LR.

Been considering a Glock 20 in 10mm lately, - - but really already have it covered with what I already have, so that's on hold. Haven't bought anything for quite a long time, now I see them as tools for doing a particular job. - - -

 

[hannism]

If it's the end of the world as we know it, then I'm packing my Glock 19. I have a snubnose Taurus 85 as well. I'm thinking about adding a Beretta Bobcat or a Ruger LCP to the family.

 

[GregFL]

I've always loved the .45 ACP. Years ago when my father was alive, he had a rather extensive reloading set up and I averaged shooting upwards of 500 rounds a week (those days are long gone). At the time I had a couple of Wilson Combats and they were awesome. Nowadays I carry an H&K P30 and my wife has a Sig P229 with Crimson Trace grips, both loaded with Speer Gold Dots. Neither of them have ever failed me and I think either would perform perfectly should they ever be needed for self defense (I hope and pray that it never comes to that).

 

[timcsaw]

Glock 19
Ruger SP 101
Ruger LCP

(Unless you'll consider a GAU 8 a hand gun... If so, my favorite hand gun is the GAU 8 (but not for concealed carry).

 

[kyturkey]

Seeing all these 1911's got me wanting one again. I really like the feel and trigger on my XD, but do have a Glock. I see a lot of people and instructors who have used their gear in more extreme environments than me really talk highly of those Glocks. To quote Yeager loosly "All handguns should be Glocks, and all Glocks should be 9mm and all of them should be the Glock 19."

 

[Boats]

A lot dated, but my GP-100 in its mudders:

And always wear that eye protection folks:

These are the things I know about handguns:

• A well maintained firearm performs better than one that is neglected.
• I went into harm's way with both the 1911A1 and the M9, and I trust them both if well maintained.
• I have fired that Springfield Champion, the Beretta PX-4, and the Ruger GP-100 in actual -26F conditions, after leaving them to sit outside for several hours, which was -37F with the wind chill. All of them performed as required. Tetra Gun Grease still worked at that temp.
• The Ruger has gone in the woods every autumn as a hunting camp sidearm. The only time it was fired in anger was at a curious young cougar to drive him off.
• Most people are never going to severely test their sidearms. Militaries and agencies who do have adopted everything from 1911A1s, to Berettas, to Glocks, to HKs, to SIGs, to S&W, to CZs, to even the XD in Croatia. Every mainstream duty sidearm manufacturer in the world makes a world class fighting handgun and the odd lemon. The major differences really boil down to the preferences of individuals and the costs of acquisition, whether paid for by the individual or the agency.
• If the "Yeager" being discussed is James Yeager, he conducted a 1000 "torture test" of the Glock 19 and had a mean rounds between failure of 200, which is frankly not impressive and would have flunked both the 1911 adoption trials and the XM9 trials. He makes excuses for the pistol, blaming the S&B ammo.

Part One
[youtube]0_JuF23qazI[/youtube]

Part Two and the excuses:
[youtube]CyZxQfIBXDc[/youtube]

A box stock Para-USA 1911A1 doing a thousand rounds in under twelve minutes:

Intro:
[youtube]Q7wL2QuFTLQ[/youtube]


Part 2:

[youtube]kFF0TbhgQMY[/youtube]

Part 3:

[youtube]tfZ9AdOWUNw[/youtube]

And Para isn't even a top line manufacturer of 1911A1 pistols. Moral of the story?

Your mileage may vary.

 

[jonconsiglio]

All I own and carry right now are 1911's (and one HiPower). Every single one gets carried. The 1911 is my favorite platform and I trust my life to mine completely. I've owned Glocks, M&Ps, H&Ks, but the 1911 has always been my favorite. I shoot it faster and more consistently than the others.

I've put some through hell and back and they work flawlessly. I carry my SIS Pro the most, but that'll change soon with the Wilson Professional. I shoot IDPA and USPSA and have over 5,000 through my SIS. Not one failure of any kind.

I know these are Wilson grips on the two Kimbers below! They are the best grips I've used next to the SIS grips.

Just sold this one last week. It had a lot of work done and it was a great gun!

My holster is a Milt Sparks Versa Max II inside the waistband. Most comfortable holster I've ever used. The leather piece that sticks up to protect your skin from the beavertail and hammer (which isn't visible in the picture) is perfect for your draw. Your thumb naturally rests on it and the safety and your thumb connect during the draw. There's no way you could possibly miss the safety and it adds absolutely no time to your draw.

Jonathan

 

[cmdr249]

One of my favorites:

Another:

I usually carry a black G17 with night sights but I love this one too:

At one point, while carrying a G22 on duty, my training pistol for my Academy Instructor work was my G17 that I carry on duty now. I have personally taken that pistol to over 2600 rounds without cleaning, intentionally, to see if it would fail. It didn't. Occasional lube on the 4 frame rails every 750 rounds or so... It was only cleaned becasue I had to lead a basic cleaning portion and I didn't have another G17 to use. I carry and trust my life with it on duty and off. On duty I'm mandated to 9mm and that doesn't bother me at all.

For each individual, the ability to handle, operate, control, and make fast, accurate hits and multiple, fast, accurate hits is the key. Model and caliber are irrelevant if one cannot perform that task. Putting multiple rounds to areas that will stop a threat are the key.

When it's time to really fight:

Or an AR - sorry, no handy pics.

A handgun is a defensive tool. A rifle is an offensive tool. No intention to hijack the thread.

I've carried many different models in over 15 years off duty, and on, and I chose to carry the G17 or now even the G19.

 

[Jake Bauer]

SIG and HK are the only ones for me. 1911s are American classics, but the opperation is not the greatest. I have seen way too many 1911s choke. The opperation platforms of SIGs, HK, and glocks are much more reliable. You cant beat that 1911 rigger though. I am not a fan of glocks. While they are accurate and reliable, they're too boxy for my hands and I just dont like how they look.
My SIG P220 .45 and HK USP9C (both of whch have functioned flawlessly and accuratley so far)

 

[dmonay]

I've got two 1911's, my series 70 Colt being my favorite, but I'm looking at the Springfield XD .45. or .40 cal.
How did they do vs the Glocks ?
I've read they are just as good or better.

 

[Spenceds]

My first pistol was an XD-9 SOLD, then a Kimber TLE/RL (when they first came out), then I had and XD-40 SOLD, had a Kahr P9 in there somewhere,then a Kimber CDP Pro SOLD(loved it but too much money sitting around), then a Glock 23. Sold my TLE/RL recently. Bought my wife a M&P 9 Compact (awesome little gun), Just picked up a Glock 17 super cheap (will most likely go to my father), My carry is my 23, which I have a .22 kit for and 9mm conversion barrel as well. XD's never felt right to me when shooting them, however I can shoot them as well as most any other pistol. The 1911's I learned were just too expensive and not enough ammo capacity, though I will probably buy another when I am older and can afford to. Glock's have just served me well and i will continue to trust them with mine and my family's life. As always YMMV!!!!

 

[krakoa]

My favorite gun right now is my Springfield Armory XDM in 9mm. It's very accurate, has a 100% reliability track record so far, holds 19+1 +P hollow points, fits me like a glove, I just haven't found anything not to like, but then I like all handguns. I'd like to get a Glock 20 (although I'd rather see an XD-10, Glocks just don't feel or point right in my hand), and I need a 1911 or two. And S&W's new 310 Nightguard? 10mm or .40 in a serious fighting revolver? The only thing cooler than that would be one just like it but with a 4-5" barrel in 9x23 Win, 9x21, 19, 18, 17, etc.. That would almost be too good. Oh, and for the record, I've experienced the S&B ammo problems myself, the only failure-to-fire of my previous XD ever. I think it's the red lacquer they put on the primers, but it takes a hard strike to ignite them.

 

[rmc85]

I think you guys are all nuts. Glocks are the most boolit proof guns evar made. Did u evar see teh torchor tests?

The guy drops it into boiling lava and then shots it 200 times strate wifout a malfunkshun.

Then, he drops it off a 900 story bilding and pickes it up and shots a bullseye from 1000 yards away 170 times wifout a malfunkshun.

Glocks never fail.

Dude...People keep telling me this is going to happen to my G23.