What's the best polymer semi-auto?
rec999allis
April 17, 2006, 08:42 PM
I want to get a good tactical polymer semi-auto in the next few months but I'm not sure what all is out there. I know about Glock, SA's XD, Walther, sigarms, and H&K, but what eles is there and which of these are the best. I want something with a tactical rail and high cap. magazines.
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Clean97GTI
April 17, 2006, 08:48 PM
Fabrique Nationale FNP-9
16 rounds, hammer fired decocker (or regular safety if you go with the Browning Pro-9) rail, adjustable backstrap, costs less than HK, Glock and SIG. About the same price as the XD.
sturmruger
April 17, 2006, 08:49 PM
Here is my list from the top on down.
XD
Steyr
Glock
HK
Sig
Walther
Ruger 22/45
Ala Dan
April 17, 2006, 09:04 PM
1. XD
2. H&K
3. Glock
4. SIG
5. S&W
Coronach
April 17, 2006, 09:29 PM
The new M&P40 from S&W seems very good, but has not been around long enough to prove itself in the durability department. It passed our PD's T&E, after the first batch of guns were fixed (to be fair, S&W gave us some of the very first ones off the line, practically pre-production runs, and the difficulties seemed to be teething troubles, but we'll see), and our PD does a serious torture test on guns. Once I get mine, I'll know for sure.
XD is good. Glock is kinda the benchmark.
Mike
Still 2 Many Choices!?
April 17, 2006, 09:58 PM
When it just has to go bang, get a Glock... Just my .02 cents:o
gudel
April 17, 2006, 10:21 PM
I've bought HK, Glock, Sigs plastic pistols. HK no contest on top #1, followed by Glock. The sig is nowhere near..
dam8
April 17, 2006, 10:27 PM
a bit vintage, but hks p9s is the best from what I've shot
NVMM
April 17, 2006, 10:36 PM
I don't know whats the best. I bought a Beretta PX4.
(I want something with a tactical rail and high cap. magazines) Beretta has them. Comes with 18 round mags. 20 rounders available.
It's very accurate and trouble free.
Edmond
April 17, 2006, 10:59 PM
In no order:
XD
Glock
H&K
Sorry, I can't get used to the idea of a plastic Sig. To me, it seems like buying a Corvette with an i4 for gas mileage. :neener:
modifiedbrowning
April 18, 2006, 12:24 AM
Walther P99.
10-Ring
April 18, 2006, 12:30 AM
Comes down to the one that fits & works for you the best and you are willing to devote the time to get truly acquainted w/ it :evil:
That said, go w/ the HK! :cool:
nutball
April 18, 2006, 12:50 AM
Ive shot many of the pistols mentioned extensively and the one i'd use to defend my own life would be the XD-9. it is so well fitted to my hand and the recoil response is on such a low axis that it seems almost recoiless. Am currently working on triple taps with it! just my opinion
PO2Hammer
April 18, 2006, 12:50 AM
Never shot an XD, they seem nice, but I have come to prefer H&K over Glock.
silicon wolverine
April 18, 2006, 01:45 AM
+1 on the walther. the .22 LR version is excellent for training as well.
SW
Autolycus
April 18, 2006, 01:52 AM
HK is the best in my book. It was also the first and I consider it the benchmark... :neener:
But Glocks are nice. I prefer the 9mm Glocks to all of the others but either way I prefer HK over everything else.
I have no experience with polymer Sigs. But a freind recomends them.
Springfields are pretty nice in the hand.
Autolycus
April 18, 2006, 02:06 AM
Quick question: How come nobody ever mentions or asks about Hi-Points or Lorcins? :neener:
gudel
April 18, 2006, 02:12 AM
I need to add to my original post, I too bought XD. Seems to jam a lot with fiocchi 170gr ammo. This ammo works great in my Beretta 96FS Brigadier and Glock 22.
Still, HK and Glock in 1 and 2.
Despite several note of HK's, I think he'll probabl buy something other than HK anyway.
GoRon
April 18, 2006, 09:14 AM
S&W Sigma
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Just kidding!!:evil:
Rinspeed
April 18, 2006, 09:38 AM
HK USP
NineseveN
April 18, 2006, 10:02 AM
What's the best polymer semi-auto?
The one in your hand when you need it. Seriously, you're going to get about as many different answers as you will replies.
Cueball
April 18, 2006, 10:54 AM
#1. H&K USP
#2. SIG
Yow won't regret either of those.
Frenchy
April 18, 2006, 12:12 PM
All of these guns have proved their worth in both design and function. It comes down to money spent, and how comfortable you are with them.
Lumberjack98
April 18, 2006, 12:24 PM
For me it's the XD.
I love how it "just feels right" to shoot.
dmallind
April 18, 2006, 12:27 PM
Yes the best advice is always to handle and if possibly shoot as many as you can. What I like or other posters like may not be your preference. Glocks are definitely the poster children, and I've had excellent performance from mine. You don't have to spend more than a few minutes in this forum though to see the intense antipathy they engender in many. Equally impassioned on the other side are the true believer Glock purists who consider them the apex of weaponry. Who knows which side you'd fall on? Definitely try one though - for value, simplicity, reliability etc they set a very high benchmark in this genre.
XDs garner much respect. Personally I don't loathe them but I've never found them too pleasiing to hold and the triggers feel a bit strange too. Wouldn't refuse one if given of course. Sure they're fine, but not going to jump on that bandwagon myself. You may though.
Sigs and HKs seem to be a poorer buy for the money to me, and I have never been a fan of the crunchenticker DA/SA triggers. They are by all accounts high quality and mostly reliable though. Little to no experience here.
Not usually first on most peoples' lists but Taurus make some ergonomically appealing. reliable and full-featured guns at truly excellent price points. I am not a DAO fan (apart from my carry Kahr PM9 all my guns are SA) so my PT145 fell by the wayside but it was a reliable, well made gun with good firepower in a samall package. Worth checking out those models or the SAO 24/7 PROs in your preferred caliber.
The one I would say to try for sure that few people will come up with on their own shortlists is Steyr. Very "Glock like" but with cool and innovative additional features and a little more ergonomic elegance and more refined trigger pull, at a similar price point. If you can pick up an older model M9 or S9 you are in for a treat. May or may not feel right for you, but a very commendable weapon indeed. I somewhat regret selling my S9 even though I am moving almost exclusively to 45ACP except for the pocket Kahr (and maybe there too if the new 45 from them is truly a pocket gun).
Try em all. One will feel just right. But take a step off the beaten path and try a Steyr and a Taurus if you can.
moredes
April 18, 2006, 12:29 PM
error
moredes
April 18, 2006, 12:30 PM
What's "high-cap" to you? Is 10+1 enough? If so, I'd recommend a Wilson Combat KZ-45. Lightweight, easy to handle, and a hell of a warranty. If you want black, the older (on the 'used' market) models had Armor-tuff'd slides. I think my 1911-bias is showing through..
kennyboy
April 18, 2006, 12:49 PM
H&K is the best, then Glock or Walther or Springfield, then everyone else.
lycanthrope
April 18, 2006, 12:55 PM
21 rounds of .40 and weighs less than a standard 1911....made to last for hundreds of thousands of rounds.
http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Tactical/images/Tactical5web_280w.jpg
david_the_greek
April 18, 2006, 01:38 PM
i'm sure that 40's a fine weapon.... just looks a little funny to me for some reason. must be that giant mag base?
MrTuffPaws
April 18, 2006, 03:11 PM
If that holds 21 .40cal, that would be like 26 9mm :what:
MadMercS55
April 18, 2006, 03:29 PM
My personal preferences in polymer weapons are the USP/P2000 series, the XD45, and Beretta's new PX4. I've never tried a SIG polymer. I like Glocks as well, but most of them just don't "fit" me right. The more trigger time I get with HK's though, the more I think they were made for me.
lycanthrope
April 18, 2006, 03:36 PM
If that holds 21 .40cal, that would be like 26 9mm
Yep. And the magwell comes off easily.
Ares45
April 18, 2006, 05:06 PM
Not like I'm biased or anything but i say if you've got to have polymer then you should go with the people who invented the poly frame handgun...
HK.
Oh, and by the way did I mention I own a few: USP45 Tactical, USP45, USPc45, USPc40/.357sig, P7M8x2. The HK collection has ballooned in the last few years because they are the only guns in my collection that are dead nuts accurate AND reliable. Glocks, owned two glad to be rid of them. Own a Sig226, nice gun but I still prefer my USP's. And did I mention that I just got back from a three day defensive pistol class. Anyone wanna guess which manufacturer made the only two guns that went belly up during the entire class? Starts with a "G" and rhymes with ROCK. Which by the way they have a lot in common with, at least after three days full of sand and dirt they're just as dangerous as one. Heck, even the "custom" 1911 survived unblemished. My USP45 had one type 1 malfunction due to dirty training rounds (snap cap).
Daniel T
April 18, 2006, 05:17 PM
It's not like H&K did such a fabulous job with the VP70 that it's anything to be particularly proud of beyond the fact that it was the first production poly pistol. 18# trigger pull....?
MadMercS55
April 18, 2006, 05:26 PM
By today's standards the VP70\yz did suck. Heavy trigger pull and such. But for it's time period I think it was quite revolutionary for what it was. Especially the machine-pistol versions.
innerpiece9
April 18, 2006, 05:31 PM
Im picking up a Taurus PT 24/7 soon..
9mm 17rds
.40 15rds
.45 12rds
molded tac mount. light reliable.
recently broke some speed records, and fired 10,000 flawless rds at the same comp..
theres a movie at www.taurususa.com
Ive got the PT111 MilPro for carry right now.. 3k thru it with no issues..
heres my milpro
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=38614&d=1145394282
the 24/7's might be worth a look
litework
April 18, 2006, 06:39 PM
I think HK makes the best polymer semi-auto. I think that the PX4 and S&W M&P have very strong potential.
TOADMAN
April 18, 2006, 07:18 PM
Get the Glock 19...
Hal8000
April 18, 2006, 07:29 PM
+1 for the Walther P99
Srigs
April 19, 2006, 11:03 PM
For carry purpose: Kel-tec
For SHTF purpose: S&W M&P
buffdriver
April 20, 2006, 12:04 AM
HK. USP fullsize in .45
FlaChef
April 20, 2006, 03:08 AM
These are the poly's I like the feel of.
Steyr (my primary ccw)
Walther
S&W M&P (not fired one yet, but feels good)
XD
Taurus 24/7 (original series mileniums had a GAWD awful trigger)
Sig Pro (also haven't fired, just felt up)
STI wide body 1911 (forgot the exact model)
The H&K's and Beretta's I'm luke warm on.
I cannot bring myself to like the feel of a glock in my hand, or the trigger. But they do work as well as any of the others, and other than not needing much lube are really nothing special.
I prefer Rugers in Aluminum frames and do not like their polymers.
YMMV but as long as it is a quality piece from a name maker you can't truly go wrong. They all have their good and bad points.
If it "fits" you, goes bang, and has acceptable accuracy (to you) then buy it.
Most importantly is to be safe, and shoot the snot out of it!
ugaarguy
April 20, 2006, 03:30 AM
If you like the way it feels and shoot it well a Glock; proven reliability, middle of the pack price, incredible aftermarket and manufacturer support. That said I like the XD I've shot very much. It all comes down to what you shoot best & what fits your hand best of the pistols that also fit your budget. Handle them and shoot then if possible. Enjoy the chase of finding the one you want.
13.45
April 24, 2006, 11:13 PM
+1 for Wilson KZ-45 ;)
SAG0282
April 25, 2006, 12:44 AM
#1- SIG Pro- best stock DA trigger, accurate, most robust/reinforced polymer frame I've ever seen w/ replaceable STEEL frame rails. Low price, good finish, flawlessly reliable.
#2- GLOCK- Inexpensive, consistent trigger pulls, great aftermarket, a well-established and well-deserved reputation. Parts throughout line are largely interchangable.
#3- HK USP- Great guns, unmatched carry versatility with the variants available, accurate and very durable.
#4- XD- Hard to beat....great shooting guns.
USP4Me
April 25, 2006, 11:14 AM
Out of the box: HK USP
Great once you do some necessary mods: Glock
I have three Glocks, and I modified them all with extended slide releases and extended slide takedown levers which I feel should have been standard equipment.
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