Most Reliable Auto Pistol

[robinkevin]

OK so I am planning ahead on my next pistol. I am becoming draw to revolvers due to their reliability and look, however a little draw away from them due to weight (If I choose to carry it).

Anyhow to aid in my research I was wondering what is the most reliable auto you have own?
Also since this is the auto-loader forum and I have already post in Revolver getting everyone's pros on revolver over auto, please feel free to list any reason you would take auto over revolver.

Thank you

 

[JO JO]

the two brands I trust are SIG as in p229 and the XD series have both and never any issues

 

[KodiakBeer]

Hi Power.

 

[Fiv3r]

I'm NOT a fanboy, but every Glock I have owned has been the most trouble-free in terms of reliability, maintenance, and cost.

Personally, I'm fine with either a revolver or a semi for defense. I tend to prefer a lighter revolver if I'm carrying one though. Depending on my dress I might have a Glock 21 on me, an LCP, or maybe my LCR. Hell, there are days I strap on the ol' cap and ball Remington hog leg for fun

Just practice with what you purchase. That's the most important part.

 

[2wheels]

My XD40 Subcompact never failed, not once. But I sold it... So...

My current most reliable autoloader is a Stoeger Cougar 9mm, not one failure in 2-3K rounds. Including reloads, +p+ JHPs, WallyWorld bulk crap, the works! I don't even bother to clean this one too often, just throw some lube on it before I head to the range. I hand it to new shooters once they've gotten confident with .22LR because I know the recoil is mild and this gun is apparently impossible to limpwrist.

My old GI 1911 has also been extremely reliable, but it pretty much only sees 230gr. FMJs. And then there's my old mans Sig P239, that thing runs like a Swiss watch.

 

[matrem]

Over 2000 rds(combined) fired this summer in my backyard with a G19 & an xd40sc.
The G19 had three or four clicks rather than bangs. ALL on the same lot of cheap steel cased ammo, and the primers had a completely adequate dent in them.
The xd had one click rather than a bang, and it too, put an adequate dent in the primer.(brass cased big name)
No other issues at all with either gun.
Seems to me that good pistols have surpassed some ammo in reliability.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Glock...I carried one daily as a duty weapon for 10+ years and never had a single issue. I don't recall ever having even one malfunction.

 

[jmr40]

If you are talking about long term durability and reliability and do enough research on the topic 2 models just keep showing up. The Glock and a well built 1911. Not all 1911's are well made, in fact the vast majority made today are poorly built and will be among the least reliable. The 1911 design is solid, just too many folks making sub-standard guns.

There are lots of guns that are quite reliable in the short term. Most any of them will do fine for the first few thousand rounds and if they are kept clean and well maintained. The Glock and 1911 are the 2 that will just keep chugging along after years of use and abuse and several hundred thousand rounds.

I think you will also find that a well built auto will outperform most revolvers for hard use. The revolver kept in a nightstand and clean is wonderfully reliable. But when carried in the field in harsh dirty conditions a good auto will outlast the revolver in relaibility.

 

[robinkevin]

I figure there would be a lot of Glock and XD posts... I had a XD40 which ran flawlessly, some days I miss it and others I don't... Please keep the answers coming as I am looking for a good feel of different pistols that I could consider good enough to be compare to a revolver in reliability.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Same basic list for me; XDm, Sig 226 and 239, Ed Brown 1911.

All of them have high round counts and zero reliability issues.

 

[rcmodel]

I don't think anyone can really give you a conclusive answer to your question.

I had a Raven .25 once that was totally reliable.
But that doesn't mean I would recommend you buy one.

I also have S&W, SIG, Astra, Colt, and Glock auto's that have never missed a lick.
But that doesn't mean every one ever made will do the same.

rc

 

[ATLDave]

Start with those that have been tested and accepted for service with large militaries and large agencies in the last 20 years. All of those are going to be pretty darn reliable. The stuff pitched to the civilian market is where makers can get away with spotty reliability.

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've know a few friends with Glocks that have had problems. Every line of pistols can have problems because they are made by people and not magical elves.

That said I think a 1911 with a well tuned and polished extractor is a simple time tested design.

 

[matrem]

I've know a few friends with Glocks that have had problems. Every line of pistols can have problems because they are made by people and not magical elves.

Anyone can be struck just about anywhere by lightning as well.

Buying Glocks, XDs, or the other "more" proven ones, is kinda like staying inside during the thunderstorm!

 

[Jeb21]

Sig and Glock

 

[Dogguy]

SIG and Glock from my experience too. All that I own simply work perfectly. I've only owned SIGs for a little over a year but I've owned Glocks for 21 years. Never disappointed.

 

[CWL]

It doesn't work that way. Reliability comes after you have practiced and trained with a pistol to the point where you are absolutely comfortable in how the pistol will function in any circumstance. What you load in it can also contribute to reliability.

Than again, maybe a gun + ammo combo is absolutely reliable, but your shooting skills are junk... then things would still be useless in a emergency.

As for reliability of pistols v. revolvers, the fact that every military in the world has adopted semi autos should be a statement about reliability.

 

[Striker Fired]

I like XDM's but for carry a compact would be better.The Beretta line is a given reliable but again for carry,most find them big.Glocks are proven,if you can shoot them good naturaly.Sig are good also but have not shot or owned one yet.As has been said before,rent or borrow a couple and try them out to see what feels good to YOU,no one else.

 

[Psa1m144]

If your aim is pure reliability (which is a good goal to have) then Glock is world renowned for being the most reliable pistol ever manufactured. First pistol I ever bought was a Glock 22 and 4 years later I have not had a single malfunction. I'm currently being drawn in other directions right now because Glocks don't fit my hands right and the accuracy in my experience is undesirable BUT if I had to choose 1 gun to take into a survival scenario where reliability is key, it would be a Glock every time.

 

[.338Sako]

I have two 1911 para ordnance that have served well in hi-cap, and I just bought a glock that has run well too, no ftf, fte from either.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Makarov PM
LEAST number of parts in a auto pistol
tolerances so LOOSE they just stay in spec, but that IS the spec, kinda hard to gum it up
and lastly built like a tank
and designed to be used by an illiterate peasant with no training.

 

[Ranger30-06]

These are (I'm pretty sure) the main mass produced pistols that have had pretty much 99.999% reliability track records.

Glocks
3rd Generation Smiths
Makarovs
Beretta 84/92/96 pattern guns
Colt 1911's


In the close but not quite category are:
Springfield XD series
S&W M&P Series
Expensive 1911's (Dan Wesson, etc.)
Sigs
H&K's

Now for the part where everyone get's mad at me: The guns on each list may not represent YOUR gun, but that model as a whole (Aka a sample size of 500,000 of their guns and not just the one you got lucky with). Some people get lucky, and others get a lemon. As a whole though, I think these lists are pretty accurate.

 

[contender]

this could easily turn into a revolver vs auto debate.......in which the revolver would win.

personal experience, the most reliable autos i have ever carried were:
ruger P90
sig pro model 2340

i am sure there are many, many more out there.....

 

[Shadow 7D]

Contender, that debate has been done, and done again
quite simply a revolver has certain advantages, but then so does the auto
and as far as reliability, ever heard of timing??
awfully easy to mess a revolver up
but I would love to have a Mateba... that's gotta be great, an auto revolver, what's not to like?

 

[robinkevin]

Getting some of the basic answers I expected... besides for one that many of you mention has through a wrench in my head gears, Makarov. I see these a lot used for darn cheap.
I have thought that they are a old russian design and can't be that good (why would I think that with the AK47? being of the time period.)... Whats the power difference between the 9x18 compare to 9x19 9mm? I heard that the Makarovs 9x18 is just a tad better than .380?

Actually have thought about getting another XD but I also saw a SIG that comes with two different grips one full size other compact for about the same price. That sound like a great gun for both home defense and seldom carry. I dont see any gun really replacing my p3at as a carry gun just because its so easy to have on me at all times.