Semi Auto pistols I considered getting

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rs525

rs525

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I've decided to post a forum sharing a list of semi autos I had thought about buying at one point or another and the reasons why I ultimately did not. Just for fun.
  • Walther PPK: Obviously I wanted this cause of James Bond and everybody and their grandmother used this in movies, video games, and secret spy stuff. But when I shot one at the range (a stainless version in .380), my dreams came crashing down. The trigger especially in DA was terrible, it was inaccurate, bulky in the hand for a single stack and very snappy. What a disappointment.
  • CZ 75: Again like the above wanted it because of use in movies and tv shows and such and everybody praises the damn thing for it's slimness, shootability and looks (it is a sweet looking gun). But like the PPK I was very disappointed. It was actually very bulky, way heavier than expected, not very accurate and had a mediocre trigger. Pales heavily in comparison to the Browning Hi Power which is vastly superior in my opinion (and is my favorite 9mm to date)
  • Walther P5: Wanted this because again James Bond used it (for one movie, the lousy Octopussy) and some other appearances, but ultimately decided to skip it and eventually get an HK P9S.
  • Beretta M1934, M1951 and 84 "Cheetah": Thought about getting these for a week to round out a sort of "Beretta" collection to complement my 92FS which I love. Prices seemed good but ultimately decided not to as I did not really have a need for any of them. I did handle a Cheetah clone at a gun show and it's surprisingly small and fits my hands well.
  • HK P7M13: The mythical holy grail of modern semi auto pistols (at least to me). The short compact looks, the low bore axis, the squeeze cocker safety, 13 rounds of ammo and usage by Hans Gruber tempted me. But then I saw the prices. Now a lot of them actually going for $9,000 on Gunbroker. I am NOT joking. Apparently they didn't make many of these. Unless you have Elon Musk money, skip it.
  • Smith and Wesson 5906/6906: The final evolution of what I like to call the "old school" S&W pistols before the M&P. Used frequently in movies and tv shows (you're going to be hearing this reason A LOT). Good prices but then I held a 6906 at a gun show and it was too bulky for me. The 5906 I also hear is ridiculously heavy for a double stack 9mm. Sorry S&W.
  • SIG Sauer P226/P228/P229: The "other" iconic double stack metal 9mm besides the Beretta 92FS. Insert used in countless movies and tv shows here. Rented one at the range. Seemed to fit my hands well and seemed to do okay with it first time. Then the second time I tried it out I was way worse with it. I don't know if I was just in a bad groove that day or not, but it soured my taste of it. Also had an OK trigger. Then I got the Beretta 92 and it just outshined it in every way. I was way more accurate with it, the slide is like butter, the trigger is way better, and it actually fits my hands well. Now I know why the military went with the Beretta.
  • Jericho 941: Similar to the CZ 75. Never shot one, but held one at a gun show and it was too bulky for me. Sorry space cowboy.
  • HK MK23: Metal Gear Solid. The ONLY reason I wanted this gun. Again, held one at a gun show and like everyone said it was way too big. You definitely need Paul Bunyan hands to feel completely comfortable with this beast. I'd much rather get a 1911. Sorry Snake.
  • Tokarev (Romanian copy): Wanted to get one to complement a Mosin Nagant I also thought about getting. Both were RIDICULOUSLY cheap back in the day and so was the ammo. But those days are long gone and I was too young to own gun. Then the stockpiles dried up. Then the prices went up. Then the government banned importation of Russian made ammo and guns. Then the guns suddenly lost any purpose outside of collecters circles. Everybody back in the day just seemed to buy them because they were cheap and nothing else, not for shooting or looks. The Tokarev just looks like it pales in comparison to a 1911, not as comfortable, worse trigger, and snappier recoil. No thanks.
  • Mauser C96: The first truly successful semi auto pistol design. Amazing looks belie horrendous looking ergonomics and sights that sit a mile into the sky. Not to mention prices and potentially fragile parts. Excellent piece of history nonetheless.
  • And finally Glock 17/Glock 26: Simple. I fired both and found the 17 a little too big and the 26 a little too small. The 19 was just right. End of Story.
Thanks for reading through this rambling but just wanted to share some of my thoughts on guns I ultimately did not get.
 
I find it confusing that you found so many of these guns “bulky”, yet you love the 92 FS. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Beretta as well, but I find IT bulkier than all the guns you listed except for the HK MK 23. And I feel that I should know, because I own or have owned all of the guns you listed except for the HK MK 23 and the Tokarev.

I’m not coming down on you, we all like what we like for our own reasons. I just have and had different experience(s) than you.
 
I would buy a Smith and Wesson 5906 if you put one in front of me right now at a fair price. Why? It's a SS SA/DA double stack 9mm. I'd buy it in a heart beat and then I'd rarely shoot it but I'd never sell it. I would like to buy a Beretta 92FS as well because it has earned its rank the hard way. It can't be denied at this point that it's a stellar combat pistol although it's probably not so great for concealed carry civilian use and that has kept me from getting one. If I bought one, I'd shoot it occasionally, never carry it and I would never get rid of it. But I just have no use for it, fine as it is. P229/226? I'd like the 229 legion RX and if there was one in front of me, I'd buy it right now and probably never carry it because it's too valuable. Glock 19? I prefer my 19x. It fits my hand quite perfectly and shoots well enough provided I do my part which I don't always do and it's cheap and easily replaced. It also serves as a suppressor host though I can't comment on how well at this time. Next week I'll be able to speak to that. Walther PPK? We all want one? Why? because it looks cool.

Oh, what I really want? Python and/or Anaconda. I don't have any use for either besides shooting holes in pieces of paper so I have held off because that's a lot of cash to spend just to shoot holes in pieces of paper and I have other projects in the works that require financing but I'd still probably buy one if I walked into the LGS and they had one.
 
rs525 said:
I've decided to post a forum sharing a list of semi autos I had thought about buying at one point or another and the reasons why I ultimately did not. Just for fun.
  • Walther PPK: Obviously I wanted this cause of James Bond and everybody and their grandmother used this in movies, video games, and secret spy stuff. But when I shot one at the range (a stainless version in .380), my dreams came crashing down. The trigger especially in DA was terrible, it was inaccurate, bulky in the hand for a single stack and very snappy. What a disappointment.
  • CZ 75: Again like the above wanted it because of use in movies and tv shows and such and everybody praises the damn thing for it's slimness, shootability and looks (it is a sweet looking gun). But like the PPK I was very disappointed. It was actually very bulky, way heavier than expected, not very accurate and had a mediocre trigger. Pales heavily in comparison to the Browning Hi Power which is vastly superior in my opinion (and is my favorite 9mm to date)
  • Walther P5: Wanted this because again James Bond used it (for one movie, the lousy Octopussy) and some other appearances, but ultimately decided to skip it and eventually get an HK P9S.
  • Beretta M1934, M1951 and 84 "Cheetah": Thought about getting these for a week to round out a sort of "Beretta" collection to complement my 92FS which I love. Prices seemed good but ultimately decided not to as I did not really have a need for any of them. I did handle a Cheetah clone at a gun show and it's surprisingly small and fits my hands well.
  • HK P7M13: The mythical holy grail of modern semi auto pistols (at least to me). The short compact looks, the low bore axis, the squeeze cocker safety, 13 rounds of ammo and usage by Hans Gruber tempted me. But then I saw the prices. Now a lot of them actually going for $9,000 on Gunbroker. I am NOT joking. Apparently they didn't make many of these. Unless you have Elon Musk money, skip it.
  • Smith and Wesson 5906/6906: The final evolution of what I like to call the "old school" S&W pistols before the M&P. Used frequently in movies and tv shows (you're going to be hearing this reason A LOT). Good prices but then I held a 6906 at a gun show and it was too bulky for me. The 5906 I also hear is ridiculously heavy for a double stack 9mm. Sorry S&W.
  • SIG Sauer P226/P228/P229: The "other" iconic double stack metal 9mm besides the Beretta 92FS. Insert used in countless movies and tv shows here. Rented one at the range. Seemed to fit my hands well and seemed to do okay with it first time. Then the second time I tried it out I was way worse with it. I don't know if I was just in a bad groove that day or not, but it soured my taste of it. Also had an OK trigger. Then I got the Beretta 92 and it just outshined it in every way. I was way more accurate with it, the slide is like butter, the trigger is way better, and it actually fits my hands well. Now I know why the military went with the Beretta.
  • Jericho 941: Similar to the CZ 75. Never shot one, but held one at a gun show and it was too bulky for me. Sorry space cowboy.
  • HK MK23: Metal Gear Solid. The ONLY reason I wanted this gun. Again, held one at a gun show and like everyone said it was way too big. You definitely need Paul Bunyan hands to feel completely comfortable with this beast. I'd much rather get a 1911. Sorry Snake.
  • Tokarev (Romanian copy): Wanted to get one to complement a Mosin Nagant I also thought about getting. Both were RIDICULOUSLY cheap back in the day and so was the ammo. But those days are long gone and I was too young to own gun. Then the stockpiles dried up. Then the prices went up. Then the government banned importation of Russian made ammo and guns. Then the guns suddenly lost any purpose outside of collecters circles. Everybody back in the day just seemed to buy them because they were cheap and nothing else, not for shooting or looks. The Tokarev just looks like it pales in comparison to a 1911, not as comfortable, worse trigger, and snappier recoil. No thanks.
  • Mauser C96: The first truly successful semi auto pistol design. Amazing looks belie horrendous looking ergonomics and sights that sit a mile into the sky. Not to mention prices and potentially fragile parts. Excellent piece of history nonetheless.
  • And finally Glock 17/Glock 26: Simple. I fired both and found the 17 a little too big and the 26 a little too small. The 19 was just right. End of Story.
Thanks for reading through this rambling but just wanted to share some of my thoughts on guns I ultimately did not get.
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I agree with you about the PPK. Mine wasn't accurate and it jammed constantly.
I couldn't disagree more on the CZ75. I own several clones, but as of now, don't own an actual CZ75, but it's on my very short list of guns I still want to buy.
The P5 is one of those, "Ummm, nope!" guns for me, it just doesn't do anything for me.
I have a Beretta 81, 84, 85 and it's close cousin, the Browning BDA. One of the all time great 380/32 platforms. I like the 92 a lot.
HK P7M13, another gun on my short list to buy, but the prices are ridiculous.
S&W 5906/6906? I own both, and like them very much. 6906 is "bulky"??? What???
Sig P series? Oh yeah, I like. I have 4 of them.
Jericho 941. I have two of them. If I like CZ75's a lot, and I do, I would like the 941.
HK MK23. Nothing about it attracts me. Shot one once. Moved on.
Tokarev....ugly. No thanks.
Mauser...not interested in the slightest.
Glock? Nope. One of several lines of guns totally off my radar. Like 1911's. I've owned 1911's, but never owned a Glock anything. Or XD, or M&P pistol.
 
rs525 said:
  • CZ 75: Again like the above wanted it because of use in movies and tv shows and such and everybody praises the damn thing for it's slimness, shootability and looks (it is a sweet looking gun). But like the PPK I was very disappointed. It was actually very bulky, way heavier than expected, not very accurate and had a mediocre trigger. Pales heavily in comparison to the Browning Hi Power which is vastly superior in my opinion (and is my favorite 9mm to date)
.
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For pretty much all your assessments of the gun's you tried, I say fair enough. But, my experience with the cz75 has been stellar. With the factory rubber grips, is as much gun as I would care to handle. Though, personally, I don't find the grips as chunky as the G17. Is is heavy, in my book that's a plus, but the weight combined with a grip that doesn't fit your hand is probably what contributed to the poor accuracy. I'd give one a try with thin grips and see if your opinion doesn't change. A better grip allows for better manipulation of the gun's heft, and makes for an all around better shooting experience. Is the CZ75 perfect? Well....yeah....pretty much is is:D
Just poking you a bit, as much of a 1911/CZ fanboy I am, I certainly can't deny that the Glock is a fine firearm that has proven itself over and over
 
Ive owned a lot of the guns on your list. I had a couple of PPK/PPKs's of different eras. Never minded the triggers, and all were accurate. The US Interarms import was finicky and had issues, but the German guns were flawless. All of them were blood thirsty and usually made every outing with them a bit messy.

A better choice for a similar gun, is the SIG P230. Its a better gun all around.

My P7M13 is one gun I wish now Id kept. Bought it new in the mid 80's when they first showed up for $450. Sold it a couple of years later for double the money. But that was also a typical "HK thing" in general. Bought all my HK's "cheap" (going rate when new was always reasonably priced, especially for what you got), and made good money on all of them when I sold or traded them.

The P7's are great guns, but they also pretty much force you to dedicate yourself to them if you choose to carry. Its not something you want to mix up with others.

Owned and carried a number of the older SIG P series guns, and the P226 is my favorite of the lot. Im also a Beretta 92 series fan as well. I still have a number of both and shoot them regularly. Wouldnt have a problem with either.

Glocks are something that Id bet money on, will change the haters minds, if they actually bothered to put in the little bit of time and effort needed to get used to them, which is really a very short learning curve. I was a typical hater right up until I got my first, and put in that little bit of time and effort. They quickly replaced my SIG's as what I focused on and carried, and what I made selling off most of my SIG's, paid for a lot of Glocks and accessories. Went from 18 SIG's, down to 3, and now have somewhere around 25 or 30 Glocks and a boatload of mags, and had change left over for more ammo.

Now, "Perfection" isn't "perfect". And for me, the least perfect Glocks, are the "big" 21's, the 19's, and the 42 and 43 models.

The 21's, even the SF's, are just to big for my hands. Good guns, accurate and reliable, just a skosh too big in the grip. The 37's actually fixed that, but weren't popular.

The 19's grips are cramped and the 17's arent noticeably bigger, have a more comfortable grip, and carry 2 more rounds. The 26's are small enough to be noticeable, shoot like a larger, full sized gun, and can be carried where the 19's cant.

The single stack Glocks really arent any smaller than the double stack guns, and lose the mag compatibility the 26 has.
 
I, too, find it odd the guns you call bulky, yet praise the 92fs. The M9's I became very familiar with are bulkier than all but the Mk23. (The Smiths are very heavy, but not as "bulky" IMO) I've shot everything on your list except the P7, (handled them, just never shot one.)
I will agree Glocks aren't my favorite, but I shoot them well.
You left out the PPK's worst trait; slide bite. :mad:
 
I’m glade Hi Point didn’t make the list!!! cuz I’m getting a few .40 & .45
 
I have a PP clone and a PPK clone. They are fun novelties/range toys. They were cutting-edge technology... in the 1930's. They would be very low on my SD handgun list. The PP in 32acp is fun to shoot, at least. The PPK in 380 not so much.

My FiL and I adore our CZ75's. We're also very tall with XXL hands. The CZ's are not for everyone.

The Beretta 34, 84, and 81 are cool. They're range toys. Their purpose was to be a medium-sized 32 or 380 service pistol worn on the belt. They've pretty much outlived that purpose. The Model 81 in 32acp is amazingly fun to shoot.

S&W 3rd generation are cool. They go bang every time. Kind of clunky. Not quite as clunky as the Ruger P-series, but contemporary and somewhat comparable.

My Sig P229 is outstanding in every way. Might be a little fat and heavy for some people.

And yeah, the Beretta 92 series (and Taurus clones) are good pistols.

I have a Tokarev. It's okay. Goes bang every time. Kinda typical mass-produced communist bloc design. Not much of a range toy..
 
Different strokes for different folks, sure.

Agree on the PP- type pistols. I found them to be uncomfortable and unreliable.

The P226 is just a hair too fat for my grip, though I still keep one. The M92 fits me like a glove. Also like the single-stack P-series SIGs.

The single-stack H&K P7 is probably as close to handgun perfection as Ive found, but I do hesitate to carry a $2500 pistol when I can get along just fine with a $500 gun for CCW.
 
entropy said:
I, too, find it odd the guns you call bulky, yet praise the 92fs. The M9's I became very familiar with are bulkier than all but the Mk23. (The Smiths are very heavy, but not as "bulky" IMO) I've shot everything on your list except the P7, (handled them, just never shot one.)
I will agree Glocks aren't my favorite, but I shoot them well.
You left out the PPK's worst trait; slide bite. :mad:
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To clarify, by bulky I mean big and does not fit my hands well. The 92FS is big but still fits my hands well, it's odd. As for the PPK, I actually did NOT get slide bite, so that's good at least.
 
bersaguy said:
For pretty much all your assessments of the gun's you tried, I say fair enough. But, my experience with the cz75 has been stellar. With the factory rubber grips, is as much gun as I would care to handle. Though, personally, I don't find the grips as chunky as the G17. Is is heavy, in my book that's a plus, but the weight combined with a grip that doesn't fit your hand is probably what contributed to the poor accuracy. I'd give one a try with thin grips and see if your opinion doesn't change. A better grip allows for better manipulation of the gun's heft, and makes for an all around better shooting experience. Is the CZ75 perfect? Well....yeah....pretty much is is:D
Just poking you a bit, as much of a 1911/CZ fanboy I am, I certainly can't deny that the Glock is a fine firearm that has proven itself over and over
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That's fine. The Glock 19 with it's same capacity, smaller size, ease of use, lighter weight and in my case night sights is just a better gun in every way.
 
hemiram said:
S&W 5906/6906? I own both, and like them very much. 6906 is "bulky"??? What???
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I just held one at a gun show and didn't like how it felt compared to a Glock 19. Simple as that.
 
Mark_Mark said:
make a list of gun you do like!

I personally never met a gun Gun didn’t like!
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That probably won't happen because there are VERY few guns I like/want to own. Those would be the Browning Hi Power, Beretta 92FS, Glock 19, M1911A1 (GI style), Makarov, Luger P08, H&K P9S, Smith and Wesson Models 10 13 15 19, and the Webley MK IV in .38 S&W.
 
rs525 said:
That probably won't happen because there are VERY few guns I like/want to own. Those would be the Browning Hi Power, Beretta 92FS, Glock 19, M1911A1 (GI style), Makarov, Luger P08, H&K P9S, Smith and Wesson Models 10 13 15 19, and the Webley MK IV in .38 S&W.
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NICE!
 
rs525 said:
HK P7M13: The mythical holy grail of modern semi auto pistols (at least to me). The short compact looks, the low bore axis, the squeeze cocker safety, 13 rounds of ammo and usage by Hans Gruber tempted me. But then I saw the prices. Now a lot of them actually going for $9,000 on Gunbroker. I am NOT joking. Apparently they didn't make many of these. Unless you have Elon Musk money, skip it.
Click to expand...

You would think with the current prices of the P7's HK could do a re-release and clean up.
 
I'm with you on the mk23. Loved the way it looked. Always thought it should have been chambered in something more badass than 45acp though. Love my cz 75 based shadow 2. That weight keeps muzzle flip to a minimum. Never fired a ppk, but for the money, my Bersa thunder is as close as I'll get to one.

I really wanted to like the Diamondback DB9. Held it once, and it just felt odd. Nope. Wanted to like Glocks too. Another nope, once I held one. Granted it had finger grooves in it which soured me the most on them. Always wanted an FN5. 7. Cool gun, way overpriced for Tupperware. Plus an expensive caliber to boot.

Always wanted a 5906 and a 1006. I haven't found one yet of either. Years ago, a stumbled on a CS-9 (Compact alloy frame, short 3" barrel). Very accurate, nice shooting carry piece. Also found a 5903, like a 5906 on aluminum frame. Another nice shooting gun that I enjoy.
 
I bought a low priced Turkish knock off of the CZ 75 recently. I loved it and after installing a spring kit in it love it even more. It is pretty good in the accuracy department, hasn't hiccuped with cheap factory ammo or lead hand loads so far, and shoots to point of aim with full power 115 gr. loads. All it will ever kill is paper, steel,and an occasional caliche rock. We have so many caliche rocks l try to keep them some what under control. I am not arguing the CZ 75 merits. If you don't like them that is fine with me. My personal never own is a Glock.
 
TinNePa said:
Wanted to like Glocks too. Another nope, once I held one. Granted it had finger grooves in it which soured me the most on them.
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Try to find a Gen 2. They have the best balance of old school and comfort and don't have finger grooves. The Gen 1 Glock 17 (re-released lately as the P80) also did not have finger grooves, but the grip was just a hair too big and slick for a 9mm. The Gen 2 guns slimmed it down for the better. Gen 5s also got rid of the finger grooves but aren't as cool IMO.
 
"...Browning Hi Power, Beretta 92FS, Glock 19, M1911A1 (GI style), Makarov, Luger P08, H&K P9S, Smith and Wesson Models 10 13 15 19, and the Webley MK IV in .38 S&W..."


I've owned my BHP clone since 1988 or so and have shot a bazillion rounds through it. It's a nice pistol, durable and reliable, but nothing special IMHO. I'm apparently in the minority on that one.

There are plenty of 1911's out there that are relatively inexpensive and very shootable. I have three Filipino examples. They are all reliable and fun to shoot.

The Makarov has been in my custody about as long as the BHP. It has been completely reliable. A little clunky and the DA trigger is nothing to write home about, but it will go bang every time and seems like it will last forever.

Yeah, nice S&W revolvers are among the finest handguns to own. They don't have to cost a fortune. I have a couple of police trade-ins with amazing triggers.

Sorry, don't know nothin' bout no Lugers, HK's, or Webleys.

You left off a single action revolver. That's a must. ;)

Happy trails! :)
 
I used to hate on the Mark 23 until I shot one, now it's my favorite gun and it's been my daily carry for the last 5 years.
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I've owned most of the ones you listed. And mostly for the same reasons you cited eventually felt the G19 was the best all around choice for me too. Although I also like a lot of the features of the Smith M&P. Recently the Sig 365 and M17/18 designs have started to win me over though.

But for now the G19 is still my #1 pick due to price, availability, and the proliferation of inexpensive mags. The Sig 226 series and Beretta 92 are guns that I like and respect. I'd carry and use either with confidence if issued one. But if spending my money I'd choose something else.
 
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