Looking for a good pistol

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fyurstarter

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I am pretty new to pistol shooting and am looking for suggestions on a pistol for general use. I previously had a Glock 21 and thought it felt a bit too thick (I had a difficult time trying to drop the mag without tilting the weapon slightly sideways). I've been looking at either a Sig P220 or a SA 1911 Loaded in hopes that I could stick with something that has a full metal frame.
I'd really like to get another pistol in 45 ACP. but I'm open to suggestions.
 
Take a look at the CZ 97B or CZ 97 BD .45ACP at http://www.cz-usa.com/products/by-category/handguns/. They are all-steel pistols.

The 97B has a sear blocking safety like the 1911 and can be carried cocked-and-locked or regular hammer-down DA carry. The 97BD has a decocker instead. They're big guns FYI.

The '97B is at http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_82/products_id/31189 for $639 which includes shipping.

The '97BD decoker version is at http://czcustom.com/cz97bd45pc.aspx for $694 and it doesn't say anything about shipping.

The nice part about the CZ pistols is that there is plenty of owner experience about them at http://www.czforumsite.info/ and also on AR15.com. So you can read up on them from actual owner experience. The CZ 97B Club at the czforumsite has over 6,000 posts in it.

Hope this helps.

JayPee
 
In my opinion, going from a Glock to a 1911 is a big jump, especially for a new shooter. You're heading towards a low capacity, single action pistol with multiple safeties, but it's not an impossible move. I would suggest renting or borrowing a 1911 and putting several hundred rounds down range before making a purchase. If you do go the 1911 route, take a serious look at the Ruger SR1911.;)

LD45
 
I'd suggest you go to a range and rent a few guns. It'll be worth the price to do so. Some people who really work well with one gun don't do so well with another, despite it being favored by many. Go see what works for you and buy that. Any of the big name guns will be reliable and serve their purpose well.

Try them out and see what fits you best.
 
fyurstarter,

I agree with forindooruseonly about trying before buying, but to answer your question about the CZ's reset, I consider it second only to the Smith and Wesson third generation DA/SA autos, but only by a skosh. Trigger reach has been a problem with some of the CZ pistols, but new triggers have been designed and I have read posts saying that new CZ's come with the newly recurved triggers. But if size is an issue for you, try out a CZ 97B before buying one. They are BIG.

JayPee
 
Size and mag capacity aren't so much the issue as much as ergonomics. I always loved the way my Grandpa's 1911 handled and shot, but if there's something out there that'll work just as well I'm ready to try it out.
I think I'll follow the advice of forindooruseonly and look for somewhere I can shoot a few pistols before I dump anymore money into a firearm that I just simply don't like.
 
The grip on the glock 21 was also too large for my hands. I ended up with a M&P 45 with the small palm swell on it. I carry the M&P everyday as a duty gun and trust my life to it.
 
Yeah....and it may be different if I had bought one of the Gen 4 models to change out the backstrap and make it easier to handle, but this experience left me with a bit of a dislike for Glocks in general.
 
The glock 21-SF is different enough in the grip to matter. It points better and feels better.

If you don't want a glock, then the M&P or XD/XDM are good choices.

The CZ 97 is HUGE with a long trigger reach to match.

The FNP feels far worse than any glock, but some like it.
 
I'm not completely opposed to another glock, but I'd like to at least give a full metal frame weapon a chance. I'd also like to handle a Glock 21-SF to see how it compares to the model 21 that I did have, especially if you can change out some of the grip components to really make it fit your hand a little better.
 
RE: Glock 21SF. I fondled both the 21 and 21SF side-by-side. I couldn't discern enough difference between the two in grip "feel" to bother with it. I didn't check grip "angle" though. I liked neither grip.
 
I've heard both sides of the opinion spectrum on Glocks....there are some guys who just swear by Glocks and would own nothing else, then there are others would swear AT Glocks and would own ANYTHING else.
 
My favorite non-1911 45's:

1. Older W. German or 100% German made Sig P220
2. H&K USP
3. New P220 with US made slide
4. Glock 21SF but M&P, XD,FNP,...., are solid choices

Of course I prefer a good 1911 to all those though :)

My buddy had a CZ-97 and I can see why people like them but the CZ design just isn't for me. That said I still wish I'd picked up a few back when they were cheap and less popular.

A Glock is what it is. Cheap, durable, reliable, combat accurate and I can work on them myself. Would I only own Glocks? Heck no. Do I mind having a few around? Certainly not.
 
I've always been of the opinion that each firearm is a tool designed for a specific job, and just like with traditional tools it makes little sense to try to drive a nail with a screwdriver when a hammer does the job fine.
Since I've been a rifle shooter for a long time I've never had much of a desire to purchase many pistols when I could get more gear or ammo for my rifles, but now I'm starting to think I'd like to have at least one decent pistol to get some practice in....maybe even try 3 gun competition someday.
I'm really leaning toward getting a 1911 (more than likely a SA loaded) just because it's a solid all around pistol and almost every firearms enthusiast has to have at least one in his or her private collection just to have one.
 
1911 is a great platform and the SA's are good guns. I'd go with a Colt myself but thats opening a whole new can of worms there....
 
I'd really like to go with a Colt, but if I go with a SA, then I have extra money left to customize after I've put about 500 rounds through it and decide what I want to change.
 
Colts are US made and have better small parts which costs money. Also the pony is very expensive to engrave :)
 
TXHORNS- That pony is pretty detailed.......
What do you think the honest advantage is between a Colt made 1911 and a SA? I'm a fan of Colt, just because everything I've ever shot that they've made (like the Diamondback) has been great to shoot, but the price tag is always higher than other "comparable" weapons.
Zerodefect- The Les Baers are pretty slick, but I'm really hoping to just buy something that I can shoot as is (a nice rack grade weapon) and then add on some of the extra bells and whistles as I decide what I really want to change.
easyg- Had some less than pleasing experiences with larger bore Ruger pistols, but I'll check out the p345 and see how it fits.
 
If you find a baby desert eagle, try it out. It's pretty rare where I live and others that try it ooh and aah about it.
 
I can honestly say that I've never seen one in person nor handled one.
Saw the full size "Pimp Daddy" Gold Plated version in 50AE once, but alas...my need for a gold plated, tiger stripe, 50 cal semi auto handgun has come and gone.
I know IMI makes some pretty interesting weapons...if I can find a baby eagle I'd like to put my hands on it and see how it fits.
 
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