Glock, Ruger, or S&W?

Made the same comparison, went with the Ruger SR9c. Fits my hand better than the Glock, much better trigger than the M&P (in my opinion). On me, it conceals incredibly easily (better than the Glock 26 on me) under just a t-shirt.

I also love that, even though it's a compact, it shoots as well and accurately (and softly) as any of my full sized 9mms.

Carried it daily for 2 years, have 2500+ trouble free rounds on it.

YMMV

My EDC is an HKP2000SK and I am very happy with it. Out of the options mentioned however, I would go with the Glock. My G20 has never failed to go bang despite a huge range of factory and hand loads fed through it. I think they are among the most reliable autos on the market.

Me? S&W.

Best for you? Who knows. Try them all out.

Tried all three and went with the Ruger SR9c. Felt good in my hand, liked the overall design, and thought it was just right for me.

I wouldn't own any of the guns listed. I don't like the safety mechanism on the Glock or the Ruger SR series. I don't like DA only guns, except as a pocket pistol. S&W is not what they once were in anything. Can I interest you in a Springfield?

S&W not what they once were?

Glock 26 all the way

Real tough call between the S&W and the Ruger. I've owned the Ruger, and it was a very nice plastic fantastic. The S&W always looked atractive to me, but I've never shot one.

I'm not a Glock Guy, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

M&P

Look at the Shield

Of those choices, I would pick the Glock. They are all good choices, but the Glock has the least amount of extraneous safeties, chamber indicators, buttons, latches, etc.

I've never shot the Ruger, but people seem to love them.

breakingcontact said:

S&W not what they once were?

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I'd like a explanation for that, also.

Pick the one with the best trigger in your mind.

Probably the M&P. I love Rugers, just not a fan of the Sr series, and don't get me started on Glocks.

Probably the Glock.

I'd like to consider the M&P -- in fact, I love shooting them -- but I'm having a real hard time accepting some of the things (reliability issues) I've seen with altogether too many of them that pass through my observation in competition.

I've seen a few of the Rugers. I haven't shot one. They seemed to have a lot of safety gizmos and such that would be a turn-off for me. Having watched the few shooters that show up with them at our practices deal with mag safeties external safties and such, I don't imagine I'd ever even consider one.

From their website:

Just like the original, full-sized SR9, the SR9c is loaded with modern safety features like a 1911-style ambidextrous manual safety, internal trigger bar interlock and striker blocker, trigger safety, magazine disconnect, plus a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator.

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Wow...that sure is a load!

Quote:
Originally Posted by breakingcontact
S&W not what they once were?

I'd like a explanation for that, also.
__________________

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They aren't revolvers...

Three flavors of the same Kool-Aid. Try to shoot all three and I'm sure the choice will become clear.

Personally I have never liked the feel or trigger as much as the M&P. My M&P 9C has over 10000 rounds downrange and it has been a superb pistol.

I've seen a few of the Rugers. I haven't shot one. They seemed to have a lot of safety gizmos and such that would be a turn-off for me. Having watched the few shooters that show up with them at our practices deal with mag safeties external safties and such, I don't imagine I'd ever even consider one.

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This is a good point. From my personal experience, I've found that with my small hands, the manual safety is in exactly the right position to swipe off as I draw. Not quite like a 1911, but actually pretty close to my Hi-Power. So, for me, the safeties don't make much of a difference. I could see it being an issue if you have big hands though.

normal non work pocket carry is a glock 26.got a gen 1,2,3 g17 for work,2 g19c's for play.only extra mags i buy are g17's cause they fit all the above.sent the 26 and the 2 19c's back to glock to install the round triggers.serrated kept aggravating my trigger finger after 100 rounds.they changed em free.

JR24 said:

This is a good point. From my personal experience, I've found that with my small hands, the manual safety is in exactly the right position to swipe off as I draw. Not quite like a 1911, but actually pretty close to my Hi-Power. So, for me, the safeties don't make much of a difference. I could see it being an issue if you have big hands though.

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The thumb safety causes me absolutely no issues either... quite easy to manipulate. I don't understand why any other safety devices would impede either self defense or competition. I'm willing to listen, though...

The thumb safety causes me absolutely no issues either... quite easy to manipulate. I don't understand why any other safety devices would impede either self defense or competition. I'm willing to listen, though...

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A thumb safety I can work with. I use a 1911 a lot after all. Generally they're fine. (Never could get used to the one on a CZ, unfortunately...just something about the location of the pivot point that made it not work correctly at speed.)

A magazine disconnect is awful in competition as you cannot unload and show clear -- and then drop the hammer -- without reinserting a magazine first, which is a total hassle and has to be explained to the SOs each time. You've got to keep an extra, empty magazine on hand to do that with as no SO is going to let you insert a loaded mag after your "show clear" step. Just a pain in the butt. We do deal with it with the Hi-Powers and a few other guns that come with mag safeties, but it is awkward complexity for no good purpose.

As far as a loaded chamber flag? That's really just an eyesore more than anything else, but like any other mechanical device, the more moving parts, the more stuff there is to break or get fouled somehow.

Ruger has gone so overboard with the various safeties and the lovely "billboard" printed down the side, etc, that they're starting to be a caricature of prudent care. So overdone it's galling and absurd.

...

None of that necessarily makes one a bad fit or a bad choice for a carry weapon, but I use my carry weapons extensively in competition as a way to develop proficiency with them. I would not use the Ruger in competition, so I wouldn't personally be considering it for purchase.

My personal preference would be the S&W M&P 1st, Ruger 2nd and the Glock 3rd. I've currently own a G26 (2nd one) and I have owned many other Glocks (19, 21, 30-2 and 36) and while they are dependable, none of them impress me in the area ergonomics. My fingers are too thick for G26 and even with Pearce +0 mag extensions it just doesn't feel right in my hand.

I have owned the Ruger SR9C and I really liked the capacity in such a small gun plus it had a good feeling grip. If I could find another one reasonably priced I would snatch it up. I currently own a S&W M&P .40 Compact and a M&P Shield .40 and both have been outstanding. The .40C is about the same thickness as the G26 but the interchangable backstraps make it feel better (I have the CT laser on mine which is equal to the largest backstrap). The Shield is by far the easiest to conceal and while it doesn't have removable backstraps, it is made to mimick the medium strap that comes on the other M&Ps which is the size that about 90% of the M&P owners use anyways.

Best thing for you to do is try and find a range that rents guns or go out with some friends that own these models and shoot them for yourself. What works for others may not be the best choice for you. It's more fun that way and you won't end up getting stuck with something you don't like. Good luck in your search.

I'd like to consider the M&P -- in fact, I love shooting them -- but I'm having a real hard time accepting some of the things (reliability issues) I've seen with altogether too many of them that pass through my observation in competition.

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? What have you been seeing?

I did a similar analysis a few years ago and chose the SR9c. Afterwards, I traded it for what I really wanted, a CZ P01. The SR9c was a nice gun though. Of the 3 you list, I'd get it unless I could talk you into the CZ.......

I'd like to consider the M&P -- in fact, I love shooting them -- but I'm having a real hard time accepting some of the things (reliability issues) I've seen with altogether too many of them that pass through my observation in competition.

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? What have you been seeing?

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I've posted about that before, but I know an uncomfortable number of well-ranked shooters in my area who have had repeated bad experiences with failures to extract, primarily, and also a recurring light primer strike problem with the M&P series. These are pretty well-known issues and there are various "fixes" suggested, not any of which fix all of the problems all of the time, or for very long, in some cases.

I know shooters who've had their M&Ps back to S&W multiple times without solving the extraction problem long-term. A close personal friend of mine, and Master-class shooter has now owned, and ditched, THREE M&P pros and a standard model in the attempt to get one to run reliably. Ironically, all this takes place in the local shooting area of one of the better known M&P gunsmiths (Burwell) and if these guys can't keep them running, or can't find work-arounds and fluff-and-buffs (or whatever else) to make them solid long-term performers, I'm just not comfortable putting my money and time into them.

And that KILLS me, because the fastest IDPA Classifier time I ever shot was fired with a borrowed M&P standard model I'd never shot before, and shot cold. A great gun! But I've watched so many local competitors practicing their TRBs during major matches, and lamenting that S&W didn't get it fixed THIS TIME, either, that I just can't bring myself to roll the dice.

No offense Sam, but don't a third of competitors still use them?

I personally hated everything about mine, even after trigger upgrades... However I don't shoot IDPA either.