Another "Help me decide on a pistol" poll/thread

Fiv3r said:

I've been very happy with my P320. I haven't invested in the platform more than buying a compact frame for the full side slide to make it carry more like a Glock 19. I had an old p250 compact magazine laying around, so I was only out the 40 bucks to switch the grip.

I also picked up a 21 round magazine. My thought is that the 2 17 rounders are nice to have as they fit the full size and compact frame well. I carry the gun with the compact grip and magazine inserted and carry either a 17 rounder or the 21 for back up as they both fit my extra magazine pouch.

The p320 killed off my Glocks and FNS. It feels better in hand, shoots better, and the aftermarket support should be good for a generation as a .gov sidearm.

All of them on the list are fine choices. I'd still love a compact M9 with a rail to be honest.

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Twenty one round or even 17 round loaded to capacity is a lot of weight to carry for something you will never need. All I will ever need is small piece with six cartridge magazine inserted.
Fron the list provided I would pick the P99 with the best trigger. Not sure which variant it is.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

This is my first time using GB, but the auction ends in two days with no bidders yet. You do have to bid at least the sellers opening amount though. I'm going to bid just before the auction ends, see what happens.

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Okay, just letting you know that they hold the auction open for 15 minutes, I think, after every bid. More like a traditional auction than an eBay auction. So as near as I can tell, you really can't effectively snipe. Yes, you can still surprise other bidders who are lulled into thinking no one is coming in after them and not watching the end of the auction, but if they are paying attention, they will get another bid.

rpenmanparker said:

Okay, just letting you know that they hold the auction open for 15 minutes, I think, after every bid. More like a traditional auction than an eBay auction. So as near as I can tell, you really can't effectively snipe. Yes, you can still surprise other bidders who are lulled into thinking no one is coming in after them and not watching the end of the auction, but if they are paying attention, they will get another bid.

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Like lsudave said!

paulsj said:

Twenty one round or even 17 round loaded to capacity is a lot of weight to carry for something you will never need. All I will ever need is small piece with six cartridge magazine inserted.
Fron the list provided I would pick the P99 with the best trigger. Not sure which variant it is.

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If we never will need it, why even carry a gun with 6 rounds? Why not a 5 shot snubbie? Or a derringer should be more than enough. Maybe a disarming smile is all we need

I get your point, but I never said the p320 was my EDC gun. Like yourself, I carry a 6 round gun most of the time. A .380 at that.

The question is about a platform pistol that fits multiple roles. For me, if you made me pick one logical nonsentimental pistol that would cover all my bases from EDC to HD to hiking, etc, I think the p320 fits my needs best.

I don't carry the p320 a lot. I'm fine with a .380 day to day. That said, my job requires me to sometimes go to places in town at times I would not prefer to go due to increased gun violence and robbery. Yes, I do wear my disarming smile, but i also have the p320 loaded with a 15 round with a 17/21 round magazine on my belt. Maybe it's a useless totem, but I would rather have it and not need it.

If you like hammers the the CZ is the no brainer on your list IMO.

Though I do prefer the Sig P series hammer fired

Walthers are great but aftermarket support is kinda hard sometimes.

You pretty much couldn't give me an M&P or 320.

Once again Lionheart!

I’m a huge fan of the Beretta 92 platform. They’re old school in that they can be personalized and set up to suit the owner’s needs, and they are rather fun to work on. Parts are common and inexpensive. They are also one of the most tested combat handguns in existence. In my experience, a properly maintained 92 is one of the most reliable handguns you can carry.
Everyone likes to harp on its size and weight, but if you put it down next to a Glock 17 they’re pretty close. I’ve found the Beretta more concealable due to the shape of the grip and rear of the slide. And the weight difference is about the equivalent of a loaded magazine. In exchange, you get a gun that has a potentially super trigger, true DA safety, and a near nonexistent likelihood of being “limpwristed”.
I’ll leave a picture of one of my favorite Inox models for inspiration. This is one is Italian made.

A Ruger 1911 in 9mm works for me just fine easy to carry and shoot

"Okay, just letting you know that they hold the auction open for 15 minutes, I think, after every bid. More like a traditional auction than an eBay auction. So as near as I can tell, you really can't effectively snipe. Yes, you can still surprise other bidders who are lulled into thinking no one is coming in after them and not watching the end of the auction, but if they are paying attention, they will get another bid."

Yeah, you really have to watch the end. Bidding in the last 15 minutes is pretty popular. I've been known to indulge in that practice myself on occasion.

jonb32248 said:

Once again Lionheart!

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JeeperCreeper said:

I saw that someone else posted that as well... Sadly I passed up a decent deal on a daewoo earlier this year.

If lionheart everever disco the pistols by a couple hundred bucks like they did a couple black fridays ago, it'd be tough to pass one up!

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I have a Daewoo DP 51, it's a very nice pistol. I feel safe with it (now), and for what I paid I think it was a good bargain. That said, I'd still take the CZ first.

Issues with the gun itself- mine did have the trigger bar issue (documented in another thread), I was lucky enough to find and replace that. Talked to a gunsmith friend, we couldn't figure out how that happened, unless someone forced something while taking it apart. I also had to replace the safety retention pin (to keep the safety from falling apart when the grips are off). Now since then, I've put about a case through it, and it's very nice, accurate, pleasant.
A little nitpick- the safety is inverted horizontally, the pivot is forward, not to the rear. It feels a little awkward to me; I can take it off easily, putting it on is a little tougher. I find I have to move my grip, as I press directly onto the pivot otherwise, which can be painful after awhile.
The unique triple-action hammer is both good and a problem- I like it, but you have the potential to either decock it and have it on DA, or push it to "fast action" (a SA weight pull, from a DA trigger and hammer position). That's a neat feature, but then it could be placed on Safe (which disconnects the trigger). In theory, you could then take the gun out of Safe, with the hammer down, and you might not remember what the trigger is set to.

Customizing and aftermarket- pretty nonexistent; I guess I could put Lionheart grips on the Daewoo, or vice versa. Luckily it feeds S&W 3rd Gen mags, which are common for now (but those guns are out of production too).
Value- I thought my Daewoo was; got it for $249. Put about $40 or so in parts and springs in it, runs great now. Lionheart at current prices- not so much, for that very reason.

Here's a question for folks-
What "tree" do you prefer your guns to be on, for function? Not talking internals, but instead, firing controls.

CZ- Safety on rear of frame, slide release in front of the trigger, can go cocked and locked. Can include DA, or just SA.

• CZ style
• 1911 style
• Hi-Power
• Daewoo/Lionheart
• Taurus PT 92, for Beretta fans who want this control group

Beretta- Safety/Decocker on slide, gun decocks when safety is operated, slide release may be in front of trigger if present

• Beretta
• S&W 39/59, including the vast 3rd Gen selections
• Smaller Walther-type blowbacks, including the Makarov styles.

Sig P22x style- decocker on a lever between grip and trigger, can go DA or SA, slide release lever usually nowhere near the trigger (might be where the CZ tree has the safety). Usually w/o a safety.

• Sig
• Zastava (CZ99, CZ999, EZ9 etc)
• Arex Rex Zero
• wasn't the Walther P88 like that?
• Astra A-series
• There's a S&W 3rd Gen variant, 5926 I think.

I'm not so familiar with the Glocks, but I think the primary features are

• lightweight polymer frame
• no external controls or safety
• almost always striker, without a second strike option- if it doesn't fire you rack another rd.

I think if you choose to focus on 1 tree for sake of muscle memory, you're safe within those trees.

Regarding the above info...the "function" trees do have variations for grip/ergonomics.

For example, the Taurus PT 92 is a good choice for those who like a Beretta-feel, but want the CZ-type controls.
The Daewoo DP 51 (and thus, I assume the Lionheart) "feels" very Sig-like to me when handling and shooting, with the CZ control setup.

If you want the Beretta controls but don't want a massive gun, the S&W guns have shorter barrels and tend to be more compact. With an aluminum frame (5905 or 915), you get a noticeably lighter package.

For the Sig style controls, the S&W 5926 gives you a full stainless frame and slide, for WAY less than Sig would. I suspect it would be a beast, but depending on use, that isn't a bad thing. I think there's also 69xx series guns in this style, giving you a more compact version.

the count said:

This has got to be one of the worst polls ever! Obviously a very clueless person. Caution: Who tells you the people voting here have any idea what they are doing? It's like asking which brand of car should I concentrate on?

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When I first saw this I hoped the moderator would get involved , but the membership stepped right up quickly . The forum is for people who are looking for information. I have benefitted from this forum countless times . It is no place for attitude and trolls . A little sarcasm and humor , hey, we can all get a good laugh . I cast my vote . The membership of The High Road continues to impress me daily. I was laughing my a#s off. Well done gentlemen . Well done.

lsudave said:

Here's a question for folks-
What "tree" do you prefer your guns to be on, for function? Not talking internals, but instead, firing controls.

CZ- Safety on rear of frame, slide release in front of the trigger, can go cocked and locked. Can include DA, or just SA.

• CZ style
• 1911 style
• Hi-Power
• Daewoo/Lionheart
• Taurus PT 92, for Beretta fans who want this control group

Beretta- Safety/Decocker on slide, gun decocks when safety is operated, slide release may be in front of trigger if present

• Beretta
• S&W 39/59, including the vast 3rd Gen selections
• Smaller Walther-type blowbacks, including the Makarov styles.

Sig P22x style- decocker on a lever between grip and trigger, can go DA or SA, slide release lever usually nowhere near the trigger (might be where the CZ tree has the safety). Usually w/o a safety.

• Sig
• Zastava (CZ99, CZ999, EZ9 etc)
• Arex Rex Zero
• wasn't the Walther P88 like that?
• Astra A-series
• There's a S&W 3rd Gen variant, 5926 I think.

I'm not so familiar with the Glocks, but I think the primary features are

• lightweight polymer frame
• no external controls or safety
• almost always striker, without a second strike option- if it doesn't fire you rack another rd.

I think if you choose to focus on 1 tree for sake of muscle memory, you're safe within those trees.

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I will volunteer to be in the minority on this one and choose the Beretta system. I think it’s primarily a result of the era I came up in, with the 92, the S&Ws, and the Ruger P series being so popular in the late eighties and early nineties. I actually like the way the slide mounted safety is up and out of the way, and I’ve never had an issue accidentally engaging the safety.
I acknowledge that this may be partially due to my being accustomed to using the slide release during mag changes and resisting the “thumbs high” grip that is now so popular. Yes, I’m stuck in the past. But I like it there.

JeeperCreeper: having owned only Makarovs until December, the group now consists of my CZ PCR, PO1, and German-proofed Sig P225, P6 and P228. I generally prefer metal guns.

All of these handguns have nice ergos and rock-solid reliability. If you have little recent exposure to one of these types, maybe you can rent one?
On your list my only familiarity besides CZ compacts is the Beretta 92f (really like it), but with the long barrel, is concealment a factor? Whether the ergos equal or improve on my CZs or Sigs, I would need to compare again.

JeeperCreeper said:

I just think sometimes people get too worked up on other internet websites and dump their frustrations here. Or people just forget that they didn't log out of ARFcom and got lost posting here...

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Well I don't have any of those guns , so I didn't think it was right to comment on them having no experience with them . More than likely any of them would be a good choice . Probably more of a personal preference kind of thing , in which case there is no wrong answer . It would be great if a guy could rent all of them and put a hundred rounds through each for a good comparison for that individual. But I don't think that is a realistic expectation. My problem is I want one of everything .

So many nowadays to choose from, just to add another worth checking out is the Grand power line of pistols

Using your list I would purchase the M&P2.

I just like the Beretta a little better than most. Got a better grip,shoots a little softer, is a scoche more dependable, accurate, smooth. For me, YMMV.

I will stick with my Glock 26 and my Sig P250.

I'd probably recommend the Sig 320 because of it's modularity, but when I consolidated all my 9mm's I went with a CZ 75B SA and a CZ P01. All steel SAO full size and a DA/SA compact alloy frame covers anything I'd use a 9mm for.

lsudave said:

Here's a question for folks-
What "tree" do you prefer your guns to be on, for function? Not talking internals, but instead, firing controls.

CZ- Safety on rear of frame, slide release in front of the trigger, can go cocked and locked. Can include DA, or just SA.

• CZ style
• 1911 style
• Hi-Power
• Daewoo/Lionheart
• Taurus PT 92, for Beretta fans who want this control group

Beretta- Safety/Decocker on slide, gun decocks when safety is operated, slide release may be in front of trigger if present

• Beretta
• S&W 39/59, including the vast 3rd Gen selections
• Smaller Walther-type blowbacks, including the Makarov styles.

Sig P22x style- decocker on a lever between grip and trigger, can go DA or SA, slide release lever usually nowhere near the trigger (might be where the CZ tree has the safety). Usually w/o a safety.

• Sig
• Zastava (CZ99, CZ999, EZ9 etc)
• Arex Rex Zero
• wasn't the Walther P88 like that?
• Astra A-series
• There's a S&W 3rd Gen variant, 5926 I think.

I'm not so familiar with the Glocks, but I think the primary features are

• lightweight polymer frame
• no external controls or safety
• almost always striker, without a second strike option- if it doesn't fire you rack another rd.

I think if you choose to focus on 1 tree for sake of muscle memory, you're safe within those trees.

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Also, the CZ 75 models with decocker on the frame in place of the CZ safety lever. It can't do cocked and locked though because there is no safety lever.

One example below.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-p-01-9mm-black-alloy-14-rd-mags