Biggest handgun delight! Exceeding expectations?!

SIG P210 - the accuracy surpassed my high expectations.
Now I am thinking about a quality 7.5 in SA revolver in .44 Mag (may be Ruger SBH Hunter or Freedom Arms). Will it be on par?!

Thompson Contender my first barrel was a 7-30 Waters now I have a total of 5 they all will shoot I now have a 7-08 Encore I cant wait to shoot it.

Ruger LCR Colt .22 Ruger New Vaquero(small grip one)

Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum - so much easier to shoot than expected, awesome revolver

Taurus PT1911

I was first planning on getting an RIA. Then I began looking around at several. About the only one I didn't want was a Regency IAC. After hearing how incredibly polarized the Taurus opinions were, I wasn't sure. Many folks I didn't know were eager to tell me how sorry I would be with a Taurus. A very good friend told me the same. While talking it over with a dealer I trust (our sons are best friends) I went with the Taurus.

I can't speak to anyone else's experience, nor would I want to try. I had a few trepidations, but they were all dispelled by my first day at the range. Every subsequent trip has proven to deepen my delight.

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+1 on this. I've had some good luck with Tauri, but have heard the stories. I did a fair trade on a PT1911 (used) that looked to be in VG condition and barely shot.

The first time I took it to the range I was hooked. This is my first 1911, so I don't know if it's just the platform I like so well or the actual gun but I'm more accurate and comfortable shooing it than any other handgun I own.

My second favorite is my SP101 2.25" DOA. I think it's perfect for carrying IWB (it is my EDC), and the DOA trigger was so sweet and smooth out of the box that I wouldn't do a thing to it. The grip lacks a bit, but putting on a bigger grip would sacrifice some of the ease of concealing it effectively.

I bought a 1951 S&W Combat Masterpiece. It is well worn and was a security guard gun for years and shows the expected wear, but the bore was bright and it was in good shape. I got it just because I wanted a .38 revolver and wasn't expecting much for the price I paid. It is by far more accurate than any other .38 I own, even those with longer barrels.

The CZ 75B. Didn't expect the high rate of fire/accuracy. Love that gun.

Either my FN Herstal FNP-9 or my Walther PK380. Both exceeded my expectations in terms of performance, fun-to-shoot and value for the dollar. Holsters are now easier to find for the FN which was the main drawback.

Sadly, I can't think of any handgun I've bought that has surprised me. usually Im either satisfied or dissapointed. I guess I always have unrealistically high expectations. But I guess this drives me to keep looking for that gun that exceeds all my dreams.

+1 on the Ruger Redhawk (.44 Mag); very smooth, well balanced.
Desert Eagle .50AE; what a piece of dynomite in a handgun.
Para Ordnance P14-45 LDA PXT; I really like the light double action trigger.
Para Ordnance P12-45; Very nice, high capacity, double stack, single-action 1911.
Bersa 86 (.380); nice easy to shoot, accurate
Butler Derringer (.22 short); single-shot, fun-to-shoot, great conversation piece.
Springfield Armory XD9 & XD45; fantastically reliable and a lot of fun to shoot, very accurate.

Cz 82

I've got several that have far exceeded expectations. I can't . . . simply cannot rank any of these above the other. All totally awesome with great memories in the field and in competitions . . . so . . . here goes:

1. FIELD
S&W 6" barreled Model 29-5, topped by a 1st generation Holosight.
I've havested so many deer with this awesomely accurate and fast handling .44 Magnum that I've lost count! Here's a buck from this season, taken with a heart shot . . .


Highlights . . .
Dropped three deer in fast succession on TWO occasions. First in a clear-cut, the second broadside on a full run at 65 yards! All three dropped instantly and never moved. The second in a thick bottom.

Amazed friends on a hunt (during their rifle sight in) by hitting a gallon milk jug at 200 yards, just as I said I would. The revolver always groups sub 8" at that range, and all you have to do at that exact range is hold 34" high and adjust for wind drift.

Piebald whitetail buck. Probably the only one I'll ever see in the wild, much less get a chance to harvest one.


This buck last year was my largest handgun buck so far. I now hunt only with this fantastically successful revolver.




2. COMPETITION
My favorite memory was at a special steel challenge match when I won the pot after dropping all 18 steel targets in the fastest time over a field of about 35 fine competitors . . . all shooting high cap autos. All guns started UNLOADED and there was one mandatory reload. Obviously, I had to load three times to fire the minimal 18 rounds . . . and I beat 'em all with this custom, chopped barreled S&W 25-2 .45ACP revolver, loading with moon clips. Nawww . . . I shot and reloaded very fast, and didn't miss. Ahh what a smooth revolver this is!




3. GREAT ALL-ROUND .357
It is hard to beat the looks and performance of a S&W Model 65 with a 3" barrel. Much desired . . . rarely resold . . . a true keeper that shoots dead to point of aim and groups really tight groups. Draws and points extremely fast too!




4. LOOKS & PERFECTION
IMHO, nothing is nicer looking that a big ol' N-framed S&W Model 27 .357 . . . with it's checkered rear sight and topstrap . . . and a 3 1/2" barrel. S&W's most "deluxe" revolver, I love this 27-2 with its serial numbered-to-the-gun Magna stocks and narrow trigger that were common in the early '70s. This forty year-old one . . . is too purdy to shoot . . . and I never thought I'd say that about any gun!!!

Past favorites:
S&W model 29 .44mag.
Walther 9mm P1
S&W 9mm model 39
Colt Woodsman Match Target .22

Current favorites:
Ruger SR9
Browning Buckmark Camper .22

The Walther and S&W 39 were favorits because they just fit my hand and shot well for me. Ditto for the Ruger SR9 and Buckmark.

My FNP-9 is the only plastic semi-auto I have ever liked. My Colt snake guns are no big surprise they are works of art.

I have a number of superb handguns that are a delight but they weren't a surprise. In the pleasant surprise category:

CZ 75b (and the Kadet adapter) I'm mostly a revolver guy but this thing has been very accurate and completely reliable. Same for the 22LR adapter. And it shoots great for my wife as well even with our huge difference in hand size. My wife likes it so much it is now one of "her" guns. Fortunately, she is willing to share.

Ruger Old Army C&B. More accurate than I thought a cap and ball could be, not one jam with cap debris, and comfortable to handle and shoot. If, for some reason, I needed it for SD I would feel confident on a man size target out to 50 yards. (At least for 6 shots.)

Ruger Redhawk in 357 magnum. This is one of the few stainless models with 7.5" barrel. I traded a manual typewriter for it at a pawnshop many years ago. It looks clunky compared to a S&W and weighs a ton for a 357 mag but it is a laser for super heavy bullet loads and, to my delight, 38 special WCs. Feels like a popgun with the wadcutters but they go where I want them.

Jeff

S&Wfan, Nice collection ! You have all the bases covered. For me, its my (made in 2000) P226 9mm. Its never missed a beat, ever. Also a Model 65-2. Same story.

Ruger Bearcat... golf and tennis balls are goners at 25yds...

1. Russian Makarov 2. Hi-Point .45 3. Polish Tokarev 4. Raven .25acp.

I have better pistols but these ones surprised me in a good way.

Colt Python

I just bought a 6" blued Colt Python from a friend. I bought it because it I love the "Royal Blue" finish, and this one was in perfect condition. The surprise was that its single-action trigger is perfect. Absolutely no creep at all; a 4 pound pull, and the instant the trigger moves, the hammer falls.

My CZ 97B (.45 ACP) is a joy to shoot. I just wish it was a cheap to feed as my
XDm 9mm; also a delight.

Those two are my favorites, but my other CZs (most on the CZ 75 platform) are very close in the running.

Colt SAA

I don’t believe that I can love a piece of hardware/tool, but if I could my S&W Model 27-2 comes close.

Ruger 22/45, Mk II. Great warm-up gun for the range. When I start flinching after shooting my 1911, I'll pick up the Ruger and practice some more. Can't beat the quality for the money.

Second surprise was my Taurus PT1911. Not as tight as my Kimber Eclipse TLE, but shoots where it's aimed. Initially, had problems shooting semi-wadcutter reloads, but switched to round-nose reloads and haven't had a hiccup since. Another great bargain.