I'm a newcomer to hangun shooting and I'm trying to settle on my first gun. (Still waiting for my New Jersey permit so I have some time to do research.) I have large hands and I'm looking for something full-size in 9mm. I really like the Springfield Armory SA-35 and a lot of the 1911s, such as the Springfield Armory 1911 Ronin. Yesterday I was at a gun store and saw a Bul Armory 1911 Commander. It seemed to be beautifully made and I'm considering it. My question is: how important is a warranty for handguns? Bul Armory warrants its guns for a year, while Springfield and Smith & Wesson (among others) offer lifetime warranties. This inspires confidence and I wonder what more experienced gun owners think about this.
Bul Armory vs. Lifetime warraty?
- Thread starter brontodon
- Start date
Mark_Mark
Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2021
- Messages
- 18,022
Lifetime warranty is important especially for new gun owners
Mark_Mark
Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2021
- Messages
- 18,022
even the new factory Smith and major brands have problems. But those maior brands, if issue, send you a packing box and shipping label
actionexpress
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2023
- Messages
- 102
Bul has excellent service. A friend uses one of their open division double stacks and had a part break. They shipped him the part immediately.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Kick myself for not picking one of their market intro models when they were 200 cheaper. I think they are great.
dogtown tom
Member
Ruger doesn't have a warranty, but is nearly unsurpassed in fixing what broke at no charge to the customer.
And regarding warranties in general remember the scene from Tommy Boy:
Not every manufacturer will have a written warranty. That doesn't mean they wont fix your gun or replace it. Often, as in Ruger's case its due to the the requirements of the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act .
Further, some of these companies like Bul don't manufacture anything in the US, but are importers. They may have a means to repair your broken gun, but often they will wait months for the parts to arrive from Argentina, Turkiye, Brazil (I'm specifically talking about you Taurus), the Philippines or Czechia. They may have an "authorized repair center" like Bersa that is under contract to the importer. Remember the 250 Turkish shotguns found in a dumpster? It was cheaper to ship the customer a new gun than fix the gun.
But some "foreign" manufacturers like Glock and Beretta have full fledged manufacturing facilities in the US.
And regarding warranties in general remember the scene from Tommy Boy:
Not every manufacturer will have a written warranty. That doesn't mean they wont fix your gun or replace it. Often, as in Ruger's case its due to the the requirements of the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act .
Further, some of these companies like Bul don't manufacture anything in the US, but are importers. They may have a means to repair your broken gun, but often they will wait months for the parts to arrive from Argentina, Turkiye, Brazil (I'm specifically talking about you Taurus), the Philippines or Czechia. They may have an "authorized repair center" like Bersa that is under contract to the importer. Remember the 250 Turkish shotguns found in a dumpster? It was cheaper to ship the customer a new gun than fix the gun.
But some "foreign" manufacturers like Glock and Beretta have full fledged manufacturing facilities in the US.
JTQ
Member
The Browning Hi-Power (SA-35) and the 1911 are two of the best "small hand" friendly pistols.
This video may be helpful regarding grip size
I don't own a Glock, and I may never own a Glock, but if you're just starting out, there is a very good argument to be made for choosing a 9mm Glock. They will be less expensive than the two guns you listed, and they can be fixed just about everywhere.
>> I don't own a Glock, and I may never own a Glock, but if you're just starting out, there is a very good argument to be made for choosing a 9mm Glock. They will be less expensive than the two guns you listed, and they can be fixed just about everywhere. <<
I'll throw a few more issues into the discussion. My wife and I have fired a couple of Glocks in the past few weeks and did not care for them. She found them uncomforable to shoot and difficult to rack the slides, and we kept having jamming issues. So we're really soured on that brand.
The other issue I'll introduce is that I prefer an American-made weapon. I shot well with a Beretta 92FS, but I'd prefer to buy a U.S.-made equivalent.
I'll throw a few more issues into the discussion. My wife and I have fired a couple of Glocks in the past few weeks and did not care for them. She found them uncomforable to shoot and difficult to rack the slides, and we kept having jamming issues. So we're really soured on that brand.
The other issue I'll introduce is that I prefer an American-made weapon. I shot well with a Beretta 92FS, but I'd prefer to buy a U.S.-made equivalent.
JTQ
Member
The Beretta 92X and M9 come out of Beretta's Tennessee plant.
92X https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/92x-rdo-full-size-FA0049
M9 https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/m9-FA0057
The 92FS/M9 are good choices for those with large hands. The 92X is an effort to appeal to users with smaller hands, though the 92X will come with two grip options, the Vertec style (smaller grip) and the fuller grip panels that will mimic the traditional 92FS/M9 grip.
JTQ
Member
I'm a long time 1911 guy, so I'm familiar and comfortable with single action autos, but if you're not, this video may be helpful.
JTQ
Member
Neither the Bul or the Springfield SA-35 are US made.
>> Neither the Bul or the Springfield SA-35 are US made. <<
Israel is the only exception I'll make for my U.S.-only rule.
This is from the Springfield Armory web site:
>> With the release of our U.S.-made SA-35, Springfield Armory is giving shooters a highly sought-after design with the features and upgrades they demand... <<
You're saying it's NOT made in the U.S.?
Israel is the only exception I'll make for my U.S.-only rule.
This is from the Springfield Armory web site:
>> With the release of our U.S.-made SA-35, Springfield Armory is giving shooters a highly sought-after design with the features and upgrades they demand... <<
You're saying it's NOT made in the U.S.?
JTQ
Member
Whoa, maybe I'm wrong. Sorry about that. I hadn't followed their release that closely, and a US made SA-35 would have seemed out of the ordinary for Springfield.
I would have guessed they were coming from Turkey.
Perhaps not the complete answer, but a data point. https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/springfield-armory-sa-35-review-the-grand-puissance
Last edited:
Double_J
Member
Springfield Armory might "final assemble" the SA-35 in the US, but the bulk of the forge / machine work is done in another country to meet their price point. My previous employer built one part of our product in our plant, shipped it to Mexico for assembly, then shipped it back to us for final test and sale.
I trust marketing about as much as I trust a New York City politician to be progun. They can play word games and make themselves almost impossible to pin down.
I trust marketing about as much as I trust a New York City politician to be progun. They can play word games and make themselves almost impossible to pin down.
Nope they aren't. The slide and frame come from Turkey, like an 80% kit, and are finish assembled domestically. My information comes from industry folks who are testing and making aftermarket parts for the SA-35
The Beretta 92X is more American-made than the SA-35
Styx
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2014
- Messages
- 3,282
Do you have documentation for this or is it an assumption based on some of their 1911 frames in the past? Even in the past, some, not all, of there 1911s frames came unfished into the country, and Springfield finished the machining in the U.S.... Other higher-end 1911s in their line where all manufactured in the United States.
Last edited:
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,814
I have XXL hands. 1911's fit me well. So does my Hi-Power clone, similar to the SA35.
I don't worry about the warranty length. So far, any defects in the handguns I've bought showed up on the first range trip... or second if I was particularly dense the first day.
My couple of Beretta 92 variants fit my hands just fine, too.
If you're going to choose a a real service pistol that is or was in widespread service, such as the 1911, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta 92, Glock 17, etc. you don't have to worry whether the design is any good. That's already been proven.
If you haven't held or looked at a CZ75 or variant thereof, that's another common service pistol that tends to fit big hands well. Those and my 1911's are my favorites to shoot.
A 9mm, full-sized service pistol is a very good place to start your handgun journey. I like the way you think.
I don't worry about the warranty length. So far, any defects in the handguns I've bought showed up on the first range trip... or second if I was particularly dense the first day.
My couple of Beretta 92 variants fit my hands just fine, too.
If you're going to choose a a real service pistol that is or was in widespread service, such as the 1911, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta 92, Glock 17, etc. you don't have to worry whether the design is any good. That's already been proven.
If you haven't held or looked at a CZ75 or variant thereof, that's another common service pistol that tends to fit big hands well. Those and my 1911's are my favorites to shoot.
A 9mm, full-sized service pistol is a very good place to start your handgun journey. I like the way you think.
Styx
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2014
- Messages
- 3,282
One thing to note with Springfield Armory is they will not and do not like to sell spare parts. I have never heard of anyone having to wait an long period of time for repairs, and they will install or fix and part that's needed, but they aren't going to sell many spare parts even though they have them on hand.
For guns I plan on keeping for my lifetime and shooting a lot, I like to have a bunch of spare parts on hand so I can keep the gun running and make any repairs myself or in the case that the product line is discontinued and no longer warrantied.
Other than that, I'd go with Springfield over Bul Armory because of the warranty. Bul Armory might fix any problems that come up, but you might have to pay out of pocket for shipping and/or for any work to be done after a year is up.
Jim Watson
Member
Buying a gun seems to be a crapshoot. A friend is going 'round and 'round with S&W warranty clerks, the Bul Just Works... but now he is in love with a Canik.
rdnktrkr
Member
I own a couple of Springfield 1911s, I'm sure they are probably the foreign made ones due to their price point. They shoot great and I've never had a problem to test their warranty. I've been thinking about a 9mm 1911 and Springfield will be on the short list along with Rock Island Armory.
Outlaw75
Member
Take a look at the Smith & Wesson M&P line. They're US made, better grip ergonomics IMO and they have the EZ line which is designed to rack easier than their standard models.
JR24
Member
Don’t like the hinged triggers on the M&P myself but I agree. Relatively inexpensive, good company and really nice in the hand for new shooters, plus plenty of size options to find the right one.
>> The Beretta 92X is more American-made than the SA-35 <<
I'm glad you brought this up, because my research is now leaning me toward one of the Beretta 92 variants or the Springfield Garrison 1911. Some questions I have:
1) Is the exposed barrel of the Beretta a problem? Does it heat up to an uncomfortable degree, or does it let dirt into the gun?
2) Are the Garrison 1911s reliable? Some of the reviews I've been viewing/reading are talking about failures to feed or eject properly.
3) Is there any point or downside in choosing a Beretta 92 RDO if Ii don't plan on a red dot sight or light accessory for the time being? I like the option of the red dot sight but I'd also like to get good at shooting the iron sights.
I'm glad you brought this up, because my research is now leaning me toward one of the Beretta 92 variants or the Springfield Garrison 1911. Some questions I have:
1) Is the exposed barrel of the Beretta a problem? Does it heat up to an uncomfortable degree, or does it let dirt into the gun?
2) Are the Garrison 1911s reliable? Some of the reviews I've been viewing/reading are talking about failures to feed or eject properly.
3) Is there any point or downside in choosing a Beretta 92 RDO if Ii don't plan on a red dot sight or light accessory for the time being? I like the option of the red dot sight but I'd also like to get good at shooting the iron sights.
