Do You Like a Handgun You Used to Dislike?

[Tallball]

For me it's the SP101. I owned a couple and didn't like them. The triggers were stiff, the shape of the grip was awkward, they didn't fit my hand well, etc. And I couldn't shoot them worth squat.

A while back I was "forced" to accept a 9mm SP101 in a trade, and its trigger wasn't too bad. I shot it and it actually felt okay. After I replaced the springs, painted the front sight, and found the right kind of Hogue Monogrip, I kind of liked shooting it.

These days 9mm is dirt cheap, so the SP101 has been going to the range with me a lot. I've been using it for snubby practice while 38 is so expensive. And I've been getting used to it. The trigger and sights and grips aren't exactly like the j-frames I grew up with, but I'm adjusting. It turns out I actually like the wide front sight a lot. It's a good DA shooter once you get the rhythm down.

After shooting it steadily for the past six months or so, I have to admit that I now enjoy shooting the SP101, and have learned to shoot it as accurately as any other snubby. The gun hasn't changed much, but I've slowly improved with it.

Is there a handgun that you used to dislike, but now you like it? What changed your mind? Do you have pictures?

Ruger SP101 9mm

• Tallball
• Mar 6, 2021

 

[Skribs]

I only got the S&W M&P knowing I could get a trigger kit for it. I really, really, really do not like the hinge trigger.

When I first got into guns, I only wanted full-size duty pistols because of their magazine capacity. I did not consider a 9mm an acceptable round. I did not consider revolvers an acceptable option. I did not like any gun with a manual safety. I did not want any gun that was not a practical self-defense weapon. Now, I have:

• More 9mm than any other type of gun.
• More compact handguns than full-size handguns, including 2 pocket pistols.
• My 3 most common carry guns are a Ruger LCR, a Ruger LCP, and a compact 9mm.
• I have a revolver and a 9mm 1911 that pretty much serve as range guns, although I could technically still carry them. These are nice, big, heavy guns in relatively light calibers so I can introduce new shooters with something that isn't a .22, but isn't scary or difficult either.

I think some of this was further research and experience, and some of this was me growing up.

 

[bannockburn]

Tallball

I suppose for me that would be most Glocks in general. Had a G17 Gen.1 that I never really cared for all that much. Didn't like the ergonomics, from the grip frame to the overall width of the gun. Felt the same way about all the other
Glocks until I had a chance to try out the Glock G43X and the G48. Here I found a whole new ball game...Glocks that actually felt great in my hand and were a little over an inch in width! And yes, I know I'm giving up considerable mag capacity (though a Shield 15 rounder would make up for that) as I would rather have a gun that I enjoy carrying and shooting than one that I don't like and have no pressing need to even take it to the range.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Dan Wessons. I always disliked the exposed barrel nuts and thought the cast triggers and hammers looked cheap. Shooting them was an epiphany.

 

[CapnMac]

Maybe, sorta. I used to have a reflex dislike of Spanish autos, but actually owning a Star or Astra will cure a person of that. They may not be the "stars' of the safe, but near boring in consistency. (Magazines can be a love/hate relationship, though.)

M-9 soured me on Berettas, but there is nothing wrong with the brand.

 

[12Bravo20]

For me it has to be Glock pistols. I never could stand the Gen 3 or Gen 4 Glocks due to the finger grooves. They just did not fit my hands. But then again I have not found any pistol or aftermarket grips with finger grooves to fit me or be comfortable for me to shoot.

Maybe, sorta. I used to have a reflex dislike of Spanish autos, but actually owning a Star or Astra will cure a person of that. They may not be the "stars' of the safe, but near boring in consistency. (Magazines can be a love/hate relationship, though.)

M-9 soured me on Berettas, but there is nothing wrong with the brand.

Same here. I never could shout the M9 as good as I could shoot the 1911A1 no matter how much range time I had. The M9 is just awkward feeling in my hands.

My first pistol purchased after getting out of the Army was a Star Firestar M40 in 40 S&W. It has been a very reliable and accurate pistol for me. The only issues I ever had with it was when using Remington/UMC ammo which stoved piped rally bad or failure to lock the slide back on an empty magazine when using Triple K mags. The pistol always works when using OEM mags and good quality ammo.

I later bought a 9mm Firestar M43 from a guy who had nothing but issues with it. The only thing wrong with the M43 was the cheap ammo he was using. All I did was give the pistol a good cleaning and used good ammo to include my own reloads and have never had any problems with it.

The Firestars are in between a compact 1911 an a Colt Pony/Sig P938/Kimber Micro as far as size goes. They are heavy for their size due to the steel frames. But the extra weight helps with felt recoil.

 

[Ks5shooter]

25 years ago I had 2 Glocks and sold them.I hated them .Now I own a ton and love them....go figuere.

 

[WrongHanded]

I'm another one who disliked Glocks. Now they're my go-to/EDC pistols.

 

[Y-T71]

I have had a Ruger MkII for 30+ years with about a billion rounds through it (stainless KMK-514)

Love the pistol, shot it enough that it's literally and extension of my right arm.

On a whim (read: good price) I picked up a Browning Buckmark Camper.

I hated it the first time I fired it but the more I use it the more I like and appreciate it.

(The Ruger is still my first love though )

 

[W.E.G.]

I took a disliking to 1911's.

Sold the several I used to have.

Then I got a bug up my butt to make a TISAS into a bullseye "match pistol."
Sights are from Kensight.
I'm a terrible bullseye pistol shot, but I'm having fun with it.

 

[tarosean]

No I get rid of them a reason.

 

[DeepSouth]

I can’t think of one, now I can think of a few I wanted to like and grew to dislike. But none that I disliked ever really grew on me.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Probably like half on this forum, Glocks. Hated them, felt they were akward. Hated the sights you'd always see on a factory new one (which is a valid criticism)
Until one day I was given the Glock 32 with the alpha wolf already installed and they even replaced the sights on it. It was the pistol I was developing .357 sig loads for. With the newer sights on it, it actually felt so much better. It was then I learned it takes owning a Glock to appreciate them. Yes you may almost certainly have to do some customization to it (like for me, the sights was the biggest) but it's not a bad pistol beyond that. A gun for the masses and it fulfills that role well. If you want it to be more to your liking, do that and suddenly it becomes likable.

The other for me was Ruger revolvers. Never liked transfer bar revolvers and for good reason, but Howard Darby said that Ruger Vaqueros were the ideal single action army clone to practice with, so that's the one I got. I was very impressed and developed a thing for Rugers since.

 

[Ethan Verity]

My S&W Model 642 was like that... for a while I regretted getting it, I hated all the grips I tried on it. Eventually I found one I liked, now I enjoy it.

 

[Valkman]

Being a 1911 guy since the late 80's I hated 9mm and have never owned or shot a 9mm handgun. .45 for me! But lately I have come around and am looking for my first 9mm handgun, something like a Sig P365XL. Still have a dislike for Glocks but may come around on them who knows lol.

 

[TRACON]

25 years ago I had 2 Glocks and sold them.I hated them .Now I own a ton and love them....go figuere.

Ditto! Although I never owned Glocks 25 years ago, I was into 1911’s and metal Berettas and S&W/Colt wheel guns. I DETESTED Glocks.
Now I own every single 9mm Glock model made and sold in the USA and from every generation. I’ve become a F A N A T I C and I collect them all (except the G18). I own all of Glock’s .357 Sig models in Gen 3 and 4, as well as most of their 40’s and some of their 45’s.

A lifelong friend and hunting buddy of mine always points out how I used to despise Glock and now I’ve “sold out.” Haha.

 

[armoredman]

Striker fired pistols, period. I have had to qualify with the Glock 19 for 21 years, and even though I qualify Expert or Distinguished Expert every year, I don't like the way they feel, and that turned me off striker fired pistols...until I picked up a CZ P-10C for a song. It has been my EDC for almost 6 years and there are several P-10s of various types living in the house now.

 

[desmobob]

1911s.

My first handgun was a Smith & Wesson Model 66. Second was a Glock G22. Third was a CZ-75B. Then I bought a Colt Combat Elite 1911. After the "felt like it was made for my hands" ergonomics of the CZ and Glock, it felt like a heavy, uncomfortable, square-edged piece of steel. I have big hands and had to crunch my thumb up to swipe the safety; it went clear past it if I kept it extended normally. I had a bad case of buyer's remorse.

But eventually I tried using the Combat Elite to do some action pistol shooting. Once I added an extended thumb safety, my opinion of the pistol changed toward the positive immediately. Some aftermarket internal parts and some tinkering and tuning got me more interested in the platform. Soon, I was loving the pistol and added a Combat Commander to my line-up.

 

[CDW4ME]

"Like"? Not really.
Utilize? Yea.
I had no love (like) for LCP 380 nor snub; I was willing and able to carry better.
We joined a gym, now I had a situation where the snub was suited to a Smartcarry and holstered LCP 380 in gym shorts pocket.
Going to/from the gym the LCP offers quicker access than the snub in Smartcarry; inside the gym holstered LCP is in locked locker while the snub in Smartcarry is on me and doesn't interfere with exercising.
Do I like those guns (snub/LCP)? Not really. I'd rather have a Glock 20 or 22 AIWB and a Sig 365 in pocket but that won't work going to the gym.
Do I begrudgingly utilize guns that I shunned for years? Yea.

 

[desmobob]

Being a 1911 guy since the late 80's I hated 9mm and have never owned or shot a 9mm handgun. .45 for me! But lately I have come around and am looking for my first 9mm handgun, something like a Sig P365XL. Still have a dislike for Glocks but may come around on them who knows lol.

I would recommend a CZ-75B. It has the steel heft of a 1911 but the ergonomics and high capacity of a modern wondernine. The polymer handguns are a big jump from the 1911 and, for a long-time 1911 man, the striker-fired handguns' trigger pulls will make you want to vomit!

 

[trackskippy]

I pretty much like them all, as long as they are reliable and work.

I think its important to shoot as many different types as you can, on a regular basis, so youre up on them and they are familiar. If you do that, the majority of the complaints and excuses you always hear tend to melt away, and youre just a lot more versatile and knowledgeable shooter.

 

[Spats McGee]

Glocks. I didn't "used to dislike" them. I used to hate them. Wouldn't consider buying one. Then, about 10 years ago, I bought a Gen 4 G19. I carried it for a few years, put close to (an estimated) 2K rounds through it. At one point, I even thought I loved that pistol. (Then I sat down until the feeling went away ...) I eventually sold it to fund something else, but my time with it definitely changed my opinion on Glocks. For that matter, it changed my opinion on polymer pistols generally.

 

[teerex.otw]

Nope…
If the grip didn’t fit my hand then, it doesn’t now.
If I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn standing inside of it then, I still can’t.
If ammo was hard to find then, it’s a nightmare now.
If it jammed every third shot then (in spite of best efforts to correct the situation), I haven’t gotten THAT much better, and these things don’t heal themselves.
We like what we like, and there’s no accounting for taste, so….nope !

 

[johnjohn]

I don't get rid of guns.

 

[doubleh]

No. Set in my ways I suppose.