Do You Like a Handgun You Used to Dislike?

[GRIZ22]

I shot one of the first Glock 17s imported back in the 80s. I really didn't care for it. Didn't like the trigger. After some time when Glock was becoming the #1 LE pistol, I learned the error of my ways. I had been shooting it as a DA when I should have been shooting it like a heavy SA. My agency switched to 9mm Glocks in 1998. 17, 19, and 26. After shooting and carrying all 3 I think the G19 is the best compromise of the 3. Just a little bigger than the 26 and a little smaller than the 17.

I consider the G19 the best all around 9mm made. Yes, I have shot just about all of them.

JMO

 

[12Bravo20]

If they're guns and reliable, I like 'em. Haven't met too many guns I dislike. I have a Remington 870 based 12" AOW, sort of a handgun.. I never hated it but I did think it was easily my most useless gun.
I recently discovered the Crimson Trace integrated laser saddle and now I am excited to buy one for it because it will make a previously useless firearm into something that can
actually be used to hit something so that's a huge step up. It shines a green laser down the barrel from the receiver so once sighted in, being able to make accurate hits from the hip or waist
will be pretty cool.

I've watched a few YouTube videos on cheek shooting with a Shockwave and I'm not to hyped to try putting my AOW to my face. This gets around all of that.

View attachment 1143108

I used short shotgun like the Witness Protection ones while in the Army. We were taught to use the push/pull method when shooting them. You push out with your support hand while pulling in with your firing hand while holding the firearm at eye level. We were also taught the same method with the HK MP5 pistols except we pushed out against the sling. This is the same method taught by the US Military, British military (SAS), and the US Marshals. The push/pul method is easy to master and very effective.

And I would never use a Shockwave held up against my cheek. Even the 410 version has some kick with certain self defense loads such as the Winchester PDX1 SD rounds.

To keep on subject. The push/pull method or pushing out against a sling will work with any pistol similar to the HK MP5, Six MXP, AR pistols, AK pistols, or similar types.

 

[Capybara]

And I would never use a Shockwave held up against my cheek. Even the 410 version has some kick with certain self defense loads such as the Winchester PDX1 SD rounds.

This guy does it pretty well but seems like a very unatural method of holding, mounting, shooting the gun. Seems like a lot of muscle memory, learning and I don't really want to get serious about an AOW because I won't be using it as a primary HD weapon.

 

[Simple Shooter]

I had a S&W 6906 which was an absolute piece of garbage. Fail to loads, fail to fires, poor accuracy, poorly fitted parts... you name it. Traded it in for an '89 Sig P226 which has never failed me in 34 years. The experience put me off not just the model but the entire S&W line for decades.

A few years ago I shot my buddy's 686 and I changed my mind about S&W on the whole. A 686 may even be my next purchase. But I still hate that miserable 6906.

 

[12Bravo20]

This guy does it pretty well but seems like a very unatural method of holding, mounting, shooting the gun. Seems like a lot of muscle memory, learning and I don't really want to get serious about an AOW because I won't be using it as a primary HD weapon.

I will stick with the tread and true push/pull method which works well.

 

[chaim]

I went through that change several times:

1911s: When I first started shooting I thought they looked antiquated, I wasn't interested in the frame mounted safety and I didn't like the idea of a SA pistol. Now (and only about a year after I started) they are some of my favorites. If I am going to have a safety on a defensive pistol it must be frame mounted, and I love a SA trigger (and I understand handguns enough to be 100% comfortable that it is safe).

Colt revolvers: Early on, I bought a Colt Police Positive Special. I sold it about 20 years ago for about $150 because I didn't like it. I wish I kept it (and not just because of the now ridiculous price). I have a new model Colt King Cobra now and I love a Colt trigger and I'm fine with the cylinder release (being a S&W revolver shooter, I wasn't sure I'd get used to it). To have that classic Colt revolver again would be nice.

SIGs: When I started I thought they were very overpriced and didn't do anything CZ or Ruger couldn't (back when CZs were in the mid to upper $400 range and SIGs were already in the $700-800 range). Now, I have a P229 (and I used to have two other classic P-series, including another P229, that I let go when I needed the money), a P250 Compact, a P290RS, and two P365s.

Glocks: This is the biggest one. For years I actively disliked them. Still, I always knew they were good guns. Whenever I was buying something in a niche that Glock serves, I always shopped them, and I always ended up with something else. This past autumn I bought a G22, not because I thought I'd like it, but as a gun collector and shooter for 20+ years, I figured it was a big hole in my (modest) collection. Well, I love it. A few weeks to a month later I picked up a G19, and it is one of my carry guns (I carry it more than the CZ PCR I absolutely love). Just today I ordered a G44 for a .22lr trainer to the G19, as well as to be a fun rimfire in its own right. After 20+ years of shooting 1911s, CZs, SIGs, and guns with similar grip angles, I'm not as good with the Glock, but otherwise I love them (and I do find the grip angle comfortable). In fact, that is part of why I'm getting the G44, so I can get thousands of rounds of practice with the Glock grip angle quickly and more cheaply.

 

[Pat Riot]

I will say this thread and past experience has caused me to put a Glock 44 back in the safe instead of selling it today. I don’t hate it, but I am not happy with it. So, it goes back in the safe for a while and I will take it shooting again in a week or two then decide.
This G44 is a finicky one and it’s not accurate with any ammo I have tried. They aren’t target pistols, but 6” groups at 10 yards? Not satisfactory.
There is still some ammo I haven’t tried. I will try that and if it’s better for me I may keep it. If not, bye bye.

 

[12Bravo20]

I will say this thread and past experience has caused me to put a Glock 44 back in the safe instead of selling it today. I don’t hate it, but I am not happy with it. So, it goes back in the safe for a while and I will take it shooting again in a week or two then decide.
This G44 is a finicky one and it’s not accurate with any ammo I have tried. They aren’t target pistols, but 6” groups at 10 yards? Not satisfactory.
There is still some ammo I haven’t tried. I will try that and if it’s better for me I may keep it. If not, bye bye.

What brands/types of ammo have you tried so far? Has it all been plain lead round nose, plated , or a mix of the two?

Also how does the barrel look?

I don't know your experience level or how good of a pistol shooter you are, but I do agree that 6" groups at 10 yards is not good. The G44 should be ably to shoot that easily at 25 yards with a decent shooter pulling the trigger. I don't consider myself an expert shot with handguns but I can still get 3 inch groups at 25 yards with the G44 when I do my part.

While the G44 is definitely a trainer and not a target pistol, one should still be able to hit 4" clay birds out to 75 to 80 yards with it.

 

[trackskippy]

I have two 44's and they both seem to shoot anything I've put in them well. The exception being Federal Auto Match, which didnt want to function in the gun. And the Glocks aren't the only guns Ive had that trouble with, with that ammo. The bulk of what Ive shot through them now has been CCI Blazers and Aquila Super Extra.

At 10 yards, with three dot Meprolight night sights on the guns, and with my eyes starting to go, both my guns will at worst, do half what yours is shooting or better, if Im trying to shoot for groups.

My favorite thing to shoot with them though, is clay birds thrown on the berm and chasing the pieces around and taking them down to itty bitty pieces. Thats a lot more fun.

 

[12Bravo20]

Last time I bought any Federal Auto Match was back in the 22LR drought when Obumba was in office. That stuff would't even cycle in my Marlin Model 60 or Ruger 10/22. I put Auto Match in the same DO NOT BUY category as Thunder Duds.

I was never a fan of Glock pistols due to the finger grooves. But I changed my mind I tried Gen 5 Glocks. And one of the first ones I bought was the G44. And the G44 will need have as good of a trigger as centerfire Glock pistols. Part of this reason is because rimfire primers are harder to ignite. Plus the G44 could benefit from being a little heaver - closer in weight to a G19. I think those two factors do affect shooters to certain extent if they are use to the G19.

If I am going to shoot my G44 and any of my centerfire Glocks, I start out with the G44. The reason is that I will always throw a few shots with the G44 if I shoot my G19 or G17 first since I anticipate the recoil.

 

[Pat Riot]

What brands/types of ammo have you tried so far? Has it all been plain lead round nose, plated , or a mix of the two?

Also how does the barrel look?

Thank you.
Well, I don’t want to hijack this thread over my G44, but I have tried the following that all operate very well:
CCI Mini Mags, Velocitors and Stingers
Aquila Interceptor. Remington Golden Bullet.

Ammo that operates okay with a few FTEs: Aguila Super Extra jacketed and LRN
Federal Champion (blue box)

Ammo that doesn’t work well in the G44.
Federal Gold Medal Match and Automatch
Winchester Super X high & hyper velocity and Wildcat, Remington Thunderbolt.

NONE are very accurate at all.

Anyway, this pistol has one leg out the door…
Also, I forgot to mention that I love my full sized Glocks. I never cared for the G19 Gen 3 with finger grooves. After buying this 44 I realized I also don’t like the grip hump. It sits too high in my hand. I have XXL hands. I have a Polymer 80 the size of a G19. I like the gun. It fits my hands, but has no hump.

 

[12Bravo20]

@Pat Riot I sent you a private message.

 

[Risky buisness]

When my department decided to issue semiautomatic duty pistols, I and quite a few others approached our Capt and asked if it would be possible to carry a privately owned combat commander or similar handgun to meet the semiauto requirements. No was the responce, and I along with every other deputy ended up with a glock.
My disdain for the foriegn plastic basta** was immense. I did shoot the wretched thing pretty well and it did go bang reliably. Do I like it/ them?
Kinda like a chinese cresent wrench, they work, and when you wear one out, pitch it and get another. I would have liked ' tolerate ' in the OP subject line on this thread

 

[Tallball]

I actually like the SP101 now. My small polymer pistols I just tolerate.

 

[cfullgraf]

When I got into shooting, i did not like revolvers and only had semi-autos.

Then I got into reloading and got tired of chasing brass.

I keep trying to like striker fired pistols but the love just is not there.