glock or h&k or sig or 1911?

[alphabeta121]

So I've got friends interested in purchasing handguns for self-defense. They are all coming to front sight's 4 day defensive pistol and possibly the chuck taylor class. My question's are, one tried a glock and a sig, but he liked the sig a little bit more. It was his first time shooting handguns. Why should he get a glock over a sig. (all i know is that safe action is better than double -> single, is that it.)
Another read up on the H&K mark 23 and the Glock 24 and Glock 35. Naish at front sight recommended a glock 22. Why would that be better than any of the above firearms as a defensive pistol. I told him for the cost of a mark 23 he'd be much better of with a les baer thunder ranch 1911. What do you all think?

 

[eagles1181]

Glocks have the advantage of being like a revolver in that you simply draw, point and click. There are no levers or buttons to worry about before the gun will fire.

All four friends should research any of the guns they are thinking about buying. Once they have gotten down to three or four guns (based on size, caliber, ect...) rent/borrow each of these and shoot them. Then get the gun they like and shoot best. I like Glocks. Is Glock the best gun for everybody? NO!!! What gun a person carries is a personal decision. There are a lot of very reliable guns out there that will get the job done in a bad situation. Your friends just have to pick what flavor of gun they like.

Eagle

 

[MJRW]

To your first question, yes. All those mentioned are good (well, depending on the manufacturer of the 1911). I don't see any reason your friend should choose glock over sig if he likes sig more than glock. It is important that you remove your personal preferences from the equation and be a source of information, not try to live vicariously through them.

And safe action being better than DA/SA is going to reap some argument. I personally don't think it is. I like hammers. I don't like triggers with pointy things on them.

I also don't know why your friend would be better served with a 1911 vs a Mark 23. Granted, the Mark 23 doesn't appeal to me as a concealment gun, I have no doubts about its accuracy or reliability.

The only thing your friends seem misguided on is that they seem to be under the impression that a defensive pistol is used at 80 yards or something. The Mark 23, G24, and G25 all seem like target or military application guns and not personal defense guns. A G22 presents less gun for someone to grab in close quarters and will certainly do the job if the shooter does their job out to any distance that anyone without a rifle will be a threat at.

 

[cratz2]

Between the Glock and the SIG, I greatly prefer the Glock but I'm not the one looking at buying my first gun, your friend is. They're both reliable designs and if you're comfortable with a gun with no real external safety, then either is a viable choice. My advice would be to get whichever he is more comfortable with. I might suggest a bit more time with both if at all possible. But if he makes a decision and he wishes to change that decision, both have decent resale value.

As for the other friend, I would not recommend the Mk 23 as a first gun. I think a Glock 19/23 is a good choice and I think a completely reliable 5" or Commander-sized 1911 is an excellent choice. The Mk 23 is a pretty beefy gun. Probably not suitable for CCW. Neat maybe, but there are much better choices for concealed carry.

 

[GSB]

Naish at front sight recommended a glock 22.

Ah, the Scientoligist weighs in. Look, I've been to Front Sight. There is a lot of good content there, but take the advice of "Naish" for what it is. Cooper and Smith have opinions too, as do Ayoob, Taylor and any number of others.

Your friend should play around with a bunch of stuff -- the fact that he knows people like you suggests that this should be possible. He will eventually find something he likes more than anything else.

DA/SA is not the devil. Anyone with even basic understanding of trigger control can do very well with it. SA-only is not astrophysics. Muscle memory is a wonderful thing. Gaston Glock is not the Messiah, although he produces a fine firearm. It ain't my thing, but it's a fine pistol that serves many people very well.

 

[dacinokc]

Why should he get a glock over a sig.

If he likes the Sig, then he shouldn't get a Glock. Get the Sig! I sometimes see folks say bad stuff on Sigs, but not very often and most often theory vs. in the hand merit.
It would seem that we all should get something we are comfortable with, and then learn, and pratice pratice pratice. The control and judgement are the prime issues for anyone using a firearm.
Let's leave our personal predjuices and favorites out of other people's picks, unless they don't like what they are getting and are looking to us to help them find something they might like-

 

[lunde]

Your friends need to expand their horizons, and consider another pistol, such as the Walther P99. It has an exceptional trigger. It is a striker-fired SA/DA type. You can read more about it at its FAQ at: http://www.praxagora.com/lunde/WaltherP99FAQ/

Carl Walther (its manufacturer in Germany) liked the FAQ so much that they established links to it from their various P99 pages. See: http://www.carl-walther.de/englisch/defense/katalog-defense.html

Another pistol to consider is the Sig Pro. It has all the benefits of polymer-framed pistols, but still retains many aspects of the Sig Classics. There is also a FAQ for this available: http://www.praxagora.com/lunde/SigProFAQ/

I completely agree with what others wrote: have your friends try as many as possible, and choose the one that works best for them. We can only provide suggestions, but your friends -- each orf them -- must make their own choice.

 

[Kahr carrier]

I think he should get the gun he is most comfortable with and PRACTICE with it. Those were all quality weapons that you mentioned.

 

[Bob Locke]

Go to a range with them. Rent many different guns in various calibers. Every single firearm you mentioned is a great choice, but what works for one person won't necessarily sit well with another.

 

[10-Ring]

I agree. With all gun purchases, you really do have to do a little hands on homework. Go out and try as many as possible before you buy, don't just trust a couple of gun rags & a few internet yahoos as to which you will like & work best for you.
All the guns you have mentioned are nice guns and perform well. That said, the biggest variable is the shooter & their application of that particular gun.

 

[The White Flyer]

Put all four pistols in a row. Then put a blindfold on. Have someone hand each pistol one at a time and take note on how they fit. The one with the best fit will be the one for you. All the pistols you mentioned will do well. If you want my personal opinion, you can't go wrong with a Glock.

 

[wanderinwalker]

From experience with a 1911, a Sig 220, and two Glocks, I'd say that any of the 4 would be quite adequate for self-defense type uses. As would a Walther P-99, any of the Sig P-series, Berettas, etc. My personal faves are the Glocks. The one I shoot the best is the Sig or 1911. Go figure! I just like simplicity and the Glocks have it in spades. FWIW, I learned on .357 Magnum DA revolvers.

 

[photo_guy]

If there was really only one 'true' best choice there would not be the wide varieties of firearms out there. Everyone would but "the best" and the others would go out of business.
The best is a very relative thing and everyone is different. I really like 1911 style firearms and do well with them while my friend loves his Beretta. I can't shoot that Beretta worth darn - It just feels wrong to me. But he does quite well with it.

You friends need to read and listen to the opinions of others but, the final analysis is what fits and works for them. They likely won't know what they like until they use them. Even then they may change their minds (why do you think there are so many used guns for sale?).

They can rent Glocks at FS; That is probably a good way for them to see if they really like one enough to buy one.

 

[photo_guy]

If there was really only one 'true' best choice there would not be the wide varieties of firearms out there. Everyone would but "the best" and the others would go out of business.
The best is a very relative thing and everyone is different. I really like 1911 style firearms and do well with them while my friend loves his Beretta. I can't shoot that Beretta worth darn - It just feels wrong to me. But he does quite well with it.

You friends need to read and listen to the opinions of others but, the final analysis is what fits and works for them. They likely won't know what they like until they use them. Even then they may change their minds (why do you think there are so many used guns for sale?).

They can rent Glocks at FS; That is probably a good way for them to see if they really like one enough to buy one.