Handgun expectations.

[Neal Bloom]

What handguns (revolver and semi-auto) exceeded your expectations and which ones did not live up to your expectations?

For me with semi-autos the most disappointing was the Browning Hi-Power. Even today when I hold it feels so right but the trigger leaves much to be desired. Even removed the mag disconnect but the trigger is still long and gritty. I am more accurate with my wife’s FEG PJK 9HP. Neither the BHP nor the FEG can match my SIG P225 in terms of accuracy. Eventually I will send it to get a trigger job from a top gunsmith. I am not knocking the BHP it just that I expected more from it in terms of accuracy.

The SIG P220 far exceeded my expectations. I purchased a SIG P225 last year and was impressed with SIG’s. I wanted a .45 caliber handgun and starting looking around. I finally purchased a 220 in November. Wow! The gun is amazingly accurate and handles great. Just can’t really describe how much I like this gun. Will probably save up and buy another this year.

With revolvers I felt the Ruger .357 NM Blackhawk did not meet my expectations. I bought it brand new and the trigger on it was atrocious. Put a few hundred rounds through it and put in a Wolff spring kit. This lightened the trigger somewhat but it does not approach the accuracy of other revolvers I have. I have a Super Blackhawk that is a real sweet shooter with a nice trigger but it was made in 1978. I expected the Blackhawk to be similar to the SBH in terms of accuracy.

I recently bought a S&W 586 in excellent condition, which has exceeded my expectations. For the price I bought it for I was going to use it as a truck gun but when it came in I was surprised at the excellent condition it was in. I was really surprised when I took it to the range. Very accurate and soaks up the recoil from .357 rounds. Nice trigger in both DA and SA. Way too nice for a truck gun. I’ll have to find something else for that role.

All in all I like my handguns, some have not lived up to expectations, others have far exceeded them and many have met them.

 

[10-Ring]

I have had a few that have met or exceeded my expectations. The most surprising has been my Italian 92fs. It has been 100% reliable, accurate, fun to shoot and attractive dispite all the negativity I heard before I bought it.
I've only had 2 guns that really disappointed me. The biggest disappointment was in the SIG I bought. Everyone who shot it said it was a lemon, but since then I have not been able to get myself past that negative experience to give them another try.

 

[BamBam]

The one gun that "surprised" me is my Witness .45 ACP.
It was $337.00 in the Wonder Finish. At that price I really didn't expect much.
It has turned out to be the most accurate auto that I have. Excellent grip and controls for a lefty. Also, 700+ rounds with no malfunctions.

 

[sm]

expectations

Had it go good or bad
Not necessarily the make, model or paltform,
but individual gun itself. Prefer to try pc before buy-if can.

 

[Ala Dan]

I'm with you Neal. Purchased my first SIG P220 in July of
1988; second one in March of 1995 and have never, ever
looked back! As they distance themselves from the
"also ran" crowd.

Haven't really been disappointed with any quality
handgun's? Most did exceed expectations some what!
On the second thought, I could never get my NIB SIG
.40 caliber P229 to group the way I wanted it too.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Sisco]

Same experience as BamBam with the Witness. I bought a blued carry comp in 45acp. It won't feed SWC ammo but that's the only problem I've ever had. It probably has 1500-2000 rounds on it now.
Only one disappointment but it was rectified. Bought a Ruger SP101 and had to send it back. Sent the replacement gun back. Sent the one that replaced it back. Fourth time was the charm, I've got a keeper now.

 

[Scott13]

The handguns that exceeded my expectations were the beretta
92fs , 45 auto Colt MK IV series 80 , and almost any Smith & Wesson revolver . The Beretta is Very Reliable , more accurate
than what i was told before i ever shot one . The Colt MK 4 was
surprising for a 45 auto , never 1 jam in over 1,000 that i shot .
And the S&W revolvers are just the best their are imho .

The most dissapointing were the FEG p9r , HP copy . Not very accurate , the grips are too uncomfortable , and the thing has failed to eject dozens of times , also failed to fire . Also the S&W
45 auto compact was a let down for a gun that cost around $600
one word JAM .

 

[critter]

1. Springfield 1911 milspec. Better than expected as to reliability, accuracy, finish.
2. Beretta 92fs ss. All good except for worse than expected accuracy.
3. HK P7 M8. Lots of hype. Exceeded it all! Superbly accurate!

 

[Blueduck]

Exceeded

Taurus PT 92: Bought it new very cheap, was not expecting much, but got a pistol I literally never had any type of problem with whatsoever. Nice 92 type gun that I could carry cocked and locked

S/W 4006: Was told it would have a lousy trigger, be unreliable and inaccruate. Great trigger, no malfunctions (after mag spring replaced) and good if not great accuracy.

Disappointments

Colt 1991A1: Actually nothing wrong with the guns (had two of them) both acceptably accurate and reliable. Was just expecting so much from the vaunted 1911 design and just never fell for it for some reason Payed a lot for the first and sold it cheap, years later was "sure" I had missed something and paid a lot for the second and sold it cheap as well.

S/W K-22: Wish I still had it just because I sold it so cheap, but to be honest it had sticky chambers and was just never as accurate as one would expect from basically a 6" target gun. Lousy trigger pull as well. Had I been a bit smarter in those days (pre-internet education) I might have been able to work out the kinks with it. Was just expecting that old world crafstamanship for the price I paid, but seems I missed the boat on that by several years from my purchase.

 

[MoNsTeR]

Pleasant Surprises
Beretta 92 Brigadier. First time I picked up a Beretta, I put it straight back down again, the grip felt so bad. For whatever reason, my wife fell in love with this gun and had to have one. Once she got it, I learned to like it. The Hogue wrap-arounds that come on the Brigadier make the grip feel much nicer.

Dan Wesson Pointman Major (1911). I bought it because I wanted to try out this whole 1911 thing. I was pleased to discover I can shoot it better than any other gun I own.

Disappointments
Steyr M9. Pretty good ergonomics, light weight and low recoil. But the trigger is pretty awful. Too long to feel like a heavy single action, too short and gritty to feel like a double action. Plus the triangle/trapezoid sights, while great for speed shooting, are worthless for trying to print a group.

CZ 75/85. I have a 75B and an 85 Combat. On the whole decent guns, certainly a bargain, but the triggers leave much to be desired. Seriously, anyone who says CZ's have "good" triggers is on crack. I'll probably send the 85C to Mike at CZ-USA, but I'm not confident I'll be able to shoot it well even then.

 

[telewinz]

BIG Disappointment:

Beretta M92, Kept the first one 3 days before training back, Got another a year later and kept it just a few weeks. What was the military thinking taking the Berretta 92 over the P226 because of the a few dollars difference in the low bid

Much Better than expectations:

Kel-tec P11. Never got a Glock because of the raw materials used to manufacture it as are used to make the Kel-Tec P11. Never got a DAO because I though DA shooting was too inaccurate to be of any good. Got such a good price on the P11, I could not turn it down and got one. Even though I have S&W's, Colts, Walthers, and a Hi-Power to name some, it's the P11 I shoot the most and would use for self defense. Still don't want a Glock.

 

[dairycreek]

I have been impressed by CZ's!

I bought them because some folks on TFL were saying good things about them, I became curious, and they were inexpensive . First one was a CZ 83 and that has been followed by a 75BD and a 85 Combat. Each has been a flawless shooter no matter what kind of ammo I have put through it. Really have been a pleasure to own and shoot.

I remain unimpressed with Glocks. I own several and they do what they say they will do which is shoot every time. Still can't get excited about them. Good shooting

 

[Mylhouse]

Exceeded:

1) EAA Witness 9mm Wonderfinish
2) USP .45F
3) Glock 26
4) USP 9mmC
5) SIG 229
6) Security Six 4" .357

Disappointments:

1) ASAI One Pro .45
2) HK P7M8
3) Steyr M40
4) Beretta 92FS
5) Browning Hi Power Mark III and Arcus whatever the model is
6) Smith 622
7) Walther P99 .40
and the biggest of them all
8) Springfield Loaded .45

I must say, the Witness was the only gun that REALLY TRULY exceeded my expectations. I expected alot from the Sigs and HKs because of the cost and reputation, but didn't expect alot from the much bad-mouthed Witness.