How to find a perfect gun?

[James39b]

I posted some of this in a in a different thread but now I feel that this cold be a whole new topic for people that are trying to find that perfect gun.

Opinions
Seek independent and honest opinions. Sometimes people like the gun just because they need to justify their choice. This often happens because they spent hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars to buy a piece.

Marketing
You should know that companies pay people to say certain things online. PR companies often target various large forums, or wikis and blogs. These people always masquerade themselves as ordinary users -- when in fact they are paid to spread FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) about competitors products or to simply say great things about a product they are trying to push and advertise. This is called social engineering. Many companies do this. This is a common practice. Search the news and see for yourself.

Research
I think the best way to find a gun is to be a critical reader, find statistics and data from reliable sources, and do your own research. You should also shoot as many guns as you can. More guns you can handle and shoot, better your comparison base will be.

 

[owlhoot]

James, not to be contentious, but I disagree with almost all of your premise.

I will grant that there are very nearly perfect guns for given uses, but the worse way to identify them is by asking somebody on a forum what those guns are. It's sort of like asking a stranger whom you should marry.

 

[anymanusa]

decide what you want from a firearm first. Then look at what is commonly/inexpensively available, and then decide how much you are willing to compromise. Every gun I own is 'perfect'.

 

[7.62X25mm]

"Perfect" for what?

Guns are like footwear. Barn boots work in the barn, but they're no good for dancing.

 

[antediluvianist]

H&K .45 , with an S&W 66 as second gun, and a Walther .22 as the third. After that, a Wham-O slingshot.

But what's perfect for me is not necessarily perfect for anybody else.

 

[lanternlad1]

There is no "perfect" gun, IMO.

I have spent thousands trying to find it - it doesn't exist.

I'll just have to keep buying until I find it...

 

[Justin]

The sooner you realize that the "perfect" gun is just as mythical as unicorns or pumabears, the better off you'll be.

 

[Claude Clay]

each gun i have is perfectly suited for why i have it. otherwise i would make it so or place it in the 'for sale or trade' pile.

 

[bayernwolf]

All good answers....BUT, assuming one is looking for a particular gun for a role, ie; defensive sidearm, mbr, deep concealment or tank killer! we CAN elect a perfect choice we have found. For me having owned and fired hundreds of firearms (25 years as a gundealer, thousands sold) the biggest argument or quest is after a full size sidearm. I own many Colts and clones and S&W's and Brownings, I've had Sigs, H&K's Rugers etc. My "go to" absolutely know what it will hit and at what range, and that it will go bang again and again when I want it to...Hang on to your hats....is a EAA Witness 45ACP!!! Honestly it outshoots my best match custom 1911 out of the box. Why? I don't know. I waited 2 years for it. It was one of the very first imported to the US. Are the current or subsequent ones the same? I do not know, but someone should take a look WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

[bayernwolf]

I'm out of the business these days but love lanternlad's answer and follow it as a concept: I just have to keep buying and searching!