New Pistol

[Ghostrider_23]

I want to buy a new pistol and wanted to get some input on the following guns.

Please tell me your thoughts on these guns.
How do they shot?
How is their reliability?
How is their accuracy?

Please vote for your favorite.


Springfield Armory XD 45 ACP.

Glock 36 (single stack)

H&K P30 (Not yet out)

Taurus PT145

 

[bestseller92]

Of the ones you listed, the only one I have personal experience with is the Glock. I can highly recommend it, based on my experience.

What are you planning to use this pistol for? CCW? Home defense? Target shooting? The intended purpose makes a difference in the choice.

 

[Ghostrider_23]

Good question

I forgot that I will be using this gun to switch out from time to time with my 1911 S.A. Champion for carring purpose.

 

[possum]

xd all the way my friend.
1)from the two xd's i have and the many many more that i have fired they all have shot great. the triggers really smooth out, they point naturally and just feel darn great. and they are pretty darn accurate as well for a service model handgun.
2)are they relliable? yes sir they are, if the .45's are built anything like my .40 cal service model they are reliable as can be, i have put mine through hell to try to stop it up but it keeps going and going and going.
3)accuracy, like i said above they shoot really accurate for a combat type pistol. i have very good results out of my xd. they are plenty accurate for carry and hd/sd situations.

glock 36, well i do not like the sc glocks and i do not like the feel of the 36 but that is a personal thing, they are fine firearm but they just don't fit me.

 

[10-Ring]

I've owned a 36 & I never warmed up to the short grip - that one's off my list.
I haven't had the best luck w/ Tauri handguns - so that's off the list
I'm not a XD fan
So, sight unseen, based only on my experience w/ the HKs I own, I'd go w/ the P30

 

[Cousin Mike]

I had to make the same choice recently... I needed a new gun for carry. I own a few different handguns, almost all of them from different, quality manufacturers - but in the end, I went with the Glock 33 - so I voted for the G36, since you said it would in fact be a concealed carry gun.

I have no experience with the little Taurus PT-whatever, but I do like Taurus' revolvers... I just can't stand their auto pistols. The XD is an ergonomic nightmare IMO, and a not-so-thinly-veiled rip-off of the Glock design. The only problem I have with the H&K P30 - as you said, it's not out yet.

Try to get your hands on the G36 and see if it fits you... The subcompact Glocks seem to fit most folks, but they ain't for everyone. Good luck, and let us know what you end up going with!

 

[ugaarguy]

I forgot that I will be using this gun to switch out from time to time with my 1911 S.A. Champion for carring purpose.

The XD is an ergonomic nightmare IMO,

Ghostrider, here is where you've got to shoot the gun. Glocks have a very un-natural grip angle, and point high for me. 1911s and Hi-Powers point naturally for me. I've fired a friend's XD40 several times and it's always pointed very naturally for me. It was a natural transition from Hi-Powers & 1911s to the XD. I've not shot an XD-45 yet, but in handling one in the store it pointed just like the XD40, with an ever so slightly larger grip. Since you already shoot a 1911, and will be transitioning between it and the new gun, I'd suggest getting a new gun with a 1911-like grip angle - GO WITH THE XD.

The XD is an ergonomic nightmare IMO, and a not-so-thinly-veiled rip-off of the Glock design.

As for the "not-so-thinly-veiled rip-off of the Glock design" comment, well Glock's are great weapons, but they're just a not-so-thinly-veiled rip-off of the HK VP-70. That was the original striker fired, polymer frame, uber-capacity pistol.

 

[threefeathers]

Either I or my son's have all but the HK P3K. But my carry gun is an HK P2K and it is a temendous weapon. Expensive but a lifetime weapon and it points perfectly. I have one now in 9mm and will get another in 357 Sig.

 

[Zen21Tao]

I have to agree that the HK P3K will be a great gun that I think I must add to my collection. threefeathers is correct, an HK is pricey but it is a gun that will last you a lifetime. On the other hand, I have also heard great things about the Springfield XD. Most people I know that like it say that it is everything the Glock should have been and more.

May I also suggest you consdider the S&W M&P. I had a friend that was a die hard Glock man until he fired an M&P 9mm. After that he sold his Glock and bought a fullsize M&P and a compact M&P.

 

[Cousin Mike]

As for the "not-so-thinly-veiled rip-off of the Glock design" comment, well Glock's are great weapons, but they're just a not-so-thinly-veiled rip-off of the HK VP-70. That was the original striker fired, polymer frame, uber-capacity pistol.

Damn those pesky facts... lol! Wish I had a comeback, but u-guy got me on that one. At least Gaston Glock was kind enough to make his weapon LOOK unique, though.

U-guy is absolutely right though, about trying them all for yourself - and that's the reason... 2 shooters, all else being equal, can have completely different impressions of the same pistol. None of us can tell you what you will like best.

Then again, nobody said you're limited to just one, either.

 

[Ghostrider_23]

H&K P2K

I like the H&K P2K, but hate, hate ,hate the LEM version. The Taurus is a nice gun, but I've heard stories about the quality and break down after many rounds are fired through it. So I think the XD 4" with a stainless steel slide would be the way to go. I have heard that people either love them or hate them. Do they really feel like a 1911 grip??? Is the gun that great or just the hipe/fad for the year???

 

[ugaarguy]

So I think the XD 4" with a stainless steel slide would be the way to go. I have heard that people either love them or hate them.

Guns are pretty polarizing. In general most popular guns are really love/hate affairs. The stainless would look nice, but all new black XDs have the Melonite treated slides. The XD 45 are so new they never had the old finish, so all black slide XD 45s are Melonite finish. Melonite is the same thing as Tennifer, just a different name that the same German chemical company sells the finish as. Stainless vs Black is again one of those personal things on what you think looks best.

Do they really feel like a 1911 grip???

Nothing is going to feel exactly like a 1911 in the grip, but the angle is the same, or only a degree or two different if not exact. The grip safety is narrower, but I never notice it when handling them. It's not exactly like a 1911, but it's the closest thing I've felt in striker fired polymer pistol. So not exactly like, but very similar so it's an easy transition for me.

Is the gun that great or just the hipe/fad for the year???

The guns are really good from what I've seen. Possum has torture tested his XD 40 like mad. The Melonite finish that premiered on the XD45 fixed the only major complaint I'd seen, which was rapid wear on the previous black finish. The stainless slides are a nice option too. The hype is that SA managed to get 13 rounds of 45 ACP into the mag with only slightly larger grip dimensions. Most folks comments i've heard / read are that they find the increased grip noticeable when handling side by side with a smaller XD, but it's virtually un-noticed in handling & shooting. Because of that accomplishment the XD45's hype is well deserved. The entire XD line has planted itself pretty firmly in the market place. The lineup has grown - XD Subcompacts, XD45, XD45 Compact. If you look at comments from dealers here on THR you'll see that XDs sell well, and I think most of your local dealers would say the same. I think the XD line has lasted well past fad stage, and don't see them going anywhere. That's just how I see it.

 

[hceptj]

I've shot the glock and springfield and ended up buying the springfield...good gun...you won't be sorry with any of those you listed though...

good luck and happy shopping

 

[wally]

I was going to vote XD45, but then I saw your post about switching it out for carry instead of your SA Champion. Doubt this would work so well as its a good bit larger, although being 13+1 helps justify the size. But I voted PT-145 as its significantly smaller than your Champion, 10+1 and cheap enough you can get lots of ammo or use the savings to shorten the time to when you can buy one of the other remaining three

--wally.

 

[Manedwolf]

Love the Taurus. The Glock has a horrid grip angle for me and I don't like the lack of a safety, plus it's too darned thick...why can't they thin them out?

The Taurus just fits my hand perfectly and is ABSOLUTELY reliable, every single time.
Gotta love the haters who have never owned or handled one, but "had bad luck maybe a few decades ago"...

 

[Waywatcher]

The gun choices seem quite different, full size vs. sub-compact.

I would make up my mind what size of gun I wanted first, not the caliber.

 

[Walkalong]

XD - Dependable, Accurate,13+1, Easy to shoot well, Nice sights............. It's a .45

Yea, I know.

 

[Ghostrider_23]

Good view

ugaarguy, you bring up so very good pionts about the gun. Your input is what is swinging me to the XD. I too hate the grip of a Glock that's why I sold my G19. I can still buy the H&K P30 when and if it comes out. But I still love the Taurus PT145 and yes I was one of the people over 10 years ago that bought one of their guns and not very happy with them ever since. I think the XD for all that it offers is perhaps the best gun out there and just like the Glock when it came out people started hating it because it was an all around great gun. Looks like that is what's happening to the XD, Springfield must be doing something right. LOL. Has anyone handle the New custome XD with the mag extension???? I had the SIG 245 which was the same type setup with the mag extension and did not like it.

 

[ugaarguy]

Ghost Rider, I wouldn't count the PT145 out yet. From everything I've read Taurus has really turned it around over the last five years. The Glock grip angle unfortunately doesn't work for me, which is a shame because they're great guns. If I can pick up a used one cheap enough I may try a grip reduction myself. You may also want to hold off a few months for a couple other pistols to hit the market. S&W has announced a 45 ACP M&P, and FN has announced a 45 ACP FNP. After all that, I do still think that the XDs have made the case for themselves. I hope that my posts have been helpful and un-biased, other than a little poking fun between me & Cousin Mike . There are many good pistols available, hopefully one will just click for you.