10-Ring
Member
I currently have 4 HK USPs in various sizes & calibers. I've owned a few GLocks over the years but only have one currenlty and I've shot the XD (almost bought one). Of the poly guns I've shot or owned, I prefer the HK.
Plastic wonders - your favorite(s)?
- Thread starter joe sixpack
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Hawgleg44
Member
I've owned 3 Glocks in my former, misguided life, a 19, 22 and 23. They were all accurate, and reliable for the most part. I never had a jam in either of the .40's, but the 9mm would jam occasionally. I hated the grip angle of them. It just doesn't feel natural to have to break your wrist that far to aim. I'm also a reloader, and I never felt comfortable with the unsupported chamber and not having the ability of shooting cast bullets safely.
My friend has an HK USP45C, so it's not exactly the comparison you are looking for. But, I thought it was a well built gun, but ergonomics just didn't feel quite right to me. Not bad, but just a little awkward.
Then it comes to the Sigmas. I was not happy at all when I was issued one at my former PD (where I left for another job in LE), until I started shooting it. I grew up on DA revolvers, and would have preferred to carry a revolver on duty, but it was mandated that we carry our issued sidearm. It was an SW40F, first generation which I put over 8000 rounds through. They were mostly 180gr cast bullet reloads with 6.2gr Unique powder. All you reloaders will know that Unique powder is VERY dirty and is about one small step up form black powder.
That said, I had one FTE with factory ammo during qualification. Other than that, never had a problem with it. Ergonomics on the Sigmas are the best out of them all, IMO. Many complain about the triggers on them, but if you can control a DA revolver trigger, you won't have an issue with the Sigma.
Since then, I've had 4-9mm, 3-.40 and one .357sig Sigmas of my own. Out of all of them that I've privately owned, absolutely no malfunctions of any kind. Those are a combination of 1st, 2nd and currently produced "Enhanced" series, too. In the currently produced Sigmas, they solved any problem, even the almost non-existant ones. Improved feeding and ejecting, loaded chamber indicator, tight tolerance striker assy and an equipment rail. You can't beat them for under $300!
I have a thing for enough mags for my guns, too!
I've never qualified with anything less than 100% with any of my Sigmas, or my Glocks, or my S&W revolvers either.
This group is my SW9F, SW9VE, SW40VE, SW40G and SW357V, along with a few of my mags. The SW40G usually wears the Streamlight M4 as my house gun, too.
My friend has an HK USP45C, so it's not exactly the comparison you are looking for. But, I thought it was a well built gun, but ergonomics just didn't feel quite right to me. Not bad, but just a little awkward.
Then it comes to the Sigmas. I was not happy at all when I was issued one at my former PD (where I left for another job in LE), until I started shooting it. I grew up on DA revolvers, and would have preferred to carry a revolver on duty, but it was mandated that we carry our issued sidearm. It was an SW40F, first generation which I put over 8000 rounds through. They were mostly 180gr cast bullet reloads with 6.2gr Unique powder. All you reloaders will know that Unique powder is VERY dirty and is about one small step up form black powder.
That said, I had one FTE with factory ammo during qualification. Other than that, never had a problem with it. Ergonomics on the Sigmas are the best out of them all, IMO. Many complain about the triggers on them, but if you can control a DA revolver trigger, you won't have an issue with the Sigma.
Since then, I've had 4-9mm, 3-.40 and one .357sig Sigmas of my own. Out of all of them that I've privately owned, absolutely no malfunctions of any kind. Those are a combination of 1st, 2nd and currently produced "Enhanced" series, too. In the currently produced Sigmas, they solved any problem, even the almost non-existant ones. Improved feeding and ejecting, loaded chamber indicator, tight tolerance striker assy and an equipment rail. You can't beat them for under $300!
I have a thing for enough mags for my guns, too!
I've never qualified with anything less than 100% with any of my Sigmas, or my Glocks, or my S&W revolvers either.
This group is my SW9F, SW9VE, SW40VE, SW40G and SW357V, along with a few of my mags. The SW40G usually wears the Streamlight M4 as my house gun, too.
To tell the truth, I've not found that polymer frame guns have any distinctive properties (other than the obvious ones--don't corrode, are lighter, etc.) compared to metal frame guns.
Got some with great triggers, some with lousy ones, some accurate, some not so accurate...
Got some with great triggers, some with lousy ones, some accurate, some not so accurate...
phantom309
Member
Walther p99. Better trigger than the Glock, better ergonomics than the XD, beautifully made, very accurate.
bpisler
Member
Beretta 9000 DAO,heavy long trigger pull,about 15lbs,ejected brass lands on my hands.No after market sights for it.Accurate enough at 15 yards.
S/A XD-9,trigger pull was good and it fit the hand well.It was not very accurate,4-5" at 15 yards with various brands of ammo.Grip safety hard to depress unless i held it just right and the finish on the slide was poor.
Glocks 19 and 26,i liked both very much after i got used to the trigger.Both were accurate,1.5-2" at 15 yards and completely reliable.
Kel-tec P-11,it shot 4-5" right of POA,3" low.It did shot slightly better after coming back from being repaired.
Ruger P-95DC,great pistols,decent trigger pulls,accurate enough,very reliable with all ammo.
The frame was slick and i don't like slip on's.
S&W sigma 9VE,this is the one i kept it over the others.I like the trigger,10lbs and it feels like the triggers on my smith revolvers.It's more accurate than i though it would be.3" at 25 yards with black hills 115gr gold dot +P's,4" with any other 9mm's.1300 rounds with no failures.I think it's one of the better values in a polymer pistol.
S/A XD-9,trigger pull was good and it fit the hand well.It was not very accurate,4-5" at 15 yards with various brands of ammo.Grip safety hard to depress unless i held it just right and the finish on the slide was poor.
Glocks 19 and 26,i liked both very much after i got used to the trigger.Both were accurate,1.5-2" at 15 yards and completely reliable.
Kel-tec P-11,it shot 4-5" right of POA,3" low.It did shot slightly better after coming back from being repaired.
Ruger P-95DC,great pistols,decent trigger pulls,accurate enough,very reliable with all ammo.
The frame was slick and i don't like slip on's.
S&W sigma 9VE,this is the one i kept it over the others.I like the trigger,10lbs and it feels like the triggers on my smith revolvers.It's more accurate than i though it would be.3" at 25 yards with black hills 115gr gold dot +P's,4" with any other 9mm's.1300 rounds with no failures.I think it's one of the better values in a polymer pistol.
Super Trucker
Member
I would vote for the SA XD first the the H&K USP Compact next.
Marshall
Member
For the money, reliability and feel, the XD is tough to beat!
joe sixpack
Member
First, thanks for all the responses!
Next an update. My son and I just got back from the indoor shooting range where we were able to rent a bunch of different handguns, all in the 9mm caliber, not all of the plastic fantastic.
We tried; Glock 17, Sig P226, Sig P229, HK USP, Springfield XD (in compact or sub compact), Walther P99, Beretta 92FS, Ruger 89, Sig Pro 2009.
I would classify myself as a fairly new shooter and with that caveat will post my comments on each weapon I used. I did like them all, in fact this was my best day at the range, my confidence was up and I had no backoff on shooting, and only a little flinching with one of the handguns.
I'll start with the one I shot last and the one that surprised me and caused me some flinching, the Walther P99. It had the most perceived recoil to me and my son. However he was quite accurate with it and made some good 25 yard shots. I found that I had to take my time with this one, it seemed to demand more of my attention and concentration.
The Beretta 92FS seemed fine, fit my hand well and had a little more perceived recoil to me than the Sig P226.
The Ruger 89 we tried had a little rattle to it and wasn't the most attractive of guns (my son thought it was ugly and it was his least favorite) but it had a nice soft shot and I made my best group with it.
Glock 17 felt fine, the trigger felt better to me than before.
I really liked both the HK USP and Sig Pro 2009. These were guns I felt I could use well.
We also enjoyed shooting the P229 however it was just a tad small.
Anyways the winner (meaning the one my son and I liked the most) is the Sig P226. What a sweet trigger, nice fit to the hand and pleasure to shoot.
The next challenge is to find a used one at around $400.
cheers, js
Next an update. My son and I just got back from the indoor shooting range where we were able to rent a bunch of different handguns, all in the 9mm caliber, not all of the plastic fantastic.
We tried; Glock 17, Sig P226, Sig P229, HK USP, Springfield XD (in compact or sub compact), Walther P99, Beretta 92FS, Ruger 89, Sig Pro 2009.
I would classify myself as a fairly new shooter and with that caveat will post my comments on each weapon I used. I did like them all, in fact this was my best day at the range, my confidence was up and I had no backoff on shooting, and only a little flinching with one of the handguns.
I'll start with the one I shot last and the one that surprised me and caused me some flinching, the Walther P99. It had the most perceived recoil to me and my son. However he was quite accurate with it and made some good 25 yard shots. I found that I had to take my time with this one, it seemed to demand more of my attention and concentration.
The Beretta 92FS seemed fine, fit my hand well and had a little more perceived recoil to me than the Sig P226.
The Ruger 89 we tried had a little rattle to it and wasn't the most attractive of guns (my son thought it was ugly and it was his least favorite) but it had a nice soft shot and I made my best group with it.
Glock 17 felt fine, the trigger felt better to me than before.
I really liked both the HK USP and Sig Pro 2009. These were guns I felt I could use well.
We also enjoyed shooting the P229 however it was just a tad small.
Anyways the winner (meaning the one my son and I liked the most) is the Sig P226. What a sweet trigger, nice fit to the hand and pleasure to shoot.
The next challenge is to find a used one at around $400.
cheers, js
Marshall
Member
Hey Hoglegg44,
What makes the SW40VE so much less expensive than the SW40P, I'm missing something, obviously?
What makes the SW40VE so much less expensive than the SW40P, I'm missing something, obviously?
Hawgleg44
Member
Hey Hoglegg44,
What makes the SW40VE so much less expensive than the SW40P, I'm missing something, obviously?
The VE model is the Enhanced "Value Line". Just your basic black frame with a bead blasted SS slide. Just like the .40 an 9mm seen in my group pic with the equipment rail. It's the 3rd generation version of the 2nd generation "V" models. It has all the improvements, like all the currently produced Sigmas have, including the much improved striker assy (no more Glock style rectangular, loose systems), lower ejection port, radiused slide corners, checkering on the grip sides, and equipment rail. The 2nd generation "V" model is in the pic (the compact one without the equipment rail). That's my factory .357sig model.
The "P" model has a ported barrel and slide, and the slide has a pretty nice polished blue finish on it. I've seen them before, but passed on them.
Same thing with the "G" models. They come with a Trijicon front night sight, green frame and a matte black slide.
For the money, you can't beat the VE models. I do have that one green .40, but no ported model. I doubt I'll ever pick one up, either. I had a SA V10 .45 with a ported barrel and hated it. With a 9mm, I don't see the need for a ported barrel anyway.
What makes the SW40VE so much less expensive than the SW40P, I'm missing something, obviously?
The VE model is the Enhanced "Value Line". Just your basic black frame with a bead blasted SS slide. Just like the .40 an 9mm seen in my group pic with the equipment rail. It's the 3rd generation version of the 2nd generation "V" models. It has all the improvements, like all the currently produced Sigmas have, including the much improved striker assy (no more Glock style rectangular, loose systems), lower ejection port, radiused slide corners, checkering on the grip sides, and equipment rail. The 2nd generation "V" model is in the pic (the compact one without the equipment rail). That's my factory .357sig model.
The "P" model has a ported barrel and slide, and the slide has a pretty nice polished blue finish on it. I've seen them before, but passed on them.
Same thing with the "G" models. They come with a Trijicon front night sight, green frame and a matte black slide.
For the money, you can't beat the VE models. I do have that one green .40, but no ported model. I doubt I'll ever pick one up, either. I had a SA V10 .45 with a ported barrel and hated it. With a 9mm, I don't see the need for a ported barrel anyway.
Marshall
Member
Thanks Hoglegg!
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