Platform Consolidation Opinions (aka Never Sell a Gun)

[Harleytoo]

So, as I have noted recently I have been going through a bunch of platform consolidation and reworking of my reloading setup. Mainly because my wife and I are moving into the "empty nest" years (that's how she puts it, I call it "getting the kids off the payroll years").

As such I have been doing a boatload of horse trading and buying (don't tell her, way more of the latter) to get to where I want to be, which is;

Alignment of calibers (mostly .45 and 9mm) and product/manufacturer so I become more proficient and have some overlap in my products.

Thus, I am down to (effectively) Berettas and Sigs.

I am trying to decide if I go ahead and hone down to just one or the other. Mostly because I will be doing some basic gunsmithing myself and the more I know about a given gun type the better I will be at this aspect.

As such, I am leaning toward my Beretta platform. For two main reasons;
- I already have more Beretta's than anything else
- They are way cheaper to obtain than Sigs (meaning I can have even more)
- I am probably more familiar with Beretta than Sig (which means I am quicker to modify them than a $1000 Sig.

So, thoughts on this?

Maybe I am just justifying it to myself and rambling, but I thought I would get you guys views.

 

[adcoch1]

I tried to standardize on glocks once... now i don't own one. That will change again i think, but standardization is better in calibers than action types. Berettas are great guns, and easy to work on, but I wouldn't sell ALL of your Sigs since you have them already. It's hard to drop big money on a pistol, but it hurts worse to do it twice cause you let one go. And sigs aren't getting cheaper. Just my thoughts though.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

 

[Harleytoo]

True Adcoch1, but 1 Sig buys 2 Berettas (or pays for the ones I already bought, lol)

That said, the P229 Legion will be very hard to part with....

Edit: the other aspect of this that I was thinking about as well, especially with the Legion; It is a far better gun than I am (or will ever be) shooter. I am not sure I need a gun that would be properly utilized in a SEAL's hands. Its nice to have and all, but probably overkill for me if I am honest with myself.

Of course I am applying logic, which has never been my strong suit.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I like variety. But I think you answered your own question already. Sounds like your Berettas fit the bill.

I don't know man, I own S&W's, Rugers, a SA, HK's, a Beretta, and I still want some Sigs, and other guns. I think you may regret limiting yourself too much in the long run.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Edit: the other aspect of this that I was thinking about as well, especially with the Legion; It is a far better gun than I am (or will ever be) shooter. I am not sure I need a gun that would be properly utilized in a SEAL's hands. Its nice to have and all, but probably overkill for me if I am honest with myself.

Personally, when I am shooting a truly accurate gun, I use that as inspiration to really focus. If a gun shoots better than I do, I try to master it......... I still have many years of practice to get there.

 

[Boarhunter]

I, too, have reached that point in life where buying multiple calibers in a variety of platforms no longer drives my gun purchases. Now, I generally only buy pistols with SA triggers and manual safeties. I limit caliber choice to 9s and .22s, with a current preference in the latter caliber. And in an attempt to avoid or delay the problems of ammo shortages of the current administration, I buy ammo in 9 and .22 often and in bulk. I have not liquidated my life's accumulation of pistols that are non-compliant....I just do not shoot them. It is as good an investment as my 401k....

I have done the same in long-guns with the platform AR and the calibers in 556 and .22.

The plan makes life less complex and ammo inventories easier to accumulate.

BOARHUNTER

 

[Harleytoo]

Boarhunter you kinda hit the nail on the head for me as well. Its really about simplification. Keeping to 9's and 45's the reloading requires less attention and I, like you, either buy bulk loaded ammo or bulk components.

I also find I shoot more by limiting.

As I noted in other threads I have really become fond of the PX4 line of Beretta guns. So I have the Sub-compact, compact, full size and special duty. The interchangability of the components (except for the barrels on the subcompact and special duty) really simplify the gun aspect and I am finding that since they are the same I am becoming a more proficient shooter.

I have moved to DA/SA on everything but the EMP and 1911 I own. TBH, I like the DA/SA setup better. Not that I have any issue with 1911 controls, just like the other better.

This is, somewhat, coming down to a decision to recover quite a bit of cash by selling off the others and then getting a 92FS to build up a bit the way I want it.

I was doing that with the 1911, but I think I may save that to give to my son.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I suppose I have a little credibility in answering your post. I am Italian and a gunsmith. I have a bias towards the Italian manufactured guns but I can tell you from experience that they are in their own class to work on. Beretta loves their springs and you will find no shortage of them on the 92/96 series guns. If you attempt to take one apart I suggest having a Gun Digest assembly/disassembly manual nearby. You will need it! The Sig pistols come apart fairly easily when you are familiar with them. The hardest part IMO is that darned locking insert back into the frame! Some are easier than others. Hope that helps.

 

[Harleytoo]

The PX4's are pretty simple I think. I have not torn a 92Fs apart yet. The Sig's are simple enough as well.

I have been building cars and bikes since I was a kid, so I am not overly concerned about taking anything apart.

 

[bannockburn]

Harleytoo

Sorry my brother but I'm too much about variety that I could be of much help telling you about platform consolidation. Love my 1911s (even built one from the bare frame up), but likewise I love my Berettas, SIGs, CZs, Rugers; each and every one of them. The only thing I have consolidated (with one .38 Super exception), is pretty much sticking to .22, .380, 9mm., and .45ACP in my semi-autos.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

True Adcoch1, but 1 Sig buys 2 Berettas (or pays for the ones I already bought, lol)

That said, the P229 Legion will be very hard to part with....

Edit: the other aspect of this that I was thinking about as well, especially with the Legion; It is a far better gun than I am (or will ever be) shooter. I am not sure I need a gun that would be properly utilized in a SEAL's hands. Its nice to have and all, but probably overkill for me if I am honest with myself.

Of course I am applying logic, which has never been my strong suit.

I disagree. I feel you always get better results when using the best tool for the job. All the bells and whistles on the "SEAL" gun aren't there because they are so good at shooting they need them, they are there to make it a better tool.

 

[Harleytoo]

I disagree. I feel you always get better results when using the best tool for the job. All the bells and whistles on the "SEAL" gun aren't there because they are so good at shooting they need them, they are there to make it a better tool.

I totally agree, that was more a statement of the tool behind the tool : )

I shoot frequently to get better, and those guns definitely make me (appear) to be a better shooter than I am. So, that value is not lost on me.

The truth is, and this (IMHO) goes to the root of many discussions about "which is better" we have here on the forum. At the end of the day with most of the main stream manufacturers the quality of the guns we get today is pretty much top notch.

Like with anything that is mass produced there are lemons and failures that occur. However, except when someone produces at truly inferior product most of the mainstream products we buy are of such a quality that the "tweaking" we do is more for our own amusement than from any need to do so to a product that performs the way they tend to do.

The level of refinement between, lets say my PX4 and the P229 Legion is noticeable in the way it performs. But marginal in the outcome (on targets) of its performance.

Thus it tends to come down to how big the single ragged hole is and was it worth $500 more to obtain it over the other single ragged hole.

 

[Harleytoo]

Thanks to everyone for the input. As always, this community is quick to provide valuable insight and perspective.

After a few days of consternation on the topic, cause I tend to constern on things like this, I think I have come to a conclusion that was (somewhat) starring me in the face to begin with.

I had shelved my shooting habit for quite a few years, aside from staying proficient with my carry guns. Mainly indulging my other motorcycle hobby.

Digging back into my safe and mound of boxed reloading supplies revealed that I was all over the board in the past and had one of everything. Down side of having one of everything is that you tend to be really good with nothing. There is just not enough time dedicated to becoming proficient with something before you switch to something else. Same could be said for my reloading as I had every type of ammo under the sun there in those boxes.

Setting up in my son’s old room (he is happy I did not make it my naked room) limited the space I could take up. My wife gave me his closet, but that was it, so I had to limit my volume.

Having kinda gone overboard on the PX4’s of late I was trying to get a feel for what I would both enjoy shooting and reloading for and what I could carry. What was starring me in the face this whole time was this. I really, aside from the Sig’s have two platforms that have been my go to for a long time.

- PX4’s
- 1911’s

The EMP is a 1911 designed 9mm which I have carried more than just about any other gun. Both because it has proven to be dead reliable, it is a joy to shoot and it is dead sexy!

I have the Remington R1 I recently bought to build up. Great price for a entry level GI 1911 with the ability to go anywhere I want to from a gun smithing standpoint.

So at the end of the day, selling the Sig’s to provide some needed funding and sticking to these two will provide me a lot of flexibility really. The PX4’s I already began modifying to my preferred G config and stealth levers. The 1911’s are something I am both comfortable with and semi-knowledgable about.

So there it is.

Thanks again for everyone’s input

 

[Harleytoo]

Oh and I still have my two ROA's with Black Powder, 45 ACP and 45 LC cylinders.

Those will never go anywhere else.

...and my Contender with 45/70 compensated barrel...

 

[Harleytoo]

...but thats all!

 

[dragon813gt]

Variety is the spice of life. Combine that w/ life being to short and I will never consolidate. That would be boring. I do tend to spend a lot of time shooting a few particular ones. But I have no reason to sell any of the others.

 

[BSA1]

Well I own a SIG P-239 and Beretta 92's. They are tools for separate jobs and I will not part with either of them.

The SIG P-239 is one of my conceal carry firearms. In addition to it's convenient size, 9 round capacity it has night sights making it my movie theater gun.

The Beretta's are on the opposite end of the scale. Big, hold lots of ammunition, battle field tested worldwide, legendary reliability and very accurate. Great for range shooting, self-defense on the farm and conceal carry in the winter.

If I had PX-4's instead of the 92's and was happy with the PX-4 I would keep them along with the SIG.

 

[RA40]

My take is similar to eating your favorite food and not deviating. At first that my work though as time passes, the thoughts creep in "what if?" Keep the Sigs, there may be days that you want to take them out to play with.

Your kids may be thinking, "Dad has this great Sig at home..." One of my buddy's his father had an old Sig that he lusted after. When dad passed he was thinking mom would pass it onto me. We'll mom wasn't very emotional towards the material items so she simply dumped any/all his possessions off to clear the house (That wasn't the only gun let go). My buddy was hurt because he had thought dad would have wanted it in family after all the years he had them.

 

[Boarhunter]

Harleytoo,

I hope you keep your bike. I ride a Victory High Ball, and a perfect day is strapping on a favorite pistol, throwing an AR over my shoulder (cased, of course), and riding my bike to the local range for trigger time! It just does not get any better than that!

BOARHUNTER

 

[Harleytoo]

RA40, don't kill me off just yet. And yea, my son is expecting to be handed down to for sure.

Boar hunter, the bikes I have will most likely be buried with me. I have an '05 Harley Road King that I have ridden all over the country. I converted it to a full dresser, so taking the guns on it to the range are no issue at all. I also have a '96 BMW R1100GS adventure bike that has 72,000 miles on it but is in pristine condition (doing annual service on it in the garage right now). I also have a '15 Triumph Thruxton I built into a brat bike just for fun. So, yea, the bikes are going no where.

 

[Texzig]

I kinda where your coming from, I'm kinda like that with my sigs. However, I like to leave options open. In this day and age of handguns, there is just so much high quality of firearms that I don't want to limit my options because of my desire to want to work with one platform. Heck I'm even considering those dang px4 storms you have, all the while being a sig guy. But there certainly is something to be said for simplifying your life, I'm just not there yet. Of course it would save me a lot of money if I did.

 

[Harleytoo]

Tex, got the PX4 Special Duty in on Friday. We need to meet up for you to give it a try. Crap, I need to get it to the range! It looks sweet, I hope it is a good shooter. If it is anything like the others with the longer barrel it should be. Looking forward to getting it out this next week and getting an update to that thread.

Yea, it really is a simplification. As I get older I am feeling the draw of that in every part of my life. It really makes the range trips a lot more focused too, which I like. Whether it is training with my combat pistols or focusing more on longer range target work and load work up. The focus is really nice.

I dug into my 1911's yesterday and spent a bit of time with the R1. Picked up a new longer trigger and got rid of all the slop in the original (it was the only bad part of that pistol). Happened on a very nice Ed Brown blackstrap and some sweet VZ grips. She is looking better and working better with a little tuning.

Next is getting rid of the ambi-safety on the EMP. I really want the safety Sig puts on the Nightmare, but can't find it.

 

[Capt. Ct.]

I am more interested in how you got the kids out of the house. At one point years ago I decided to stick with 9mm. Well now I have 9mm, .22, .38, .357, and .45. Just too many nice guns out there to stick with one brand or caliber. You can have any type of gun collection you like. If it works for you then go for it. Good luck.

 

[Harleytoo]

Capt, Navy got one of 'em and the other is headed to the mission field. So pretty proud of both in their respective fields of endeavor.

 

[Texzig]

Hey Harley, I may try to get out sometime this week, if so I'll drop you a line. Are you able to get out during the weekday? I hope to know early in the week if I can and will let you know if I do.

Sounds like you've done a great job with your kids, congrats.