I bought my first gun at the beginning of this year so still very much a newbie. I am posting this in case others may be interested in my initial experiences with my first three handgun purchases. I'll focus on reliability but also include some general impressions of the three handguns.
(A) Reliability
Beretta 92FS (9mm):
Fired 110 rounds Corbon 115gr +P JHP, 60 rounds Speer Gold Dot 115gr JHP, 345 rounds Remington UMC 115gr leadless, 115 rounds Fiocchi 115gr FMJ, and 50 rounds USAAmmo re-manufactured 155 gr FMJ. Total 680 rounds. A few failures to feed/eject with the UMC and Fiocchi rounds. No malfunctions at all after 140 rounds. Assume the pistol was broken in by 140 rounds.
Smith & Wesson M&P 340 CT J-frame revolver:
Fired 350 rounds American Eagle 130gr 38 Spl FMJ, 35 rounds Speer Gold Dot 135 gr 38 Spl +P JHP, 50 rounds Speer Lawman 125 gr FMJ, and 15 rounds Speer Gold Dot 135gr 357 Magnum. Total 450 rounds. No malfunctions with any ammo.
Walther P99C (9mm):
60 rounds Speer God Dot 115 gr JHP, 60 rounds Remington UMC 115gr leadless, 90 rounds Fiocche 115gr FMJ. Total 210 rounds. A few failures to feed with the Fiocchi's. No malfunctions at all after 120 rounds. Assume the pistol was broken in by 120 rounds though further shooting will confirm.
(B) General impressions
Beretta 92 FS. Big heavy pistol that I keep for home defense. Very comfortable in the hand. Easiest of the three to shoot accurately. Very little perceived recoil with any round even the punchy Cor Bons.
Walther P99C. Compact pistol, conceals well IWB. Decent sized hand grip. Not significantly harder to shoot than the larger Beretta. Recoil just a bit snappier.
S&W M&P 340 CT. With 38Spl, recoil is invigorating. With 357 Magnum, sometimes painful (a more relaxed grip seems to lessen the pain but I've only shot 15 rounds in this caliber so far so am speaking with little experience). I'm having more fun with this gun than the other two because it's more challenging. Also love that it is so concealable -- no problem fitting it in the front pocket of even my tight jeans. Have become very fond of this gun. My "go almost anywhere" gun.
(A) Reliability
Beretta 92FS (9mm):
Fired 110 rounds Corbon 115gr +P JHP, 60 rounds Speer Gold Dot 115gr JHP, 345 rounds Remington UMC 115gr leadless, 115 rounds Fiocchi 115gr FMJ, and 50 rounds USAAmmo re-manufactured 155 gr FMJ. Total 680 rounds. A few failures to feed/eject with the UMC and Fiocchi rounds. No malfunctions at all after 140 rounds. Assume the pistol was broken in by 140 rounds.
Smith & Wesson M&P 340 CT J-frame revolver:
Fired 350 rounds American Eagle 130gr 38 Spl FMJ, 35 rounds Speer Gold Dot 135 gr 38 Spl +P JHP, 50 rounds Speer Lawman 125 gr FMJ, and 15 rounds Speer Gold Dot 135gr 357 Magnum. Total 450 rounds. No malfunctions with any ammo.
Walther P99C (9mm):
60 rounds Speer God Dot 115 gr JHP, 60 rounds Remington UMC 115gr leadless, 90 rounds Fiocche 115gr FMJ. Total 210 rounds. A few failures to feed with the Fiocchi's. No malfunctions at all after 120 rounds. Assume the pistol was broken in by 120 rounds though further shooting will confirm.
(B) General impressions
Beretta 92 FS. Big heavy pistol that I keep for home defense. Very comfortable in the hand. Easiest of the three to shoot accurately. Very little perceived recoil with any round even the punchy Cor Bons.
Walther P99C. Compact pistol, conceals well IWB. Decent sized hand grip. Not significantly harder to shoot than the larger Beretta. Recoil just a bit snappier.
S&W M&P 340 CT. With 38Spl, recoil is invigorating. With 357 Magnum, sometimes painful (a more relaxed grip seems to lessen the pain but I've only shot 15 rounds in this caliber so far so am speaking with little experience). I'm having more fun with this gun than the other two because it's more challenging. Also love that it is so concealable -- no problem fitting it in the front pocket of even my tight jeans. Have become very fond of this gun. My "go almost anywhere" gun.
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