IWAC
Member
Is there any hard information about the quality of EAA Girsan handguns compared to Taurus, FEG, Canik or Charter Arms, also regarding after purchase customer service?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Quality of less-famous handguns
- Thread starter IWAC
- Start date
Coyote3855
Member
I own or have owned Taurus, FEG, and Canik. No Girsan but they seem to get good reviews. That is not hard information. Have you searched for online reviews?
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
EAA is much much, much, BETTER once the Couple that owned it were taken out of the mix. Man had you ever seen adults behaving so badly tank a good import company.
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I had a Taurus 24/7 Pro C in 40 S&W years ago. I never had any problems with it. It always functioned and was quite accurate. I just could not get past the mile long trigger pull on it. I have a few Taurus revolvers and no issues with them. My only experience with FEG pistols is with their PA63 and Hi Power clones, both have been good to go.
I would definitely do a search on Charter Arms and I would not recommend any of their current production revolvers.
I would definitely do a search on Charter Arms and I would not recommend any of their current production revolvers.
jar
Contributing Member
I had an issue with my Girsan XLV 1911. The barrel bushing broke and the Girsan uses a non-standard much shorter and smaller OD than other 1911A1s. It happened within the first couple hundred rounds but EAA did mail me a replacement. I've bought a couple spares though since they seem to not always be in stock.
The accuracy and reliability though was a pleasant surprise. Here's the target from that session. It is a strange round count since the recoil spring endcap got launched to Infinity & Beyond.
The accuracy and reliability though was a pleasant surprise. Here's the target from that session. It is a strange round count since the recoil spring endcap got launched to Infinity & Beyond.
hemiram
Member
My only complaint about my Sar guns is parts are hard to come by. I wanted to buy a bolt/cylinder lock/? for my SR38 revolver, to improve the lockup, and Sar USA apparently has no parts for them. It's not awful, but it could be a lot better if I could get one. I might see if an S&W one from an L frame would work.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,304
Have had several Taurus semi-autos; all of them worked okay but I could not get use to their long, uneven trigger pulls. I also owned a Charter Arms Undercover, purchased new in the mid '70s but had problems with frame pins walking out and with the cylinder crane screw working loose.
A good friend of mine had an FEG Hi-Power Copy and it not only worked just fine, it looked great with a nice two-tone blued finish slide and brushed chrome frame.
No experience with Girsan and Canik.
A good friend of mine had an FEG Hi-Power Copy and it not only worked just fine, it looked great with a nice two-tone blued finish slide and brushed chrome frame.
No experience with Girsan and Canik.
I haven't really messed with the Taurus G3's or G4's so can't comment on them. But the older Taurus pistols all had super long trigger pulls. Like I said earlier, my Taurus 24/7 Pro C was very accurate but I just could not get use to the long trigger pull.
The FEG Hi Power's are excellent pistols and very well made. Too bad we weren't allowed to bring any of them back from Iraq after Desert Storm. We had found crates of brand new FEG Hi Power's in more than a few bunkers. I also have a FEG PA63 that is accurate and reliable even though recoil is stout since it is a 9x18.
The only Canik I don't care for is the METE MC9 subcompact, it has a horrible trigger compared to the rest of Canik's lineup. I really like my Canik Elite SC9 and carry it most of the time.
@IWAC I can definitely recommend Taurus revolvers, Canik pistols, and FEG pistols. I would avoid Charter Arms though.
CapnMac
Member
Probably this is the best place to find such data.
After all, we here at THR have near nigh one of everything.
Mosin77
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2019
- Messages
- 1,589
I think compared to “olden days” metallurgy, the Turkish handguns are excellent and hold their own just fine. I’d challenge anyone to shoot one enough to wear it out. The real problem with them is, if you shoot enough that this is a realistic consideration, you’re also probably something of a snob for other little details, and the Turk sights, trigger, lack of aftermarket, etc would make you opt for a different choice. This is why everyone thinks they’re pretty good but yet there aren’t a lot of high round count tales on forums.
I tried to answer the question behind your question a while back. In 2011 Gunsite was running a Centennial 1911 250 Pistol course, and I took the second cheapest 1911 I could find. Second cheapest because it was also a Rock Island, but I wanted carry sights and a better safety so I paif $450 instead of $400.
In my case I fired a magazine or two, then took the course. I lubed it each morning but never cleaned it, and it made it through 1,200 rounds or so and the only malfunctions were fumbled reloads.
I say that to point out that guns are pretty well understood nowadays. So companies in the Philippines (Rock Island) or Turkey (Girsan, Tisas) can produce some high quality weapons with low costs. And likewise, I recently bought a special edition Ruger GP100 that needed to go back to the factory.
I think the baseline you can reasonably expect from any manufacturer is:
But in the age of social media companies make them right.
In my case I fired a magazine or two, then took the course. I lubed it each morning but never cleaned it, and it made it through 1,200 rounds or so and the only malfunctions were fumbled reloads.
I say that to point out that guns are pretty well understood nowadays. So companies in the Philippines (Rock Island) or Turkey (Girsan, Tisas) can produce some high quality weapons with low costs. And likewise, I recently bought a special edition Ruger GP100 that needed to go back to the factory.
I think the baseline you can reasonably expect from any manufacturer is:
- The gun will run as expected when you receive it, or
- The manufacturer will make it right.
But in the age of social media companies make them right.
To add on to my comment, that Rock Island is a bit rough compared to more expensive pistols. I had some liquid bandage on my hands that week because 1000+ rounds on a pistol with some rough edges might cause some ouchies.
I'd trust my life to it. But I'd generally choose to shoot something else.
entropy
Member
The Taurus Gx4 has a Glock-like trigger, I like it better than the actual 5.5# stock Glock trigger.
My bother-in-law (omission intentional) has a Canik 9mm, and a Girsan in .45. Aside from pointing one of them at my gut with his finger in the trigger guard, a feat which earned him my avoidance involving firearms, they were decent guns
Out of all the different Canik models I have handled and/or shot, the only one I do not care for is the Mete MC9 due to it's horrible trigger. The other Canik models have great triggers that put the best Glock triggers I have used to shame. My Canik Elite SC has pretty much replaced my Glocks for EDC. One of the thing I like about the Elite SC is that the grip length is real close to a G26 grip length and the slide is real close in length to a G19.
The only new Taurus I have tried is the TX22 and it has a good trigger. I shied away from it due to barrel leading issues plus I don't care for how Taurus decided to place the optics mount on the barrel.
The only new Taurus I have tried is the TX22 and it has a good trigger. I shied away from it due to barrel leading issues plus I don't care for how Taurus decided to place the optics mount on the barrel.
entropy
Member
It's in the normal place on the TX-22C.
I'v got both a SAR k12 sport X and a Girsen mc p35 pi. I'v been shooting the SAR about 6 months, around 800 rounds threw it. No problems. Very accurate. The Girsen I picked up yesterday, put 200 rounds threw it today. A couple of FTF traced beck to a very old KRD magazine. With mc-gars no issues quality between them is about the same. Very well made guns. For the average shooter, which I am. I'll stack them up against anything but the hi end custom stuff.
My eperience with the Girsan MC P35:
I picked a brand new one up this August. I like the BHP but am not willing (or able) to shell out genuine BHP money
Apperance and functionally, I think the Girsan is first rate
So before shooting it, I stripped it down and lubed it
I was surprised to find rust in the bore - especially considering that the rest of the gun is perfect
So I scrubbed it as best I could and off to the range I went
I figured if it shot well enough, I can overlook the rust
Rested at 15 yards, all of my shots stayed on an 8.5x11 paper - barely
My much, much smaller Ruger LCP can do as well
And just to show that it's not me, I have several other guns that can shoot sub 1" groups at 15 yards
So I sent a note to EAA and got this reply: "The MC P35 may be sent to our service department for evaluation at any time."
Which means I'll have to cough up at least $40 to have them evaluate it
So now I have to figure out what next....
I picked a brand new one up this August. I like the BHP but am not willing (or able) to shell out genuine BHP money
Apperance and functionally, I think the Girsan is first rate
So before shooting it, I stripped it down and lubed it
I was surprised to find rust in the bore - especially considering that the rest of the gun is perfect
So I scrubbed it as best I could and off to the range I went
I figured if it shot well enough, I can overlook the rust
Rested at 15 yards, all of my shots stayed on an 8.5x11 paper - barely
My much, much smaller Ruger LCP can do as well
And just to show that it's not me, I have several other guns that can shoot sub 1" groups at 15 yards
So I sent a note to EAA and got this reply: "The MC P35 may be sent to our service department for evaluation at any time."
Which means I'll have to cough up at least $40 to have them evaluate it
So now I have to figure out what next....
JoeHenry
Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2019
- Messages
- 206
i purchased a Tisas Tanker (commander style steel frame) and I have only put 100 rounds down the tube. Had a problem with trigger reset on the very first 3 rounds, but after that it was flawless. The fit, finish and the inside of the slide looks like a more expensive gun.
someguy2800
Member
I had a Tisas 1911 for a short time and I thought the build quality was excellent. The 3 Taurus revolvers I have are also very nice guns with no issues.
After another 400 rounds threw my Girsan mcp35 pi. I can say I'm liking this gun a lot. I ran multiple drills with a shot timer against my CZ PCR. From the pistol sitting on the bench hands at my side with a random start buzzer. The Girsan beat the CZ by an average of 3/4 of a second. That's two shots to the body and one to the head at ten yards. The one area the CZ beat the Girsan was in slow fire accuracy. The Girsan was more accurate when shot at speed. I'm going to try the same drills with my full size Girsan against my SAR K12. These are my results on this day. Results could be different on another day.
Ascot500. Are you sure it's rust and not an oil or grease. All the Girsan barrels iv seen are chrome lined. Dont disbelieve you, just curious.