Semi Auto pistols I considered getting

Don't forget they launch empties into the stratosphere, whereupon they return to earth and find their way into your shirt. Actually, despite their complexity, Broomies are actually pretty rugged. As long as their hammer and bolt springs are in good shape, they hold up just fine. They are pretty pricy, true, but nothing like a luger or a Swiss P-210. My unfired after proof testing 99% Broomie isn't worth as much as you would think. Maybe $3,000 or so. It's missing lanyard loop is a gig. My shooter C-96 is a hoot. The stiffest safety on the planet combined with a trigger that thinks it's a high power with the mag disconnect still in place and those ridiculous sights makes for a fun time.

Ya' gotta admit, the "cool" factor is off the charts!!!

 

I love BHPs for their elegance and historical pedigree, but there's nothing special about them at all as shooters or from a build-quality standpoint. Bad triggers, generally average accuracy, and not very durable (especially the old forged-frame versions). What they do have going for them are superb ergonomics (for most people) and excellent reliability.

I still swoon over the looks of them, though. Here's my tangent-sight T-series from 1968 (pardon the Ren Wax streaks/globs):

 

I do conceal it IWB at 4 o'clock.

L&M Precision Gunworks but he retired. I was one of the few that got their gun cut before he closed shop. 19 Charlie Tactical cuts Mark 23s for RMRs but his cut doesn't cowitness.

 

While this is an opinion, it seems quite detached from reality. I own multiple Browning Hi Powers and multiple CZ-75s (and variants) and the venerable Browning is superior in no way (other than maybe looks and historical significance, and being slightly smaller if you carry) to the CZ-75. Unless maybe you were shooting a highly worked-over BHP versus a defective CZ-75?

CZ-75 - better trigger, better ergonomics (better grip feel, no hammer bite, more positive safety feel), better capacity, better sight options. Accuracy is mechanically similar, but a stock CZ-75 is generally easier to shoot well due to the trigger feel versus a stock BHP with magazine disconnect.

Not hating on the BHP by any means - like AustinTX above, I appreciate and enjoy them (working on customizing one right now).

 

CZ's from the .22 Kadet Kit to the .45 97b are my cup of bullets. Not adverse to others though. I like the Glock 21 a lot. I don't like any of the other Glocks. The BHP is cool. My Colt Series 70 is all I want in a 1911. .22's are easy. I like them all except the Glock 44. I had a PPK in .32 ACP and thought it was over rated. A shorter list would be gun's I don't like as opposed to gun's I do like. WWII handguns are cool too. .38 Webley to Russian Nagant to Walther P-38 and Tokarev.

 

My comments are on the WALTHER PPK, the BERETTA/.SIG and broomhandle.

You got the wrong one!
I have an old pre-war PPK. It has a blued finish and is older than I am. On the one hand, the trigger is not good, but not bad either. Mine was a .32ACP and I think that was a smart decision on my part, as I was actually looking for a .380ACP. During one of the ammo shortages, .380ACP was almost impossible to find and way overpriced. I could still buy .32ACP ammo in WALMART then, so it was cheap.

I later bought a WALTHER PP, also in .32ACP and was surprised to find it kicked harder than the smaller PPK. The reason is the shape of the grip. It is squared off at the rear of the grip and I found it much less comfortable than the PPK, which has a rounded area at the web of the hand area. If you bought a stainless one, it may have been an INTERARMS model which were not nearly as well made or smooth in operation as the later S&W models or the original blue WALTHER models.

If you want a PPK style pistol in .380ACP, get the SIG 232. Mine is the lightweight (aluminum frame) base model and it is quite easy to shoot and has a much better shaped and more comfortable grip than my SIG 230 pistol. I recently took it to the range and shot it side by side with my S&W EZ in .380ACP, The recoil is lighter in the EZ and the slide is MUCH EASIER TO RACK, but the SIG was more accurate and not hard on my hand either..

I have carried both BERETTA 96 and SIG 226 pistols on duty. They are both very good guns. I prefer the BERETTA because I can get a better trigger on them now. The M9A3 model and the 92X have smooth, lighter triggers than used to be standard and it makes for a very nice, easy to shoot and accurate gun. You can order the 8 pound trigger spring meant for the double action only version of the BERETTA and also get that light, very smooth trigger on you your standard model BERTTA 92/96 pistols.
The only SIG pistols with as good a trigger as the BERETTA"S that I own is my SIG 229R with the DAK (KELLERMAN) trigger. It is very smooth and a pleasure to use.

If the size is a problem for carrying a 92, then I would highly recommend the 92X Compact. It is an outstanding pistol, in my experience. I prefer it to my SIG 229R, both are in 9m.m. The SIG 229R is also a very good trigger, but I prefer the trigger on the BERETTA. The overall height is about the same on these to pistols, while the BERETTA is longer, I do not find that to be a problem when carrying off duty.

Last, the, 1896 MAUSER broomhandle looks like and ergonomic disaster, but shoots much better than it looks. If I had a choice back in the 1890's, it would have been my first choice. Up until John BROWNING gave us the 1911, I think it was probably the best full size handgun out there. It had power, magazine capacity and was reliable from what I have read. If you wanted something smaller, there was always BROWNING earlier COLT made model 1903 in .32ACP, a very good gun for the time.

Jim

 

They are big, bulky and heavy, but they don't move much when you shoot them. Follow up shots are a breeze. Next best thing to a dedicated race gun for casual competition shooting.

Nothing is perfect, so I have never owned a pistol that didn't have a quirk I wasn't thrilled about, but most all of them did have a niche they fit it. I never met a pistol I didn't like.