Spent $350 at range today testing handguns.. NOW I MUST DECIDE WHICH

[4Freedom]

Sorry title is bit misleading, too late for me to change, I spent $350 over course of three visits to the range this week.

Hi, I just spent over $350.00 at range testing over like 20 guns in last three days. I tested everything from 9mm, .40, .45 caliber Glocks, S&W M&P, Sigs, Springfields, H&K. Well, I can see jsut holding the gun at a gun shop doesn't necesarily determine how the gun will shoot. It seems different grips helped me at differnet calibers.

When I first held the glocks the first time, I really hated them. But after shooting the glock .45 cals and glock .40 cals, I really seem to do good with them. I did bad with the sub compact .40 cal glock, but I did good with the full size glock .40 cal gun. I just couldn't figure it out, but I was really able to hit targets very well with the .45 cal subcompact double stack glock. For some reason this little gun agreed with me and the grooves of the grips molded into fingers perfectly. I am more accurate with that powerful .45 subcompact glock than I was with full sized springfield XD 45 or S&W M&P 40.

I was more accurate with full size glock .40 than with S&W M&P 40. ALl this could just me not understanding the gun, rather than the gun being inferior. AMazing, I really sucked with the Glock 19 (compact 9mm). Don't know why, I pointed and it missed. It was the end of the day and I think I just waasn't payijng attention. However, I seem to be dead on with S&W M&P. In 9mm the M&P really felt to be decent because it didn't snap as much as the glock. THe opposite seemed to be true when comparing Glock .40 Compact or Full Size to the S&W M&P. Strange...

I really sucked with Kimber 1911s. The slim rectangular shape really screwed me up as a newbie, since I had the happen of jerking it. I was much more accurate with teh groove shaped GLock .45s that seem to fit my hand and prevent horizontal or vertical movement. It helped increase my accuracy at same distances. I know with practiec I would be able to perhaps utilize whatever makes a 1911 better, which I don't quite know yet, but I just hear it is better.


I have determine for the most part, that you can really be good with any gun if you practice with it, unless the grip is truly out of the ordinary, there is no reason why you cannot learn the way a gun is suppose to function. The whole thing of which gun feels good to you, seems to be out the window when your at the range shooting them. Like at first I hated the Sigs and couldn't hit anything. Then I slowed down and started figuring out sigs and realized they were sensitive when moved but if kept steady they were more accurate than the others. So, I started out bad, but later really was able to hit targets dead on with Sig. So my first impression threw me off. And the bulky grip didn't seem to matter after that.

This is just my range report and experience of me the newbie and how the different guns I rented seem to be in my experience. I have lot to learn, but I am not spending anny more money at range renting guns.

So, it is time to decide.

I am really not sure which way to go.

I want to get 3 handguns. I wanted a forest gun, but I think I will wait 5 months until I get some more handgun training before I go the big revolver route.

For now I am thinking of some different guns to buy for different situations:

My Carry Piece in warmer months, with less clothing:
1. Compact .45 Glock G30 (My Preference for now)
2. Compact or SubCompact .45 S&W M&P
3. Compact or SubCompact 9mm S&W M&P

Larger Carry Piece, for colder months, with more clothing:
1. S&W M&P 9mm (My Preference for now)
2. Glock 22 (.40 cal full size)
3. Glock 23 (.40 cal compact)
5. Springfield XDM
6. Sig 9mm or 40
7. Glock 21 (.45 full size)
8. Beretta PX4 (Never fired, but heard only good things about it)

Pocket Gun:
1. Ruger SP101 without hammer (I hear is the best for the money, My Preference)
2. S&W 642 Pro 38SP
3. Ruger LCP
4. Kahr


I would like to hear people's opinions and their beliefs of the guns I listed. As well you can tell me your preferences or any contrary thoughts of my choice. For each of the three situations I listed you can tell me what your preference would be. Of course I know it varies from person to person. However, opinions do matter and I am eager to hear people's experinece with various guns. I know a may not get the perfect gun, but better an imperfect gun than no gun, I can always exchange later.

I am thinking and will probably by a set of guns tomorrow. I have been pondering these choices for over a month now.

 

[ljnowell]

I really think that you have answered your own quesion on two of those, the glock. If it fits you and you shoot it well, then it was meant to be. You said that you were interested in a forest gun. I would like to make a suggestion. I am not a big fan of the 10mm myself, but it is a decent woods caliber in a for a semi auto. If you shot a doubles stack small glock .45 that would be a g30. The g29 uses the exact same frame, so fit and feel would be identical for you, but it is chambered in 10mm auto. It is a very potent round and could fill the gap in your ccw piece and woods gun.

If you do get a glock be prepared to hear all of the stories of how bad they are and they are junk and be called a fan boy, kool aid drinker, etc.

I own a g21 and I love it.

 

[viperstarbuck]

Sounds like the Glock to me. The XD is good too. Besides, your the one who just shot for yourself. Pick whatever you feel is best.

 

[Bill B.]

My Carry Piece in warmer months, with less clothing:
1. Compact .45 Glock G30 (My Preference for now)

Just curious if you shot 185 grain or 230 grain HB from the G30? After several mags. of the 230 HB the one I tested was no longer fun to shoot.

 

[4Freedom]

I really think that you have answered your own quesion on two of those, the glock. If it fits you and you shoot it well, then it was meant to be. You said that you were interested in a forest gun. I would like to make a suggestion. I am not a big fan of the 10mm myself, but it is a decent woods caliber in a for a semi auto. If you shot a doubles stack small glock .45 that would be a g30. The g29 uses the exact same frame, so fit and feel would be identical for you, but it is chambered in 10mm auto. It is a very potent round and could fill the gap in your ccw piece and woods gun.

Yeah, I am considering getting the 10mm Glock G20, but there are some questions I have about it. I have been reading you can replace the 10mm barrel with .40 barrel witout much trouble? I would like to be able to practice with the gun at range and maybe use a lighter caliber in the city for CCW. If I can easily interchange the barrels taht would be an advantage. How feasible is it to do this with 10mm Glock? My second BIG question is about ammo. Where can you find decently priced ammo for the 10mm glock? I am new to shooting guns and I do not know anything about reloading. Please, I just don't even have the time, knowledge or capital to create a good reloading setup now. So, where can I go to get plinking grade ammo for the 10mm and hunting round that could be used effectively in the forest? I don't see this caliber as being a common one and I don't want to spend a fortune for ammo.

I was thinking I may holdout on a true outdoors gun until I can get trained wtih a .44 mag or .454, .460 caliber revolver. I suppose that is truly the real gun you would use for the woods. Many say if I try shooting these guns I may kill myself or just not hit anything, because of the recoil. However, the high capacity of Glock 10 does make it a good option, as long as I am not going to alaska (brown bears).

However, I am in need of good gun for carrying in the city for different seasons. I am thiknin Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm feels good and shoots well for me and has high capacitiy. I thought Springfield XDM also felt almost as good as M&P and it has even more capacity.

I hope I can pull this off financially, but I want to get some handguns, they are looking less and less avaiable and its time I get a few of them. I will do all training necessary after I have them.

Just curious if you shot 185 grain or 230 grain HB from the G30? After several mags. of the 230 HB the one I tested was no longer fun to shoot.

Actually, I used the range's lead-free ammo and I was stupid and didn't spend time to look at the grain of the bullet. I will have to check that next time I am there or call them, sadly they never answer their phone and its bit far from me. One thing I can tell you is the Glock .45 compact had much less recoil and was easier to manage than the Glock .40 subcompact, which are about the same lengh in the grip. I absolutely hated the Glock .40 subcompact.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think you are planning about two guns too far ahead. Get your everyday carry gun of whatever brand and get comfortable with it before you start serious work with pocket pistols and heavy calibers or magnums, all of which will be harder to shoot well.

Do you have a large ammunition budget or plan to set up to reload? The bigger the caliber, the higher the price. Everything is more expensive now, but 9mm is still the cheapest service caliber to run.

 

[SgtGunner]

I have always been one of those strange ones that shoot glocks really, really well. Not as well as my 1911's but you can NEVER turn a glock into that sweet smoothness that is a single action trigger.
I found something strange too, I shoot the G30 (sub-compact .45) better than ANY other glock. Just seems to work in my hands. This is why it's good to test fire as many as you can. That relatively small $350 investment may well save you many hundreds, if not thousands buying guns that just don't work for you.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I bought a G-30 recently and it has ruined me for my 9mm Glocks. Sometimes the recoil can get heavy after 50 rounds or so, but I'm sure it's worse at the other end.

The .40 conversions for a Glock 20 work very well, my KKM conversion barrel was as accurate and reliable as the stock 10mm barrel. It's the only 'Glock .40' that ever shot well for me.

 

[jem375]

You left out the CZ brand of handguns, the most under-rated handguns on the market. The CZ PO1 and SPO1 are really super handguns.....

 

[ljnowell]

Yeah, I am considering getting the 10mm Glock G20, but there are some questions I have about it. I have been reading you can replace the 10mm barrel with .40 barrel witout much trouble? I would like to be able to practice with the gun at range and maybe use a lighter caliber in the city for CCW. If I can easily interchange the barrels taht would be an advantage. How feasible is it to do this with 10mm Glock? My second BIG question is about ammo. Where can you find decently priced ammo for the 10mm glock? I am new to shooting guns and I do not know anything about reloading. Please, I just don't even have the time, knowledge or capital to create a good reloading setup now. So, where can I go to get plinking grade ammo for the 10mm and hunting round that could be used effectively in the forest? I don't see this caliber as being a common one and I don't want to spend a fortune for ammo.

The thing about 10mm is that you can buy off the shelf ammo, and it generally isnt as hot as most would think it is. Then you can get some double tap 10mm if you need to use it for serious business. You can get a .40 barrel for the gun and use the 10mm magazines, as they are based on the same cartridge.

Not as well as my 1911's but you can NEVER turn a glock into that sweet smoothness that is a single action trigger.

Sure you can. I shot a guys glock at the range that had about a 1.5 lb trigger pull and zero overtravel. The pretravel was very short also. I would rate it equal to or better than many of the 1911 race guns I have shot.

 

[porterdog]

I just got a G29 myself, and have to say I'm finding the kool aid surprisingly tasty.

10mm ammo is never cheap, but Georgia Arms sells it in bulk for kind of reasonable. Reloading will be the key over the long term.

 

[David E]

Winter months are where most people consider a big bore, to make up for heavy clothing clogging up the hollowpoint.

At any rate, buy the 9mm you do best with, along with a good holster and belt and some ammo.

Take classes, have fun, learn stuff.

THEN think about a second gun.

.

 

[f4t9r]

I read your post and you answer your own question !!
looks like the Crock 45 for you.

 

[kamagong]

You need to befriend some shooters. That's a lot of money to spend on rentals in three days. I've shot several guns that I was interested in for free when some very generous people at the range let me try them out.

I have determine for the most part, that you can really be good with any gun if you practice with it, unless the grip is truly out of the ordinary, there is no reason why you cannot learn the way a gun is suppose to function. The whole thing of which gun feels good to you, seems to be out the window when your at the range shooting them.

I agree that if you can learn to shoot any gun well. But some guns are just easier to shoot than others. I love shooting my 1911s, enjoy shooting my 22/45 and BHP, but don't favor my CZ-75B all that much. I think the mushy trigger ruins it for me. Go get the gun that feels most natural for you, I guarantee you'll enjoy shooting it more.

 

[4Freedom]

You need to befriend some shooters. That's a lot of money to spend on rentals in three days. I've shot several guns that I was interested in for free when some very generous people at the range let me try them out.

Well the money was not only for rentals, but the fee for going to the range, and most of all, ammo.. I went to gun stores and starting feeling some H&Ks and jsut really love how they feel. Also, I like the weight and design of the gun. It seems very solid and sturdy and I remember that I did enjoy firing the H&K USP Compact 9 at the range. However, when I saw the price tag of the gun, I nearly fainted. What is people's opinions of H&Ks P30 and HK45 versus M&P, Springfields and glocks. I am starting to think I like the HK guns, but I am not sure where I can find them at a discount. Hmm. but after feeling the new HK models at the store, I can just really say, it felt so good in my hand and I can see the slim and well weighted slide I think would help with recoil. There is nobody I know who can lend me one of these, so if I get it, I would chance it, but think it maybe worth the risk.

I am also considering to buy a .44 magnum for a mountain/hiking gun. I know some may faint or think Iam nuts being a newbie with a .44, but I really seem to handle the .45 quite well and why should I be undergunned on my hikes, simply because I am not a marksman with the gun. I know the .44 is last resort gun anyway, so it would not be used for target shooting. However, I won't be buying a mountain gun until April or so, I hope to take some classes, but know I will want the gun though. The 10mm is another option, but after reviewing ammo prices and availability, it looks like it will be difficult to obtain. And No, I do not reload, nor do I plan to. I am new enough to guns, where I don't wnat to start learning and investing in reloading.


I have lot of choices. I really am considering going with the SP101 for my pocket carry. These pocket revolvers really look nice and sturdy and reliable. I also like that they are chambered in .357 mag and I have the option of using a very powerful round or ligheter 38sp rounds for plinking.

My greatest dilemma is deciding to go with 9mm or .45. I seem to shoot .45 very well and like the power. However, I know 9mm is more economical and has more round capacity. I don't know why, but I felt more accurate with the .45 caliber. However, I shoot 1911's like crap, I cannot handle non groved, straight flat grips like 1911. I think I will need practice to get good at these.

 

[SDDL-UP]

+1 on the CZ-75

You really should check those out too if you get a chance. Can't go wrong with the Glock though if that's what works for you!

 

[rhoggman]

For $350 you could have just bought a "starter gun", then spent your "real gun" money on another gun.

Get an XD or a Glock. You really can't go wrong with either one.

 

[FM12]

Get a used smith and wesson K frame in .357 and learn with it. Expand later.

 

[ohiobowhunter78]

gun

I recently shot an HK and wow. I do agree that you can't go wrong with an XD either.