Though not new to handgun use, I will be buying my first pistol in the next few months. This pistol is for IPSC competition; I already enjoy training and competing with a rifle.
Next week I am invited to try a bunch of pistols at an IPSC practice...there will be CZ 75s, XDs, Glocks, Sig-Sauer 226s and so on. Mmmmm. My interest lies in buying a Production Division pistol, in 9mm (minor power). I expect to try out a good half-dozen models, and want to be organized about it.
The question:
What do you pay attention to when you systematically
assess a new pistol ?
Here are things that matter to me:
- grip comfort for fingers, web of hand.
- grip stability under fire.
- balance: muzzle heavy?
- ease of reaching the safety, if there is one.
- ease of using the decock, if there is one.
- manual decock ergonomics.
- ease of releasing the slide after mag change.
- ease of releasing the magazine.
- ease of inserting and locking the magazine.
- ease of acquiring the sight picture.
- ease of maintaining the sight picture as the pistol returns to battery.
- trigger comfort, pull distance, pull weight, creep, reset distance.
- felt muzzle blast.
- muzzle jump or twist.
Is there anything else that you would pay attention to ?
For next weekend, I will print out a list of things that matter, bring along a pencil, and take notes.
Thanks.
Next week I am invited to try a bunch of pistols at an IPSC practice...there will be CZ 75s, XDs, Glocks, Sig-Sauer 226s and so on. Mmmmm. My interest lies in buying a Production Division pistol, in 9mm (minor power). I expect to try out a good half-dozen models, and want to be organized about it.
The question:
What do you pay attention to when you systematically
assess a new pistol ?
Here are things that matter to me:
- grip comfort for fingers, web of hand.
- grip stability under fire.
- balance: muzzle heavy?
- ease of reaching the safety, if there is one.
- ease of using the decock, if there is one.
- manual decock ergonomics.
- ease of releasing the slide after mag change.
- ease of releasing the magazine.
- ease of inserting and locking the magazine.
- ease of acquiring the sight picture.
- ease of maintaining the sight picture as the pistol returns to battery.
- trigger comfort, pull distance, pull weight, creep, reset distance.
- felt muzzle blast.
- muzzle jump or twist.
Is there anything else that you would pay attention to ?
For next weekend, I will print out a list of things that matter, bring along a pencil, and take notes.
Thanks.
