The Glock kB thread got me thinkin...

[Quick Draw McGraw]

I'm still researching my first handgun purhcase, and have decided upon the 9mm. I have made this decision based on a number of points, including cost and availability, lower recoil than larger rounds, blah blah blah, but I've also recently been think about the advantages of 9mm in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI scenario (hey, it's kinda fun to think about in a strange way, and I figure I might as well be thorough...), particularly the large ammounts of 9mm that could be procured in such a situation.

So, enter the Glock kB thread... Let's say that a situation comes up in which you must scrounge for ammo. You can't go to the store anymore an pick up your special brand, so you need a pistol that will function with anything that you find. (You've run out of your stockpile, this is BIG! )

What 9mm pistol would you choose if you had to have something that would eat ANYTHING? The Glock thread got me thinking because you may be faced with having to shoot some poorer qualtity ammo or lead stuff that not all guns will like very much.

Would you Glock folks still pick a Glock 9mm in a situation such as this?

I'm not insinuating that a Glock couldn't hack it, I'm asking. Is there any such gun that can really fill this role? It's been said sooo many times when folks ask about the "most reliable auto": any quality handgun from a quality company should be reliable with quality ammo...but what if you take the quality ammo out of the equation?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Yea, I would be generally ok with a Glock.

Most 9mm ammo you scrounge would be JHP or FMJ.

Plus, I really haven't heard any reports of a 9mm Glock blowing up.

Beretta 92 would be another real good choice for you scenario also.

 

[45R]

I'd grab my trusty 226

 

[Rob96]

My Glock 19 is my favorite 9mm.

 

[1911Tuner]

Crappy 9mm Fodder

Nearly every High-Power that I've handled/shot would feed and function
with everything thrown at it. Seen a few that I'd be willin' to bet would
chamber a brick.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[9x19]

I've been shooting Glocks (especially those in 9mm) for a good number of years, and have handloaded for them too boot, using lead, copper plated and jacketed bullets, and most times get 8-10 loadings on the brass before the case-mouths become too brittle.

Along with my own reloads, I've fired everthing from American Ammunition to Military surplus and I've never had a problem, not one.

My Ruger KP-95 has likewise never had a problem.

 

[middy]

In 9mm, the Glock will eat almost anything safely. Any 9mm surplus / bulk ammo you're likely to run into will have a jacket anyway... can you even buy lead 9mm? I've never seen any outside of handloads. If you're worried about it you can always get an after-market barrel with L&G rifling

IMO, all the problems with Glocks stem from lesser engineers shoe-horning the original G17 design into different sizes and calibers. The original G17 comes pretty dam close to perfection. The 19 is my favorite, but some of them had feeding issues (but not kB!'s); although the latest design with 9mm3 followers seems to be close to 100%.

 

[deltaopwong]

Yes, you cannot go wrong with the Glock 19/17. It will digest all types of ammo (no lead unless you are running an aftermarket barrel). It will digest new and remanufactured ammo without a hitch. Stan

 

[litework]

I worry more about Glock's striker fired system than kabooms. Glock will feed everything, but will they fire everything including crappy ammo with hard primers? I'd give the edge to a gun with a hammer in this situation.

 

[Majic]

As the poly rifling used in Glock's barrels don't care for lead bullets and your senerio dictates using any ammo found then purchasing an aftermarket barrel would be a good suggestion. The problem with that is now you have a lot more invested in the pistol. I would choose a reliable pistol that uses conventional rifling. Many other choices would fill the role and be a cost savings over the Glock plus another barrel.

 

[molonlabe]

I had KB with my Glock 17 (very early serial number). It was reloads from a gun show. The base blew out of the case at the bottom of the feed ramp where it is unsupported. It simply blew out the magazine but otherwise did not damage the gun. i fired the reloads in my M68 since that would take a charge packed full with bullseye.

 

[wildehond]

9mm

If had to choose one 9mm hangun to eat any ammo and go on with no cleaning, rust, sand and mud. You know general abuse that goes with surviving under really bad conditions. I will choose a CZ75 every time. Lots of military ammo and you can get cardtriges any place that sells ammo and a few other places aswell.

I bought one once, VERY second hand. Rust spots in the barrel. I still put +- 6 000 rounds through it. I fell with my motocyle twice with it cocked and locked on my hip. Even slid on it for a bit in the one crash. After that I sold to someone that still uses it.

It is heavy though. I do not mind that much, but keep that in mind. I carry a 1911 in .45 ACP now, so I have never minded the extra weight. I just like the feel of steel.

wildehond

 

[litework]

My choice would be one of these three: the HK USP, the Beretta 92FS, or the Sig 226.

 

[DonGlock26]

Glocks have less parts which is an advantage in your situation. Simple is good. I'd go with a G-19.

 

[243_shooter]

I'm suprised... No mention of the Ruger P89.

Ugly, thick, but also very reliable, and overbuilt. It's a pistol with many faults, but I'm quite fond of mine

Leo

 

[jc2]

Let's say that a situation comes up in which you must scrounge for ammo. You can't go to the store anymore an pick up your special brand, so you need a pistol that will function with anything that you find. (You've run out of your stockpile, this is BIG! )

To be realistic, you are really better off with a revolver under those circumstances--probably one of those switch cylinder .45 ACP / .45 Colt jobs.

They'll digest just about anything that will fit. They love lead. They offer a range of power from squib to anything on four (or two) feet loads (at least as far N. America goes). Reloads are no problem--AND you won't be down on your knees looking for your precious brass.

 

[gyp_c2]

1911...

 

[Quick Draw McGraw]

I know I'd be better off with a revolver, but I wanted to hear about the autos anyway. I know that the revolvers are there, and I like them just fine, but I wanted to hear opinions on the autos here...

As far as the 1911 goes, I thought that they were rather ammo sensitive. 1911Tuner just named ammunition as one of the "legs of the 1911 tripod" (not a direct quote) in another thread. I like the 1911 a ton, but I don't know about it for this question.

What do you guys think? Thanks for the input so far.

Oh, and the Glock replacement barrel is a good idea, but I do still have a little more faith in a hammer fired gun for shooting bad ammo. Is this unfounded?... Keep the opinions coming...

 

[gulogulo1970]

The 40's(which I have two of by the way) and 45's seem to be the ones that occasionally let go. I've never heard of a 9mm Glock blowing up. Makes sense, since that was the chambering it was originally designed around.

 

[Highland Ranger]

For SHTF an HK USP is indicated . . . . clearly superior to the Glock

[ducking and running]

 

[CZF]

Wildhond, you are lucky to live in a country where people
have had a long love affair with the CZ75 and CZ/BRNO Firearms
in general. Low cost and highly reliable.

The Glock gets all the attention in the USA..alongside the
1911s.

I'd take my P-01 or CZ75s over anything else. A Taurus or
Beretta secondly. stoked with my NGA Sentry rounds or
Speer +Ps

We have only heard of one KB with a CZ. A faulty 9mm
round made by an undisclosed company, that quickly replaced
the pistol. The grips were broken and the magazine blew out..
that is about all. No injury to the shooter.

The only Glocks for me are the 9mms. I'm even leary of shooting them
sometimes with my reloads.

 

[Tecolote]

I wouldn't hesitate to rely on a Glock 17 or 19. The mechanism is so simple that you can perform any repairs yourself with a steel punch. There lots of other good choices like a SIG P226, Beretta 92FS, you name it.

 

[JohnKSa]

If I wanted one that would truly fire ANYTHING I would get a Beretta 92. Ample chamber, great feed system, and a hammer strike that Thor would be proud of. IMO, it's not going to run with the Glock and Ruger for durability but you're not likely to wear it out quickly either. Can't strip the slide easily due to the staked pin for the extractor, but I've never found that to be an issue. I just blow out the firing pin channel using Gun Scrubber and holding the little "straw" to the firing pin hole. Keep spraying until no more gunk comes out around the extractor or the back of the slide. WEAR GOGGLES.

If I wanted one that was virtually blow up proof, I'd get a Ruger P89. Only problem is, the chamber is on the tight side on the P89s I've messed with. I'm never afraid the gun's going to come apart from poor quality ammo, but if the round is a bit oversized, it won't fully chamber in the P89. Dunno if the new polymer 9mm Rugers have a bigger chamber, but I hear they are even more durable than the P89---maybe not quite as strong though? Disassembling the P89 fully isn't hard, but it's not as easy as on the Glock.

For raw durability, I'd pick a Glock 17. Reliable, durable, easy to service. As already pointed out, that would restrict my ammo choices a bit, and the striker doesn't give quite as vigorous a whack to the primer as most hammer designs.

Overall, I'd probably go with the P89 and just test chamber every round before I loaded it for real...

BTW, had some visitors last week. We went to the range and shot about 400 rounds of 9mm from my stash. It didn't change the first two digits of my 9mm inventory count. The day I have to scrounge for 9mm, things are REALLY BAD!

 

[hollowpointt]

Highland ranger nailed it - HK www.hkpro.com

 

[hansolo]

S&W "Value Line"

I've owned a S&W 9mm 910s for over a year and haven't had ONE malfunction of any kind........I've mixed "cocktail" mags with JHP, handloads, Russian ammo....I've tried to make it choke with limpwristing.......no malfs whatsoever. I'd bet my life on it. I'm not trying to "sell" the pistol: just
telling the truth.