Dorrin79
Member
Browning Hi-Power. There's simply nothing else like it.
Those of you that have shot or owned a lot of different handguns, which are best?
- Thread starter albanian
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Best DA/SA pistol I ever handled was the Sig 226...
My favorite 9mm is still the BHP.
And while I'll agree there are newer designs, the Colt Government series pistols (1911 and 1911A1) remain my favorites.
Ruger pistols and revolvers of all kind have been welcome in my safe... Ruger makes good guns.
My favorite 9mm is still the BHP.
And while I'll agree there are newer designs, the Colt Government series pistols (1911 and 1911A1) remain my favorites.
Ruger pistols and revolvers of all kind have been welcome in my safe... Ruger makes good guns.
The rationale for adoption and use of semiauto pistol designs other than those of JMB is worth some thought. The single action cocked-and-locked pistols were the norm in the US for about 60 years and dominated various forms of practical pistol competition. They are still considered a first class fighting pistol by many qualified to judge. The DA/SA, DAO, and "safe action" systems, were designed for something else--protection of the using organization from liability insofar as possible, and only secondarily as an effective weapon. As a consequence they are usually harder to shoot well than, say, an old Model 10 Smith.
The SA pistol requires dedication, training, and commitment. If those things exist, the 1911 certainly suffices. Bureaucrats, administrators, and bean counters almost universally would prefer not to deal with firearms issues at all, and are almost pathologically driven to buy those guns that they think will prevent lawsuits all by themselves.
The fundamental purpose of the handgun hasn't changed since Samuel colt was a kid at sea.
The SA pistol requires dedication, training, and commitment. If those things exist, the 1911 certainly suffices. Bureaucrats, administrators, and bean counters almost universally would prefer not to deal with firearms issues at all, and are almost pathologically driven to buy those guns that they think will prevent lawsuits all by themselves.
The fundamental purpose of the handgun hasn't changed since Samuel colt was a kid at sea.
denfoote
Member
Basing this on what I've shot the most, I would have to say the humble Ruger MK-II gets the overall nod. A LOT of rimfire has gone down range through mine over the years!!
A far as nine milimeter goes, the nod, again, has to go to the Ruger (sorry Gaston). My P95 has digested more than it's fair share of some of the worst God awful ammo ever to grace a magazine!! I mean stuff that would make a Glock or Sig puke!!
Everything from cheap gunshow bag ammo to old laquer coated Wolf!! It has not skipped a beat!!
I will digress from this Ruger love fest to say that as far a the .45acp goes, my old IAI (not IMI) M5000 is truly a find. A commander clone, I purchased it for $200, and after the installation of some better sights, has been a stellar performer!!!
The mousegun caliber winner goes without saying to Pistolet Makarova!! Nuff said!!
Well, there you have it.
A far as nine milimeter goes, the nod, again, has to go to the Ruger (sorry Gaston). My P95 has digested more than it's fair share of some of the worst God awful ammo ever to grace a magazine!! I mean stuff that would make a Glock or Sig puke!!
Everything from cheap gunshow bag ammo to old laquer coated Wolf!! It has not skipped a beat!!
I will digress from this Ruger love fest to say that as far a the .45acp goes, my old IAI (not IMI) M5000 is truly a find. A commander clone, I purchased it for $200, and after the installation of some better sights, has been a stellar performer!!!
The mousegun caliber winner goes without saying to Pistolet Makarova!! Nuff said!!
Well, there you have it.
Boarhunter
Member
I currently own close to 40 handguns; over the last 30 years, I have previously owned and fired far, far more than double that number. And generally speaking, I tend to like the most recent acquisition (whatever it is) the best! But when all is said and done, I go back to the Smith and Taurus pocket revolvers for daily carry, the Glocks for serious shooting, and the big-bore Smiths and Ruger revolvers for fun shooting and hunting.
Boarhunter
Boarhunter
armoredman
Member
Used to work on a rental range/gun shop. got to test fire used guns, and of course, all the rentals.
Best of all I have owned and fired, hands down, CZ 75 PO1. Bet my life on it every day.
Best for fun shooting - CZ 75, Berretta 92F, Ruger MkII, SiG P220, Smiht model 10.
Best for impressing the easily impressed....Smith Model 629 - big boom without the buck a round for 500,454, or 480.
Worst piles of junk - Jennings, Lorcin, first generation HK USP. That's right - the USPs would not take the rental usage abuse, and failed fairly quickly...Also the Colt All American 2000 that wouldn't hit a target, and the Llama 38 Super that also didn't want to offend a target by putting a hole in it....
Best of all I have owned and fired, hands down, CZ 75 PO1. Bet my life on it every day.
Best for fun shooting - CZ 75, Berretta 92F, Ruger MkII, SiG P220, Smiht model 10.
Best for impressing the easily impressed....Smith Model 629 - big boom without the buck a round for 500,454, or 480.
Worst piles of junk - Jennings, Lorcin, first generation HK USP. That's right - the USPs would not take the rental usage abuse, and failed fairly quickly...Also the Colt All American 2000 that wouldn't hit a target, and the Llama 38 Super that also didn't want to offend a target by putting a hole in it....
Boarhunter
Member
My favorite handgun of all time was one my child bride gave me a year or two ago as a gift and Smith later took from me to destroy...a limited edition Lew Horton Smith scandium 329 .44 magnum with a 3" ported barrel. You talk about a showdamnstopper. Action as smooth as silk; accurate beyond belief; beautiful to see and hold; and IMPRESSIVE to shoot with magnum loads. Serial number 50. It was a constant companion on the hip and at the range with .44 specials; and when my buds or newbies needed impressin', a few mag loads down range did the trick.
Then Smith called and told me the barrels on the guns were cinched down too tight and the guns may blow apart with mag loads (hmmm...I had put a lot of mag loads through it before getting the call....). I had to send it back, not for repair, but for destruction. And now it is gone.
My favorite handgun of all time. Gone. And not to be duplicated again.
I replaced it eventually with a standard production scandium 329, but it just is not the same....
Boarhunter
Then Smith called and told me the barrels on the guns were cinched down too tight and the guns may blow apart with mag loads (hmmm...I had put a lot of mag loads through it before getting the call....). I had to send it back, not for repair, but for destruction. And now it is gone.
My favorite handgun of all time. Gone. And not to be duplicated again.
I replaced it eventually with a standard production scandium 329, but it just is not the same....
Boarhunter
Old Dog
Member
While I've been shooting for only a little over thirty-five years (and issued and carrying handguns for over 20 years) ... I've come up with my own short list of "best handguns." (In the handgun calibers I've used the most)
Best .45 ACP, all-time favorite and most versatile: Series 70 Colt's Gov't Model Best combat pistol ever, best trigger ever.
Best .357 Magnum revolver: S&W 686 (4" barrel) Most accurate handgun I've ever owned/shot.
Best .38 Special revolver: S&W Model 10 (4" barrel) Easiest handgun to shoot, accurate and reliable.
Best 9mm pistol: SIG 226 (runners-up Beretta 92FS, CZ-75) SIGs are boringly reliable and have a deserved reputation for accuracy.
Best .40 S&W pistol: SIG 226
Best concealed carry pistol: 1911 w/4" - 4.25" barrel, i.e., Colt's LW Commander, Kimber CDP Pro, Springfield Armory LW Champion The one handgun I'd always want with me ...
Best concealed carry DA/SA pistol: SIG 228 If I couldn't have a Commander ...
Best concealed carry revolver: S&W 642 Just in case ...
Best .45 ACP, all-time favorite and most versatile: Series 70 Colt's Gov't Model Best combat pistol ever, best trigger ever.
Best .357 Magnum revolver: S&W 686 (4" barrel) Most accurate handgun I've ever owned/shot.
Best .38 Special revolver: S&W Model 10 (4" barrel) Easiest handgun to shoot, accurate and reliable.
Best 9mm pistol: SIG 226 (runners-up Beretta 92FS, CZ-75) SIGs are boringly reliable and have a deserved reputation for accuracy.
Best .40 S&W pistol: SIG 226
Best concealed carry pistol: 1911 w/4" - 4.25" barrel, i.e., Colt's LW Commander, Kimber CDP Pro, Springfield Armory LW Champion The one handgun I'd always want with me ...
Best concealed carry DA/SA pistol: SIG 228 If I couldn't have a Commander ...
Best concealed carry revolver: S&W 642 Just in case ...
I find it strange a USP did not take range use as in my experience they did as least as well as Glocks except the magazines seemed to wear out quicker which is a minor concern. I don't know if earlier USP's were problematic though.
farscott
Member
My list:
.22 Plinker: S&W K-22 Masterpiece
.22 Target: S&W M41 or Marvel kit on 1911 frame
.22 Trainer: Ruger Mark II, Glock 17 w/conversion kit, or CZ-75 Kadet
CCW revolver: S&W Centennial (I like the M640)
.357 Magnum: Any older K-frame or N-frame
9mm Target: S&W M952 or Trojan 5.0
9mm Open Carry: Glock 17 or Trojan 5.0
.45 ACP Target: Custom 1911 or S&W M945 (this is a steal for $800)
.45 ACP Open Carry: 1911
.45 ACP CCW: 1911
.22 Plinker: S&W K-22 Masterpiece
.22 Target: S&W M41 or Marvel kit on 1911 frame
.22 Trainer: Ruger Mark II, Glock 17 w/conversion kit, or CZ-75 Kadet
CCW revolver: S&W Centennial (I like the M640)
.357 Magnum: Any older K-frame or N-frame
9mm Target: S&W M952 or Trojan 5.0
9mm Open Carry: Glock 17 or Trojan 5.0
.45 ACP Target: Custom 1911 or S&W M945 (this is a steal for $800)
.45 ACP Open Carry: 1911
.45 ACP CCW: 1911
RCL
Member
I don't know if it would qualify them as best, but of the various brands of semi-autos I have owned, two that would always go bang and never jammed or malfed, at least in 9mm, were S&W and Glock.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Lots of good ones out there, its just a matter of personal preference.
My list isn't conclusive by any means, but here are a few that I like:
SIG's Classic P-series, Browning Hi-Powers & Pro's, Glocks, H&K's,
Smith & Wesson model 39-2, 3rd generation auto's, and revolvers.
Old Colt D-frame (Dick Specials, Cobras, and Agents) revolvers
w/o the enclosed ejector rod or shroud, Colt Diamondbacks and
Pythons. Ruger Security-Six, Blackhawk*, Redhawk* and GP-100.
Pocket Guns: Seecamps, Berettas, NAA mini revolvers. Never owned
a Kel-Tec, so I can't address their firearms. Worthy of note: Bersa
Thunder DT .380, as it can't be beat for the price!
As for 1911's: Colts, Springfields, and Kimbers rule as I've never
owned a Wilson, Baer, or STI.
*FootNote: indicates, both the regular Blackhawk and Redhawk as
well as the Super Blackhawk and Super Redhawk.
My list isn't conclusive by any means, but here are a few that I like:
SIG's Classic P-series, Browning Hi-Powers & Pro's, Glocks, H&K's,
Smith & Wesson model 39-2, 3rd generation auto's, and revolvers.
Old Colt D-frame (Dick Specials, Cobras, and Agents) revolvers
w/o the enclosed ejector rod or shroud, Colt Diamondbacks and
Pythons. Ruger Security-Six, Blackhawk*, Redhawk* and GP-100.
Pocket Guns: Seecamps, Berettas, NAA mini revolvers. Never owned
a Kel-Tec, so I can't address their firearms. Worthy of note: Bersa
Thunder DT .380, as it can't be beat for the price!
As for 1911's: Colts, Springfields, and Kimbers rule as I've never
owned a Wilson, Baer, or STI.
*FootNote: indicates, both the regular Blackhawk and Redhawk as
well as the Super Blackhawk and Super Redhawk.
buddyRoland
Member
HK USP
Sig P239, P228, P229, P226 9mm's
Glock 26, 19, 17
Ruger Revolvers
S&W Revolvers and 410
Sig P239, P228, P229, P226 9mm's
Glock 26, 19, 17
Ruger Revolvers
S&W Revolvers and 410
bubbygator
Member
I've had handguns since 1955. My best choices have already been mentioned, but I'll list them again.
Colt Lightweight Commander .45 (or equivalent over 4" 1911 clone)
Browning/FN High Power 9mm (best 9mm ever)
S&W J-frame (any one that suits your fancy, I like em all)
Ruger Mark II (with a bull barrel)
KelTec P3AT (best thin mouse-gun so far)
Colt Lightweight Commander .45 (or equivalent over 4" 1911 clone)
Browning/FN High Power 9mm (best 9mm ever)
S&W J-frame (any one that suits your fancy, I like em all)
Ruger Mark II (with a bull barrel)
KelTec P3AT (best thin mouse-gun so far)
My first observation over the years is that .40 cal handguns wear out too quickly.
Second is that anything in .45 other than a good 1911 does too.
The 9mm, however, offers plenty of decent long lasting handguns, with the Glock and BHP lasting the longest.
For the vast majority of people none of this matters, because they simply do not shoot enough to worry about wearing out any handguns.
Second is that anything in .45 other than a good 1911 does too.
The 9mm, however, offers plenty of decent long lasting handguns, with the Glock and BHP lasting the longest.
For the vast majority of people none of this matters, because they simply do not shoot enough to worry about wearing out any handguns.
P-35/53
Member
In no paticular order- Browning hi-power, Older Colt Commanders, Kimber Govt. mod., S&W Mod. 10 or 66, 19,686.Glock 19 , Ruger Security Six.
Longbow
Member
Reliability, accuracy and good looks, in that order.
S&W revolvers (K and L frames), Glock, 1911 and BHP.
S&W revolvers (K and L frames), Glock, 1911 and BHP.
armoredman
Member
You were looking for a trend? How many posts list Smith revolvers, specifically the Model 10....we do go back to our roots, it seems. J&G Sales has a bunch of nice ones for $200 or less....I gotta get one of the 3 inchers, if I can!
StrikeEagle
Member
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albanian
Or... it tells you that the skills you've learned in your years of shooting the 1911 were transferable to the XD-9.
.22 Ruger Standard
.38/.357 Ruger Security Six or Smith 66
9mm BHP
.45ACP 1911
.45 Colt SAA
I feel like I'm showin my age, here...
StrikeEagle
Or... it tells you that the skills you've learned in your years of shooting the 1911 were transferable to the XD-9.
.22 Ruger Standard
.38/.357 Ruger Security Six or Smith 66
9mm BHP
.45ACP 1911
.45 Colt SAA
I feel like I'm showin my age, here...
StrikeEagle
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