Mannlicher
Member
for me, it has been my CZ75D PCR. I bought it because it was a good deal, $300 NIB. I can't recall liking a gun more than this little 9mm. What a sweet little semi auto.
WHat handgun has far exceeded your expectations?
- Thread starter techmike
- Start date
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SIG P220ST: Its got that SIG reliability but the thing is put together tight as a bank vault. This is a handgun that is going to be hard to kill. I have yet to shoot a .45 that was more pleasant to shoot or felt more solid and as smooth as the P220ST. And not that looks are all important but its handsome looks is a bonus. For the price you pay and the performance you get I think its a bargain. 
Runner Ups:
SIG P226 9mm
Glock 27
H&K P7/M8
Runner Ups:
SIG P226 9mm
Glock 27
H&K P7/M8
BerettaNut92
Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2002
- Messages
- 9,723
My 92G Elite II with carbon fiber grips.
BKP99
Member
1. Full Size Norinco .45ACP 1911A1
I spent $300 Canadian for it ( a bit under $200 US nowadays). It's ugly and the parkerizing is rubbing off but after some Chip McCormick sights it shoots straight and is very reliable. I was lucky and the trigger is about 3.5 lbs and crisp. I had a SA loaded but got rid of it and kept the Norinco.
2. 9mm Walther 9mm P99
Fit my hand better than anything else and allowed me to out shoot a more intrisically accurate custom 9mm I own costing 3X more. It has become my favorite pistol today. Easy to clean and change sights.
I spent $300 Canadian for it ( a bit under $200 US nowadays). It's ugly and the parkerizing is rubbing off but after some Chip McCormick sights it shoots straight and is very reliable. I was lucky and the trigger is about 3.5 lbs and crisp. I had a SA loaded but got rid of it and kept the Norinco.
2. 9mm Walther 9mm P99
Fit my hand better than anything else and allowed me to out shoot a more intrisically accurate custom 9mm I own costing 3X more. It has become my favorite pistol today. Easy to clean and change sights.
Minute_Of_Torso
Member
CZ 75B, without question.
Spieler
Member
Argentine FM Hi-Power. Not the prettiest gun I have, but it works like a champ and keeps the holes REAL close together! Did I mention it was REAL cheap too!
Neal Bloom
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 334
SIG P220.
"... far exceeded my expectations."
S&W 952 PC 9mm. Excellent trigger, find accuracy, fine overall fit and finish, and no failures to feed or extract.
SIG P239 .357SIG/.40S&W. Pleasant recoil, accurate and no failures.
Glock 30. Much more accurate than my expectation.
Glock 17. Also much more accurate than my expactations.
Dittos for the G26, G27, & G33.
Rich
S&W 952 PC 9mm. Excellent trigger, find accuracy, fine overall fit and finish, and no failures to feed or extract.
SIG P239 .357SIG/.40S&W. Pleasant recoil, accurate and no failures.
Glock 30. Much more accurate than my expectation.
Glock 17. Also much more accurate than my expactations.
Dittos for the G26, G27, & G33.
Rich
Benton
Member
Makarov: Its deep blue finish, complete reliability, and accuracy were not expected. I thought it would be a good pistol, but never that it would surpass all of my more expensive pistols to become my best concealed carry gun. Eight years on I am still impressed by this firearm.
S&W Model 64: How completely dull and featureless could a handgun get? I had no enthusiasm for the 4" heavy barrel I was issued as a policeman, having derided revolvers out of ignorance for years. After a couple of thousand rounds I began to understand the 64 and eventually won trophies with it. Eventually I bought my own and regard it as among my most accurate and pleasurable to shoot firearms.
S&W Model 64: How completely dull and featureless could a handgun get? I had no enthusiasm for the 4" heavy barrel I was issued as a policeman, having derided revolvers out of ignorance for years. After a couple of thousand rounds I began to understand the 64 and eventually won trophies with it. Eventually I bought my own and regard it as among my most accurate and pleasurable to shoot firearms.
The biggest 'sleeper' I ever purchased was a Kahr P9. I had heard good things, but I never got my hands on any of them. One day, I happened to be at the store as it came in and bought it on the spot. I've never even had a glimmer of regret for that pistol.
Slim for CCW, easy on the recoil, smooth DAO trigger, and just an all around fantastic little gun.
esheato...
Slim for CCW, easy on the recoil, smooth DAO trigger, and just an all around fantastic little gun.
esheato...
Two pistols and a I must mention a rifle.
Ruger Redhawk in 44mag with a 5 1/2" bbl. Gun was purchased as a hunting sidearm and I didn't expect to shoot it a bunch, but it's incredibly accurate and feels so good in my hand (w/ Hogue wood stock). Trigger has smoothed up very nicely because of all the shooting time it gets. Love this one.
USP Expert in 45. This gun seems to have radar for the 10-ring, even when it feels like I yanked the shot, it usually hits where I wanted.
But the absolute biggest surprise for me is the CZ Scout rifle I bought for my 7-yr old son. This is a heckuva gun, outstanding quality, fit and finish, inexpensive and 1/2" groups with cheap ammo. I now understand why CZ pistols have such a loyal following.
Ruger Redhawk in 44mag with a 5 1/2" bbl. Gun was purchased as a hunting sidearm and I didn't expect to shoot it a bunch, but it's incredibly accurate and feels so good in my hand (w/ Hogue wood stock). Trigger has smoothed up very nicely because of all the shooting time it gets. Love this one.
USP Expert in 45. This gun seems to have radar for the 10-ring, even when it feels like I yanked the shot, it usually hits where I wanted.
But the absolute biggest surprise for me is the CZ Scout rifle I bought for my 7-yr old son. This is a heckuva gun, outstanding quality, fit and finish, inexpensive and 1/2" groups with cheap ammo. I now understand why CZ pistols have such a loyal following.
Climb14er
Member
Sig P239 357 Sig
Accurate, easy to handle, compact for CCW, slim grips, reliable, easy to field strip, one of the best pistols I have ever shot!
Accurate, easy to handle, compact for CCW, slim grips, reliable, easy to field strip, one of the best pistols I have ever shot!
Stealthfixr
Member
Another vote for the CZ-75B series! Amazing gun--the price just made the deal all the more sweet.
Benton
Member
I've been surprised to read so many mentions of Heckler & Koch and SIG/Sauer pistols in this thread. They have such a high reputation that I wonder why they exceeded people's expectations. I'd like to hear why SIG 220 and USP owners anticipated only middling performance from their pistols prior to purchase.
Penforhire
Member
My 4" 686+. I didn't expect to like a wheelgun. I'm starting to get a passionate affection for the concept, and this example, though.
Fed168
Member
I heard some P220s were picky on what they ate. After learning more about Sigs, I went and bought a 220ST. It'll cut the x ring out, feeds and works with ammo ranging from match semi wadcutter to duty loads.
The other one I can think of- the airlight Smiths. It'll beat ya up abit from the triggerguard, but at 25 yards they go where they should.
The other one I can think of- the airlight Smiths. It'll beat ya up abit from the triggerguard, but at 25 yards they go where they should.
I didn't expect much from my first Kel-Tec P-11. Anybody who expects a lot for a 9mm lightweight subcompact with a 10+1 capacity that costs in the $200 range must be a bit daft, after all. It has far exceeded my expectations and still amazes me.
The P-32 I acquired later would probably have also exceeded my expectations if the P-11 had not spoiled my judgment about Kel-Tecs. I expected it to be an amazing little gun, and it is!
What's amazing about them is the "bang for the buck," and there are very few times when that cliche can be applied literally....
The P-32 I acquired later would probably have also exceeded my expectations if the P-11 had not spoiled my judgment about Kel-Tecs. I expected it to be an amazing little gun, and it is!
What's amazing about them is the "bang for the buck," and there are very few times when that cliche can be applied literally....
cslinger
Member
Well I cannot say SIG Sauer pisttols because.....
I have always had good luck with them and I have pretty high expectations as far as SIGs are concerned.
The two that really surprised me were......
The P7M8. I bought it because of the cool factor and unique manual of arms and after owning it truely believe it is one of the finest defensive handguns ever devised. I love this pistol. It truely has surprised me.
Ruger GP100 3inch small grips fixed sights. I have never shot a revolver better and I have shot and owned some Smith PC guns. My GP100 is spectacular. The trigger is a little rough on the return but if it is anything like our SP101 it will smooth out immensely with use. The SP101 has a wonderful double action trigger now. It is comfortable, extremely accurate and so over engineered I could probably launch a cruise missile out of it.
Chris
I have always had good luck with them and I have pretty high expectations as far as SIGs are concerned.
The two that really surprised me were......
The P7M8. I bought it because of the cool factor and unique manual of arms and after owning it truely believe it is one of the finest defensive handguns ever devised. I love this pistol. It truely has surprised me.
Ruger GP100 3inch small grips fixed sights. I have never shot a revolver better and I have shot and owned some Smith PC guns. My GP100 is spectacular. The trigger is a little rough on the return but if it is anything like our SP101 it will smooth out immensely with use. The SP101 has a wonderful double action trigger now. It is comfortable, extremely accurate and so over engineered I could probably launch a cruise missile out of it.
Chris
Jason Demond
Member
The gun that exceeded my expectations, is a Taurus PT-111. When I bought this gun, I found it had a broken trigger. I sent it off to Taurus to be fixed, with a plan to trade it off when it came back. No one, and I mean no one, wanted it. So fearing I was stuck with a lemon, so I set out to destroy it. After 500 rounds of Gold Dot's, and 400 rounds of Mag-tech ammo, I have a great carry gun.
FWIW 900 rounds without a single jam, it will even feed an empty case.
FWIW 900 rounds without a single jam, it will even feed an empty case.
Thirties
Member
Smith & Wesson model 15
I knew I'd like this S&W model 15 (from 1963) I bough earlier this year, but I didn't know it would become, and stay, my favorite handgun -- auto or revo.
for those who may not know, a model 15 is a six-shot .38 special da/sa revolver, with 4" barrel and adjustable rear sight. Before the days of model numbers at S&W, it was known as the K-38 Combat Masterpiece.
I knew I'd like this S&W model 15 (from 1963) I bough earlier this year, but I didn't know it would become, and stay, my favorite handgun -- auto or revo.
for those who may not know, a model 15 is a six-shot .38 special da/sa revolver, with 4" barrel and adjustable rear sight. Before the days of model numbers at S&W, it was known as the K-38 Combat Masterpiece.
jdkelly
Member
Bang for the buck:
CZ 75B 9mm
CZ 75B 40 S&W
Colt Defender .45 ACP (used)
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jkelly
CZ 75B 9mm
CZ 75B 40 S&W
Colt Defender .45 ACP (used)
***************************************
jkelly
standingbear
Member
my 3 rugers. a ss gp100,a ss comp slabside and a ss 44 mag redhawk.the redhawk surprised me the most,i can fire it double action and actually hit what im aiming at,recoil not bad at all,course the 7.5 inch barrel helps.the slabside is just a fun plinker.can shoot it all day long at empty boxes of cigarette packs setting on a wood block.hate fumbling with the redot on it though.i got the gp after wanting a rh in 357 and ss for a coons age.couldnt find one in a reasonable price so i got the gp brand new for just over 300 bucks.have already shot several groundhogs with it.im hooked on stainless steel.
Stevie-Ray
Member
My Glock 26 exceeded my expectations, as I had never shot one until I shot my own. Much more accurate than the PT-111 it replaced, and felt better in my hand.
My Kimber Ultra CDP II has amazed me more than all my other guns short of an SAR-48. On paper, it never fails to make me look like an expert. I sunk hundreds into a Colt Mark IV to get this kind of performance years ago. Now I carry it in the Kimber.
My Kimber Ultra CDP II has amazed me more than all my other guns short of an SAR-48. On paper, it never fails to make me look like an expert. I sunk hundreds into a Colt Mark IV to get this kind of performance years ago. Now I carry it in the Kimber.
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