Taurus 24/7 Pro Compact in .45ACP. I think I paid $305 for it from Bud's, it's been completely reliable with defense ammo and it's comfortable to carry. If it had night sights it would be perfect, the only reason I ever carry anything else is that in South Carolina the lack of open carry and the restrictive list of prohibited places makes it necessary to conceal completely when we carry and to disarm frequently. That means pocket carry works best for me and the little Taurus is just a hair to big to pocket carry comfortably. It's very comfortable in a Crossbreed though.
Which Firearm Has Been a Pleasant Surprise?
- Thread starter Sock Puppet
- Start date
- Status
Furncliff
Member
RIA 1911-45, that was a gift from my wife ~7 years ago. Reliable and accurate. It shoots all my reloads including swc, and once in a while I shoot it from a rest just to continue to be surprised at how accurate it is.
AKElroy
Member
Would have to be a tie between the Taurus PT99 AF, and the HiPoint carbine, both in 9mm. They both really shoot, and eat anything. I did have to take the HiPoint mags apart to remove the gunk the factory left behind to get them to feed reliably, but since then it is 100%.
A Star PD amazed me with its accuracy
with jswc ammo, from the machine rest. 5" groups at 50 yds.
But I was at the time a big believer in .45 swc's (due to Cooper and Keith's bs) and I had many thousands of .45 's loaded with lead bullets. The PD's rifling is too shallow for lead. It keyholes such ammo badly, missing the entire silohuetter at 10 yds, etc. So I let it go for 1/2 of the retail price that I'd paid in 1977, I think it was. Nowadays, I would just use Corbon 165 gr, but stuff like that didn't exist at the time.
with jswc ammo, from the machine rest. 5" groups at 50 yds.
But I was at the time a big believer in .45 swc's (due to Cooper and Keith's bs) and I had many thousands of .45 's loaded with lead bullets. The PD's rifling is too shallow for lead. It keyholes such ammo badly, missing the entire silohuetter at 10 yds, etc. So I let it go for 1/2 of the retail price that I'd paid in 1977, I think it was. Nowadays, I would just use Corbon 165 gr, but stuff like that didn't exist at the time.
Poper
Member
Weatherby Vanguard .30-06. Bought it when Sportsman's Warehouse had 'em on sale a few years ago for $379. Stuck it in the back of the safe and forgot about it. Finally shot it in early November to sight it in as a back-up rifle for my deer hunt. First three shots were all touching. Second three rounds were perfectly zeroed and almost touching.
I was impressed.
Poper
I was impressed.
Poper
kimberkid
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2010
- Messages
- 1,654
A couple of surplus guns have surprised me like the CZ-52 and my first Makarov for pistols ... a few years back you could buy a Turkish Mauser and a case of 8mm Turk ammo for $100 from J&G ... It shot pretty crappy until I pulled the projectiles and tailored a load for it and lastly I'd picked up an Enfield No. 4 MK 2A which shot incredibly well with CAVIM 308 (it was one of the Egyptian re-barrels).
Oh yeah, the UZI also suprised me ... always heard that they are a "spray & pray gun" I was stunned to hit a 6" gong easily and consistantly at 50 yds.
Oh yeah, the UZI also suprised me ... always heard that they are a "spray & pray gun" I was stunned to hit a 6" gong easily and consistantly at 50 yds.
Norinco M97 Winchester trench gun clone. It was dirt cheap, I didn't expect much and it turned out to be smooth, reliable and surprisingly well made. My all-time surprise, however, was Glock 17. I've always hated them and after an impulse purchase I found myself shooting it just as well as my 1911 race guns.
aarondhgraham
Member
A Heritage Rough Rider SA revolver
Against all internet forum advice,,,
I purchased a Heritage Rough Rider as a graduation gift for a friend.
It shoots to point of aim with Federal bulk ammo,,,
And didn't cost me an arm and a leg.
She likes it very much,,,
And outshot her boyfriend with it.
It's not a Ruger,,,
But it's not a bad gun at all.
Aarond
.
Against all internet forum advice,,,
I purchased a Heritage Rough Rider as a graduation gift for a friend.
It shoots to point of aim with Federal bulk ammo,,,
And didn't cost me an arm and a leg.
She likes it very much,,,
And outshot her boyfriend with it.
It's not a Ruger,,,
But it's not a bad gun at all.
Aarond
.
I bought a used Ruger sp101 a few years back to use as my carry weapon. I figured that even with the 2.5 inches of barrel I'd be able to hit what I needed at close range. To my surprise at about 15 to 20 yards I'm very accurate. All five shots into center of mass of a silhouette target.
76shuvlinoff
Member
Ruger LCP .380.
I thought what have done? Little crappy piece of plastic, no real sights, looong trigger. I am thinking I won't hit anything beyond fist fight range with this but I'll try it. With the pinky extension it hits right where I point it at 7 paces even in fairly rapid firing. I don't think it was meant for more than that so yes, I am pleasantly pleased.
The other is a Taurus 82 .38 in genuine beater condition with a little trigger work. It got my wife and daughter into shooting with me.
I thought what have done? Little crappy piece of plastic, no real sights, looong trigger. I am thinking I won't hit anything beyond fist fight range with this but I'll try it. With the pinky extension it hits right where I point it at 7 paces even in fairly rapid firing. I don't think it was meant for more than that so yes, I am pleasantly pleased.
The other is a Taurus 82 .38 in genuine beater condition with a little trigger work. It got my wife and daughter into shooting with me.
Silver Duck
Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2013
- Messages
- 6
My new Ruger SR22. I usually shoot S&W Model 41s, so I didn't expect great accuracy out of a super light gun with a 3" barrel (got it for "plinking".) In the process of zeroing in a laser sight (from bench rest), it managed to shoot a 1-hole 4 round group at 25'!
49willys
Member
I bought a smith and wesson sigma in 40sw a couple of years ago not knowing anything about it.After some internet searching about it,I was thinking I made a huge mistake because most of the review I saw were bad ones.I didn`t figure anyone would buy it from me so I kept it and figured I would just shoot it until it wrecked itself.Well,a couple thousand rounds later,nary a hiccup.Several different brands and weights of bullets,all feed with no trouble at all.
Easy to clean,accurate,nice trigger after a spring upgrade,and feels GREAT in the hand.I`m gonna keep this one!
Easy to clean,accurate,nice trigger after a spring upgrade,and feels GREAT in the hand.I`m gonna keep this one!
diablo2184
Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2009
- Messages
- 36
SW M&P Shield. I am a huge Glock fan, but i purchased the Shield because of the single stack compact 9mm. I hope Glock makes one soon, the G26 is not comfortable for me.
dbmjr1
Member
Like so many others, I have several 'pleasant surprises'.
For the same reasons already discussed:
Taurus PT-22
RIA 1911 GI .45acp
CZ 452
My Dan Wesson 715: I've been shooting this gun since I was in my early twenties. I mean shooting it too. Right now it's covered in black soot after knocking down a large number of plates today. 150 rounds of some pretty stout stuff. I expect it to be accurate, but am pleased that it takes some serious use and cleans up like new. I couldn't even guess my round count in this pistol. I'm 52.
NAA 6" Hogleg: My only NAA that will repeatedly hit the plates at 25 yards. I have six others, including target models. Non of the others will do this.
Mosin Nagant: $89 rifle, cheap ammo, two MOA accuracy @ 100 yards with cheap ammo. Good ballistics and a lot of power. What's not to like.
Rossi .38 spl. Not sure of the model #. A 'J frame' Clone. Didn't really want it, but the deal was too good to pass up. I brought it to the range and it changed my mind. It now sits loaded with Critical Defense ammo.
Remington Speed Master: I bought this from online local classifieds when I was laid up and needed a project. I payed $100 and refinished the stock. When I finally got it to the range, I fell in love with it. It will devour a tube of shorts and put them all in a neat little group at 25 yards. The only rifle I have that groups shorts well, and it's a semi auto that functions with shorts.!!!
For the same reasons already discussed:
Taurus PT-22
RIA 1911 GI .45acp
CZ 452
My Dan Wesson 715: I've been shooting this gun since I was in my early twenties. I mean shooting it too. Right now it's covered in black soot after knocking down a large number of plates today. 150 rounds of some pretty stout stuff. I expect it to be accurate, but am pleased that it takes some serious use and cleans up like new. I couldn't even guess my round count in this pistol. I'm 52.
NAA 6" Hogleg: My only NAA that will repeatedly hit the plates at 25 yards. I have six others, including target models. Non of the others will do this.
Mosin Nagant: $89 rifle, cheap ammo, two MOA accuracy @ 100 yards with cheap ammo. Good ballistics and a lot of power. What's not to like.
Rossi .38 spl. Not sure of the model #. A 'J frame' Clone. Didn't really want it, but the deal was too good to pass up. I brought it to the range and it changed my mind. It now sits loaded with Critical Defense ammo.
Remington Speed Master: I bought this from online local classifieds when I was laid up and needed a project. I payed $100 and refinished the stock. When I finally got it to the range, I fell in love with it. It will devour a tube of shorts and put them all in a neat little group at 25 yards. The only rifle I have that groups shorts well, and it's a semi auto that functions with shorts.!!!
Ignition Override
Member
Where does one begin?
The Romanian M-69 (.22) Trainer, Enfield #4s, #5s, FR8, Yugo M59 SKS (no launcher) and the M-1 Garand were excellent surprises.
Can't exclude the first handgun here, a WW2 Sauer 38H.
This Sauer handgun-the size of its modern Sig 230/232 offspring, is much easier to conceal than any Beretta, Glock etc that comes to mind.
The Romanian M-69 (.22) Trainer, Enfield #4s, #5s, FR8, Yugo M59 SKS (no launcher) and the M-1 Garand were excellent surprises.
Can't exclude the first handgun here, a WW2 Sauer 38H.
This Sauer handgun-the size of its modern Sig 230/232 offspring, is much easier to conceal than any Beretta, Glock etc that comes to mind.
Last edited:
Lj1941
Member
My CZ 82. I bought it just because it looked like a neat double stack pistol. I did not expect anything out of the way. My thought was that the price was right,it was a C & R weapon and it was just another Eastern bloc hunk of metal. What it turned out was an extremely accurate and well built weapon. It has turned out to be my most accurate handgun-bar none and I find myself carrying it the most of any of my weapons. All in all I am sorry I did not get another at the good price.
Oh yes... what I forgot to mention was Saiga .308 in thumbhole configuration. I bought it over 10 years ago, mainly because it was the cheapest moose and deer legal semiauto on the market. I also got a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4x32 scope for it at 50% off and the gun shop threw in a plastic-wrapped case of .308 surplus ammo to seal the deal. The whole package set me back around $380.
When I sighted it in my jaw dropped. It printed nice, clean and consistent sub-1" 5-shot groups at 150m (164yd), all day long. Cold or hot, bench or prone, no difference at all as long as I did my job. That's well under a MOA, with just about the cheapest ammo available.
I hunted with it a few times but now it's been gathering dust as a DMR-project. If the grouping is even close to that with newer batches of surplus ammo and a reflex suppressor, i'll get proper high-magnification Zeiss, IOR or Meopta optics for it - effectively ruining the cheapness - and make it a dedicated 300/600m range rifle. While some Sako RS95/M92S rifles I've shot have been very accurate, this is by far the most accurate AK-style rifle I've ever come across. Not necessarily the model, not all of them are particularly good, but this one definitely is.
When I sighted it in my jaw dropped. It printed nice, clean and consistent sub-1" 5-shot groups at 150m (164yd), all day long. Cold or hot, bench or prone, no difference at all as long as I did my job. That's well under a MOA, with just about the cheapest ammo available.
I hunted with it a few times but now it's been gathering dust as a DMR-project. If the grouping is even close to that with newer batches of surplus ammo and a reflex suppressor, i'll get proper high-magnification Zeiss, IOR or Meopta optics for it - effectively ruining the cheapness - and make it a dedicated 300/600m range rifle. While some Sako RS95/M92S rifles I've shot have been very accurate, this is by far the most accurate AK-style rifle I've ever come across. Not necessarily the model, not all of them are particularly good, but this one definitely is.
Badlander
Member
My surprise was my Rossi 92 .45 colt. I liked it for the short barrel and light weight but expected to have to do A lot of action work to make it acceptable. After a good clean up It works great as is. May try another in .357.
chris in va
Member
My Henry lever action 22. Way too much fun and I'm not wasting ammo like I would with a semiauto. I like how you can rack the action while retaining a reasonable sight picture.
Friend of mine has a Puma in 45 Colt. It's absurdly fun...would love to have one. You can download it for light plinking or upload for...whatever. I just wish they could make one in 45acp so I wouldn't have to chase brass.
Friend of mine has a Puma in 45 Colt. It's absurdly fun...would love to have one. You can download it for light plinking or upload for...whatever. I just wish they could make one in 45acp so I wouldn't have to chase brass.
- Status
