Which semi-auto pistol would you bet your life on out the box?
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I know that no one would ever want to
pick up a gun that he hasn't run hundreds of rounds through and " go to a gunfight". I also know that most would pick up a rifle or shotgun rather than a handgun. Also, if you have any common sense and you know there is gonna be a gunfight that isn't coming to you, you are best off declining the invitation and just staying home.
In case some of you haven't gotten it yet this was just another way of asking which gun do you believe to be the most reliable straight out of the box. The answers are running just about the way I had expected with Glock and XD heading up the list. I think the XD might have the lead at this point.
I wish I had known how to make this a poll, I would have. The good news is that had I made it a poll I would have left out some of the choices that have already been made like the Makarov and I would have gotten heck for it.
pick up a gun that he hasn't run hundreds of rounds through and " go to a gunfight". I also know that most would pick up a rifle or shotgun rather than a handgun. Also, if you have any common sense and you know there is gonna be a gunfight that isn't coming to you, you are best off declining the invitation and just staying home.
In case some of you haven't gotten it yet this was just another way of asking which gun do you believe to be the most reliable straight out of the box. The answers are running just about the way I had expected with Glock and XD heading up the list. I think the XD might have the lead at this point.
I wish I had known how to make this a poll, I would have. The good news is that had I made it a poll I would have left out some of the choices that have already been made like the Makarov and I would have gotten heck for it.
Ryder
Member
Not really. Every gun I've bought worked straight out of the factory box. Why would I not assume that to continue to be the case? That's a lot of guns from a variety of manufacturers.
What the question implies IMO is whether you are willing to do anything and everything to save your life. It would appear some people have limitations in that regard.
Big Mike
Member
Beretta 92.
NWCP
Member
Any HK USP, or any P7 series HK. I own several and have never had any failure regardless of caliber.
NinjaFeint
Member
A Glock 17, mine has yet to fail to do anything. Amongst my friends we have about 10-12 Glocks and they all function flawlessly.
Any of my 3 or 4 glocks. My 22c, my 26, and my 32. The 22c is a hoss and it's never failed, the 26 has never failed, and the 32 is a tack driver. Glock is the boss if you want a polymer pistol. In my mind, they are the boss over most other pistols too. I have other pistols, but the glocks have instilled in me revolver like confidence.
phanderson
Member
H & K USP .45 Compact.
Cactus Jack Arizona
Member
I'll continue the Hi Power and Makarov parade. 
sarduy
Member
Glock
Mr.510
Member
Any XD
Any XD with any commercial ammo is reliable enough for me right outta the box. I prefer .45s and that's what I'm used to so I'd go with an XD45. Slide and grip length don't matter, but if I'm headed to a gunfight I want a full 13 round magazine.... or six.
Any XD with any commercial ammo is reliable enough for me right outta the box. I prefer .45s and that's what I'm used to so I'd go with an XD45. Slide and grip length don't matter, but if I'm headed to a gunfight I want a full 13 round magazine.... or six.
Ryder
you are either one very lucky man or you just haven't bought enough guns yet.. It would be foolish for anyone to assume that just because they bought any one gun by brand X and it performed flawlessly for them that they or others would have the same experience. There are certain guns out there that have stellar reputations for feeding anything and everything you put through them. There are also those that have reps as jamo-matics. Just because I have a Taurus PT1911 that has never jammed with any factory ammo I have put through it after 2800 plus rounds does not mean that I am willing to say that they are out of the box reliable. Mine was, but I might have just gotten lucky. Lets hope not I have another arriving today or tomorrow. I have had much more experience with Glocks, I have owned eight and they were all reliable right out of the box. There is also a mountain of eveidence to suggest that they are one of the most reliable pistols out there. The same is becoming true of pistols like the sprinfield XD and maybe even the new Smiths. As I already have said I carry a Kimber 1911 daily right now and I love and trust it but it did not work right when I got it nor did two other 1911s that I have had in the past.
you are either one very lucky man or you just haven't bought enough guns yet.
. It would be foolish for anyone to assume that just because they bought any one gun by brand X and it performed flawlessly for them that they or others would have the same experience. There are certain guns out there that have stellar reputations for feeding anything and everything you put through them. There are also those that have reps as jamo-matics. Just because I have a Taurus PT1911 that has never jammed with any factory ammo I have put through it after 2800 plus rounds does not mean that I am willing to say that they are out of the box reliable. Mine was, but I might have just gotten lucky. Lets hope not I have another arriving today or tomorrow. I have had much more experience with Glocks, I have owned eight and they were all reliable right out of the box. There is also a mountain of eveidence to suggest that they are one of the most reliable pistols out there. The same is becoming true of pistols like the sprinfield XD and maybe even the new Smiths. As I already have said I carry a Kimber 1911 daily right now and I love and trust it but it did not work right when I got it nor did two other 1911s that I have had in the past.katokahn99
Member
When replying to the comment about NIB 1911s having reliability issues, a poster said:
Yeah, OK, that's why my series 70 Commander shot smooth as butter while ALL my buddies had issues with their brand new Kimbers and Springfields. Five out of five of them had issues until they had 500 to 1k + rounds through them and some after market clean-up/tweaks done to theme. It aint a myth to me...I've seen it first hand.
My piece was already old and well used when it came into my possession. Not one issue.
Another example. It's no myth to him either!
Don't get me wrong, I love 1911s!!! But come on...NIB to a gunfight??? No stinkin' way. Once you've put the time in to get them running smoothly, nothing compares.
Yeah, OK, that's why my series 70 Commander shot smooth as butter while ALL my buddies had issues with their brand new Kimbers and Springfields. Five out of five of them had issues until they had 500 to 1k + rounds through them and some after market clean-up/tweaks done to theme. It aint a myth to me...I've seen it first hand.
My piece was already old and well used when it came into my possession. Not one issue.
Another example. It's no myth to him either!
Don't get me wrong, I love 1911s!!! But come on...NIB to a gunfight??? No stinkin' way. Once you've put the time in to get them running smoothly, nothing compares.
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Prudence suggests that this is the best attitude regardless of the gun in question. Even the most reliable designs suffer occasionally from manufacturing problems or the odd confluence of issues.
Simply put, I would never really bet my life on *any* firearm or ammo that had not been verified to be reliable. 300 rounds, 3000 rounds... whatever I judged necessary...
I do favor Glocks for their general reliability and simplicity, but even there I won't carry something I have not personally vetted. In my book, trust is earned, regardless of name.
SwampWolf
Member
I don't get what is so hard to understand about the op's question. If every pistol you've shot has "worked straight out of the factory box" and said experience(s) is sufficient to make you believe that all pistols are equal in that regard, then it seems that your answer would be a simple one: from Hi-Point to High Power and from Auto-Mag to Zastava, "It doesn't make any difference." Why would you ever assume otherwise?
katokahn99
Member
Prudence suggests that this is the best attitude regardless of the gun in question. Even the most reliable designs suffer occasionally from manufacturing problems or the odd confluence of issues.
Simply put, I would never really bet my life on *any* firearm or ammo that had not been verified to be reliable. 300 rounds, 3000 rounds... whatever I judged necessary...
I do favor Glocks for their general reliability and simplicity, but even there I won't carry something I have not personally vetted. In my book, trust is earned, regardless of name.
+1
I hear ya...but the OP didn't give the option of opting out of having to pick a NIB piece and go into a gunfight. The parameters given for us to answer the question imply that we have no choice but to pick a gun and go fight.
So I guess another way to phrase the question is: "Based on observations and experiences, what semi-auto handguns would be most reliable right out of the box?"
MICHAEL T
Member
How about all the non gun people that buy a pistol . At the local Gander store,Dealer or pawnshop along with a box of ammo. Load it and put it in a drawer. Should they not expect this pistol they paid from a couple hundred to say a $1000+ to work right from box if needed . I think so .
We are not normal gun owners here. Many people never shoot their pistols or hardly ever . But I do believe they have a right to expect the pistol to work. Just as I would expect the revolver to work. No 500 round break in or any other hog wash excuse. Open box, load and fire , 1 complete mag no problem min. . Is this to much to expect ? Has quality control dropped that far. I am serious I see people every day buy a gun at dealer I hang out at and I know they won't shoot it even once a year. But it will be loaded that night for home defense. They deserve a pistol that works. Be it a Hi Point , Kimber, Springfield , S&W ,Colt ,Glock kelTec or what ever.
We are a small % we practice and test ammo . Majority of gun owners don't and sure don't come to boards like this .
May be the gun company's need to be held accountable for what they produce if their that bad. If gun needs 500 or what ever rounds break in .Then I think company should supply ammo and I will supply the time. In today s world they can make a reliable out of box pistol.
We are not normal gun owners here. Many people never shoot their pistols or hardly ever . But I do believe they have a right to expect the pistol to work. Just as I would expect the revolver to work. No 500 round break in or any other hog wash excuse. Open box, load and fire , 1 complete mag no problem min. . Is this to much to expect ? Has quality control dropped that far. I am serious I see people every day buy a gun at dealer I hang out at and I know they won't shoot it even once a year. But it will be loaded that night for home defense. They deserve a pistol that works. Be it a Hi Point , Kimber, Springfield , S&W ,Colt ,Glock kelTec or what ever.
We are a small % we practice and test ammo . Majority of gun owners don't and sure don't come to boards like this .
May be the gun company's need to be held accountable for what they produce if their that bad. If gun needs 500 or what ever rounds break in .Then I think company should supply ammo and I will supply the time. In today s world they can make a reliable out of box pistol.
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