Who builds the best striker fired pistol and why?

[EddieNFL]

A simpler question would be, "What striker fired pistol do you own." Same poll results.

 

[Girodin]

ACCURACY IS EVERYTHING ... HOLES ON TARGET SPEAK VOLUMES!

Not necessarily. I match pistol is not going to be the best carry gun. Reliability and other factors are more important that pure accuracy, provided the gun is "combat accurate." I might modify or build a gun in ways to achieve max accuracy that are not consistent with other important considerations for a defensive weapon. Furthermore, for most people the difference in mechanical accuracy between any of the production models listed is something most people cannot make use of.

You mention this:

Many car makers "claim" to be the best, but I consider realistic time trials the ultimate test of car's performance that tests various aspects of the vehicle components (engine, transmission, suspension, tires, brakes, seats, etc.) not just on a straight race strip (I consider this similar to range shooting at stationary target over and over and over ...) but on bumpy, twisty road course (USPSA/IDPA). One such test is the Nürburgring (Nordschleife) in Germany

It is great for underscoring the point that you have to define best for some specific test. Car A might make it around the Nurbegring faster than car B with a pro driver. However, put a layman driver in the and the results might be very different. Small cars take a world of skill to drive near the edge others are much more manageable. Furthermore the Nurbegring is not necessarily the test for what is the best daily driver. James May often laments that many manufactures "ruin" there road cars by tuning them for that track.

In sum, you have to first define a task before you can even reasonably define the objective criteria.

 

[oneounceload]

HKp7 - best striker ever made

 

[Onward Allusion]

Glock all the way with the M&P a close second. BTW, you should have a poll for the most butt ugly pistol, too. I bet ya Glock would win that one, too!

 

[sigarms228]

Try a Walther PPQ and you will see why.

 

[LiveLife]

Glock all the way with the M&P a close second. BTW, you should have a poll for the most butt ugly pistol, too. I bet ya Glock would win that one, too!

I thought Hi-Point had that honor?

I am not ripping Hi-Point, I admire that Made in USA, can be afforded by any ($159), goes "Bang" every time pistol.

 

[CZguy]

If it's NOT Walther, it's probably Caracal. Caracal is everything Glock should have evolved to

I think that you missed Steyr.

 

[Girodin]

HKp7 - best striker ever made

I like the P7. It is one of my favorite HKs in fact. However, I think it falls far short of being a "best" in my book. It heats up way too much and way too fast. It has an antiquated heal release. Lastly it has a fairly limited capacity. I think there is a reason I've never seen on shooting IDPA (or the like) or at a pistol class. I like the P7, but if I could only have one striker fired gun, for my purposes, the P7 would be way down the list .

 

[56hawk]

I like the P7. It is one of my favorite HKs in fact. However, I think it falls far short of being a "best" in my book. It heats up way too much and way too fast. It has an antiquated heal release. Lastly it has a fairly limited capacity. I think there is a reason I've never seen on shooting IDPA (or the like) or at a pistol class. I like the P7, but if I could only have one striker fired gun, for my purposes, the P7 would be way down the list .

All those issues were fixed with the P7M8 and P7M13. Probably don't see to many in competitions because of the cost and lack of aftermarket parts.

 

[Auto426]

A simpler question would be, "What striker fired pistol do you own." Same poll results.

I think this may be the best answer in the entire thread.

 

[TimboKhan]

Ha. Totally true. Personally, I settled on an xd and while it seems to be the best for me, I can't say it's the best period.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

Ruger SR9c and all the SR series. Glocks also run extremely well. Some striker fired handguns can gunk up and cause light strikes.

 

[Kiln]

The Springfield XDM is great, I own two of them and they both work amazingly well. I've had three jams with my XDM chambered in .40 S&W in about 5k rounds and zero problems with the newer 9mm with over 1k rounds through it already.

I just prefer the features of the XDM over the others but would like to own one of the M&P pistols some day because they're very comfortable.

I've never really liked Glocks, I bought a Glock model 22 early on and disliked it alot. Never had any issues with it but the gun is just a bad fit for some people and I happen to be one of them.

All of the listed options are great but I'd avoid the Ruger until they sort out the problems they're having with them. I've seen several threads on several different forums about problems with light strikes when using the SR9 that required the gun to be serviced by Ruger after a relatively low number of rounds (less than 500).

 

[TarDevil]

A simpler question would be, "What striker fired pistol do you own." Same poll results.

Quite true. Let's not forget, however, the process by which most of us came to own that pistol...the process of elimination until the perfect gun was chosen for that individual.

 

[ExTank]

Walther. P99, PPQ. Neither the Glock or Sig "range rentals" I've tried come close to matching my hand enough to make me select them over my Walther P99 AS in 9mm. XD's are a close second to my Walther.

I do intend to try some Glock/Sig/other in .40 S&W and see how they comapre to my P99 AS in .40 S&W.

 

[johnnydollar]

Another vote for the HK P7.

 

[jeepnik]

I can't say any of the striker fired ones are any better than another. I prefer those with a hammer, one of my favorite being the PP family.

 

[Dudemeister]

You do realize this is a poll about striker fired guns, and the PPK is not one of those ?!

 

[carbonyl]

I've owned 3 of these. Glock 19, M&P9 and the Ruger SRc. The Glock is the butt ugliest, ergonomic unfriendliest pistol I've ever had. But, it's the one I kept! So, Glock got my vote.

WHY ???

 

[Girodin]

All those issues were fixed with the P7M8 and P7M13. Probably don't see to many in competitions because of the cost and lack of aftermarket parts.

I've only used the earlier P7s. I guess I need to check out the other variants. However, I highly doubt the lack of them in competition or training courses is do to price. I see $3000+ 1911s, glocks with grip reductions, stipple jobs, milled slides, and $500 RMR sights that put them close to $2k. So why not an HK that is less than $2000?

however, the process by which most of us came to own that pistol...the process of elimination until the perfect gun was chosen for that individual.

I highly doubt that. I bet the vast vast vast majority of the respondents to this thread have not even held every gun discussed in it. If we are including all the variants then I have not. I bet even fewer have actually shot them and that number would dwindle if we made a threshold of even a relatively small number of rounds, say 100.

You really think most people have chosen the their gun only after trying, and for long enough to really test them out all the striker fired guns by, HK, Smith, glock, FN, Caracal, Steyr, Walther, Ruger, Springfield, etc? I doubt many people even saw one model of all those makes or even knew of them before they bought and settled on what they have.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Quite true. Let's not forget, however, the process by which most of us came to own that pistol...the process of elimination until the perfect gun was chosen for that individual.

True. I've bought and sold guns forever now. If you take care of your stuff then you lose very little doing this. Guns I've personally owned that are striker fired are only the Glock though. All my friends have owned just about anything else striker fired I was ever interested in. Most know how I am about trying out new guns and will offer to let me put at least a mag worth of ammo through their guns when they get them. When we get a range day I'll bring an extra box so other leo's can try a few rounds at least through mine. More if they bring their own ammo.

 

[easyg]

I believe the Ruger SR series is the best when it comes to striker fired pistols.

Here's why:

1. The trigger pull.
When it comes to striker fired pistols, the SR9c has the best trigger.
It's better than the Glock trigger and the Walther trigger.
And it's much much better than the XD or M&P trigger.

BUT, I admit that I gave not shot the FN FNS yet.
All of the others in the poll I have owned before and fired many many times.

2. Unless someone can show me otherwise, the Ruger is the only one in which the manufacturer declares is safe with 9mm+P+ ammo....

From Ruger's website under FAQs:

What type of ammunition should I use in my Ruger 9mm pistol?

The Ruger 9mm pistols are chambered for the 9x19mm NATO Parabellum (9mm Luger) cartridge, compatible with the U.S. and foreign military or commercial 9x19mm loads manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP standards, including high-velocity, subsonic, tracer, hollow point, ammunition loaded in aluminum, steel, or brass cartridge cases, +P and +P+ ammunition. Note: The LC9™ is not rated for +P+ ammunition.

This is from S&W's website:

“Plus-P” (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the
pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures
may affect the wear characteristics or exceed the margin of safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may result in the need for more
frequent service.

“Plus-P-Plus” (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith &
Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that
it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation
does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such
ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated
and could be DANGEROUS.

 

[918v]

Glock. It is the most versatile striker fired pistol with a huge aftermarket.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Interesting about the Ruger. Since you didn't mention it, Glock does not recommend the use of +P+ ammunition in their guns. I use it in my duty gun but only because that is what I'm issued and required to use in it. I don't see it as a major selling point myself but if a person does then Ruger would be the way to go.

 

[miles1]

Although i admire glocks their recent track record(gen 4 troubles) puts them out of the race for me.The M&P and XD both have stepped up IMHO with superior reliablility and plenty of after market support.

XD45 owner

edit:havent shot a Ruger SR yet