Official HandGun Thread

[kingofthedemo]

Here's my favorite out of my collection.....

[Mr Tonka]

^^ Nice!!

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by LinxuS

Going for my CHL in a couple weeks and no idea where to start researching for a nice gun to carry.. Any recommendations?

I might just go to the gun range and start with some rentals until I find one I like. Want it to be reliable, powerful enough, and compact and light enough to carry

More about personal feel than anything. Cannot go wrong with Glock (although some people have had issues with Gen 4 slinging brass to the face, I have not) or most XDs. I think an XD is in my future, although I do love my Glock. I would personally stay away from 1911 as a first, cause they just tend to have a lot more issues and are more finniky than the less beautiful pistols.

I would personally start with a 9mm to get used to shooting. I still carry that as I feel it is effective enough. Some people thing .40 is the minimum, some even bigger. Arguments all the time about stopping power.

Also keep in mind that 1,000 rounds of 9mm is around $210 while 1,000 round of .40sw is over $300. Makes a difference in my book. Check ammo prices before you buy the firearm if you plan to shoot a lot!

[colesville301]

glock 21 gen 4

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

More about personal feel than anything. Cannot go wrong with Glock (although some people have had issues with Gen 4 slinging brass to the face, I have not) or most XDs. I think an XD is in my future, although I do love my Glock. I would personally stay away from 1911 as a first, cause they just tend to have a lot more issues and are more finniky than the less beautiful pistols.

I would personally start with a 9mm to get used to shooting. I still carry that as I feel it is effective enough. Some people thing .40 is the minimum, some even bigger. Arguments all the time about stopping power.

Also keep in mind that 1,000 rounds of 9mm is around $210 while 1,000 round of .40sw is over $300. Makes a difference in my book. Check ammo prices before you buy the firearm if you plan to shoot a lot!

Hang on now.... you're saying that the pistol platform that has been around for over 100 years has more issues and are more finicky?

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by MP0WER

Hang on now.... you're saying that the pistol platform that has been around for over 100 years has more issues and are more finicky?

Definitely more steps to cleaning/maintaining a 1911 vs say a glock...but the 1911 is nicer to shoot.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask

Definitely more steps to cleaning/maintaining a 1911 vs say a glock...but the 1911 is nicer to shoot.

That may be true, but having more issues and being more finicky is what i'm not sure of. Plus the statement was directed at a question about carry gun recommendations. There are plenty of armed service personnel out there who trust their lives to a 1911 model pistol.

When nearly EVERY manufacture makes a version of the same pistol you can bet there will be some shoddy versions. However, stick with a reputable manufacturer and you can't go wrong

[Hawkeye]

Look around the interwebs if you do not believe me. I have shot plenty of them, they are generally more difficult to rack, and have other issues. As far as carry, a full 1911 is big and difficult to conceal. A very nice looking Kimber carry like the one recently posted is much better, but you will still tend to have more issues than with something else.

The people who carry for work/job clean their guns very often, and most likely have an armorer that will fix stuff for them. I shot a Kimber 1911 that was used in special operations over in the desert. Shot amazing, but was still finicky IMO compared to my Glock. It was difficult to rack (had to rack the slide more than 1 time to chamber) and had 1 FTE while I was shooting - which is more than I have ever had with my G19.

That being said - my next is going to be a 1911 style so take from it what you will. They are definitely not as reliable as a Glock or XD though. From the 3 gun related boards I frequent that seems like a generally accepted statement.

[slo_guy]

Just shot my first match with my XDm 5.25 this past weekend. It's even more fun with the mods. (tungsten guiderod, 14# spring, Canyon Creek magwell, PRP drop in trigger, extended mag release)

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Look around the interwebs if you do not believe me. I have shot plenty of them, they are generally more difficult to rack, and have other issues. As far as carry, a full 1911 is big and difficult to conceal. A very nice looking Kimber carry like the one recently posted is much better, but you will still tend to have more issues than with something else.

The people who carry for work/job clean their guns very often, and most likely have an armorer that will fix stuff for them. I shot a Kimber 1911 that was used in special operations over in the desert. Shot amazing, but was still finicky IMO compared to my Glock. It was difficult to rack (had to rack the slide more than 1 time to chamber) and had 1 FTE while I was shooting - which is more than I have ever had with my G19.

That being said - my next is going to be a 1911 style so take from it what you will. They are definitely not as reliable as a Glock or XD though. From the 3 gun related boards I frequent that seems like a generally accepted statement.

I suppose we'll have to disagree. Your experiences seem to be polar opposite of my experiences.

For instance, just recently i took my parents to the range for the first time. Mother is 73 and father is 68. Mother could not load their G22 mags father barely could. Both could load my 1911 mags with ease. Neither could rack the G22 slide, both could easily operate the 1911 slide. Neither could operate the side release on the G22, both could manipulate the 1911 slide release. Mother could not eject the G22 mags and father had a difficult time with it. Both eject and reload the 1911 without difficulty. And when it came to shooting both of the weapons they both were struggling with hitting the target with the G22 and we're talking about a 24" x 36" target at 7 yds. After each of them shot 2 mags with the G22 and my father hitting the target 8 times and my mother hitting the target 11 times i gave them the 1911. First and all subsequent mags with the 1911 hit the target in 5" groups for each of them.

Also, the 1911 they were shooting was pretty tight and had not been broken in. My other 1911 has an even smoother and easier slide to operate and hasn't had a single malfunction. Most certainly takes longer to clean as you said. My sig 1911 had an issue of not catching the slide open with an empty mag. Made a 15 minute phone call and sent the pistol out in the mail the next day. Sig turned it around with a new slide catch, 2 new mags and a polished feed ramp within a week, at no expense to me. Didn't need a gunsmith cause it was produced by a reputable manufacturer.

I'm not poo-pooing glocks either; i bought my G23 back in 1995 and still have it with me just about everywhere i go. But i assure you that i can conceal my govt model 1911 just as easily as my compact G23. The lack of thickness to the frame of the 1911 makes for less of a presence despite the longer grip and barrel.

You're experiences are different i guess and while i like shooting my 1911s better i won't say 1911s are more or less reliable than a glock. My glock hasn't had a malfunction either so i'll never tell someone that a glock is a poor choice. But i can't say that 1911s are a poor choice either. There do seem to be some variants of 1911 pistols that are less than desirable but i don't know any of them from experience.

[nood1es]

here's something i just picked up for dirt cheap from my lgs. Just cause it was so cheap...and I had to have one.



Now all i need is some grillz and a pitbull or 3 to make a rap video.

[carve]

What is that, noodles?

Re 1911 vs. glock. I own a G19 because it's affordable, dead reliable, simple, tough, and has a big magazine. I was wondering what the big deal about the 1911 was.

I went to my neighbors who has a laser on his 1911. I have one on my Glock. Dry firing on a target across the garage, no matter how careful I was, the laser on the glock would move right and slightly down a bit on every trigger pull (I find I'm actually smoother with this gun pulling with my joint instead of my fingerprint). With the 1911, it was dead-still. He has a lot of $ in that gun though.

[NYC6]

Its a Tec 9 made by Intratec.

[nood1es]

It's a preban Tec 9...u know all those drug dealing gang banging movies that you see back in the day. Lol. And no, I am not any of that. Just the fact that it was so cheap, and it came with original papers and original box. It came with a 32 round mag from factory...trying to find a 72 round drum around the net.

[Hawkeye]

I do like me a Sig 1911. Like I said that will be my next gun but I have just heard many horror stories, and the ones I have worked with were troublesome (although not mine so possibly not maintained as well as I would maintain something).

The glock has an issue of shooting low left for sure. Have to get used to the break in the trigger, that is also well know

As far as not being able to load a magazine or release a magazine... that just simply cannot be true (well, maybe the release if you have a G3 or previous glock) The release is huge now and very easy to operate. Loading a mag though... doesn't surprise me they couldn't hit a target 7' away. (no disrespect meant, just sayin)

[nood1es]

Here's my glock 20 longslide and glock 19 together.

[Rotorocious]

Originally Posted by nood1es

It's a preban Tec 9...u know all those drug dealing gang banging movies that you see back in the day. Lol. And no, I am not any of that. Just the fact that it was so cheap, and it came with original papers and original box. It came with a 32 round mag from factory...trying to find a 72 round drum around the net.

As in full auto right?
How long was the wait?

[nood1es]

Sorry not full auto. Preban just simply means it has the shroud around the muzzle and you are able to thread on extensions and what not at the end of the muzzle.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I do like me a Sig 1911. Like I said that will be my next gun but I have just heard many horror stories, and the ones I have worked with were troublesome (although not mine so possibly not maintained as well as I would maintain something).

The glock has an issue of shooting low left for sure. Have to get used to the break in the trigger, that is also well know

As far as not being able to load a magazine or release a magazine... that just simply cannot be true (well, maybe the release if you have a G3 or previous glock) The release is huge now and very easy to operate. Loading a mag though... doesn't surprise me they couldn't hit a target 7' away. (no disrespect meant, just sayin)

For every one horror story you here there are 1000 positive experiences you didn't hear. That holds true with most things in life; negative stories always propagate more so than positive stories.

G22 was bought in 2008.

I'll skip over the part where you call me a liar and get to the point where you're not surprised that they could barely hit the target at 7yds (21') with the glock. I was quite surprised, because i have a glock 23 and that thing puts holes exactly where i want them to be. Wasn't holding true for them though. But put the sig 1911 in their hands and they were shooting 5" groups with every mag at the same distance. This is my point, it was an unexpected objective comparison between two popular pistols from people who aren't super proficient with hand guns. The 1911 was a clear winner in this case. So much so, they asked me to sell the G22 and procure a 1911 to take it's place after shooting them both.

I don't get a commission or anything when someone buys a 1911. I just have a difficult time sitting silent when someone with limited hands on experience poo-poos an entire genre of pistols that have been around for 100 years; and does so because of a few unfavorable stories.

[monkey_wrench]

Originally Posted by nood1es

It's a preban Tec 9...u know all those drug dealing gang banging movies that you see back in the day. Lol. And no, I am not any of that. Just the fact that it was so cheap, and it came with original papers and original box. It came with a 32 round mag from factory...trying to find a 72 round drum around the net.

Does that thing take Suomi mags?

[Samjam927]

Originally Posted by nood1es

Here's my glock 20 longslide and glock 19 together.

xs big dot on the 19?

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Oregon

My everyday carry is a Talo/Colt 1911 lightweight Officer's Commander......in my view it's just a good idea to have a 1911 nearby.

Lovely piece, and no arguement with your logic either

I soooooo miss being able to shoot a M1911