souske
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- The land of competition
How about some handgun recommendations
- Thread starter Starscream
- Start date
tbburg
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Scottsdale AZ
We seem to agree on a lot Ecksjay, but here I have to disagree. You're buying a gun. They're expensive, and they don't wear out, in a practical sense. You'll own it as long as you want it. If one gun works well, but is uncomfortable, why "get used" to it.Oh, and grip angle is a poor excuse.
I've shot several Glocks, and I can print pretty good patterns with all of them. I don't like the grip angle, and down right HATE the sorry excuse for a trigger. Even with a decent trigger, it would still fall to the second tier because of the grip.
Starscream, it sounds like you've looked around a lot. Here's advice you don't want. Don't make your purchase decision based on price. If you can't afford the gun you want/like now, don't buy it now. Save up for a couple more months and get it then. If you have trouble saving the money, buy it on lay-away. Every gun store I've ever dealt with would put a specific gun away, or order a gun for me with a down payment, to be paid off before pickup.
PS:
Try the 1911
Edit:
If you're getting it new, get one with upgraded sights. The old style mil-spec sights make the gun harder to use.
edit: had wrong screen name at 3rd paragraph, Oops.
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Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
I have medium to large sized hands, and I prefer a thicker grip, which is why I really like the XD and HK. The glock has the right size, but it just feels odd when I'm shooting because it leans so far forward. And holding a thicker grip one handed with my left (weak) hand wouldn't be so bad, or at least that's what I hope.I have large hands, so everything works for me. Grip 'angle' is different than grip 'size'. Double stack handguns don't always work for someone with small hands. It's not just the two-hand grab, think of the single hand "OMFG SHTF" grip. Your strong hand is injured during a defensive situation, you need to shoot one-handed with the other. Is it going to be held securely or are you going to have issues? In the heat of battle isn't the place to find out.Angle is easy to adapt to, however.
I don't have any combat experience at all, so I guess I'll just have to practice some off-handed shooting.I haven't actually found too many conversion kits out there for the weapons I'm interested in. The SIGs have them, but only for their full-size frame weapons like the 220, and adding $250+ onto an already expensive SIG isn't really something I'd like to do. Same goes for the two calibers, same gun thing; can't really afford it.
As for reloading, I'm iffy on that. My step-dad has every reloading tool you could imagine because he loads his own for his different rifles and his .357 wheel guns. The only thing that discourages me from reloading is some things I've seen and heard about kabooms with the Glock and USP, and maybe a few other polymers out there (a Five-seveN maybe?). I know they won't warrany anything but shooting factory loads, so... we'll see. If I decide on a .45 I may look further into this, but that's still a bit up in the air and, for right now, out of my skill range. I'm sure he could teach me, though.
ECKSJAY
Water is dirty
- Location
- Covington, WA
Because we're not born with them attached to our hands, my friend. Why do we go to the range? We have a gun, right? They shoot bullets after you point them and pull the trigger. Why do we need practice?
- Location
- Thornton, CO
Thats the 225 right?
Sig Pro. I have it in 9mm, but .357 and .40 are options as well. Incredibly accurate. Love it.
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
Glock vs. the rest of the world will always be a debate. I hate my issue 9mm, but not because it isn't easy to shoot. I would just prefer the gov't give me a 1911. It's kind of the same way with glocks, I had one, liked to shoot it, but I got offered a ton of money for it and I sold it. I don't think I'd buy another one just because of personal preference.
If it doesn't feel right, chances are you won't be excited about taking it to the range. Any weapon has an adjustment period and you need to train with it, but if it turns you off from the get go, you won't take it to the range.
Everyone agrees that range time makes you a better shooter, buy a gun that makes you want to shoot it. Otherwise, you'll carry (if you're so inclined) a weapon you don't practice enough with and that is just as dangerous as not carrying at all.
If it doesn't feel right, chances are you won't be excited about taking it to the range. Any weapon has an adjustment period and you need to train with it, but if it turns you off from the get go, you won't take it to the range.
Everyone agrees that range time makes you a better shooter, buy a gun that makes you want to shoot it. Otherwise, you'll carry (if you're so inclined) a weapon you don't practice enough with and that is just as dangerous as not carrying at all.
Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
Ah, duh. I think I left out the Sig Pro. I've been looking at the 2022s and they seem pretty great. I loved the 225 (same as the P6) I shot, so I imagine it'd be very similar. How much did yours set you back? Did you buy local or online?
Totally agree. And yes, this will be carried if that makes a difference.
tbburg
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Scottsdale AZ
I have a close friend. In Iraq, he carried a Beretta. 'Hated it, but he carried it and used it. At home, he's bought 3 handguns that I know of, none of which were Berettas. It's not what he uses over there, probably the most serious application he'll ever need a gun for, but he doesn't have any choice there. At home, he does have a choice, and he decided on something else
Because we're not born with them attached to our hands, my friend. Why do we go to the range? We have a gun, right? They shoot bullets after you point them and pull the trigger. Why do we need practice?
My opinion still stands. If you're buying it, why buy something you don't like when something else you do like is available?
If the issue is cost, there are other similarly priced guns available with a different grip.
If it's caliber, there are other guns available in the same calibers, again, with a different grip.
I'm not saying the Glock isn't a good gun. I'm saying I don't like the way they feel, and when I have a choice, I'll get something else. If I have no other choice, I'll use a Glock.
Starscream said he didn't like the grip on the Golck. Why should he buy a Glock?
- Location
- Thornton, CO
Local, Bass Pro Shops, New, $570 and change after taxes.
Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
This ^ The Glock was a good shot, no doubt about it, but if I can avoid that grip and that God-forsaken trigger I will. Is it apparent yet I don't like the trigger safety?
Good stuff, thanks. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the SIG stand at the next show in a few weeks.
Edit: What can you tell me about your SIG? Any problems so far? Any comments at all on it I'd appreciate.
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ECKSJAY
Water is dirty
- Location
- Covington, WA
I'm not saying he 'should'...I'm just saying that he shouldn't rule it out just because of 'grip angle'. If the angle is off, point it up or down to adjust. Muscle memory.
I've had HK USP, Glock, Beretta, and 1911. I haven't had any 'grip angle' issues that n00bs seem to talk about. It comes down to having to change your comfort level slightly. I'm not saying to go find the shittiest pistol out there and live with it. I'm just saying that holding something that doesn't line up the first time you point it doesn't mean it should be tossed aside. Same goes for concealed carry. It's uncomfortable as hell at first and the wardrobe likely has to change, but you get used to it.
Main points here being that there's 'getting used to it' and 'living with it'. I would never expect someone to 'live with it'. Some people are just picky and that's fine. Good luck finding what works for you...it'll just take longer and be more difficult with a 'closed' mind.
- Location
- Thornton, CO
Sub 1" groups at 40 feet. Not sure what it can do past that, the range is only 45' deep. Comes with two grips, thicker rubber overmolded one for the larger handed fellas. SA/DA, can be converted to DAO by reassembling the trigger differently. Slide release and decocker are smooth, and accessible. No manual safety (I prefer this). Only complaint, and a small one. No disassembly lever. Slide catch locks it together instead, and is removed much like a pin to disassemble. Have to hold the slide under pressure to accomplish this, also making sure the barrel sits forward to lock the pin in the right place.
Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
Wait, what? I'm not going to compensate for the weapon being awkward if it's only a so-so gun to start with.
I mean, I know I'm new to this, but damn I didn't think that because Glocks have a retarded forward lean to them I'm suddenly terrible at handling a weapon :confused1
Annnnd since you mentioned it, how was the USP? Reason for getting rid of it if you did? Anything you didn't like about it?
So it's annoying to break down? Hmm...
And I'm not that good of a shot, but I was doing 2" at around 21'. But hey, with practice...
That was the first thing I noticed about the SIG was that it was a good bit more accurate than the XD which I thought was pretty good.
ECKSJAY
Water is dirty
- Location
- Covington, WA
What's awkward? You're talking about grip angle.
I didn't say you were. I'm just pointing out that you have to line sights up to shoot, not just put something in your hand an have it automatically aim for you...
I didn't like the grip angle.
- Location
- Thornton, CO
It is a bit, but you get used to it. Like I said, small complaint. It's something that could have been done differently IMO, but not enough to make me look elsewhere.
Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
Thanks
Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
Yeah, and how much I didn't like it. What's wrong with that? Am I misspeaking or being unclear in what I'm saying somehow? It's awkward to hold versus other weapons I've used with better ergonomics. It doesn't feel natural, and I don't like it. Difference of opinion, that's all.
And to think I've been doing it wrong this whooole time
Oh, har har
But seriously, just didn't like the gun, preferred the Glock, or what?
ECKSJAY
Water is dirty
- Location
- Covington, WA
Oh, har har
My favorite so far, beside the 1911. For a double-stack .45 ACP it was freakin' hot. It would have made a GREAT duty carry weapon in an open holster. Concealed carry was a total laugh. I may as well have had my 870 12ga under a trench coat. lol
Fullsize USP sight radius is slightly shorter than a compact (not sub-compact) Glock. I needed a concealed carry rig that was manageable. I was NOT impressed with the sub-compact Glocks for a primary carry gun, so I went with the mid-size. I also knew that to get it smaller and not go to 9mm, I was going to want a .40. I split the difference and got a mid-size .40 Glock 23. It was snag-free, had a long sight radius, and was extremely safe. I carried it for 8 years until I was once again tainted with the Jedi weapon...the 1911. After the live fire courses I've taken I know that for defensive use a gunfight is typically over very quickly. I'm not a cop who is getting into extended shootouts with bank robbers. I'm not chasing bad guys. I'm not wearing a gigantic duty belt that affords me the opportunity to carry 100 extra rounds. 1911 is slim, single stack, holds 8 in a Wilson Combat magazine plus 1 in the pipe. A spare mag for malfunction clearing (if needed) or god forbid, multiple targets. I also like the crisp trigger and shallow 'reset' for follow-up. That said, I'd buy another Glock again in a heartbeat. XD? Hasn't been around long enough for me to be comfortable with...
Starscream
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbia, SC
Geez, I knew it was big but damn (that's what she said)
I've always liked the compact and sub-compact Glocks, especially with the full-size mag adapters. The XDs have them too, but then we get back to the n00b talk, trigger safety, etc. lol
So, 1911s then... have any you're partial to that don't break the bank?
- Location
- Thornton, CO
Likely my next purchase, but it ain't cheap. And I'll wait for people to argue that it defeats most of the point to getting a 1911..................
Clicky
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