Any gun nuts here? - Page 2 - Harley Forum

Tbone · #11 09-27-2009, 02:35 PM

Lots of opinions here about all manufacturers and calibers.

Handguns: The Semiauto Forum - TheFiringLine Forums

1haugster1340 · #12 09-27-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trigger87

I like S&W revolvers, and I am sold on them. Since you are looking into a semi-auto, though, I can tell you that I have always had good experiences with the 1911 variants. There are lots of upgrades available for this frame that you can do as money allows, and in the mean time its a great shooting gun, and a lot of fun. I can tell you from experience that I am NOT impressed with Taurus. Maybe the quality has gotten better in recent years, but I know of too many Taurus guns with problems that caused down time for their owners. One revolver, in particular, put me off Taurus forever. The timing was bad, sent back to Taurus, who supposedly honored the warranty and repaired the gun. It came back worse. It actually had fragments of the bullet breaking off at the forcing cone and coming out between the cylinder and the barrel. Sorry, no more Taurus for me. Buy American.

My brother had a similar problem with his Taurus semi auto. Sent it back supposedly fixed, it wasn't. He got rid of it pronto. So far no problems with mine. If there are down the road it will go. For me there will be no S&W of any kind, ever. Ruger is my top choice.

clif02 · #13 09-27-2009, 10:44 PM

You would be hard pressed to beat a 1911. Ruger makes a good 45 auto that is reasonably priced as well. For concealed carry I have a Glock 26 with mag extender. It's a 9mm but loaded with powerball hollowpoints it packs a punch. It is very accurate. My buddy has a Ruger P90 I think. That would be the 45. Fires good, accurate and very similar in characteristics to your sevice issue Barretta as far as safeties etc. Hope you find something that suits you.

unfknblvbl · #14 09-28-2009, 01:19 AM

Anything that is similar to the service issue Beretta is out...Sorry, I hate that gun and was nothing but dead weight I carried for a year in Iraq. I (no kidding) told my Marines the entire year we were over there; if you get into a jam and have to use your 9, throw it at them and bum rush them you're better off going toe to toe with them then you are trying to shoot them with that damn thing.

Of the select few (I will call them frame based) 1911's I've shot, the Springfield and Kimber, obviously that doesn't even hold a candle to what's out there, the Springfield slide release was to far forward for my stubby hands and it's been a long time since I've shot the Kimber that I can't even remember if it was or not. So when I go back to the range it looks like I will rent another Kimber, the Colt, and we'll...I'll just have to see what other frame based 1911's they have.

This range we go to has a myriad of handguns and long guns for rent. Maybe I'll just forgo an auto loader and go for a revolver.

Thanks again all...keep it coming I like hearing the difference of opinions. It helps make an educated decision.

clif02 · #15 09-28-2009, 10:33 AM

I can understand your reservations about the Beretta 9 service weapon. I had them too. I won't try to sell you on anything but what I discovered is it actually is a very good weapon and a very accurate weapon. You just have to learn how to shoot it. The problem with most service programs is they teach BRM really well but suck at teaching the pistol. The biggest problem is it's a 9mm instead of a 45. The other problem is it's a large frame pistol so for folks like you and I with stubby hands it is harder to manipulate. I was lucky and went to the Mid-South Institute of Tactical Shooting. It's a one week course which concentrates heavily on the basics, both rifle and pistol and teaches a great deal, especially with transition drills when your primary fails and you have to go to your secondary weapon system. John Shaw started the school way back when. I found that the beretta is dependable...over 3,000 rounds a week with one locking block failure at the very end, maintenace conssited of wiping it down and re-oiling. No detailed scrubbing. The 9-12 pound tigger pull in double action sucks, but once you learn to grip and control it properly accuracy is good. the 3 to 4 pound pull in single action requires you to take the slack out of the trigger (sight, slack, squeeze) or you'll be all over the target. Once you master these you can become very deadly, very quick with this weapon. If it was only a 45... Mid-South is on the net so maybe you can get some info from them that will help you and your Marines. What they teach will help with any weapons system you use... You may have to hit your target 4 times with a 9 rather than 1 with a 45 but I'll do that all day long before going man to man...the other guy don't have to be good...just lucky.

Trigger87 · #16 09-28-2009, 11:44 AM

I always enjoy the debates of semi-auto vs. revolver, 9mm vs. 45 vs. 357. Personally, my research shows the 357 to be a good all around manstopper (thankfully I have no personal experience in this area), plus it is cheaper to go out and plink with 38s, especially if you reload, like I do.

BTW, for home defense, you cannot beat a shotgun.

sglide50 · #17 09-28-2009, 01:57 PM

Personally, when it comes to .45s, i would go with the Paraord LDA, CCW model to be exact. It is double action only, but what a sweet trigger pull. Of course it depends on what you plan to do witht the gun, range, home defense, etc.

unfknblvbl · #18 09-28-2009, 09:53 PM

Trigger- I have a 12 g. pump for the home.

The pistol would serve many purposes, home/self defense, range, carry (I have no issues carry a full size auto loader), etc. This will not be the only pistol I buy. I have always liked guns and plan to own many. Para Ord is one brand I haven't looked at yet.

The first pistol I ever shot was a .357 magnum and that is what the wife will get for carry/home defense while I'm gone. She can use the shotgun, but knowing her she'd be more comfortable with a pistol.

Trigger87 · #19 09-29-2009, 08:40 AM

Unfknblvbl, my wife carries a S&W 357 Ladysmith. We changed out the grips to a set of Pachmyrs, which help her hang on to it when she shoots full round 357s with such a short barell. I can testify that the gun is a blast to shoot. I always enjoy capping off some rounds on it.

unfknblvbl · #20 09-29-2009, 11:12 AM

Initially I was going to buy her a lady smith and I don't remember if it is California law or Camp Pendleton law, but our sporting goods store here on base where we can buy guns told me they could not order it because there barrel was to short. I want to say they're illegal in CA, but again it just may be base. Now she doesn't want a lady smith she wants something with a little more barrel. Thursday her and I are going to the range, I want to rent a few more 1911's and she wants to shoot some more revolvers before she makes up her mind.