Please help a rookie pick a semiauto (vanity)

me ^ | 7/4/02 | me

[newwahoo]

I need help picking a weapon from FR's firearms gurus!

Here's the deal:

1. The choices consist of the Glock 19, Sig Sauer 226, or (boo) S&W 5946. I know you all have your favorites but these are the options and they're not going to change.

2. Money is not an issue, nor is ease of use. If one is more work but worth the effort then its worth getting. I'll just have to invest the time and energy. My life is worth it so thats ok.

3. Concealment and weight are not critical. Reliability and my confidence level are far more important to me.

4. As you could probably tell, I'm already leaning against the S&W for political reasons. I'm going to need a real compelling reason to carry one of their guns.

Thank you for your opinions and experiences.

[newwahoo]

"Are you a novice handgun shooter?

If so, the Glock 19 is probably your best choice. It's very easy to operate. Just be sure to carry it in a holster that covers the trigger guard."

I am. What worries me about the Glock is the though of somebody getting it from me and just pulling the trigger. A more difficult weapon to use may take more time for me to find a comfort level but a criminal might be less able to use it against me as well.

Your opinion is noted and appreciated. The Glock does seem to have a great repuation for ease of use and reliability that I find very tempting.

[SauronOfMordor]

One thing about the Glock: it's very reliable, and not sensitive to ammo. It eats Winchester, S&B, or Wolf without a burp. My Glock experiences hardly any jams or misfires compared to the 1911's I see people shoot at my range

[Drew68]

I know you all have your favorites but these are the options and they're not going to change.

That's too bad because the M-1911 .45 is the best autoloader made.

[S.O.S121.500]

The wheel gun I carry 7/24* is Ruger's GP-100, as in 100% reliable and accurate.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.*Under my pillow counts.

[newwahoo]

"Well, if you insist on not buying a Colt 1911 .45 ACP and receiving the proper instruction for its safe and effective use, then I'd go for the Sig (of the three on your list)."

Thanks. Instruction will be of the "up the wazoo" variety. Thats why I'm not worried about the learning curve. If something is worth doing, its worth doing right. That sometimes doesn't involve instant gratification. From what I've heard the Sig requires more work, both in learning and maintenance, but its worth it.

[dts32041]

We need to get M1911A1, I am sure he would have something to say.

[SBprone]

Okay here's the answer, but you're probably not going to like it!

You should choose the one that feels right in your hand and that you can operate the best in live fire practice. Many police departments allow their officers to select from two or three duty weapons. In such cases an officer will select the weapon that "feels right." It is common for an individual to love the feel of one weapon and hate the feel of the others. I think it is largely a function of hand size but it is very common for somebody to pick up a handgun that they think they want based on looks, reputation or whatever, and discover that it just doesn't "feel right."

If these three are your choices then you've got to get your hands on all three. I think SIGs are wonderful, and that strange trigger on the Glock with its light trigger pull gives me the AD willies. But Glock users love their pieces and who am I to disagree with someone's personal preference. You just have to try em all for yourself. Sorry, that's the only way.

[newwahoo]

"Now don't laugh at my commie gun, but I have learned to like my Makarov."

I'm just laughing at the thought of you calling the commish and telling him to add it. Not going to happen my friend. Not because of its USSR origins but because of its lack of style.

We're pretty big on that around here!

[newwahoo]

"The guy is a novice, and you are suggesting a glock. Do you have something against him?"

Huh, and all this time I had impression that the Glock was one of the easiest semis to learn to use.

[newwahoo]

"Go with the glock. My issue weapon was the glock 17 and loved it"

No one has knocked its reliabilty and that means a lot to me. Thanks for your two cents....

[MikeJ]

Here are two tests to see how well a handgun fits your hands:

1) Grasp empty gun with firing hand, pointed towards floor. Pick out a spot on the wall, close your eyes, and point the gun at it. Now open your eyes. If the sights are aligned with the spot, that's good.

2) With eyes open and sights on target, tighten your grip on the gun. If it does not squirm around to the side, or up or down, that's good.

I'll bet one of these three guns fits better than the others; that's the one you want.

On a secondary note, a frequent novice mistake is to forget how annoying it is to carry a heavy, bulky gun for any length of time, especially if it has to be concealed and kept tight against the body. There is a lot to be said for a slender, light weapon if you are going to be carrying it a lot.

[newwahoo]

"Might as well just flip a coin."

Really? Including the S&W? Maybe between the Glock and Sig, but I haven't seen anybody go out of their way to compliment the S&W.

I guess right now its a Sig/Glock race with the former slightly in the lead.

[handk]

Mauser M2 in .45 ACP

[toddst]

From what I've heard the Sig requires more work, both in learning and maintenance, but its worth it.

Get the Sig. It's worth it. However, go to the P220 in 45ACP since being concealed isn't a problem. You won't be disappointed.

[Don Myers]

"Huh, and all this time I had impression that the Glock was one of the easiest semis to learn to use."

A glock is a gun for a professional. There are no "real" safeties on the thing. The trigger pull is light. A special holster had to be designed to cover the trigger guard to prevent accidental discharges. If you put your finger on the trigger or let something get inside the trigger guard, an accidental discharge is very possible. That is why most companies put a heavier pull weight on the trigger.

Yeah, I know that someone will say that companies do that for insurance purposes, but if an accidental discharge wasn't possible for a light trigger pull, law suits wouldn't be an issue.

[newwahoo]

"One thing about the Glock: it's very reliable, and not sensitive to ammo. It eats Winchester, S&B, or Wolf without a burp."

Interesting. Thanks. Ammo won't be a problem either and I should have mentioned it. This is going to be strictly for a 2nd A. friendly officer with the biggest, baddest and best local LE agency to back him up.

To give you a hint, our logo is flying all over the world. :)

[tet68]

That is the one advantage of the S&W, when the mag is dropped out it will not fire.

I carry a Springfield Arms Champion which is between a regular and officers model 1911.
It is heavy! But reassuring none the less.

[Willie Green]

Really? Including the S&W? Maybe between the Glock and Sig, but I haven't seen anybody go out of their way to compliment the S&W.

You had already indicated an appropriate judgement against the S&W, which narrowed the selection to a coin-flip between the other two.

[newwahoo]

"That's too bad because the M-1911 .45 is the best autoloader made"

Actually my two shooting experiences involved a Para-Ordnance .45 that I enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, I'm going to be hopping ghetto fences and not running for sheriff out in the heartland.