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Semiautomatic Pistols
JimBob
Member Posts: 4 ✭
Until I came to own 3 Glocks: 17, 31, 43X, I had nothing but trouble with semi automatic pistols. I have owned the SW Victory, Ruger Mark IV, and two Kimber Micro Nines. In each case, no matter which type, quality, or grain ammo used, I experienced jamming, stove-piping, even magazines popping out (the Kimbers). I traded or sold them all, settled on Glocks, which have never failed me.
Now I’m hesitant to purchase any other brand. Surely there are other reliable makes out there. But what are they? I’d really like to own other brands as well. Any recommendations for reliability.
Comments
If you can be happy with a glock, you should enjoy almost anything.
Just never had any trouble with my Glocks, but figured there must be others just as reliable. Maybe not. I like to shoot but don’t care to troubleshoot or experiment to make them keep firing.
Besides my glocks I've had good luck with my Springfields.
Welcome to the forums!
You will get lots opinions on Glock on this forum.
I shoot USPSA with a Glock 34. We are the red-headed step children of race guns. People will gladly spend $3-10,000 dollars for “better” guns and they usually trade overall “performance” for reliability.
Glock has never once failed me during a match. And I simply won’t trade that for a crisper trigger, or a heavier gun and reduced felt recoil, etc.
Especially my metal Springfields.
Ain't nothin' wrong with using the Glocks if that's what works for you.
I use a Glock 35 or a 23 in defensive pistol competitions and the 23 as a carry gun. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
I have 19 different pistols. All of them work just fine for me . . . except the Glock 19. I can't get that thing to shoot a magazine without at least one stoppage (failure to feed, failure to fire, failure to extract). A certified Glock service representative "could not duplicate the problem".
Usually, when I get a new shooter with one of my pistols and they have "difficulty", the first thing I find is "shooting with a weak wrist". Please don't take this wrong, but you must hold a pistol with a very firm grip. It needs to cycle the action and has problems doing it, if there is not sufficient stability to recoil against.
This is rarely a problem with the smaller calibers since the weight of the gun is normally enough. It can be a significant issue with lighter guns in a centerfire caliber and large caliber guns.
The gas operated recoil system on the Desert Eagle is not a problem. On the other hand - it weighs a ton and you have to hold on tight anyway.
“shooting with a weak wrist"
This ^^^^^^^^^^
I really like the third generation Smiths and my 1076 will feed the flat nose 10mn bullets where the Glock 20 won't
I'm partial to SIG's, especially those with a steel frame. Sometimes I want to apply the safety, something you can't do with a Glock.
Neal
P-Series Rugers if you can find them.You can use them for jack stands on your tractor and they will still work,with any ammo and be about as accurate as most of us shoot.
You should try Sigs, Walthers, Rugers, Brownings, Colts........................but especially Jennings. You need a Jennings J-22.
My Sigs and HK's have never failed me.
SIG, Kimber.
Sigs - CHECK (P-226 & 1911-45-BSS)
Walthers - CHECK (PPK)
Rugers - CHECK (KMK-512 & MK II & Standard)
Brownings - CHECK (P-38 Hi-Power & 1911-22)
Colts - CHECK (M-1911 & M-1911 A1 & M-1911 A1 NM)
Jennings (J-22) - CHECK (yep, the J-22 with "custom" walnut grips just to make it even better)
Picking my favorite would be like picking your favorite child (although it is fairly easy to place the J-22 "somewhere" on the list).
"If you can be happy with a glock, you should enjoy almost anything."
^^agree^^
"P-Series Rugers if you can find them.You can use them for jack stands on your tractor and they will still work,with any ammo and be about as accurate as most of us shoot."
^^Bet your life on it--I do^^
All I can tell you is this. After running a couple of gun shops with indoor ranges I have seen thousands of handguns being shot. I always kept over fifty handguns of all kinds as rental guns and sometimes they didn't get as much maintenance as they should have. By that I mean if my guys were really busy the guns didn't get cleaned sometimes. Most semi auto handguns run great even dirty. I would say over 90%, and I'm being kind here, of the complaints I got from customers of their personal guns not working were caused by them. Crappy aftermarket mags like promag, yea I know, someone out there has been using promags for the last 200 years and never had a problem, I don't care. They are garbage. Pay for good mags, they are worth it. And if you get a factory mag, or a good aftermarket one that isn't reliable, toss it. Use good ammo. DUH!! Use a little oil, no wd40. Yea yea, I know. Again I don't care how many years Uncle Al used wd40. And don't go changing parts just cause you can. Shooting is like golf in that it's tempting to think one can buy skill. No, you have to work for it. Learn to shoot. Don't be afraid to ask for help, just be sure to ask the right people. More than once I have taught raw beginners to shoot, sold them their first gun. Then a year later they are out running classes teaching all kinds of bad habits. And don't overthink it. Keep it simple. If you drove a motor vehicle to the range, believe me, that was harder than running a handgun. I have watched shooters on the range monitors screw themselves into weird positions reminiscent of a game of twister. Half isosiles half weaver stance or some such combo. Feet almost touching so if you gave them a gentle push they would fall over, or something resembling a sumo stance the feet were spread so far apart. Anyway to get back to the question, most modern guns are pretty good if you don't screw them up.
Berretta!
My first thought too. May not be the issue but certainly needs considered.
Kimber autos were really awful when they first started making them. It was a few years later when they finally got them working.
The only time I have ever seen Ruger MKs fail is when the gun was so full powder residue and dirt. Yea..I know taking them apart is a *. The ones that failed, I sprayed CLP on the bolt and it started working again. Advised owner to clean.
SW autos, well they are picky. I am of the genre if you want a revolver, buy SW, If you want an auto, buy Colt. The new M&Ps however are awesome.
If you want to go cheap: Go HiPoint. Avoid anything Taurus
I have never had any trouble with S&W pistols. The old metal guns ran great. I remember one 4506 that would feed empty cases from a mag. I have sold a lot of second and third gen S&W pistols in 9 mm, .40, and .45 and don't remember having any problems. I bought over 20 4506's and 4516's at one time. I wish I had those now, they are bringing good money. I know some depts. kept 5906's for years before trading for Glocks. Before Glock showed up with a cheaper, lighter gun, most cops has a S&W pistol in their holsters. The 3913 and 469 series guns are great concealed carry options, and S&W turned out some fantastic Performance Center metal pistols. The 952 will spoil you for most any other pistol out there.
I like Glocks but I think my favorite semi auto now is a H&K USP45. That thing is just sweet to shoot.
S&W made some really nice SA pistols, I had a 4506 and it was great, I wish I had it back. The only S&W SA I have now is a 3913 and its a great gun.
The weak point of any Semi Auto is the magazine. Like Ricci said get good ones and take care of them.
Glock, Colt 1911 and Sig 938 work great for me
i have some smith and Wesson revolvers that I love at the range
semi autos are glocks and one sig an older Walter
me I just prefer a wheel gun at the side of the bed
How flat? I only shoot jacketed, and some lower power plated bullets through my 10mm's and I have never had an issue with any of the Glock's. Actually, out of my extensive 10mm collection, the only design I've ever had reliability issues that I couldn't get completely resolved were of 1911 design. I am not bashing them, they are beautiful guns, and feel good in the hand. I have a dozen or two (all in 10mm, because why have anything less?). Most of those having issues were simply too tight and needed shot. I had a Kimber Stainless Target II that always gave me trouble. I found out after I sold it (but before he left with it) that it was the magazines. I had 4 Kimber mags, and they were all junk. I had an old E.A.A. / Tanfoglio Witness that needed the "fluff and buff" polishing of frame rails and it became reliable.
Have never had a failure to do anything with any of these. Of course they were all fairly well broken in when purchased.
Brad Steele
If any of them are broken too badly, let me know. I maybe interested in taking them off your hands . . . for, you know, old broken pistol prices.
🤣
Any flat nose jacketed or hard cast above 180 grains and any thing above 200 grain I get nice triangles in the targets past 20 yards it doesn't stabilize anything above 200 grains unless I shoot the water down loads and this is my second G20 that done this at least the first one did feed a little better
How many rounds of hard cast do you have down the pipe. Glock recommends only jacketed bullets for Gens 1-4. The new barrel in the Gen 5's is supposed to be alright with lead. Maybe you've got some build-up in there that's plugging up the works.
It's all been said but allow me to reiterate:
Glock
SIG
FN
Smith & Wesson's newer offerings
HK
Walther
CZ
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Semiautomatic pistols? That's old school. I have a semiautomatic revolver that I'll have listed on the auction side this summer.
😀
Mateba, by chance?
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Lucky guess, Mr. Perfect! I have a NIB, SS, .357 that I plan on listing. That was the reason about shipping insurance post a month ago. One sold on the auction side on 3-28-21 for $10K+. It was used and blued instead of SS and NIB.
Get your checkbooks out guys.
😉