Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 37

Thread: Pistol Advice

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Posts
    5
    Rep Power
    0

    Question Pistol Advice

    Hello All,

    I'm in the market for a target shooting pistol with the possibility of some light competition (long term I want to get a 1911 .45 for competition but don't have the money to spend or feed it) and would love to hear your advice. I have max $5/600 to spend and I am looking for the following:

    What I'm Looking for
    • New or Used
    • Full size 9mm (ammo is cheaper then .45)
    • Easy to disassemble and clean
    • 100% covered on all parts by manufacture (I've been told Glock doesn't cover everything on their .40 cal, unsure if this carries for other calibers/manufactures)
    • Reliable, accurate, durable, etc


    Possible influential factors
    • If possible I would like to have the option for competition but this is not required. I don't know if they have 9mm comp, please chime in if you know there is off hand. I have to research this.
    • I have big hands so I may want to change the grip, so far I haven't shot enough for this to become an issue.
    • I don't have a preference for a particular brand but do not want anything made by Taurus.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Butler County, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    273
    Rep Power
    6578

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by Signal.0 View Post
    Hello All,

    I'm in the market for a target shooting pistol with the possibility of some light competition (long term I want to get a 1911 .45 for competition but don't have the money to spend or feed it) and would love to hear your advice. I have max $5/600 to spend and I am looking for the following:

    What I'm Looking for
    • New or Used
    • Full size 9mm (ammo is cheaper then .45)
    • Easy to disassemble and clean
    • 100% covered on all parts by manufacture (I've been told Glock doesn't cover everything on their .40 cal, unsure if this carries for other calibers/manufactures)
    • Reliable, accurate, durable, etc


    Possible influential factors
    • If possible I would like to have the option for competition but this is not required. I don't know if they have 9mm comp, please chime in if you know there is off hand. I have to research this.
    • I have big hands so I may want to change the grip, so far I haven't shot enough for this to become an issue.
    • I don't have a preference for a particular brand but do not want anything made by Taurus.
    I think you'll find everyone is going to give you advice based on their personal preference. In my opinion your best bet is to go into a shop and handle some of the firearms you have in mind. I have a Springfield XD Service model(4" barrel), but I recently had the opportunity to shoot a Glock 19. Even though my XD is a .40 and the Glock was a 9mm, I still preferred the feel of the Glock and will probably end up buying one in the near future because I liked it so much.

    Also, there are a lot of other things that you leave open ended. Some people will only own DA/SA hammer fired pistols because they like the idea that they can keep pulling the trigger if a round doesn't go off on the first try. You can't do that with a striker fired gun. Additionally, some prefer to have external manual safeties, I personally do not.

    I think you'll find good offerings in your price range from Glock, Springfield, S&W, Beretta, Ruger, and I'm sure I'm leaving out some other good manufacturers.

    Hopefully that gave you some things to think about on what you're looking for.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Posts
    184
    Rep Power
    2727

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    I think the Walther PPQ covers all of your needs and wants... And can be purchased brand new for <$600... If you do end up competing with it, it has one sweet trigger.

    But, as 99% of guys on here will tell you, be sure to go to a gun shop and handle as many options as possible.

    Good luck!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Posts
    5
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    sgtmcbowflex,

    Thanks for pointing out the DA/SA hammer I was unaware of that option, I was taught to pull the slide back to reload the next round if a misfire ever happens. As far as the safety, I like the safety that is built into the trigger, besides my finger....

    I have shot a few different guns but am leaning purely on aesthetics which is why I was trying to gather a consensus. I understand users opinion maybe bias, but not as bias as a gunshop who is trying to sell you something.
    Thanks for the help.

    ah0873,

    Ill be heading to more shops this week, thx!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Reisterstown, Maryland
    Posts
    16
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    How about a SIG SP2022 9mm? I think I've seen pricing here around $400.

    There is the SP2022 TB which has a threaded barrel and night sights. I saw one in Maryland for $540.

    I didn't look up the warranty info.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Age
    69
    Posts
    380
    Rep Power
    1849354

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    You can get an STI Spartan 9mm 1911 for just a bit over your price point. I got one for ESP class at IDPA matches and it has been 100% reliable in over 1000 rounds. A bonus is that any holsters, mag carriers, etc would work for you when you get your .45 (BTW, STI makes a Spartan .45 also). From what I hear, STI's customer service is top shelf....
    There are three kinds of people in this world....them what's good at math and them what ain't.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    back to Port Charlotte, Florida
    Age
    60
    Posts
    5,483
    Rep Power
    3627622

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by Signal.0 View Post
    Hello All,

    (long term I want to get a 1911 .45 for competition but don't have the money to spend or feed it) and would love to hear your advice.
    You want to spend 5 or 6 hundred now, and then later get a 1911, but you don't have the coin to get the 1911 now.

    I'd look at a Sig or a SA Loaded 1911, tune the trigger for target shooting, and don't look back. Unless you shoot hundreds and hundreds of rounds, the difference in ammo cost will not beat you up. 100 rds of 45 is only about $10 on average more than 100 rds or 9mm. As long as you don't flinch when you shoot, you'll make the most of your ammo and reduce the cost even more.
    BCM and Glock...for a bigger pile of 'cold dead hands' brass.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Posts
    945
    Rep Power
    2575134

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    A lightly used or CPO SIG P226 9mm meets all of your requirements and would likely feel comfortable in those big paws. With only a few inexpensive tweaks you can make the good SA pull VERY nice. If you handle a P226 and like it, you're more than welcome to shoot mine sometime. Mark at Summit Gun Broker is an excellent source for new, used, and CPO SIG's if you decide to go that direction.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Upper Macungie, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Age
    62
    Posts
    1,158
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    go to a range that rents pistols and find one that's right for you. taking advice from others is somewhat helpful, but what one person likes, you may not. i am in the lehigh valley, go to guthsville range to shoot. if you are a member there, i would be glad to meet up and i have a few pistols you can try. i have a glock 17 and 21, sa loaded 1911, s&w .40cal among others.
    try before you buy!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Posts
    5
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Pistol Advice

    Bib,
    The Spartan differently looks nice, I'm going to mark that one down.

    300WM,
    duly noted. From what I have been able to gather there is about a 5-8 dollar differences for 50 or 10-16 for 100, so your spot on. At the moment yes I plan to practice a lot, it was suggested by a gun smith to go 9mm b/c in the long run there cheaper to feed. However provided I can find 9mm competition then I won't need a for .45, again told by a gun smith most competitions are .45

    BionicMan,
    ill look in to it thx.

    tonyfac,
    I have already tried a few, glock, s&w, beretta, kimber. I got to the firing lane at the moment, trying out a bunch there. Haven't been to guthsville range yet but we could meet up there one day.

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. I need advice on a .22 and 9mm pistol
    By MaGreat in forum Pistols
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: June 1st, 2011, 06:50 AM
  2. Advice on CC pistol
    By Jakell in forum Pistols
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: April 26th, 2011, 07:28 PM
  3. Advice for first pistol purchase
    By sleezyrider in forum Pistols
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: September 26th, 2010, 07:23 PM
  4. Want to buy a pistol. Advice?
    By steelerjim21 in forum Pistols
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: March 25th, 2010, 10:50 AM
  5. i need some advice on a pistol
    By bubba in forum General
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: January 4th, 2009, 01:36 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •