Picking out a Gun.
Moderator: carlson1
Picking out a Gun.
I am thinking about getting another gun. but at this point I really haven't decided what I want. Here are my requirements.
1: Reliable It has to be above anything else trustworthy. I expect it to work out of the box and I expect to shoot a box of Ammo a month out of it. I also expect the gun to outlive me.
2: DA/SA with a manual safety.
3: 9mm
Some niceties I would like but aren't essential.
Stainless
Picatinny rail
Easy field strip and clean
good selection of Holsters
fairly Concealable
Thanks for your input.
1: Reliable It has to be above anything else trustworthy. I expect it to work out of the box and I expect to shoot a box of Ammo a month out of it. I also expect the gun to outlive me.
2: DA/SA with a manual safety.
3: 9mm
Some niceties I would like but aren't essential.
Stainless
Picatinny rail
Easy field strip and clean
good selection of Holsters
fairly Concealable
Thanks for your input.
Liberty''s Blog
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
Re: Picking out a Gun.
Since you didn't specify cheap, the SIG 239 or 229 meets your requirements, except for the rail. They aren't cheap. $800-ish new and they don't lose much value when lightly used.
Edited to add: Oops, I missed the manual safety earlier. No SIGs for you.
SIGs have a decocker except a few models that are DAO. They have a firing pin block that is operated by pulling the trigger, so that they won't discharge if you drop them or bump the hammer.
Why do you want a rail? Concealable and rail really don't go together.
You didn't mention night sights, but I would throw them in if I were shopping.
- Jim
Edited to add: Oops, I missed the manual safety earlier. No SIGs for you.

SIGs have a decocker except a few models that are DAO. They have a firing pin block that is operated by pulling the trigger, so that they won't discharge if you drop them or bump the hammer.
Why do you want a rail? Concealable and rail really don't go together.
You didn't mention night sights, but I would throw them in if I were shopping.
- Jim
Last edited by seamusTX on Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Lumberjack98
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Re: Picking out a Gun.
CZ has some really nice pistols now. How about the P01?
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Re: Picking out a Gun.
H&K USPc I have on in 40, and really like it.
it does all of what you want + can be carried in Condition 1
it does all of what you want + can be carried in Condition 1
- flb_78
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Re: Picking out a Gun.
Taurus PT24/7 series.
start out with a 3" compact up to a 5" match grade barrel.



start out with a 3" compact up to a 5" match grade barrel.



http://www.AmarilloGunOwners.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Picking out a Gun.
Sig all the way... the decocker IS the manual safety!
Did I mention that I LOVE my P239
(but Mine is in .40 cal, so you can't have it)
surv
Did I mention that I LOVE my P239

surv
It's not gun control that we need, it's soul control!
Re: Picking out a Gun.
I take safety to mean a mechanism that has to be operated manually before you can fire the pistol.
AFAIK, all SIGs will fire when you pull the trigger. They have made many models over the years, and some of them may have manual safeties. I don't know that they ever made a true SA with a safety.
- Jim
AFAIK, all SIGs will fire when you pull the trigger. They have made many models over the years, and some of them may have manual safeties. I don't know that they ever made a true SA with a safety.
- Jim
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Re: Picking out a Gun.
You could look into an XD. There are models that should meet your needs.
Re: Picking out a Gun.
Look into HP P30 if you can afford to spend some $900. I love mine!
Beiruty,
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member
Re: Picking out a Gun.
I'm a big fan of HK USP's. I've talked to people who have run impromptu torture tests on them and they never cease to amaze. I do love Sigs, but I can understand how one would want the "obvious" safety.
"We are oft to blame in this / 'Tis too much proved -- that with devotion's visage / And pious action we do sugar o'er / The devil himself."
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Re: Picking out a Gun.
I almost didn't mention the rail and don't consider it that important, but rather as one of those things that might be nice to have. As long as there are Mag lights Duct tape and gorrilla Glue I can get along withough a rail pretty well. I do want the manual safety though, I train with them and it is important to me that my new gun works similar to what I use and train with now. I've looked at Sigs though and like the styling, and figure I might eventually buy the 250, but the gun I'm looking for this time I expect to graduate to daily carry. My habits have me handling a gun a lot, and I feel more comfortable with that manual safety.seamusTX wrote:Since you didn't specify cheap, the SIG 239 or 229 meets your requirements, except for the rail. They aren't cheap. $800-ish new and they don't lose much value when lightly used.
Edited to add: Oops, I missed the manual safety earlier. No SIGs for you.![]()
SIGs have a decocker except a few models that are DAO. They have a firing pin block that is operated by pulling the trigger, so that they won't discharge if you drop them or bump the hammer.
Why do you want a rail? Concealable and rail really don't go together.
You didn't mention night sights, but I would throw them in if I were shopping.
- Jim
I haven't decided on a night sites, or even a lazer. I've got pretty good night vision, and have always been concerned that these might blind me to the bad guy. Much like one can't see the driver when he is coming at you in the dark with his headlights on. I've never heard anyone complain about that though.
Liberty''s Blog
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
Re: Picking out a Gun.
I hadn't considered the CZ and didn't know about the P01 Unfortunately it doesn't have a manual safety. I understand the CZ 75 has a variant with a manual safety but that gun is a little bigger than what I'm looking for.Lumberjack98 wrote:CZ has some really nice pistols now. How about the P01?
Liberty''s Blog
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
Re: Picking out a Gun.
I'm looking at the 24/7 pretty closely. Nice size, reputation for reliabilty, comes in stainless. The only problem I have with it is that the manual safety seems to work backwards.flb_78 wrote:Taurus PT24/7 series.
start out with a 3" compact up to a 5" match grade barrel.
Liberty''s Blog
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
Re: Picking out a Gun.
I suggest you take another look at the CZ 75 Compact:
http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=36" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This pistol is smaller than the full size CZ 75's, is 9 mm and has the manual safety you want. CZ has many variants on the 75 series and it's difficult to keep them all straight so I wonder if you missed this model. I have the CZ 75 D PCR, which is also a compact 9 mm, but has a decocker rather than a manual safety.
I'm not affiliated with CZ in any way but I think their pistols have a reputation for being a good value, shooting straight and being rock solid reliable directly out of the box. I feel mine certainly has been and I use it for my daily carry. Also, I don't know if $$ is an issue for you, but they can be found for less than MSRP at gun shows and such.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=36" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This pistol is smaller than the full size CZ 75's, is 9 mm and has the manual safety you want. CZ has many variants on the 75 series and it's difficult to keep them all straight so I wonder if you missed this model. I have the CZ 75 D PCR, which is also a compact 9 mm, but has a decocker rather than a manual safety.
I'm not affiliated with CZ in any way but I think their pistols have a reputation for being a good value, shooting straight and being rock solid reliable directly out of the box. I feel mine certainly has been and I use it for my daily carry. Also, I don't know if $$ is an issue for you, but they can be found for less than MSRP at gun shows and such.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Re: Picking out a Gun.
I acquired tritium night sights almost by accident, and I think they work well. Then again, I haven't used them in real life.Liberty wrote:I haven't decided on a night sites, or even a lazer. I've got pretty good night vision, and have always been concerned that these might blind me to the bad guy.
BTW, there is a hypothetical disadvantage to tritium: you can't turn it off. The sights are visible to anyone who is behind you when you draw your weapon.
- Jim