Gun Appreciation Thread - Page 148

Kimber QC sucks.

Sigarms QC sucks. My 239 is nowhere near the quality of my 80s era 226. Recently I picked up a .22 conversion unit for the 226. Absolute crap. Crap enough that I'll likely flip it and go either with Beretta 87 target, or flip all my modern pieces in favor of CZ-75 + Kadet conversion unit (I'm in CA, can't get the Kadet as a standalone pistol), or HP + Ciener, or move out of the Pleistocene and get a Glock + Ciener or TacSol.

If I were forced to buy a US made pistol now I'd go S&W.

S&W?  I don't understand you're reasoning behind this.  I haven't seen anything worthwhile from Smith in years. What about the S&W do you find attractive?

I love my Ruger mk3, and I just shot a buddy's mini 14 on Friday which shot great out of the box.

They appear to have gotten modern production methods and materials right, and sizeable number of the people who carry guns for a living I know love the M&P. I've shot the M&P and its nice, for a poly frame gun.

OK.  I tried the M&P when it first came out.  I didn't care for it.  I'm very focused on trigger reset and found the M&P lacking in this regard (in terms of short and crisp trigger reset).  But I will recognize that the M&P is a big step forward for S&W since the Sigma.  I still haven't found another handgun that performs like the Glock.  The H&K LEM trigger is a close second.

This may not apply here, but Kimbers are a good replacement for those still living in America-Light (California), where STIs are only obtainable through loopholes in roster restrictions. That may not make sense, but when buying a new pistol (from a gun store, not private party), non-LE Californians must pick from a list of approved guns (roster).

Part of me really resists the idea of polymer frame pistols. Plus all the Glocks I've tried are a bit thick in the thumb web area for my taste. I understand the newer ones are more comfortable.

Have you considered handling something like an H&K P30 or HK45, guns with a more ergonomic grip, to see the comfort that they can offer, and reduction in weight over a heavy 1911? There are advantages as well as drawbacks to each, but they have their places.

I can never get over how silly the magazine release is on H&K polymer pistols.

As far as my experience with reliability goes, M&Ps and Glocks are really quite amazing. The CZ pistols as well, although I can't stand the way they look...

Keep in mind, I usually put about 3000 rounds downrange a month during the summer, and some of the guys I shoot IPSC with easily do 5000-6000 a month. Reliability issues come up a lot quicker for competitive shooters if they exist...

So with that experience, I don't really like Kimbers nor the newer S&W revolvers. Pins have broken in the latter where they should not, and are not designed to given that the pin was actually forged as part of the frame...

I pretty much agree with all of this, but I'd make a couple comments.

As far as the mag release on H&Ks, I'd agree it's odd compared to standard releases, but it's quick to pick up, and it becomes reflexive in a short while. I prefer my Glocks, but my HKs get their time too, and people notice their style.

As far as style, that's where I think guns like Kimbers come in. I wouldn't, at this time, choose one as my primary or for competition, but they're entertaining to shoot and fitting as parts of larger collections.

When it comes to CZs, I can't get past their looks either. I can't justify them in any collection I might own.

If you want reliability, just think how many Glocks appear in IPSC events. They just work. I've stove piped twice, but that gun was getting a lot of dirt/sand from some nonstandard shooting positions (on side, around barricade in a course). I don't blame the gun.

That last part is not meant as a disagreement or reply to your post, rather as a concluding statement.

About the only thing I'm contemplating adding to my collection in the near future is an Italian Inox Beretta 92 and an NAA wasp convertible. I'm thinking I want to make sure I have decent supply of ammo for what I already own, especially 22LR.

I'm slowly selling off a lot of my firearm and buying ammo. I never planned to be a collector and would rather shoot what I have more and really master a handful of different firearms than own a dozen that sit in the safe all the time. I'll have two auto handguns, a .22 pisol, a black powder revolver, four rifles (old.22, SMLE, AUG and SBR krink) and one shotgun (if my NFA tax stamp comes through before any new restrictions!).

 

+1 for high volume shooting

 

At my peak, I was shooting 700-1200 rounds per week primarily through a second gen Glock 19 that I bought used.  The thing of it is, I never cleaned or oiled the gun.  I mean never.  It's just a range beater, and I don't use it for defensive purposes.  It ran just fine for 7 years.  Then about six months ago I blew out the barrel during a training evolution.  Best I can tell, it was a squib load.  I did my immediate action drill and voila.  Instant paperweight.  But as far as I can tell, that was an ammunition problem.  So, yes, Glock gets a ringing endorsement from me.

I picked up a MKA-1919 today. I am excited to see how this puppy does on the range.

Did some gun safe shopping today, and rediscovered a Beretta M9 I'd bought 7 or 8 years ago. Talk about a well designed pistol. Taking this to the range this weekend along with my FNH range rats.