A new shooter asked me for advice on.........

[sonny]

Which semi auto pistol is the most reliable......plain and simple.
He is a big guy and I have helped him along while he is experimenting with different calibers and models.
Seems as though he's a natural and he has shown exellent skill right off the bat with a variety of handguns........(I suspect he has done some shooting elsewhere but does not want to talk about it )He likes the feel of 1911's and shoots very well with them but he is concerned with "absolute reliability" above all when he chooses his first autoloader.
So ....I suggested the HK USP....or a Glock 21......bottom line is as much as I love my 1911's I just don't think they are as reliable as the two I suggested .....do you?
Consider all things when answering..... I'm talking right out of the box....shooting it when it's dirty.....crappy ammo...you know what I mean?
What would you suggest as the MOST RELIABLY FUNCTIONING auto loader?

P.S. Forget about the fact that he is a new shooter .......the question is about the weapon ...not the shooter.

 

[CZF]

Every firearm has certian weak spots..ie. things that can go wrong.


Some people have different definitions of Reliability. whether
it is. "would i trust my life with it?" or just what is personally
acceptable for range or CCW.

Mine is ZERO stoppages or parts breakage of any kind.

Berettas and CZs come to mind, with some 92s having locking
block problems at the high round count. If the CZ75 keeps
going with it's orginal slide stop. It will do well over 100,000
rounds..as some people have documented. Particular to
S..Africa where 92SB (also Z88s) and CZ75s purchased in the 80s are still pulling daily duty as service and CCW pistols!

I don't think the CZ40B or 97B have been around long
enough to reach the 100,000 mark, but they are stone-cold
reliable.

Glocks always get mentioned for 150,000 round tests, but
few ever mention that parts were replaced along the way.
I also note the Phase 3 stoppages the NYPD has found.
That and my own experiences with Glocks has kinda shaken me away from the drastic plastic as a one of the top choices for reliability.

There are really a lot of good designs on the market.
Other guns are Walthers and H&Ks, of which i have little
experience with. Others will tell you the P-35 Browning
is a top contender. I have to agree.

Like i said. So many good choices, you and your friend
will have a lot of fun finding the perfect one for him.

 

[CB900F]

Sonny;
This is always a somewhat controversial question regardless of what context it comes up in. For what it's worth, I've had my H&K USP compact in .40 for five years now. No problems, at all, ever, in any way shape or form. With both handloads and factory ammo. Sorry, no round count, I just shoot it. 900F

 

[cool45auto]

You're going to get as many opinions as there are members here-so here's mine!!

Beretta 92fs

 

[gryphon]

Here we go AGAIN!

 

[El Tejon]

There are many good swords out there, but no magic ones.

Best advice to a new shooter is for him or her to seek training.

 

[BerettaNut92]

If you look hard enough, there'll be something wrong with each weapon, like the USP firing pins, Beretta locking blocks, cracking frames on Sigs and funny slide rails on Glocks.

All four are good and should hold up, but nothing made by people will ever be perfect. All four have a reputation for very good reliability. Just MO

 

[jsalcedo]

I have never had a malfunction with my makarov.
All ammo even hollowpoints fed like a dream.

The same goes for my CZ-70

Taurus PT92 is the same absolutely no malfunctions ever in 1000
rounds.

 

[10-Ring]

Since this new shooter likes the feel of the 1911 and can shoot it well and isn't necessarily interested in getting a 1911, I'd recommend the USP or USPc 45. Controls are in the place so the transition should be seemless

 

[Ala Dan]

Here Goes!

My Opinion:

The .45 caliber SIG-Sauer P220A


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[chaim]

Guns that are/can be as close to 100% reliable as is possible (in no particular order):

-Bersa (I think they are again importing guns in calibers more powerful than .380)
-CZ 75B
-CZ 40B
-Beretta 92
-Taurus PT 92
-Taurus PT 911
-SIG (just about all)
-HK
-BHP
-1911- just about any "basic" model from a reputable maker (Kimber Custom, SA Mil-Spec, SA Loaded) should be great guns at acceptable prices


I'm sure I've left out quite a few. This is by no means an all encompassing listing.

 

[Braz]

Glock 21

He's a big guy, and imo, a person can be trained to keep their finger off the trigger easier than learning to snick off a safety or a decocker under stress.

 

[faustulus]

either choice will be excellent, I would go for the HK personally, mainly because its grip angle is closer to the 1911. Glock is pretty out there on the grip angle.

He's a big guy, and imo, a person can be trained to keep their finger off the trigger easier than learning to snick off a safety or a decocker under stress.

If you can learn to pull a trigger under stress I imagine you can learn any other motor skill.

 

[Bob Locke]

Best advice to a new shooter is for him or her to seek training.

Amen to that!

As to which firearm to get, the reliability horse has been beaten soundly post mortem. There are quality firearms out there from all the major manufacturers, but you cannot name a single one of them that hasn't had a hiccup at some point on at least one copy of any given version. Guns are still made, ultimately, by people, and there will always be a certain, small percentage that have problems.

Get him to the range. Rent as many different firearms as his budget will allow. Try several different calibers, and don't overlook the revolvers. May just be that's the best fit for him. At the end of the day, there will be a couple of them that fall into his hand better than the rest.

THAT should be the determining factor, not the reliability opinions of a bunch of other people (no matter how knowledgeable they are as a group).

 

[Sisco]

I'm kinda new to the 1911, only 700 rounds or so through my Kimber and it's not failed but that really isn't a true test.
The only semi-auto that I've owned that never failed me not even once was a P95 Ruger.

 

[cslinger]

I have a basic no frills Colt 1991A1 that has never missed a beat of any kind. Great gun. I don't own or shoot dirty guns though so I can't help you there. I clean after every range session but the gun has seen 250 rounds through it in one session.

My vote for what I trust the most though based on overall experience with mine and many others would be....drum roll please...

SIG 220 .45. I like the stainless version for the all steel frame and slightly easier maintainence but they are all rock solid.

Like everybody said any gun can and probably will malfunction at some point. I have had the best luck overall with SIGs but YMMV.

Chris.

 

[Newton]

First place - Makarov

Second place - H&K USP


Newton

 

[cratz2]

My personal experience has been that Glocks, SIGs, Berettas and CZs are all generally 100% out of the box. I'm a 1911 guy and again, most of my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. May just be lucky. I think many 1911s these days are made much tighter than they need to be just to impress uninformed shooters in the store.

For an out of the box reliable gun, I'd put my money on on the Beretta but I find CZs more comfortable. I'd have your friend handle a Glock, A SIG, a Beretta (Vertec and the older strap design) and a CZ. See which one he likes the best. All in 9mm - there's a lot to be said for using a gun in its intended chambering.

And tell him he should put 300 rounds through it ASAP after cleaning it. Clean it every 100 rounds and use quality ammo. S&B or Winchester White Box. No range reloads if he's worried about never having any failures at all.

 

[one-shot-one]

best out of the box?

my safe contains a kimber compact ss, a glock 26, a charles daly cs, a berretta, and a ruger dc95, i would grab the ruger in a hot situation every time, best shooter, best reliability, best bargan.