I've gone through a lot of handguns...

[Armed012002]

I love my rifles and shotgun, but I can't seem to find a handgun I like.

Here's my chronicle

Glock 21. This was my first handgun and I bought it for target shooting and home defense. It was reliable, but too bulky and didn't fit my hand. I didn't know better at the time, but my Glock's trigger felt "spongy." I don't care for spongy triggers now that I know what a good trigger feels like

Smith & Wesson 66 with 6" barrel. I bought this to replace my Glock 21 for target shooting and home defense. It was reliable, accurate, and had a very nice trigger. However, I wanted to try out other guns, so I traded it.

Smith & Wesson 500. I bought this from a friend of the family that needed money. It was somewhat of an impulse buy. It was fun to own a .50 cal, but I wanted to try other guns more, so I traded it.

Blued Ruger GP100 with 4" barrel. I bought this to replace my Smith & Wesson 66 for target shooting and home defense. It was reliable, accurate, and had a fine trigger. I sold it because after looking at so many pictures of stainless steel custom revolvers, I wanted my own custom revolver. I really, really regret selling this revolver as I really liked it

Custom Ruger GP100 with 6" barrel. I bought this to replace my Blued GP100 for target shooting. I had this revolver customized by Matt at RevolverArmorer.com. I had Matt do a trigger job and bead blasted finish. It was a really nice revolver, but after looking at so many pictures of 1911s, I wanted my own 1911. Like my other GP100, I really, really regret selling this one too

Custom Smith & Wesson 686 with 4" barrel. I bought this to replace my Blued GP100 for home defense. Like the Custom GP100, I had Matt do a trigger job and bead blasted finish. I sold this one too, so I could fund a 1911.

Kimber Custom II. I bought this to replace my Smith & Wesson 686 for target shooting and home defense. I loved the clean lines and black oxide finish. It looked great, but would rust if I looked at it funny. I did my best to keep it oiled and cared for, but to no avail. I eventually sold it as it not only rusted, but wasn't reliable either. It wouldn't go through a magazine without a malfunction.

Kimber Pro Carry II. I bought this for conceal carry. Like the Custom II, it rusted and wasn't reliable. It wouldn't go through a magazine without a malfunction.

Colt 1991. I bought this to replace my Kimber Custom II for target shooting and home defense. I never had a problem with corrosion and it was very reliable. It had a very nice trigger. Ironically, after all the trouble of finding a good 1911, I decided I didn't care for them. Go figure

Colt XSE Lightweight Commander. I bought this to replace my Kimber Pro Carry II for conceal carry. Like my 1991, I had no problems with corrosion or reliability. It had a very nice trigger. I just don't care for 1911s.

Smith & Wesson 642. I bought this to replace my Colt XSE for conceal carry. It was very reliable, but the trigger was somewhere in the 12 pound range and muzzle flip was quite harsh. It was not painful to shoot, but controllability was very difficult.

Smith & Wesson M&P Compact. I bought this to replace my Smith & Wesson 642 for conceal carry. It was very unreliable. Perhaps I got a lemon, but it took three trips to the factory to make this pistol run. Smith & Wesson has good customer service, but I didn't trust it after all the trouble I went through.

Smith & Wesson M&P Full Size. I bought this to replace my Colt 1991 and Smith & Wesson M&P Compact for target shooting, home defense, and conceal carry. Unlike my M&P Compact, this one was reliable. Unlike the nice triggers of my custom revolvers and 1911s, the trigger of my M&P was "spongy." It feels the same as my Glock in that respect. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It just doesn't feel "nice."

I'm looking to acquire a GP100 for target shooting and home defense and an SP101 for conceal carry. I already know I like the GP100 and the SP101 will work for conceal carry with less recoil than my Smith & Wesson 642.

So how about you folks? Am I the only one that's had to spend a fortune to find the right handgun? :banghead:

 

[scottaschultz]

I am thinking you don't have a range where you can rent guns?

Scott

 

[General Geoff]

Smith & Wesson 66 with 6" barrel. I bought this to replace my Glock 21 for target shooting and home defense. It was reliable, accurate, and had a very nice trigger. However, I wanted to try out other guns, so I traded it.

Well, now that you've gone through a dozen other guns, go back to the Smith model 66.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I noticed you haven't tried Sigs.

 

[22LRFan]

So how about you folks? Am I the only one that's had to spend a fortune to find the right handgun?

Well if it makes you feel better I've recently bought a handgun (Kel-Tec Pf-9) that was unreliable and was pretty much only good for taking a loss on. Seeing as how I'm still only 21, I imagine it will happen again.

Are you set on getting a couple of Ruger revolvers? I can respect someone that likes to stick to either revolvers or semi-autos, but your last two GP100's received a trigger job from a smith. I think if you're looking to get more work done on your next handgun purchase, your options could open up quite a bit. For example, a lot of people like Browning Hi-Powers except for their triggers [insert trigger work here]. Or maybe a Smith & Wesson may end up being cheaper when you factor in the cost of work being done on a Ruger.

Good luck on whatever you pick up.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

You said you can't seem to find a handgun you like, but then say how much you liked some of the handguns you have owned. It sounds more like you can't commit to a handgun. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just puts more used guns on the market for the rest of us.

 

[mrt949]

Sounds like you are like most shooters in a candy store. You havent found the sweet one.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors// GeorgiaRaised 85, I am sure I only know a fraction about handguns compared to you// I have S&W 586 6" ( reach out and touch someone ) and am looking for a 3" revolver, narrowed them down to an sp101 or 686 P. I like the full ejector rod and sighting capabilities of a 3 inch over a stubby and the versatility of 357/38. Hopefully the semi auto folks will forgive me for prefering "antiques" :- ) I do greatly respect a 16/17 shot pistol . I just think using a revolver in DA in a high stress situation is the way to go for me.// safe carrying.....content.

 

[doc2rn]

I have owned almost all the ones listed above too, but I just held onto a few of the ones that where sweet shooters like the S&W 10-4. Sure I only paid a $125 for a gun with only 30% of blue left but hey she still shoots good. What you need to do now is look at a Sig 232 and a Sig 238. Try handling both and see which one you like best. I would almost bet you find a CCW you'll like between the two. I often forget I am wearing mine. I feel your pain I went through several lemons before I found my nitch too.

 

[bluetopper]

I used to be the same way with women.......I feel your pain.:banghead:

I've been through a wide assortment of hanguns and have settled exclusively on S&W revolvers and high end 1911's.

 

[SaxonPig]

Um... Are you only allowed to own one handgun at a time? I keep buying new guns that interest me but I rarely sell an old one. After 20 years I have a variety of guns to play with and carry so I don't get bored by only having one. I think you need to have more than one on hand so you can rotate them and avoid becoming disinterested.

Here's about half of my collection.

 

[bluetopper]

SP......I've known from your posts in the past you were bound to have a slew of em.

I don't see any culls in the bunch either.

 

[Newton]

What you will likely discover is that the search never ends, because even when you find a gun you like, you just get naturally bored with it and move on to something else.

 

[DFW1911]

How about CZ, BHP, Sig, FN, Walther, Beretta, Stoeger, Kahr...to name a few? If a CZ or BHP doesn't feel great, you may be a lost cause !

Find a range that rents and spend some time finding the right one.

It's out there.

 

[weisse52]

Find a range that rents and spend some time finding the right one.

That is the best advice for anyone. Renting at a range is much cheaper than the form of "renting" you are currently using....

 

[KyJim]

Here's about half of my collection.

That's why I visit these forums. They counteract my wife's not-so-subtle reference to my "arsenal."

As to the original post, looks like you're a revolver guy. Get the GP-100 now and the Model 66 later. Always nice to have a back-up.

 

[janobles14]

LMAO! i just showed my wife saxon's pic of HALF of his pistols. lol now she doesent think mine is so bad! thanks pig!

 

[CornCod]

I think our friend from Georgia is running around looking for the perfect handgun. The prefect handgun dosen't exist. All of them have both their advantages and disadvantages. I share his concern for reliability, but issues like "spongy trigger" are best dealt with by regular practice. Awhile back I actually became an acceptable shot with the Heckler and Koch VP70Z, a firearm with an admittedly horrible trigger.

 

[ichiban]

Trying to get one gun that does it all is a lost cause. You should have several guns for different needs. I mean, you've got more than one pair of shoes, right?

Follow SPs lead.

 

[orvpark]

The thing (type?) you don't have on your list is a SA/DA auto. Give a Sig or CZ a try (at the range hopefully!)

 

[amprecon]

Don't feel bad, I've gone through the same thing, I even thought of starting a gun "leasing" program just for people like us

 

[cchris]

Seems like your collection is mostly American-made firearms. If you're looking for autoloaders, some of the foriegn ones (Sig, CZ, Beretta, etc.) might be worth a shot.

 

[dom1104]

wow. WOW. I do not have a problem compared to you guys. Yikes. and I was feeling guilty contemplating an AR.


"what will the AR do that my shotgun cant in real life"


forget it, compared to a guy that has 50 odd revolvers, I do not have an addiction.

order me up baby.

 

[Thomas Garrett]

SaxonPig, Your killing me! lol.

 

[chris in va]

Yup, sounds like me. Only been shooting for ~6 years but been through quite a few.

My latest trade was my 3" SP101 that helped fund my Kahr K9. At some point I realized shooting 357 was impractical for defense (recoil) and toning it down with 38+p was silly as they are essentially the same as 9mm+p, but the Kahr holds four more rounds so I sold it.

The one gun that has stuck with me from the beginning is my CZ 75BD with Kadet kit. It gets used more than anything else I own. The factory grip feels like it was custom made for my hand. It's not a perfect gun, but would be my go-to if I had to make a 75yd shot.