What pistols meet these criteria?

[iron horse]

Hello Everyone,

I have owned several brands of pistols including Beretta, Browning, Colt, Glock, Ruger, Sig Sauer, and S&W. However, I would like to acquire (or customize) a medium sized pistol and compact pistol that meets the following criteria:

Medium Sized Pistol Criteria:
1. Caliber: .40s&w, or .357sig, or.45acp
2. Single action and double action
3. Straight grip backstrap (i.e. Beretta Vertec, Colt 1911, or S&W 59 type grip).
4. "Metal" slide and frame (both all steel or steel slide and alloy frame.
5. Mainspring surrounded by metal.
6. No slide mounted safety
7. Very reliable ammo feeding and case ejections

Compact Sized Pistol Criteria:
1. Caliber: 9mm or 40s&w or.357sig or .45acp
2. Rest of criteria is the same as the medium sized pistol

The compact sized pistol accepting the medium size pistol magazines, would be a nice bonus.

Are there any guns (discontinued or in production) that meet both or either sets of criteria? Or are there existing guns that could be modified by a gun smith to meet these criteria? Thanks.

 

[Zerodefect]

DA/SA like your Berretta? Sheesh, is depise those. Or did you mean: DA or SA, either would do?

I think CZ has something that hits everything on your list.

 

[dcarch]

Check out the CZ 2075 RAMI.
1: 40 S&W and 9mm models offered.
2: SA/DA
3: Check.
4: Metal and polymer frame models offered.
5: Check. (Except on the polymer models, obviously.)
6: Check. Safety is mounted on the frame, typical CZ style.
7: From my experience, CZ's are some of the most reliable pistols out there.
Hope this helps!

 

[hAkron]

CZ 75D PCR, or SIG P239

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If you can find one, a CZ40B. http://images.google.com/search?tbm...7141l0l41250l4l4l0l0l0l0l594l1719l3-2.0.2l4l0

 

[Gik-tal]

criteria

I'd go for a Sig P229 in 40 S&W and aquire a 357 Sig barrel for it.

 

[armoredman]

CZ P-06 nails them all, being in 40SW. No safety at all, decocker.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-p06/

Or the all steel CZ 75 Compact 40 with standard frame mounted safety would do the trick, but it was discontinued this year from CZs lineup.

 

[kozak6]

Some of the Ruger P-series pistols should fit your criteria.

 

[TheBurns]

Ruger P85.. P95 has a polymer frame... great gun though...

 

[Mr.Blue]

CZ P06 for midsized .40S&W

CZ Rami for compact .40S&W

Www.czusa.com

 

[Jed Carter]

SIG P239, SIG P229, CZ 75D PCR, CZ P01, CZ 75C S/A. STI makes several 1911s in 9mm and .40 S&W, both in fullsize and compact versions. I carry either a CZ 75D 9mm or a SIG RCS 1911 .45acp. Used to carry a SIG P239 .357SIG, only pistol trade I ever regretted.

 

[iron horse]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. Those are all great choices. I was searching the major brands for a gun like the Taurus PT 940 (discontinued). For me, it has everything I like. But, I do not know how reliable it is or if a gun smith can make it reliable if it isn't. I also do not know if there is a compact version of the PT 940. Therefore, I was going to get the Elite ll grip kit (straighter grip) for my Sig P 229, but it is still a non metal grip. Therefore the P 229 mainspring would still be outside the metal frame and surrounded only by a two piece non metal grip. Found a company that makes metal Sig grips but they are the standard curved versions. Or I was going to see if a Beretta 96 DAO (thicker with no slide mounted safety or decocker) came in centurion length and could be matted to a Vertec (straight back strap) frame. Or see if a gun smith could put a third gen shorter DAO slide on a S&W 645.

The CZs are nice. But the CZ 40B and the CZ 2075 RAMI have the grip shape I like. Originally, the CZ 40B was a Colt project. I will research these and the other choices further. Thanks.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A couple more, although obscure: S&W 4026 or 4526. All stainless steel, .40 or .45 caliber respectively, and have a frame-mounted decocker, so no slide-mounted safety. But not many were made and there was a recall on the ones that were. To see if it has been repaired, sweep the lever down and look for two dots stamped in the frame. Just something to throw out there.

 

[armoredman]

Yes, the CZ 40B was known as the Colt Z-40, a co-operative effort between Colt and CZ, and a nifty DAO if you can find one - 1800 made. I handled one, had the BEST DAO trigger I have ever tried, bar none. Full size pistol.

 

[iron horse]

After researching the comments so far, it appears for my personal taste and experience, I could get the Taurus PT940 with no magazine compatible compact version or get the CZ 40B and the magazine compatible compact CZ 2075 Rami (CZ 75B oem and aftermarket 12 round magazines work in the 40B, therefore they might work in the 2075 as well). However, I can not find any "shoot to destruction" tests or multiple extensive reviews for any of these guns (which I like to see before buying a gun and then testing it myself).

I had hoped that one of the "major brands" that I am familiar with, had a system of at least a medium and compact pistols with the traits I like (SA/DA, all metal, straight back strap, low bore axis, feed/eject any ammo and NO slide mounted safety or decocker) with magazine compatibility.

Over the years the semi autos handguns that so far, have never failed me include the Colt 1991A1 (although the cheaper version, it will feed/eject anything, feels good in hand, natural pointer); Sig Sauer P229 (will feed/eject anything, grips are good but I do not like curve at bottom of back strap and I do not like exposed mainspring (similar situation with HK-91 grip vs. AR-15 grip); S&W 645 (big gun but will feed/eject any ammo, feels good in hand, natural pointer, do not like frame mounted safety-had other 2nd and 3rd gen S&Ws that would jam even after smith work); Beretta 92FS (big gun for its caliber, feed/eject anything, but do not like frame mounted safety nor do I like how you can put it on safety by accident when "racking" the slide under stress, nor do I like the curve at bottom of back strap; Glock 23 (will feed/eject anything, natural pointer, great setup for operations under stress, great system of large, medium and compact/subcompact guns with magazine compatibility, but I do not like polymer frames and curve at bottom of back strap.

The handguns that I consider to be "ultra reliable" and trust to protect my family at home if I am there or not, is a stainless Ruger GP 100 and a stainless Ruger Sp101.

Thanks for everyones comments.

 

[chris in va]

I've heard a lot of things about the Glock, but 'natural pointer' is not one of them. Probably going to sell my G21SF due to the awkward grip angle.

 

[Gag_Halfront]

do the CZ's have interchangeable barrels? If not, maybe a Witness variant so you could play with multiple calibers in each frame?

 

[iron horse]

Does any company or gunsmith in the U.S., still perform the Seecamp type 1911 conversions to true SA/DA?

 

[iron horse]

My criteria is based in part, on what I like and the need for autoloaders that my untrained wife could use under stress, if needed. Therefore, I needed to find the autoloader equivalent of our Ruger GP 100 and SP101. I found them. Maybe.

My next gun project(s) will be the Colt Double Eagle Mk II SA/DA .45 in stainless. It came in full, medium and compact sizes with magazine compatibility. Although, controversial when it came out, the later versions seem very reliable as reported by those that have kept/used them for years. Thanks everyone.

 

[1SOW]

CZ or CZ and Sig 239 with multi caliber exchangeable bbls, 40/357 with same mags

22lr with the CZ Kadet Kit for practice/fun.

 

[iron horse]

Correction: In my comments #16, I meant to say in regards to the S&W 645 and Beretta 92FS, that I did not like the SLIDE mounted safeties.

Thanks for more comments. I appreciate the input. However, I am searching for SA/DA, all metal medium and compact pistols with no slide mounted safeties, straight backstrap, that can use the same magazines (double stacked if .40s&w or .357sig and single stacked if .45acp).

The Sig P239 is a great gun. But it is a single stack non .45 If Sig had a medium sized double stacked .40 or .357 and a compact double stacked .40 or .357 (with a straight backstrap using the same mags or a medium and compact straight backstrap .45s using same mags, I would get those.

Therefore, for me, it appears my only choices are the double stacked .40 cal. CZ 40B and 2075 Rami or the single stacked 45 cal. Colt Double Eagle MkII in Commander and Officers models...and maybe the Sig P220 and P245 if the 220 mags work in the 245 and if I can get past their "exposed" mainsprings and the 220 curved backstrap. ...leaning toward the Double Eagles right now.

 

[iron horse]

Want to really get the Double Eagles, but even in the improved MKIIs, all they did was install an exposed e clip to hold in the parts. I was searching for a combo like the Beretta Cougar and Mini Cougar (without slide mounted safety). Wish they made a mini Sig P229. Therefore, based upon being all metal, medium and small version that can use medium versions mags, SA/DA, no slide safety, I am down to 3 combos:

1. Sig P220/Carry and P234/Compact or
2. Jericho 941 Compact and Sub Compact or
3. Bersa HC Pro Series and Ultra Compact.

Are the Jerichos or Bersas as reliable as a Beretta, Sig or Glock?

 

[iron horse]

Narrowed search down to two (2) combos including:

Sig Sauer P220 Carry (8 round) and Compact (6 round) .45 with (10 round extended mags) or the

Jericho 941 Compact (12 round) and Subcompact (10 round) .40 with (unknown extended mags).

Again, searching for reliability, use same mags in both guns, DA/SA, frame mounted decocker or safety, and all metal. The combo will be used for carry, backup and extra home defense for untrained spouse. Any comments? Thanks.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

Other than the Beretta Vertec, some of the third gen S&W auto pistols also have very strait grips.

 

[iron horse]

Thanks. For me, the S&W 59 and subsequent models are the best looking pistols ever made. I have had more than several 2nd and 3rd gen models over the years. However, even after mega smith work, they were very unreliable, except for the 645 (it was very reliable). I also do not prefer slide mounted safeties or decockers if I have a choice.

Beretta Vertec is a great gun, but it has slide mounted safeties/decockers and there is not a mini version. In fact, in part, I am trying to replace a Beretta 92fs with a 25 round mag we keep in the house as backup to our Ruger GP100 and SP101. If you try, you can actually put the safety on when racking the beretta slide.