Thanks for all the input. I have been testing different ones at the range for a few weeks now. It is expensive but I will get what I want.
Leaning towards Shield + but just not crazy about it. To tell the truth if I fell in love with one at $ 1,500, I would buy it.
What about trying for used? and private sale? What say you?
I buy used guns all the time, and have had more positive results than negative. Also got to play with a lot of different guns at reasonable prices too.
As long as youre aware that you very well could be getting into a mess, and have at least a basic idea of what to look for, red flag sort of stuff, etc, and are somewhat handy, and willing to fiddle, its usually a good way to try things out for less.
You just never really know what youre getting into though. Not to long ago I bought a real nice older Browning High Power. It looked like it was well cared for and everything seemed good, until I got it to the range. The first time I dropped the slide on a full mag, the hammer followed the slide down and fired the round. Luckily, I was standing on grass and had the gun pointed down range, and the round went into the ground out in front of me. Dumb **** that I am, I tried it again
, and the next pull of the trigger gave me a 4 or 5 round burst.
Whoever had it before me did a trigger job on it.
It was an easy enough fix, and I just replaced the sear and spring.
The Glock Ive been carrying for a couple of years now was about a month old from being new when I got it. The previous owner bought it, and then brought it back a week later, saying it was constant brass to the face. It went back to Glock and they rebuilt the slide and sent it back. He took it out and said it was still brass to the face and brought it back and traded it off on something else.
The boy who owns the shop I buy most of my guns from these days told me the story and I bought it. Found the repair order and list of what was replaced in the box. Ive shot it a bunch since, and never had a piece of brass anywhere near my face and its been 100%. I dont think the problem was the gun.
And Im not bitching about getting a "used", new gun, for about a $100 off the new price either.