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[smokeyone]

I work at a range/store and have been shooting since I was 3. so here is my .02

Taurus: They come with a lifetime warranty because odds are you will need it. We run a 92, 85(airweight 38) and 66 (Full size 357) from them and they can do 500-10,000 rounds before the have to be rebuilt by taurus. If its a range toy no biggie, if its protecting you and yours avoid it. We also run a judge with house loaded 45 colt cowboy action 200 gr. It sees to hold up longer but that might be that it isnt used the way the others are.

Springfield xd/m/1911: The xd and xd m series are also used as range guns and hold up fine. For the money I would go will the essentials kit (doesnt have the xd gear holster,mag holster and speed loader) and should save you 50-100 bucks. The gear that comes with the XD and M series is one of the first thing replaced. The springfield 1911s are nice but they use an odd beavertail angle and an odd sized trigger. Getting a 1911 is like buying a honda civic as they are too easy to customize. Anything you want to do to one someone can do, sell you the kit to do or do it yourself. The range officer is a nice 799.95 gun if you like the bomar sight system. I do not so its not for me. If you get a springfield 1911 test the trigger (they are less than great) and get a beavertail not a spur. They suck to change out on a  springfield and odds are you will want to change to a beavertail.

Sig: Slightly over engineered but I own them and love them. In a world full of pieces of glock Sig still has steal frame duty sizes guns. The debate can rage about sig models and grip options but Ill leave that to another time. Sig can eat anything you feed it and come back for more. 9mm, 357 sig, 40 sw 45 acp they have all of them in a nice simple looking package. They also have a ppk type back up gun in 380 (232,230) They offer double and single stack options but if it is available get one made in germany.

HK : outside the p7 Im not a fan, overpriced plastic gun.

FN: When people ask about the HK I often try to steer them to the FNX series. Yes its plastic but it offers everything the HK does for 200 bucks less. The only thing I hate it the front sight is painted on.

Keltec: I carry a 32 as a CCW when a bigger weapon just will not get it done. In the summer down south the 32 acp round will back someone off you which is the point of a ccw. If I now I need to put someone down or need more than 6 shots I would just avoid the situation. They also make a nice 380 (too much felt recoil for me) and some nice carry 9mms.

Karh arms: over priced and not that well made. We stopped stocking them due to failures.

Smith M&P: Not a fan. the mag and night sights have rust issues with the local police that carry them. Over complicated to clean.

Ruger: Great starter gun. the P95 is what a duty gun should be. Cheap, big, reliable, easy to use. The SR9/40/cLCP/LC9 just do not impress me. I love the ruger revolvers and markii/iii 22s.

GLock: I hate them. The point of aim is funky to me and they dont feel good in my hand. We run 2 19s a 17c and a 34 as range pistols. 20000-25000 rounds and they are done. They are too easy to limp wrist and with out the massive ghetto following (rap song hero) I think they would already be replaced by springfields or better guns. I have owned a G22,19 and 17 trying to learn to like them I just cant.

Styer m9a1: I just ordered one and have always like them. They are what Glock should be. Striker fired system 15 rounds they have a cult like following

Kimber: We dropped them due to rust issues

CZ: Love them. Steal hammer with safety and good feel them

Ill finish this later

[AUskip07]

I bought an Arcus 98 DAC they have them on speical for $321 shipped from Buds gun shop.  

Havent shot it yet.  The range i go to is closed sundays but i have field stripped it  and cleaned it (came with alot of grease packed inside).

Its a Bulgarian issue police side arm  Browning High Power clone  that seems to have a cult following in terms of reliability  and accuracy.

Lots of great reviews online

Arcus 98 Review | Gun Etc.


Couldnt find a good enough price on a  CZ 75B  to make it close but  i would have considered on because there are too many good things to be said about them.

Edited by AUskip07, 19 December 2011 - 05:02 PM.

[GoldenRebel]

smokeyone, on 19 December 2011 - 04:32 PM, said:

I work at a range/store and have been shooting since I was 3. so here is my .02

Taurus: They come with a lifetime warranty because odds are you will need it. We run a 92, 85(airweight 38) and 66 (Full size 357) from them and they can do 500-10,000 rounds before the have to be rebuilt by taurus. If its a range toy no biggie, if its protecting you and yours avoid it. We also run a judge with house loaded 45 colt cowboy action 200 gr. It sees to hold up longer but that might be that it isnt used the way the others are.

Springfield xd/m/1911: The xd and xd m series are also used as range guns and hold up fine. For the money I would go will the essentials kit (doesnt have the xd gear holster,mag holster and speed loader) and should save you 50-100 bucks. The gear that comes with the XD and M series is one of the first thing replaced. The springfield 1911s are nice but they use an odd beavertail angle and an odd sized trigger. Getting a 1911 is like buying a honda civic as they are too easy to customize. Anything you want to do to one someone can do, sell you the kit to do or do it yourself. The range officer is a nice 799.95 gun if you like the bomar sight system. I do not so its not for me. If you get a springfield 1911 test the trigger (they are less than great) and get a beavertail not a spur. They suck to change out on a  springfield and odds are you will want to change to a beavertail.

Sig: Slightly over engineered but I own them and love them. In a world full of pieces of glock Sig still has steal frame duty sizes guns. The debate can rage about sig models and grip options but Ill leave that to another time. Sig can eat anything you feed it and come back for more. 9mm, 357 sig, 40 sw 45 acp they have all of them in a nice simple looking package. They also have a ppk type back up gun in 380 (232,230) They offer double and single stack options but if it is available get one made in germany.

HK : outside the p7 Im not a fan, overpriced plastic gun.

FN: When people ask about the HK I often try to steer them to the FNX series. Yes its plastic but it offers everything the HK does for 200 bucks less. The only thing I hate it the front sight is painted on.

Keltec: I carry a 32 as a CCW when a bigger weapon just will not get it done. In the summer down south the 32 acp round will back someone off you which is the point of a ccw. If I now I need to put someone down or need more than 6 shots I would just avoid the situation. They also make a nice 380 (too much felt recoil for me) and some nice carry 9mms.

Karh arms: over priced and not that well made. We stopped stocking them due to failures.

Smith M&P: Not a fan. the mag and night sights have rust issues with the local police that carry them. Over complicated to clean.

Ruger: Great starter gun. the P95 is what a duty gun should be. Cheap, big, reliable, easy to use. The SR9/40/cLCP/LC9 just do not impress me. I love the ruger revolvers and markii/iii 22s.

GLock: I hate them. The point of aim is funky to me and they dont feel good in my hand. We run 2 19s a 17c and a 34 as range pistols. 20000-25000 rounds and they are done. They are too easy to limp wrist and with out the massive ghetto following (rap song hero) I think they would already be replaced by springfields or better guns. I have owned a G22,19 and 17 trying to learn to like them I just cant.

Styer m9a1: I just ordered one and have always like them. They are what Glock should be. Striker fired system 15 rounds they have a cult like following

Kimber: We dropped them due to rust issues

CZ: Love them. Steal hammer with safety and good feel them

Ill finish this later

Overall, good assessment.  Youre a tough critic lol.  The Springfield beavertail radius is .220 and Smith&Alexander offer a very nice beavertail in that radius.  My biggest problem with them is the ILS in the mainspring housing.  You are spot on with the trigger though.  The production guns are hit or miss.  I sent mine in to the custom shop and had them work their magic on it and couldn't be happier.

I really like the FN and XDm.  Probably because their grip angle is more like the 1911.  It just comes down to what you get used to and practice with.

[AUFan1974]

I just purchased a S&W .357 and I still have the Ruger. I like the .357 revolvers because they are simple and easy to reload plus they blow big ass holes in stuff.

[smokeyone]

Smith and alexander is just awesome. Ididnt want to get too deep into why its odd but the even with a s&a beavertail going from a spur to a tail takes either a jig and fitting or a trip to a good gun smith. Of late when the new 1911 bug bites I tend to buy a base model or tact Rock Island Armory (420 gi, 475 tact) duracoated and build off that. A trip to Fords refinishing and orders to wilson combat andor Smith and Alexander knock out 95% of the build. Put sights on it (novack cut for the tact)

I always avoid/replace ambi safeties on 1911s but Rock Island ones just suck. I get the duracoat finish because it strips off without effecting the metal.

The best out of the box 1911 I have played with have to be the sig gsr models. I do really like the mag research 1911s. They are relatively new and I will not be some companies unpaid RnD so I am holding off on them. I used to doubt any company could screw up a 100 year proven design but then I sold a few taurus pt1911s. They changed my mind because 8 out of 10 sold crapped out quick.

If you do get a springfield 1911 swap the main spring housing before you lose the key.

[smokeyone]

AUFan1974, on 19 December 2011 - 06:06 PM, said:

I just purchased a S&W .357 and I still have the Ruger. I like the .357 revolvers because they are simple and easy to reload plus they blow big ass holes in stuff.

true point and click weapons.. I did a class with a group that were prepping for the SC CCP class that all wanted semi autos. I did a test timing them dealing with a semi auto firing everything they could in 3 sec. draw from a holster disengage the safety and fire. Average was 2 shots or less. Then I had them do the same drill with a revolver. Everyone got atleast 5 shots most did 6. (3 sec was the time it takes the carrier to bring the target from 50 ft to the booth.)

[GoldenRebel]

Nothing wrong with a RIA Tac.  Probably the best bang for the buck in a 1911 under a grand.  Not only are they cheap, but they are much easier to find than SA or Colt these days.  I haven't had much experience with the Sig, but they look really appealing to the eye and I've heard great things about them.  That damn external extractor is just an eye sore

[smokeyone]

The external extractor and they are squared off not rounded. The purest dont lust after them the way a shooter does.

I keep waiting on Para to put out a solid 1911. They seem to want to go odd sized or double astion or double stack. None of which are 1911 features. Plus they crap out without a little work out of the box. I thought that moving production from Canada to North Carolina would help but I think its more a design issue than quality one.

[JDawg]

I'm in the game for a cocealed carry weapon.  I am positive there is a thread for this, but since this one is active, I figured I'd solicit some info in here.