Pistol preference survey

I voted for DA/SA as I think it's the most versatile. While I have a couple of 1911s, I more often shoot my P226, P6, CZ75BD, and CZ75D Compact. What I particularly like about the CZs is that they have tried to make the length of travel similar for both DA and SA. It's a bit strange at first, but I see what CZ is trying to do.

I own all the action types and carried S&W 5900/6900 series guns the last 10+ years I was in LE...that said I have carried a 1911 daily since 1980 and is what I prefer to carry and shoot...especially in .38 Super and 10mm..

Bob

SOTVEN said:

I HAVE, AND WILL KEEP PREFERING THE DA/SA FROM 3RD GEM "ONLY". WHY NOT ANY OTHER? BESIDES THEIR QUALITY OF BUILT, AMBI FRIENDLY. (YES, I TEND TO PRACTICE EITHER HAND OPERATION). P SERIES SIG SAUER MIGHT BE OK, UNTIL ONE TRIES TO USE IT LEFT HANDED. OPERATE THAT DECKOCKER, NEVER MIND THE SLIDE RELEASE. F SERIES BERETTAS ARE A BIT BETTER AT THAT, BUT THAT LENGTH OF TRIGGER PULL, PUTS THE TRIGGER IN A DIFFERENT ZIP CODE THAN THE REST OF THE GUN. ALSO, I COULD NOT CARE LESS FOR ITS EXPOSED BARREL DESIGN, ESPECIALLY AFTER I HAVE SEND A BOX OF ROUNDS DOWNRANGE RAPID FIRE AND HEATS UP. CZ ARE OK, BUT THAT INVERTED SLIDE RAIL SYSTEM MAKES THE SLIDE PRETY MUCH NONEXISTENT, AND HENCE HARD TO OPERATE ESPECIALLY WITH GLOVES. (3RD GEM SLIDES WITH AMBI SAFETIES CAN BE OPERATED WITH 2 FINGERS, MUCH LIKE A LUGER) ALSO, THE SAFE ON COCKED CZ HAS, REALLY DEFIES THE PURPOSE OF DA OPERATION. SO, ALL IN ALL, IN MY OPINION, THEY ARE THE GUNS THAT I HAVE TRUSTED, AND IN THE PAST, I ADMIT OF HAVING SLEPT WITH THEM IN CONDITION ONE UNDER MY PILLOW. DA/SA OR A REVOLVER WOULD BE THE ONLY GUNS I WOULD TRUST WITH THAT FORM OF PROTECTION CARRY. (AND YES, PISTOLS MIGHT BE CALLED TO SERVE SOMEONE WITHOUT A HOLSTER TO KEEP ITS "SAFE TRIGGER" COVERED). NOT A FAN OF SA AUTOS FOR PERSONAL DEFENSE, DUE TO THE NEED TO BE COCKED FEATURE, BUT I WOULD TAKE A SA OVER A STRIKERFIRED.

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As a lefty you learn to adapt.

- Index finger for mag release
- Sling shot slide universal for all semi autos
- Some decockers can be a bit annoying but nothing too bad. Essentially you only use it when done. Either done shooting or the threat has stopped. In which case I reach over the top with my other​ hand and press the decocker. The only time it becomes a pain in the butt is when you want to keep practicing DA only.

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Arik said:

As a lefty you learn to adapt.

- Index finger for mag release
- Sling shot slide universal for all semi autos
- Some decockers can be a bit annoying but nothing too bad. Essentially you only use it when done. Either done shooting or the threat has stopped. In which case I reach over the top with my other​ hand and press the decocker. The only time it becomes a pain in the butt is when you want to keep practicing DA only.

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INDEED FRIEND, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SKIN A CAT. THOUGH I AM NOT A LEFTY, BUT RATHER TRY TO USE MY PISTOLS (AND GUNS IN GENERAL) WITH EITHER HAND, I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE SUPERIORITY OF THE 3RD GEM SMITHS IN ERGONOMICS DESIGN IS APPARENT. TWO LEFT HANDED FRIENDS I HAVE ATTEST TO THAT. AS FOR THE SLIDE AND MAGAZINE RELEASE, I KINDA THINK THAT THEY OPERATE MUCH EASIER WITH THE LEFT HAND INDEX. I HAD READ THAT THAT IS HOW JMB HAD INTENDED THEM ON THE 1911, BUT MANUFACTURING SAID OTHERWISE. DO NO KNOW FOR SURE. AS FOR SLINGING THE SLIDE, ALONG WITH THE F92/96 I THINK THAT 3RD GEM DA/SA ARE THE BEST, EVEN WITH PEOPLE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SUFFER FROM ARTHRITIS. I NEVER GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE SIG SAUER STYLE DECKOCER COPIED ON THE XX7X AND OTHER 3RD MODELS, AS IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO ME A BAD HALFA%$ DESIGN, BUT I GUESS THE FBI LIKED THE "ONLY RIGHT HANDED" GUNS AT THE TIME. ANYHOW, JUST MY TWO CENTS.

Arik said:

As a lefty you learn to adapt.

- Index finger for mag release
- Sling shot slide universal for all semi autos
- Some decockers can be a bit annoying but nothing too bad. Essentially you only use it when done. Either done shooting or the threat has stopped. In which case I reach over the top with my other​ hand and press the decocker. The only time it becomes a pain in the butt is when you want to keep practicing DA only.

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Yeah, I recently picked up a P226, and already had a Zastava CZ 99 (Yugo near-clone, but with ambi controls, and just the forward lever- the 'decock' lever for the Sig, which does double duty as a slide release too).

With both guns, I find I use the decock lever on the left side of the frame, maintaining my thumb and lower 3 finger grip but pivoting my index. I don't really use the controls on the right side of the Zastava.

Maybe it's just the way I shoot as a lefty, but the thumb and lower 3 finger placement keeps my grip secure and consistent. I don't like to move my thumb at all once I have the gun in hand.

As an aside about shooting lefthanded, I also recently got an old CZ 27, a WW2 and prewar era .32 acp design.

There is a safety, a small button and lever combo, behind the left side of the trigger. Lever down for safe, tap the button to release and fire. Lever is under spring tension so just touching the lever won't disable it.

I find this EXTREMELY easy and convenient to operate one-handed... as a lefty. Shooting it right-handed, you have to use both hands to do this, and since it's a smaller gun, it can be a tad awkward (for me).

I bring this up, because it often seems like some of these "non-ambidextrous" controls are actually better for us lefties.

Geezzz,,,,Your shouting SOTVEN,,,,,,,,

mrchuck said:

Geezzz,,,,Your shouting SOTVEN,,,,,,,,

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I believe he posted somewhere else that he has keyboard issues and his caps are locked

YES, INDEED, MY KEYBOARD WILL NOT GO LOWERCASE IN ENGLISH. SORRY ABOUT THAT FRIENDS, THOUGH I DID NOT THINK ONE COULD YELL WHILE TYPING LOL . AS FOR GUN DESIGNS, YES, ONE PERSON MAY LEARN AND USE ANYTHING UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. TRUE. LIKE I MENTIONED, I TRY SHOOTING ALL MY GUNS EITHER HAND, HANDGUNS AND LONGARMS. I FIND IT EASIER TO MANIPULATE THE SELECTOR SWITCH ON MY G3 BATTLERIFLE EASIER WITH THE LEFT INDEX, THAN WITH THE RIGHT THUMB THAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. DO I OPERATE IT EITHER WAY? YES, BECAUSE I HAVE TO, BUT THE DESIGN IS FOR THE BIRDS. THE GARAMD / M1A HOWEVER IS A BETTER DESIGN, SINCE EITHER HAND MANIPULATES THE SAFETY JUST THE SAME. I OPERATE REMINGTON AND BENELLI SHOTGUN SAFETIES EITHER HAND, BUT THE TANG SAFETY ON DOUBLE BARRELS AND MOSSBERGS IS A BETTER DESIGN IN THAT ASPECT. THAT WAS MY POINT ABOUT BETTER, MORE ERGONOMIC DESIGN. NOT WHAT WE CAN DO, RATHER HOW WELL THOUGHT THE DESIGN WAS OF THE 3RD GEMS. AND HOW COULDN'T THEY BE? THEY MERGED THE 2 MOST AHEAD OF TIME DESIGNS, (M1911 & P38) INTO ONE, AND LET IT EVOLVE THROUGH 3 GENERATIONS. REMEMBER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HOW THE 39 ONLY HAD A LEFT SIDE SAFETY? 3RD GENS, BOTH SIDES. HMMM... EVOLUTION! LOL

If we're talking about well though out designs the 3rd gen safety is definitely not it! Same thing with Beretta 92.

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Arik said:

If we're talking about well though out designs the 3rd gen safety is definitely not it! Same thing with Beretta 92.

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I WILL AGREE ABOUT THE BERETTA FRIEND, ESPESIALY WITH THAT "UP AND DOWN" TOP PROTRUDING FIRING PIN BLOCK, (UNLESS THEY HAVE CHANGED THAT BY NOW, IDK) BUT ALLOW ME TO DISAGREE ON THE 3RDS. FOR ME, THEY WORK THE BEST. AND MANY OTHERS I KNOW AGREE. EITHER HAND. TO EACH THEIR OWN I GUESS.

The hand part is fine. It's the placement of the actual lever. I have long fingers and still have to break my grip to use it. A 1911 style is more natural. No need to break grip.

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I WILL BE THE LAST PERSON TO EVER SPEAK BAD FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE 1911, AS I CONSIDER IT THE BENCHMARK FOR ALL PISTOLS EVER, HOWEVER, I KINDA FEEL THAT THE SIDE SAFETY(IES) ON IT, ARE A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO MY GRIP FOR COMFORT WHILE USING IT. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME ON THE JERICHOS, OR BABY EAGLES AS THEY ARE KNOWN ACCROSS THE ATLANTIC. I CAN NOT REMEMBER MY FEELINGS ABOUT THE HIGH POWER, AS IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I FIRED ONE LAST. THE SLIDE MOUNTED LEVER HOWEVER, IS CLOSE TO OPERATE, YET OUT OF THE WAY ONCE DISENGAGED. I DO NOT HAVE VERY LONG FINGERS, YET MY PERCEPTION IS THAT THIS STYLE WORKS BETTER. I GUESS WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE! LOL!

I guess it would depend on the actual lever. I agree with you about the original lever. However, I'm ref to the extended

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Well, the results are in. Single action and typical double action were neck and neck for awhile but single action won. A surprise to me but that's why I ran the survey.

I guess it explains why Kimber and similar companies can sell so many concealed carry 1911 style pistols. Not my taste (which is why dumped my Colt Mustang years ago, and my SIG P-238) but the market apparently likes them a lot so there you have it!

ISCS Yoda said:

Well, the results are in. Single action and typical double action were neck and neck for awhile but single action won. A surprise to me but that's why I ran the survey.

I guess it explains why Kimber and similar companies can sell so many concealed carry 1911 style pistols. Not my taste (which is why dumped my Colt Mustang years ago, and my SIG P-238) but the market apparently likes them a lot so there you have it!

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Are we reading the same poll results? It says TDA beat out SA. Granted, by a slim margin, less than 2%.

I thought the striker-fired would fare better in this poll. Even taking into account that the population here is ...well, let's say...more experienced...yeah, that's the ticket, it seems that even the collectors and gents that are set in their ways have come around to polymer.

I imagine this poll outcome would be different on the Springfield or SIG forum.

From the heart: not my intention to try and claim to be "different!" from everyone else, but I have some seemingly uncommon position in & around these questions.

For daily carry/defense-- it's Tupperware for damn sure and I absolutely carry every possible place that I can, I am staunch about carry and I make plans & travel plans that include carry. I use a striker fired midsize hi-cap 9mm, a Walther PPQ. I have had a couple very good Tupperware guns and gotten great service from them but NEVER will one of these heartless, soulless tools ever capture my love and my heart the way a real metal handgun does.

So what is "my" choice in pistol? Again, how to answer! My favorite guns my life's history are the 5" S&W PC Limited target guns, 845/PPC-9/952 and the legendary S&W Model 52. These are SA target guns and these are my favorite but again... these are not what I buy most often and have the most of--

That would be S&W 1-2-3rd Gens, DA/SA guns. I absolutely love them and unlike PC Limited and Model 52 target guns, the 1-2-3rd Gens are available, affordable and they are a riot to compile.

I shoot them often, and I never, ever, ever shoot that first shot double action. The DA trigger is horrendous and the transition from first to second shot is absolutely odd & difficult and outside of a fast moving defensive situation (or practicing for same) is not the kind of pistol shooting I care to do.

My last "odd" stance for someone very active in this forum and especially in collecting 1-2-3rd Gens? Umm sorry guys, I think it made PERFECT business sense by S&W to quit making DA/SA 3rd Gens. We live in a world where Tupperware literally is the best tool for the carry/duty/issue/defense role, it simply is, and for S&W it basically came down to "we now make Tupperware and one other kind" and that other kind is the 1911.

I truly like and enjoy 1911's pistols, even while my true passion is 1-2-3rd Gens and PC guns. But if you are a gunmaker in 2017 and you are in this game to make a profit, you won't choose to market a DA/SA dinosaur over a 1911.

Sure, we'll all agree that the 1911 market is saturated and flooded and tiresome. But they STILL sell, they sell a truckload, and you're dreaming if you think a line of DA/SA sells better than (yawn, yet another) 1911.

Progess, I guess you could call it. It has gotten us here. You could compare it to the cars we all love from the 60's and 70's that are also never gonna made ever again, of course we drool over them but at the same time, the one we commute with gets 30 mpg and for the select purpose of transportation with no love or emotion, it does every single thing better than a '66 GTO ever did except lay down rubber.

Lordy. Apologies for the length of this post.

Are we reading the same poll results? It says TDA beat out SA. Granted, by a slim margin, less than 2%.

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HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY DYSLEXIA SHOWED UP DIDN'T IT!!!!!!

OMG! I wish I could explain to you how weird it feels when that happens!!!

I got it totally backward - pure dyslexic reading. usually it's just right and left turns but this was the exact same thing!!!

Sorry, y'all!