Pistol preference survey

[ISCS Yoda]

This has likely been done but let's do it again, anyway.

My point - for whatever reason, S&W discontinued the 3rd generation pistols to sell the then new M&P pistols. To my mind it was a sort of hop on the bandwagon, everyone else is selling striker fired guns with tricky triggers, we should, too.

However, in reality, NOT everyone is selling striker fired pistols. Beretta still makes several typical double action pistols, with decockers, as does SIG, never mind the huge number of single action pistols still being sold.

So, I thought about it - let's take a survey, see what most of us prefer in our automatic pistols. Revolvers are not included. If I mis-describe something or miss some type of other action I apologize.

 

[robertrwalsh]

1911 is my preference in a semi-auto.

 

[BAM-BAM]

DA/SA metal guns.......................... 3rd Gen Smiths, Beretta 92s and Sig 22x series......especially the de-cocker only models.

Soft spot for 9mm Browning Hi-Powers.... but don't concealed carry cocked and locked

 

[Arik]

Utmost reliability. Everything else is second..... weight vs size vs....

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[ISCS Yoda]

BAM-BAM I am right there with you. I have no objection if this survey devolves into a fun debate as well, with folks arguing the pros and cons of their choices.

I have two Hi-Power type guns, one a Browning and one an Israeli Kareem. They might be great guns but at no point in time am I going to carry a single action pistol. I won't say I never did because that's not true but the more I am around them the less I like them, especially for concealed carry.

All metal.
Decocker
Traditional double action

I agree. And the brands you named all work for me, too.

 

[SleepyDragonfly]

Bersa Thunder Combat.

▄︻̷̿┻̿═━一

 

[Rustyt1953]

It depends on the purpose.

For range fun: my 3rd gens.

For pocket and nightstand: strikers.

 

[RobzGuns]

While I do have a couple SA pistols, almost all my pistols are striker fire (a couple Glocks, a couple from the XD line, my Shield, etc).
Just my personal preference.

 

[BAM-BAM]

LOL...... there were a lot of small striker fired pistols in the early 20th Century......replaced by DA/SA guns after the Walter PP and P-38 were introduced in the 30s...... only to reappear with the Glock in the early 80s.


What goes around, comes around.......... only so many "new ideas" in the world!!!!!!

 

[SmithNut]

LOL...........snip..... What goes around, comes around.......... only so many "new ideas" in the world!!!!!!

I'm still waiting for narrow ties to come back....

 

[petepeterson]

I like TDA for carry, although I don't carry autos as much anymore.

I like 1911s and Hi-Powers if it's a "range only" or "target fun" day. I shoot them better than a DA pistol.

I've considered going back to Brownings and 1991s for carry, but I don't carry an auto enough to put the work in. Not that it would be a big task, but why take the chance? Everything I carry right now is "point and (a long) pull."

 

[dmar]

I'm good with all types of actions. Just need to practice to be proficient with the various designs. I've carried single action 1911s, DA/SA guns, and striker fired, as well. I think there are merits to each.

For a carry gun, it boils down to how well the actual gun meets my needs in terms of reliability, size/capacity, and of course, how well it shoots. In a lot of ways, I think that DA/SA is a good choice for carry, but I realize some people have a hard time getting past the heavier DA first pull... Also something to be said about a gun having a hammer. I do like the simplicity of Glocks, and carry a couple of them.

Except for the 1911s, I prefer not to have a safety on when carrying my guns. This works fine with striker fired, DA/SA, DAO guns and a good holster... Reducing any guesswork is important in stressful situations.
That said, I've been shooting 1911s so long, I'm fine carrying cocked with the safety engaged.

For the range, I just have to like the gun, and I'll figure out how to shoot it best... I have a variety of all of the types listed, and enjoy shooting them all.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'm still waiting for narrow ties to come back....

I thought they did......... we just weren't hip enough......(OK,OK, we're just to old) ........... to pull it off!!!!!

 

[rwsmith]

I started out with....

I started out with DAOs for simpicity and safety. I've moved on to favor SA/DA with a combination safety/deckocker. After shooting a lot of DAO, I've gotten to where I really like hammer pistols. Anything I intend to carry though, is striker fired, like the Shield.

 

[ContinentalOp]

The first gun I ever bought was a DA/SA gun, a Beretta 92FS (which is currently serving HD duty). It's also what I have the most trigger time on, including revolvers. It's what I've used in most of the training classes I attended.

Second to that, in terms of shooting experience, would be SA, specifically 1911s. DA revolvers come third, with Glock in fourth. My best shooting has been with DA revolvers, closely followed by DA/SA semi-autos, with 1911s in 3rd. Glock would come in after that (I had a Glock 23). I'm pretty much convinced the "rolling" DA trigger is why I tend to shoot those guns best.

What's interesting about this thread is that I've recently been thinking about how I would rank the different semi-auto action types that I'd be interested in as carry guns. This is what I came up with, from highest preference to lowest preference:

1. Hammer-fired DAO (I'm including DAK in this category)
2. Hammer-fired DA/SA, decocker-only
3. Glock 19
4. Hammer-fired DA/SA, with safety (thinking mostly 92FS)
5. Hammer-fired SA (i.e., 1911)
6. All other striker-fired guns (they all seem to be mostly SA-ish with no safeties)

I'm not saying that I would purchase a DA/SA gun before I'd purchase a Glock, but DA/SA would be a higher preference. I'd probably have a better chance of getting a Glock 19 than a Sig P239 DAK.

I like Kahr, but I'm actually not sure where I would place it in the list. I believe it's striker-fired, but it has a really nice DAO trigger. I would probably put it somewhere in the top three.

I've never tried a HK LEM, so I didn't mention it. From what I've read about it's operation, it doesn't have much appeal to me. Maybe my opinion would change if I got to try one.

FWIW, the gun at the top of my most-wanted semi-auto carry guns list is the Sig P239 DAK in 9mm, especially the 1st Gen SAS. But like I said, I probably have a better chance at getting a Glock 19.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I've gotten to where I really like hammer pistols. Anything I intend to carry though, is striker fired, like the Shield.

What I like about that line is the YMMV part - we all have our preferences but rwsmith LIKES shooting hammer guns but prefers carrying striker fired guns. That really is your mileage may vary! Honest answer. I like it.

Keeping revolvers out of this as promised, I'd choose a different route:

1. Hammer fired TDA with decocker. I would choose to NOT use the safety if that is an option. Hammer down, decocked, gun ready to fire (like a revolver). So for my mileage may vary the existence of the safety is irrelevant. Unless you practice combat drills intensely and frequently putting a safety on a TDA pistol can get you killed. I have a Beretta 92 and it never would occur to me to put it on safe. It's not safe. Well, the gun is safe. Too safe. The shooter is the one not safe. Again, YMMV.

2. Hammer-fired DAO. I have never used one but to my mind that's a pistol that wants to pretend to be a revolver. I could live with it. (I would not want a DAK - that's just a lot of additional trigger training and I think you had better be a one gun shooter if you use this style of trigger).

3. Striker fired pistol with anything but a "safe trigger". Glocks will never be in my stable. An M&P is a definite maybe but for my overwhelming preference for all metal 3rd Gens so I am disinclined to but a new M&P accordingly. Plus there are still 3rd Gen type pistols available by other makers, some polymer, some all metal.

4. Single action anything. Been there, done that, no longer interested.

I like the comments. Keep'em coming.

 

[L Pete]

I voted for the DAO. My carry is a Sig P-250sc. It shoots just like a good tuned revolver, and I'm a revolver shooter for 50+ years. These guns work for me, but my second choice would be a TDA. I do like my HK P-30sks. Both of these guns shoot great for me, and I've gotten away from the striker fired ones. I just don't shoot the striker fired guns as well. Remember, I did say I was a revolver shooter for 50+ years...........

 

[JohnRippert]

CZ 75 based SA/DA 9mm's

1911's in either .45ACP or 9mm

 

[ContinentalOp]

1. Hammer fired TDA with decocker. I would choose to NOT use the safety if that is an option. Hammer down, decocked, gun ready to fire (like a revolver). So for my mileage may vary the existence of the safety is irrelevant. Unless you practice combat drills intensely and frequently putting a safety on a TDA pistol can get you killed. I have a Beretta 92 and it never would occur to me to put it on safe. It's not safe. Well, the gun is safe. Too safe. The shooter is the one not safe. Again, YMMV.

This is something I've struggled with, somewhat. As I've said, I have a Beretta 92FS for HD and it's the gun I've had the most training with. When I recently started using the 92FS in the HD role I originally planned to keep it off safe as I prefer that. The only problem is that it's still possible for the gun to go on safe unintentionally, such as when clearing a malfunction or possibly body movement when carried. In the past, I've always followed up a malfunction clearance drill or draw with a thumb swipe to ensure the safety was off. In the end I decided that if I was going to be swiping the safety off, even if it was already off, I may as well keep the safety on and practice accordingly. Also, this is not a carry gun, and I still rely on my 642 as my "quick-reaction" gun, if you will. The 92 is more of a "hunker-down"/"get to it if I can" gun.

I have the recently released 92G conversion kit, so I hope to get that installed before too long so my 92 will become decocker-only and render that concern moot.

2. Hammer-fired DAO. I have never used one but to my mind that's a pistol that wants to pretend to be a revolver. I could live with it. (I would not want a DAK - that's just a lot of additional trigger training and I think you had better be a one gun shooter if you use this style of trigger).

Obviously, you can choose what you want. However, this doesn't make sense to me. The DAK is shot just like a revolver. There's no additional trigger training unless you've never fired a DAO gun before.

 

[M29since14]

To me, there is the 1911, the Browning Hi-Power, and the P210... and then there is everything else.

I suppose the P226 might rate an honorable mention, but just barely.