time for a new Handgun- recommendations??

[Rule3]

I was off on the CZ & S&W sites.

S&W doesn't make these anymore?? Do they have anything comparable? seems all steel guns are only in 45 ACP & 22. Why do these companies discontinue their great products.
Colt with there Python and Woodsman S&W their Model 52 and 14 & 15, etc.

I plan on checking into used - but want to go new.

Rule - I was looking at the CZ 75 SP01 ShadowTarget on their website for the last 1/2 hour - exactly what I was looking for!! Somehow I'm of the opinion that target guns should have adjustable sights - but I'm a rookie pistol guy - so don't really know
I'll see if I can handle one at the gun show this weekend.
I may end up starting with the 75B - my son will probably adopt/steal it - then I'll have to get the "SHADOW" for myself

Did you go to the custom website or CZ USA?
I doubt you will find a custom at a gun show. To be honest adjustable sights are really not needed. Most comp shooters don't use them. I like them just because it gives me something to mess around with if I change a load. But as mentioned a Browning High Power is a excellent choice also, it has the slide inside the rails like the CZ or the CZ like the Browning (it came first) The BHP has a damn mag safety which really effects the trigger pull. I do not care that it has a safety, just that it messes up the trigger (I took mine out)

You can get one configured anyway you want.

CZ Custom Shop

PM me if you have any questions, I am a CZ fan.

This site has overall good guns not strictly target, I do not agree with a lot of them but that's why there are so many choices in the world.

http://www.best9mm.com/

 

[Sebago Son]

Simple. SiG220. Every other .45 ACP pistol pales in comparision.

 

[Rule3]

Simple. SiG220. Every other .45 ACP pistol pales in comparision.

Agreed but he has a 1911 45 so I thought he wanted a different caliber?

 

[trulyapostolic]

Target gun? Here's what I think you should get into.
http://www.1911addicts.com/showthread.php?5300-A-bit-Xtreame...Pics!
It ain't a P220 but it should suffice.

 

[trulyapostolic]

thanks - its not that I'm wise - just smart enough to figure out who to listen to - my choices were mostly made from the good advice given here on this forum

and yes Titegroups that has become obvious to me in the past 2 months - that it's "the missing gun" in the line up. I classify it as "buy immediately" when I come across one. I love the looks of the Model 14-5 with the full underlug

That one too.

 

[arjay]

How about a vintage colt government or 1911a1? You can shoot it and it will go up in value.

 

[duppie]

Did you go to the custom website or CZ USA?
I doubt you will find a custom at a gun show. To be honest adjustable sights are really not needed. Most comp shooters don't use them. I like them just because it gives me something to mess around with if I change a load. But as mentioned a Browning High Power is a excellent choice also, it has the slide inside the rails like the CZ or the CZ like the Browning (it came first) The BHP has a damn mag safety which really effects the trigger pull. I do not care that it has a safety, just that it messes up the trigger (I took mine out)

You can get one configured anyway you want.

CZ Custom Shop

PM me if you have any questions, I am a CZ fan.

This site has overall good guns not strictly target, I do not agree with a lot of them but that's why there are so many choices in the world.

The Best Nines - Best 9mm Pistol Site handgun review test gun dealer auction

I know what you mean....The "jam a mag" Bersa and the worst trigger Sig ever made p250?

 

[Sebago Son]

SiG 220.

Agreed but he has a 1911 45 so I thought he wanted a different caliber?

Roy, after I handled, shot and owned a SiG220, I got rid of all my 1911's. (Well almost. I kept a ParaOrd P14 that has sentimental value).

 

[Old TexMex]

If you like heavy all metal guns with hammers with or without decockers, SA or DA The CZ is one of the best guns out there. It is used by more military and police than any other gun (we are talking the rest of the world) not what you see here in the US.

I have several and a real expensive CZ 75 SP01 Shadow target.A tack driver one hole wonder.

CZ are used in a lot of competition shooting

The regular CZ 75 will shoot as well it just does not have the enhancements, aluminum grips, and really tweaked trigger work. Less money also. Will last forever.

I was first exposed to CZ75 overseas, they're very hard to beat.
The Compact decocker alloy frame:Strictly business.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I am thinking about getting another semi-auto pistol.
I currently shoot a High Std Victor ( .22), S&W Model 52 (38 special), S&W 686 6 inch (357) and Colt 1911 GCNM (45 ACP).

From a HANDLOADING and VERY GOOD TARGET gun perspective does anyone have any recommendations??

Can't carry here in MD – so size is not an issue and I don't hunt with a pistol. I prefer the heavier steel guns over the polymer ones, but would be willing to get a polymer if it met the other criteria

9mm, 0.40, 10mm, 38 super????

I looked into the Glock 34 some – might go that way – don't know yet.
any recommendations and thoughts from forum members here will much appreciated

Handloading and "very good target" gun? The obvious S&W choice seems to be one of the Performance Center pistols, such as 952 or the PC1911.

If not S&W, what about Les Baer Premier II with his 1.5 inch group at 50 yards guarantee?

 

[Rule3]

Roy, after I handled, shot and owned a SiG220, I got rid of all my 1911's. (Well almost. I kept a ParaOrd P14 that has sentimental value).

If I had to get rid of a 45 and only have one it would be the Sig 220 for all around best 45 out of the box. I have a Dan Wesson 1911 that will out shoot it by a hair but I like the Sig better.

Sigs are my favorite guns but they do not make Revolvers so SW is still tops on those

 

[Sebago Son]

I think you're right!

Sigs are my favorite guns but they do not make Revolvers so SW is still tops on those

I knew we were on the same page!

I grew up on the following mantra... "Winchester Rifles, Remington Shotguns, Smith & Wesson Revolvers and Colt's Pistols." Somewhere along the line I think that SiG kicked Colt's off the playground....

 

[iouri]

Funny you've mentioned it. After I've sorted brass after my last range visit I came up with almost a 100 cases of 380, so my first thought was: hmm, should I start shopping for a PPK so I can reload 380s

 

[all357mag]

I recently walked in a gun shop, not looking for another handgun, and walked out with a S&W MP 45 C. Most comfortable, accurate auto I've owned yet. Try one before you buy anything. The thumb safety configuration is awesome.

 

[forestswin]

thanks all - all the input here is valuable to me and appreciated.
I'm making some notes on the 45 ACP and revolvers for future additions, but for this one, its going to be a semi-auto

most likely want to order new, but I will check out a few dealers and gunshows for the discontinued S&W 3rd generation models and others and see if they have current models to hold

a few other points/questions
I enjoy load development and loading my own ammo is a must, are there any handloading differences/concerns between 9mm, 38 super or 40? lead bullets?

and I'll probably want to mount a small 1x red dot on it for 25yd to 50yd play (vision limits me to 25 to 35 feet with open sights) - so really adjustable sights or not is not a big issue its just I want target gun tolerances - not service gun tolerances or in other words "paper bullseye targets" - not 6 inch or 8 inch steel gongs or human size paper targets

along the same lines, I really like the light trigger pull on the H.S. Victor, S&W M52 and Colt GCNM, these all come manufactured with target triggers. Are any of these suggested pistols comparable to my 3 guns??

thanks again

 

[shovelwrench]

There is the belief that a 1911 chambered in any of the three can have a barrels fit and shoot the other two.

I have a Super with a 9 barrel too, I've yet to see proof one way or the other that a 40 chambering works too.

BUT I can tell ya, if your shopping target pistols, (in 1911) you can buy a Super, and get a 9mm barrel, and still have the same if not less then the 9mm version alone would cost.

Also, Super mags usually work with 9mm but not the other way around. Plus, 9 mags are 10$+ more per mag....

Load wise, Super is more forgiving then the other two....

YMMV

 

[rck281]

I haven't read all of the above posts but am going to throw my 2 cents in the mix. For a gun used at the range I have the following criteria:
a.) Full Size - easier to shoot well, b.) good trigger - usually means a revolver or single action auto and c.) adjustable sights - I like to be able to use reduced loads and still have it hit where I aim. For center fire cartridges I like the 357 Mag (38 Special) in a revolver and the 9mm in an auto. Both are available in many factory loads and inexpensive ammo. The 9mm has low recoil and is cheap to shoot.
Gun recommendations - well this is the Smith & Wesson forum - I like S&W and Freedom Arms in revolvers and for an inexpensive auto you should look at the STI Spartan with adjustable sights. It may need some minor trigger work but it's a heck of a good gun for the money. If you can spend more money on an auto, look for a S&W 952 or the SIG P210.

 

[ShinySix]

Sig p210. Get a CZ when you can't find the Sig.