This question is prompted by a recent question asked of one of the SME’s. The question asked was which is the top 5 combat handgun.
I would like to know just the opposite. For a handgun whose sole purpose is to be used by the “weekend range enthusiast” for the purpose of action game type matches such as Steel, IDPA, EDIT : and a consideration towards accuracy oriented bullseye type ( but not formal Bullseye matches ) etc…
What is your opinion of the single top handgun.
Criteria should consider in no order except item 1.
Accuracy with least training
– Ease of handling
– Practical affordability
– suitability to task ( which is often timed accuracy / high round count 25 - 40 in a string )
– Provided it is generally reliable. 100% reliability is not needed should other features outweigh, especially if there is an “after-market cure” so to speak.
– concern for game gun platform vs life saving platform is not a criteria.
I personally like to shoot a 1911 and it fits many of those criteria but will never out shoot handguns with high count mags in these scenarios. I also recall once shooting what I seem to recall was a Sig or Baretta and recall I shot it very well. So it was inherently accurate even in untrained hands. I also know I have had problems controlling a Glock.
So with those thoughts and criteria and absolutely zero notion towards every day carry or combat and that mindset. Is there a handgun that lends itself to this end more so than another.
My reason for asking is that I would like to get a full sized production oriented game gun and there are a lot of offerings out there that I simply have not considered beyond the “just get a Glock” mentality.
I’ve read the post and have seen the references to Glocks. Can you elaborate on what you meant by you had trouble controlling a Glock? Also can you state what model Glock you were using. A 23 is obviously harder to control than a 17. So I am just curious.
I love my glocks. I have absolutely no problem “controlling them”. In fact I usually smoke everyone in steel, etc. with my glock 17. But to answer your question the person for steel, idpa, range fun gun would be either a glock or springfield xd and S&W M&P or a FNP. All of these are more than accurate for what you listed and completely reliable not to mention hi cap mags are reasonable.
You can’t go wrong with any of these. Go and try them out or see which one feels best in your hands and go from there. Everyone has a preference for what feels good in their hands so try them out and see which fits you better and that will be the gun I’d go with as all of them shoot great.
But by all means if you think a Glock 17 in your opinion is the answer to the question, that’s fine.
I’m simply trying to determine if there is a pistol out there that doesn’t get talked about much but would indeed be an excellent choice for this scenario.
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I’m not in any way knocking Glock. I’m not knocking anything. Clean slate. Zero knowledge. Intended use.
Thanks blasternank. I appreciate your answer. It’;s great advice and believe me, I’ve read many a thread with a similar answer.
What I was really looking for here is for each individual to choose 1 pistol. Brand and model minimum. That in their opinion is their -single- final choice (even if it’s not what they currently use ).
and then maybe give a short reason as to why. Maybe it’s personal, maybe price, whatever.
I have a Glock 23 a Glock 17 and an M&P9pro. I have been primarily running my m&p in competitions and most of my training time. I have had some problems with it due to the items I’ve added. I added them due to a mushy trigger and liked the Glocks trigger so much more.
I shot the m&p really well but recently started running the 17 and I’m doing as well with it and it’s completely stock. I like the longer sight radius the m&p has with the 5" barrel. But I think I’ve made the decision to switch to Glocks primarily.
All that being said, I do no have one but I would probably advise based on your info to go with a Glock 34. You can read about them very where so I won’t elaborate. But 9mm, good trigger, long sight radius.
I am a huge 1911 fanboy and still own a few Ed browns, sold Wilson’s, NHC’s and Baer…finally came to some of the same conclusions you did.
For getting the most out of ANY pistol, it is worth having a top tier smith work their magic, with solid high perf parts. Same as the old COLT 1911 days…reliability, feel and performance focused mods do wonders.
If I were you, I would go polymer and stay clear of Beretta (fire controls hell for most) and Sig (well thought of and sed in SO circles, they have pretty bad double/single triggers and require more practiced skills than most care to invest). it goes without saying, don’t even speak of Taurus or other 2nd tier TOS endorsed crap.
Therefore, I recommend:
M&P tuned up (Apex is amazing, closest plastic pistol to 1911 I’ve shot: FSS +RAM). Bowie and Burwell do really nice smithing work on triggers too. M&P9 VTAC just back from Apex and Burwell M&P45 is great as well
HK P30/45: I loved my HK’s, but poor . service and mediocre triggers (at best (LEM)) slipped them into second place for me. My current philosophy is buy an M&P, tune it, buy ammo and train.
Glock tuned up: Glockmeister does great work, love my 21 and 29’s they did. Robar is is top notch as well. My chief complaint is a awkward grip angle relative to 1911’s.
Springfield XDm: not a huge fan personally, but some buddies love them and shoot 'em very well. Never got over the designed and made in Croatia thing…I know, get over it. Maybe some day.
Like a$$holes and elbows, everybody has an opinion-this is mine.
The G34 absolutely rules IDPA SSP and USPSA Production class (or the 40 with minor loads works as well and lets you shoot major in other USPSA divisions ) .
Depending on how far you want/can go accuracy wise the Wilson match barrels I hear tighten the groups as well, but unless your shooting real bullseye matches the stock glock is plenty accurate enough for 10 rings at 25 if the user can do his part.
I shoot USPSA Production and the two pistols I see the most of are Glocks, the 34 seems to have the best features, and the M&P also in 9mm with most preferring the longer slide. One feature both have is a low bore for less muzzle flip which I feel is important for competition, but not as much on the street.
For “production gun” competition, why would anything other than a good carry gun even be considered? Glocks, M&P, HK and so on are designed to be shot hard and fast while still retaining good accuracy.
$150 for a trigger ? Its a GLOCK, if you want to bring it down to next to nothing in the 2lb range the parts arent expensive, try under $30 for springs and connector.
Grip modifications will put you out of SSP in IDPA and into ESP , and modifiactions are limited on USPSA Prododuction class. Grip tape works well and is safe to stay in division across the games.
Brian Enos’s book is an amazing read, just be forwarned A LOT of it will sail right over a newer shooter or even experianced shooter/ new competitors head.
You might want to look at the survey of shooter equipment from the IDPA Nationals…here’s an article about it…
To sum up the article, the Glock 34 and 17 dominate IDPA by a significant margin. Considering the current GEN4 issues, I’d stick with a GEN3 gun. Personally I wouldn’t bother replacing the OEM barrel or trigger unless you can out shoot the stock pistol. I think the Glock ‘-’ connector that is installed in the G34 is an excellent start to a trigger, and simply polishing key components smooths the trigger out significantly without investing more than time and a tub of polish. Here’s an excellent DIY Gear Scout article on improving the Glock trigger.
The OEM sights have got to go - as suggested earlier simply replace with some manner of Warrens.
You arent competing against high cap, or ported, or RDS guns unless you are shooting one too. Their are divisions, and just like formula 1 cars dont compete against nascar (do I have my analogoy right? ) so GLOCK’s and M&P’s will be in a different divsion normally than 1911’s.
Sti 2011 but forreal for myself the Glock 34 worked better than I could ask for.
If the M&P and Glock don’t work for you try a Springfield XD. They make 5" models also.
I just use a Glock 19 for everything. I’m not super competitive but I do fairly decent with it.
I bought a Glock 34 a couple of months ago and I went back to my Gen4 19 today (Steel Challenge) and I really felt better shooting the 19. I’m not sure why but the 34 just does not shoot as well for me.
I’ve wasted THOUSANDS on 1911s and I just never did trust them completely. In turn, I didn’t enjoy shooting 'em that much.
but forreal for myself the Glock 34 worked better than I could ask for.