Well, my AR family is coming along nicely, and it’s time I turned my focus more towards pistols. Currently the only centerfire handgun I have is a stock Gen. III G17 with faded factory night sights. It’s a fine gun, but more are needed - two is one, one is none, etc.
My past experience has been primarily P22x Sigs and M9s, but I’m not convinced that’s the direction I want to go. I do prefer (can’t explain why, honestly) DA/SA over striker platforms. Aftermarket support is nice, though honestly all that really matters is magazine availability and in 9x19mm.
So, here’s what I’m thinking. Ergonomics are always going to be subjective, and I have done well in the past with several different designs with very different grip shapes, angles, and controls, so I’d prefer to leave that out as a factor for now. What I’m curious about are individual preferences (and anecdotes as offered) regarding operational reliability, design durability, accuracy, customer support, and/or other factors I might not have considered.
The poll is for what are the major front-runners for me, with intended purposes of home defense, carry, car gun, and light competition. Of course, other suggestions are welcome.
Budget isn’t too much of a factor. Under $900 is preferable, though. I don’t like skimping on things that I either use every day or that might save my life… but shelling out large amounts of cash for miniscule returns is silly to me. I can’t personally justify a custom $3,000 1911, for instance.
A G19 is appealing, but I wonder if I should explore other routes as well. Hence the multiple-choice poll: I’m not just buying one and calling it done. I just want to see what M4C suggests is the next logical step.
If you absolutely want to stick with DA/SA, and your budget is around ~$900, then the clear answer to me is a H&K P30. I’ve seen them new for around $920, you coud probably find them less.
If you want to go a bit less than that, you could probably find a HK USP 9 out there for around $800.
I have a 92A1, I really love it, but I wouldn’t suggest it for your uses. The only reason I have one, as nice at it is, is to be proficient with the M9 manual of arms for deployments. There are better pistols out there.
Also in the DA/SA group is the FNX series from FNH. Mixed reviews around here, but I’ve shot a friend’s FNP-45 quite a bit, and I’ve put ~1000 trouble free rounds through my FNS-9. The FN pistols feel kinda cheap, but my sample size of two hasn’t given me any trouble at all.
If you are willing to break out of the DA/SA, then toss up between PPQ, M&P, and Glock. You already have one Glock, so you are already familiar with the platform (a good thing). You will run into aftermarket support problems with the PPQ, which may resolve itself over time but I don’t think it will ever be at the level of support you have with the other two options.
I think the better question would be the role of the pistol.
If you wanted to just have fun and tinker around, exploring other platforms would be great.
If you wanted to expand your platform of Glocks and continue to use that as SD/HD/CCW, and choose to make it your platform of choice for those reasons–grab a Glock 19.
You have a number of good choices that will probably serve about equally as well. Getting a second 17 or a 19 would be a good option, there is a lot to be said for sticking with several of the same or very similar guns. If you decide to go DA/SA the HK P2000 or P30 are very good. The M&P and PPQ are solid if you decide you like those. Personally, I’d get a Glock 19 and then if you decide to get additional handguns later look at diversifying.
Of all the choices you listed, I think it boils down to either the Glock, or the PPQ…I own a Gen3 G19 and a PPQ, Both have their drawbacks…Glocks presently have a ejection issue, which I believe Apex’s extractor should fix (I’ll find out soon enough as I have one on order) But on the bright side, aftermarket support for the Glock is it’s strong point, anything you need/want for it is available, large selection of aftermarket sights, holsters,parts, are easily found.
The PPQ on the other hand, is pretty much good to go out of the box… It’s level of accuracy, and the excellant trigger are well known, I’m not aware of any problems with it. What hurts the PPQ presently, is little aftermarket support, not much in the way of aftermarket sight options, and mags are stupidly expensive.How soon this will change is anybody’s guess. You can get cheaper mags by using Magnum Research Baby Eagle mags (which are identical) but, be careful, I have 2 of these, and one dosen’t drop free,They both function fine, I would’nt use them for anything other than range mags… Of the two, I’m leaning towards the Glock, That, however is a personal choice, Really I don’t see how you can go wrong with either one. If anything, the PPQ is probably the bargin of the year…HK accuracy, HK like controls,(which I think are excellant) for hundreds less…
Any of the guns in the poll will work for those criteria. As Colonel Cooper, and just about any other firearms expert in the industry has said, any hard use pistol needs a backup of the same make and model. If you are not satisfied with the Glock, then don’t get another and waste your time and money. Many here will pressure you into purchasing something that your heart isnt’ set on. The best solution before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars is to go to a rental range and test some of the above pistols.
I too, prefer DA/SA, but mostly because I have used DA/SA Sigs on duty for years and that’s where all my muscle memory is. Outside of Sigs, I really like H&Ks as the two pistol makes have very similar shooting characteristics and feel. Your poll doesn’t list it, but I have found the H&K P30 9mm to be one of the best overall pistols I have ever used(at least from my perspective and biases). Very good quality, nice controls, about as reliable as you could conceive a pistol to be, and very accurate. Todd Green did a 100,000 round challenge with his P30 and it did exceptionally well.
Buy the Shield, I have H&K USP full size M&P and g17, the shield is by far my favorite pistol I own. Plus if for some crazy reason your not happy with it, you can sell it with the quickness.
I think Glock makes a fine handgun.But,I am obviously a HK fan.I also think that Beretta, Smith&Wesson,FNH,Walther and a few others also make fine handguns.
Unfortunately it seems on so many of these “what should I buy” internet threads that many Glock owners tend to love ONLY Glock and will repeatedly tell you that Glock is miles and miles beyond all other guns, and that no other manufactures can equal the almighty Glock.Maybe the rest of the manufacturers should just stop making their guns and leave the world for Glock. :rolleyes:
I prefer the HK P30. Though I do own a Glock 19 Gen 4 (with the Apex FRE), I just like the way my HK feels and shoots better. I am more comfortable and confident with it. Hence my HK vote.
With SHOT 2013 less than two months away, I think I would wait to see if any new or updated pistols will be introduced by the manufacturers. Maybe we will see a new H&K striker fired pistol that takes P30 mags.
I don’t think it is that, as much as the price and ubiquity of Glocks that makes them so appealing. There are certainly many equal or better guns, but for the price they are hard to beat. It is also nice to know that every new sight, holster, or other accessory will be available for the Glock first. Magazine interchagability is also a big deal for me.
I would love to be an HK guy, but from a practical standpoint, it does not make sense to me.
I think it really depends where you want to take your collection and why. But to just give you a general opinion, while there are others I like better, you already have a 17. So get a 19 or another 17, then if you want something else you can move on to another platform.
