Timbonez

You hearing about Glocks exploding is a gross exaggeration. Yes, some have exploded, but this has been on their .40 S&W versions where the chamber doesn't provide the same amount of case head support as other pistols do. The gas pressure has to go somewhere and in those instances the path of least resistance was the brass case exploding. Considering how many Glock are in use today by civilians, police forces, and militaries, I would argue that it was more isolated rather than an epidemic. No manufacturer is going to have a perfect record, so you can stop looking for one. S&W has had problems with mechanical accuracy and dead triggers on their M&P pistols. SIG, as of late, has focused more on finishes rather than QC. Colt had problems with their 1911 frames not being straight in the dust cover. These companies have always been their to correct their issues and actually provide a quality product. Comparing Glock to Hi Point is misguided at best. One company uses hardened steel for its metal parts the other uses pot metal (zamak 3) for its parts. Do you think that is what a quality firearm should have? Do you think you can even compare a company that uses pot metal with companies that make firearms for serious/duty use? I hope you find a quality firearm, but it appears that you are looking in the wrong places for advice and research. Like I said before you get what you pay for, so what companies do you think you are going to be paying for a name over quality? Not Glock, not S&W, not HK (although pricey nonetheless), not Walther, not Beretta. You need to get over the stigma that you are paying for a name because it's more expensive. That money you're paying for goes to high quality materials, quality control, and customer service. Since you mentioned Hi Point torture tests: A weapon used by thugs because it's so cheap It's definitely a good thing that you are shooting these guns before you buy one, but it sounds like someone is giving you bad advice.

Hi Point is a terrible choice. Self defense, plinking, throwing it at someone... it is a low quality firearm. If you really think that a rifle/carbine 4x more expensive than a Hi Point Carbine is just a waste of money, then you obviously haven't done your research. In general, you get what you pay for when buying a firearm. I suggest you save your money for a Glock or M&P, which are only a few hundred dollars more. If you can't wait that long, maybe you should look into prostitution as another source of income. Even that's a better choice than buying a Hi Point. ETA: If you don't want a Glock or M&P, fine. There are plenty of other fine choices out there that will serve you better than any Hi Point pistol or Carbine.

It's good you got to shoot some handguns to get a feel for them before you purchased one. I strongly recommend you look at S&W M&Ps before the Sigma line. Their Sigma line is the bottom of the barrel that they offer. The M&P is a much better handgun with respect to ergonomics, reliability, and durability. If you enjoyed shooting the Sigma and shot it well, I would almost guarantee that you would like the M&P series pistols. It will also have a better trigger, as the Sigma line is given a ridiculously heavy trigger

Maybe, or it could be a reaction of the metal from heating. I've seen this on non-SIGs. Those SIGs' finish is very distinctive. I'm interested to see how your SIG runs so keep us updated through the 1k, 2k, etc. milestones.

Agreed. I posted a couple of pages ago their rainbow lineup. From what I've heard, the SP2022 is what the abysmal P250 should have been, but overall current SIG QC is a joke. Their priorities are focused on making finishes.

Nice rifle, M2. If you continue to buy these bad guy rifles, they'll only have sticks to fight us with.

Damn, where the hell have I been? I own both production and semi-custom/custom 1911s and you don't need a $2K-$3K 1911 to have a good one. You would be best served with a production 1911 since this is your first foray into the design. Colt is my first recommendation with Springfield Armory being a close second. Look at their basic "low-end" guns. These will typically be more akin to the old GI style 1911. After you've shot it a while and decided if you like the design, you can have that gun sent in for custom work to add features that you desire. Realize that during testing 100 years ago, the 1911 was subjected to 6,000 failure free rounds. Of course the ammo used was 230gr FMJ (hardball) and not the spectacular hollowpoints we have today. 1911s today are typically made to fire modern hollowpoints reliably, but it has been my experience that the 1911 will always be MORE reliable and function better with FMJ ammo. The 1911 is a good pistol, but it is an old one. Newer guns have overshadowed the design, but that doesn't mean it can't be a reliable and functional gun. Magazine selection is very important in keeping the 1911 reliable and there are several different designs to look at. The 1911 will be more maintenance intensive as you start getting into higher round counts (thousands upon thousands of rounds). What I mean is certain parts will have to be replaced, but it isn't as simple as removing the old part and dropping in a new one. Many parts of the 1911 have to be fitted, and unless you understand the pistol it is best left to a gunsmith. To me that is a huge limitation in the age of guns that can be worked on by the end-user. The pistol is a joy to shoot and it can be made to have the finest single action trigger pull in a semi-auto. That being said, 1911s require a lot of dedication in the end-user to keep it running... usually a lot more than most people are willing to give. If this is going to be a hobby gun and not a serious use gun, then go for it. The historical perspective and nostalgia attached to the 1911 is unmatched, and it's worth owning one simply for that. If you are eventually going to use this gun for self defense/carry you need to ask yourself if you are willing to spend the time and effort to keep the pistol running. If you're unwilling to do that, then you would be best served by a newer, more effective pistol like a Glock or M&P. Links: History Magazine Analysis; This link offers some great insight on the original magazine design and how the trend has changed. 1911 Articles; This link has several articles attached to it with a ton of information on keeping a 1911 running. It is dedicated more towards someone who is going to be using their 1911 as a duty/defense gun, but the information and concepts remain the same even for a hobby gun. Pay attention to what magazines are recommended in this one. Good starter 1911s: Colt 1991 Series Colt Series 70 Springfield Armory GI Springfield Armory Mil-Spec ETA: Stick with the Government size (full sized) 1911s. The Commander size (3/4" shorter slide than the Government) is an acceptable compromise. The smaller ones, with shorter slides, decrease the amount of room the action has to move and this can lead to reliablity problems.

M2, that ad is magical. People are actually bidding on it. Masshole, you are permitted to buy rifles out of state as long as you are not prohibited from owning that rifle in your state. Pistols can not be purchased out of state unless it is transferred to a FFL (Gun Shop) located in your state of residence. Don't buy anything on your first trip to the gun store. Like Beaver said, get a feel for the pistols they have available and ask questions about each pistol they are showing you. We've already given you an idea of what to look at, so ask questions about them when you get there. It would be even better if there was a range near you where you could rent a few handguns to see how they shoot. Come back with any questions you have. Ok, I'll stop parroting Beaver now.

It's probably a commercial model Colt with nickel finish. That would be a cool gun as a collector's item or to send to a gunsmith for custom work, but I would not buy that as my first weapon. There are good things and bad things about buying online. If you buy from an online retailer that operates outside of your state, you will avoid paying for tax. Sometimes you will end up paying for the difference the tax would have been because of shipping, but places like Bud's Gunshop already includes shipping on their firearms. They have competitive prices as well. One of the bad things is you are buying a weapon sight unseen. You don't have the opportunity to look over it for any defects. That being said, new firearms are covered under the manufacturer's warranty so if there is an issue it will be corrected free of charge. Realize that gun stores will only sell to residents of their state. Unless you are a state resident of NH or you have military orders placing you in NH, you won't be able to buy a pistol there. You can have a store up there ship a pistol to a local FFL dealer where you live. ETA: My experience is that I will usually find better prices for new firearms online than the typical gun store down the road.

That's cool, dude. I wish I could have gone. I'm contemplating taking one of 1911 Operator classes in the near future. I'm sure you already know Raven Concealment holsters are great. I have them for my Glock 17, M9, and government sized 1911s. The Glock conceals real easily with it even OWB. The 1911 is one of my favorite semi-automatics. Taking a handgun course put on by the likes of Larry Vickers, Ken Hackathorn, Magpul, etc. definitely pushes your weapon to the limit. I'm comfortable carrying a 1911 on occasion, but I also recognize its many limitations. I own Colts and Nighthawk Custom 1911s. If you're a dedicated user, I believe you can find great success using a 1911 regularly. That being said, there are few people in this world who are dedicated enough to carrying and maintaining the 1911 like it should be. Personally I'm more apt to just shoot and enjoy them at the range rather than carry it daily like my Glock. Masshole, do you already have a military ID? If you do, you can get LE/Mil pricing on the Glocks. I paid $423 after tax for my Glock 17 and plan on getting a Glock 19 in the next couple of months. You'll have to find a certified Glock LE dealer as your normal stores typically aren't. The following link contains several articles written by Hilton Yam, an accomplished 1911 smith and police officer in Florida. I suggest you read them as they detail what can be expected with running a 1911. 10-8 Performance Articles

Then get the Glock or S&W M&P like Beaver suggested. You will be hard pressed to find anything better than those two designs. Like I mentioned before there are other companies that put out a good modern pistol that are worth a look, but when you have two proven designs staring you in the face it's hard to look elsewhere. I personally have a whole slew of 1911s and S&W revolvers, but I use a Glock 17 for concealed carry/defense.

Beaver, that was going to be my recommendation whenever she responded, but I wanted to answer her question. I think a revolver or 1911 are decent choices, but they require a certain degree of skill and dedication that someone new to handguns probably doesn't have. Glocks and M&Ps can fulfill multiple roles and are very utilitarian. They are easy to maintain and, are they more responsive to neglect/abuse while still being extremely reliable/durable than most handguns. The operator can easily perform armorer level maintenance with a few tools and competent instruction. Finally, they are very easy to use. Beaver's recommendation of a Glock 19 or S&W M&P in 9mm is spot on. I might expand my selection somewhat further after doing some research (HK and FN), but the two aforementioned pistols are pretty much the standard by which all others are judged. When I first joined this forum I said and recommended a lot of stupid shit. Over the past few years I've learned quite a bit, and I'm capable of making an informed and intelligent decision on firearms and training. The things I used to believe or say I would simply laugh at or admonish now. I've made purchases and decisions based on emotion or "hey this looks cool" realizing later on that that was stupid. I guess my point is if you continue to research, you will always learn something new or better when it comes to firearms. Beaver, the 325 Thunder Ranch is a model made in collaboration with Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch. He is a big revolver guy and offers instruction on defensive revolver in addition to his other courses. I'm not sure which came first but I think it might have been the 325 TR. The profile of the barrel shroud with stainless steel barrel and the lightweight frame are use in the TRR8, M&P R8, and the 325 TR. While the TRR8 and M&P R8 are chambered in .357 the 325 TR is chambered in .45 ACP. The M&P has the integrated rail in the shroud while the other two pistols have a removable rail that is affixed with screws. The two .357s can also accept a rail on the topstrap. All three are also drilled and tapped for mounting an optic. The 325 TR is 31 ounces but recoil is still manageable. I bought a Simply Rugged sourdough pancake holster for N framed Smith & Wessons with a 4 inch barrel, and it fits very well. Didn't you mention months ago that you were going to the 1911 Centennial with Larry Vickers and Ken Hackathorn? How was that?

That's a loaded questions with a lot to answer. The Colt Python or Colt .45 (I'm assuming you mean a 1911) are your best choices. The Desert Eagle is ridiculously expensive and a behemoth of a weapon. Since the Python is no longer in production you will have to find a used one, but they will be pricey. A "reasonably" priced Python that still works and is pretty to look at will be just north of $1000. The benefit of having the Python is that is is chambered for .357 magnum, which means you can shoot the lighter recoiling .38 special through it too. The 1911 will be more prevalent because everyone makes one. Small parts quality is a major factor here and most people who espouse how great their Kimber or whatnot is overlook the fact that all their internals are going to be garbage. That being said, I highly recommend Colt as your first choice in a 1911. They make the best ones in their price range, plus it's a Colt. Springfield Armory also makes an excellent 1911 and would be my second choice. Realize that a 1911 is not an ideal choice for a beginning handgun shooter. Field stripping is more complex than modern semi-autos, but it's still relatively simple. Maintenance is no more strenuous than a modern handgun until you start getting into higher round counts. Eventually parts will need to be replaced. The extractor is a big one, and many parts like that require fitting on a 1911. Unless you are comfortable and capable of doing that, you will have to send it to a gunsmith. Ammo for both the Python (.38 Special and .357 Magnum) and the 1911 (.45 ACP) can be found at any sporting goods store, gun store, wal-mart, etc. Ammo for all 3 calibers are similarly priced. What do you intend to use this gun for? What made you choose these guns? I can think of several choices that will probably better suit your needs... without even knowing what those needs are. Additionally, make sure you buy yourself a decent holster. I originally came on here to post this article, but though I could kill two birds with one post. ETA: Looks like ExBoneOSO already posted the article in the WTF? thread... Police urge holster use after man shoots his own penis.

Very nice, beaver. Are you a CZ fan? Here is a pic of my most recent acquisition that the wife helped pay for, S&W 325 TR:

M2, it's fake. The photoshop looks real good though. The original picture is of an Ed Brown.

Glock is now entering the 1911 market...

HU&W, your link goes to the SIG P250 and 2022. I have no personal experience with either pistol, but I have heard and read that the 2022 is a good pistol for it's price point, and it should have been the polymer handgun SIG focused on over the years over the abortion that is the P250. The P250 was supposed to be the Federal Air Marshals' new handgun, but after it won the contract the FAMs were experiencing massive reliability problems. They have since been crated and the FAMs have moved back to their old P229s last I heard. SIG's CEO, Ron Cohen, is the responsible party from the company's shift in making quality weapons to producing crap for the past 6 years. Their focus has changed from QC to marketing a new finish and buying cheap parts from third world countries. Ron Cohen was Kimber's CEO prior to SIG's and he ran Kimber's reputation from a quality, competitively priced 1911 to the shit that they are today. Beyond that, SIG has decided it's a good idea to compete with itself. They are currently selling the SIG 516, their own shitty AR with a piston setup. They are also selling the SIG 556, a piston operated rifle that's supposed to be akin to the venerable 55x series of rifles. Last year the BATFE was looking to procure a new service sidearm for it's agents. The three competitors were SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, and Glock. SIG failed, specifically in reliability, and the contract was awarded to both Glock and S&W. SIG of course protested the results stating "[t]he crux of Sig Sauer's argument is that the SSB members focused on the number of stoppages the shooters encountered, instead of the actual ratings and comments provided by the shooters, and equated a high number of stoppages with unreliability‑‑even where the shooters had not made this connection." Here is another gem from the report "Sig Sauer also contends that ATF placed too great an emphasis upon reliability in determining which offers should continue to phase III." Really? Too great an emphasis on reliability? You have got to be fucking kidding me. The report can be found here. I own 3 SIGs myself: a German made P225 for the Frau, a German made P228, and an American made P220 Carry. I'll keep the two German SIGs and I plan on selling the P220 Carry. If you read my review on the P220 Carry, you'll know I had great success with it. It has a mere 1400 rounds through it without a failure, but the road the US based SIG is taking is looking bleak. /rantoff

Realize that 1911s are a finicky pistol so what works in one pistol may not work in another. That being said, the following magazines are the most successful and well made: Chip McCormick Power Mags, Wilson Combat 47Ds, Tripp Research. Expect to pay more money than the cheaper mags but you will be better off in the long run. The magazines supplied to Colt for their 1911s are also pretty decent. They're Checkmate Industries. Look for the ones with the dimpled follower and hybrid or GI style feedlips. I would recommend the 3 latter before the Checkmate mags. You can find them on Brownells for a decent price. Once you log into your account you will get an automatic price drop. MidwayUSA and Top Gun Supply should also have them. The three of sites are all priced competitively so it usually comes down to how much shipping will be. ETA: Tripp magazines are only sold through the manufacturer.

Stoleit, any words on your AR-15 paint job?

Fair enough.

It sounds like you're seeking validation before buying an overpriced piece of shit. It's a waste and you can accomplish the same effect with a rubber band or your thumb through a belt loop on your pants. If you really only do care about that "boyhood cool," wouldn't that be enough? Are you really willing to pay almost $400 (in addition to the cost of the ammo) for something totally useless. Do you not find improving your skills at shooting fun?

You won't damage a quality made firearm by bump firing. What it will do is waste your money on ammo for no good reason, and more importantly, it will wear your barrel out faster. Your money will be better spent buying ammo and training with your AR than putting it to waste on useless shit like that. Investing in a training course would also be a good idea.

M&P pistols are great. I had a mid-size .45 for a little while and I didn't have any problems with it. There are better options than buying one of S&W's rifles.

This article almost deserves it's own thread... Washing machine a casualty of indoor target shooting The last line of the article is classic.