Just ONE auto.....help

M

Mntneer357

New member
Ladies and Gents:

I need some help and I thought you all would be the ones to ask. I am going to say in advance, this is NOT a flame/spam. I am asking for advice. Everything you read here is merely MY opinion. I am asking for yours...

I am a young guy (25), who is a private citizen (not even CCW licensed and not LEO), and I am definitely a revolver nut. My current constant companion is my pet Ruger KGP-141 .357 Magnum. It is accurate, tough as nails, and simple to operate and care for. I love this gun!

Yes, I am young and I like revolvers. I must be odd or something because all my friends and acquaintences are big time auto fans. I like revolvers because they "fit" me so to speak and they serve my needs. I don't make a habit of picking fights with biker gangs (no need for 30 rounds of ammo), I am not a special forces operator, I am not real big on "trends" so... Thus I really don't have a NEED for an auto

BUT, I am currently looking at picking up a Ruger P95 9mm to add to my inventory. This gun would serve as my If The
S**t Hit The Fan "end of the world as we know it" pistol. The P95 is accurate, tough as nails, and also easy to care for. If I had the additional $$$ I'd love to pick up a SIG 229 9mm, but I don't. Now (here comes the advice part) is there anyone out there who is a "revolver person" but who DOES own just ONE auto??? IF so, what ONE did you choose?? Why? Is the P95 a wise choice, or should I save for as long as it takes and hope to afford a SIG.

Your kind constructive opinions are kindly appreciated!

Mntneer357
 
Mntneer357-as a life-long devotee of the "round gun", I feel I can empathize with your position...I, myself, owned JUST ONE semi-auto for a number of years...it was a REAL COLT GOV'T. MODEL .45...a FINE PISTOL!!! Now, keep in mind...this was back when the only "hi-cap" 9mm's were the Browning Hi-Power and the S&W Model 59. Today, IF I was seriously considering a SHTF autopistol, I'd look-REAL HARD-at the KP95...the stainless-steel-slide version. As much as it pains me to admit-because I loathe them on general principle, and because they have all the aesthetic appeal of a DOG TURD-I'd also [grudgingly] look at the Glock 17 or 19....FWIW....mikey357
 
Ladies and Gents:

First off, I'd like to apologize for my LONG and all-over-the-place initial post.

Second, I suppose the question I SHOULD have asked is: Is it worth spending $$$$ that I really don't have on a gun that I hope I never need???

The SIG 229 9mm is an awesome, slick, wonderful pistol. If properly taken care of, it will last virtually forever. The Ruger P95 9mm is a bit rougher around the edges, so to speak, but it will defintely do the job in durability, ease of care, and accuracy. Plus the Ruger is a big savings in the $$$ department.

Any suggestions??

Mntneer357
 
Why Downgrade...

from your .357? You will be getting an inferior cartridge that doesn't have near the flexibility of the .357. Your Ruger can be a .38 wadcutter plinker/targeter, a +P .38 indoor house gun, a full blown 125 gr. 1400 fps. manstopper, a 158 gr. multi purpose blaster, or a 180gr. close range deer gun. Save your money and practice, practice, practice with your .357. Or use it to get a trigger job and buy ammo, speedloaders, a good holster, and some reloading gear. The only plus for the 9 is capacity, and it will cost you (high cap mags=big bucks). If you insist on the 9mm, I have a 9mm Glock 19 for sale for $450. I'm going to use the money to buy a large bore revolver :)
 
You don't need 9mm when you have the 357.I agree with the post above.If you feel you have to get an auto go for a 45 or a 10mm.I just bought a sig 245 for 485 used.Not good but not bad either.You gain nothing with a 9mm except number of rounds which to me is not a consideration.IMO of course
 
If you like Rugers and you're used to the 357 MAG, why not consider the P97 in 45 CAL? They can be had for about $300 at gun shows (saw one for $295 today) and I've only read good reviews about this model. The fit seems tight, the quality excellent, and the price is right.
 
Ladies and Gents:

Thank you for your replies, and please keep them coming. I need all the constructive advice I can get. With regard to the folks suggesting I should get a .45 ACP, there are a few things that make me lean towards the 9mm:

1. 9mm is the most prevalent round in the known world. As this pistol would see only "range duty" and serve as my ITSHTF gun, I think 9mm is the way to go. It is very easy to shoot well, there is not much kick. Plus, 9mm ammo is cheaper

2. Many moons ago when I turned 21, I bought a Para-Ord P13-45. I had several problems with the gun itself and I could not hit ANYTHING with it. NOTHING at all regardless of range to target! Maybe the grip was too large for my hands...but I personally think the .45 just has too much recoil for me to handle. I am a lean lanky kind of guy. At any rate, it was a negative experience. (Which is odd considering I now carry and shoot very well with my .357) I'd love to try my luck with the Ruger P97, but it seems that no one in the Columbia, SC metro area has one I can try out...including my local range.

3. IF I get the Ruger P95 9mm, I can use the same supplies to clean and maintain the auto as I use on my Ruger .357 Magnum. A small point I admit, but a point nonetheless.

So, that being said, should I spend $$$$ that I don't have on a fine, bad-ass auto that I hope I never need (the SIG)?? OR would I be better served in picking up the Ruger P95?

What else does everyone have as their "ONE" auto?

Sincerely,
Mntneer357
 
If you are really set on getting a 9mm (and only one semi-auto) I would make it the best you can afford. If you like the Sig, grab it.


If you can afford $650 or so, grab a refurbished HK P7 - accurate, reliable, insanely fast to deploy and tough as nails. Definately an awesome range and SHTF 9mm pistol.
 
get the Ruger...

The P-95 is a good weapon. It shoots straight, it is easy to clean, is VERY reliable, and it is INEXPENSIVE. A SIG, in my opinion, is not $300 more gun. Use that extra $300 for ammo...
 
I am a revolver nut, having shot one for years in PPC and NRA Action Pistol. I have also competed with the various 1911 style pistols, P7M8, Sig 220, and Glock 17, 23, 35, and 21. I recently picked up a Beretta 92FS just for fun. The darn thing holds 16 rounds (15+1), is totally reliable, pre-ban hi-caps are available, and the darn thing is more accurate than my Les Baer. Honestly, if I had to own just one pistol (in 9mm) it would probably be the Beretta.
 
Are you familiar with the CZ-75?

It is almost as cheap as the Ruger, and can be found NEW in the low $300's. Its accuracy easily outclasses any Ruger, and I have owned a number of them. I see no reason why it would not be just as strong. Indeed, it is known for being able to withstand the beating of ammo designed for submachineguns. For the price of the cheapest Ruger .22 pistol, you can purchase the excellent factory conversion kit for the 75 for even cheaper practice. It, too, is quite accurate.

It is one of the FEW 'wondernines' for which STANDARD, 15rd capacity mags are still available for a reasonable price. I just bought 3 Pro Mags at $15 ea, and factory mags are at $39. You can carry it DA, though you have to lower the hammer manually, and you should be comfortable with that from revolver carry. Or, you can carry it cocked and locked, for a 1911 style SA pull for every shot.

It certainly would make an excellent range gun, many people compete with it, and it would provide yeoman service as a CCW should you ever feel so inclined.
 
Why not the .357 SIG?

If you know and trust the .357 Mag. cartridge, why not get the P229 in.357 SIG?

In commercial loadings, the performance with lighter loads is substantially the same.

And as you might like to expand into other calibers at some point, you can add a drop-in .40 or 9mm barrel to your SIG.
 
My choice of an auto for all purpose's would have to be the
world famous Sig-Sauer P220A in .45ACP.:D However, a few of these do exist in the 9X19 caliber, as well.:)

Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
High dollar gun snobbery

VictorLouis you said:

"Are you familiar with the CZ-75?
It is almost as cheap as the Ruger, and can be found NEW in the low $300's. Its accuracy easily outclasses any Ruger"

Really? ANY Ruger? Care to line one up against my P90? Or how about a long barrel MkII? Or a .357 Blackhawk with 9 1/2" barrel. Eh? But then ANY Ruger would also mean Ruger RIFLES...

Sir, you have obviously not shot Ruger pistols lately, and you are just pulling this out of your A$$, no offense...

Mntneer357, you will find gun snobs here aplenty, who have never even HELD an inexpensive firearm like a Ruger P-series, but since they are so inexpensive, to them, they must be garbage...

You won't go wrong with the P95, IMO.
 
if you like your ruger .357, you want a strong gun that requires simple maintence and just keeps on working without a new manual of arms; a gun that has combat accuracy not one-hole potential. and you want all this at a blue callor price

guess what? that is exactly what the ruger p95 is.

mntneer357 - your gp-100 is to the .357 world what the p95 is to the 9mm world. the sig isn't $300 more gun than the p95, neither is the glock...now the P7 :D

if you have the extra money to spend, get the p95 and 2k rounds of PMP 9mm to "become one with the gun"
 
Hey Dog, did you read my post after the excerpt?

...and I've owned a NUMBER of them.

Apples to apples, I was refering to Ruger's pistols in service calibers. I had a P85, with atrocious accuracy and reliability. Then a P89, which was reliable but not accurate. By that, I mean capable of under 3" groups, rested, at 25yds. The P90 in .45? Good-to-go across the board, it just didn't fit my hand well. It took the purchase of a second one for me to own up to it.:) The P97 DAO fit my hand well, and is STILL the most accurate .45 that I personally have owned, including 2 Sig P220s.

I've had a handful of Ruger's .22 pistols, which were all excellent in accuracy, and superb in reliability. Every Service/Speed/Security Six that I have owned or shot was every bit the equal of *&* in accuracy. Ditto the GP100s. The Mini 14 that I regret selling would group under 2" for me with open sights!(Rare, I know.) My 10/22 is sub 1" at 50yds, with a scope. So, with that backround, do you still feel that I was 'dissing' Rugers from lack of personal experience?:)
 
I dont' meet your criteria of owning only one auto, but here goes anyway. It sounds to me like you want the Ruger. I own a P-89 and found it to be reliable and reasonably accurate. I have also owned Sigs, Glocks......... They definitely are NOT worth an addional $300 TO ME. If you care about what other people think, i.e. status symbol then maybe they are worth it to you. They don't do much that the Ruger won't do. I owned a Sig 220 that was superbly accurate, but I couldnt' shoot it worth crap off hand. It just wasn't my cup of tea. My P-89 isn't nearly as accurate as the Sig 220 was, but it is plenty accurate enough for most practical applications. Another plus for the Ruger is that standard capacity magazines are available for it at reasonable cost. I purchased 6, 15 round mags for around $15 each. I also purchased 6 30 round magazines for like a couple dollars more. One more thing the Ruger has going for it is that you can buy the PC-9 rifle as a companion. It uses the same magazines and gives you a little more velocity along with a lot of fun. The 9mm round is very inexpensive to shoot. I think I figured out that it costs me around $2.45/ 50 rounds to reload 9mm. In case you haven't guessed by now, I say, go with the RUger.
 
Mntneer357,

I'm in the opposite position in that I'm a semiauto guy looking for his first wheelgun (i'm thinkin' about one of the smaller Ruger GP100s as a CCW).

I think you'll find a lot of positive threads about the CZ 75 and I agree with them. I recently bought one and have put 600 rds through it. It's a pleasure to shoot, no misfires so far, and it's pretty easy to strip and clean. IMO it's a whole lotta gun for $300 - $350. And for your SHTF purposes, I'd think you'd want the preban clips which the CZ still comes with (1) and they're still easy to find and fairly affordable ($40 - $50).
 
Ruger P95

I have two Glocks,Rugers and a Sig.The Ruger is by far the best price on a good combat weapon. I've had one for almost two years and have put over 13,000 rounds thru it with one stove pipe. My sig has not done as well considering I've only put a 1000 rounds thru it and have more stoppages then "all" my Rugers combined. I hear alot of experts bagging on Rugers but judging by my results the Rugers are as good as anything on the market. You can pay alot more money and not get a gun as good as a Ruger . Rugers are reliable,durable, and well priced, and do what they are suppose to do , shoot.
 
stick with the .357 , if you want a defense gun id either say use heavier bullets and lighter powder or put a few .38spcl rounds through it. No need to waste money on a 300-500 dollar auto when you already have a good gun.
 
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