Looking for suggestions.

M

Micahweeks

New member
I am looking to buy a new handgun sometime soon, but I am absolutely clueless as to what I want. Well, I want a lot of things. I just don't know what to buy. I am looking for suggestions from all of you good people out there. I'll first clarify some of the things I'm looking for.

1. I already have a reliable carry gun, so that is not the purpose. The purpose of this firearm will be to shoot for fun and possibly keep on me when I am out working at my land or in my truck. First and foremost, though, I'm looking for something that is fun to shoot a lot of rounds through.

2. I am trained on Glocks and do not want one. I love Glocks, a lot. I am not looking for a workhorse, defense pistol this time around, though. I am looking for something that is just more fun to shoot and tweak with. I will always trust my G22, but, to be honest, it gets a little boring. I want a fun gun that will double as a work gun to protect my dog from bobcats, other wild dogs, and the like.

3. I do not want a 1911. Once again, I like 1911s just fine, and they are certainly tweakable. However, I'm not keeping a single-action only pistol in my glove compartment.

4. Caliber is not a major concern. I have shot everything from .32 ACP to .50 AE. For defense, I prefer .357, 9mm, .40, or .45. Each has its place, and I've shot enough of each to feel comfortable putting a couple of rounds at center mass in a pinch. For this gun, however, I don't care about recoil. I've spent some time with the G20 and the EAA Witness 10mm. 10mm is powerful round, and I wouldn't be adverse to owning one or something comparable.

5. I would prefer a decent number of rounds, although it isn't necessary. For a fun gun, I would prefer not to spend all of my time reloading.

6. I want something that has a reasonable amount of parts available. Like I said earlier, I am going to be trying my hand at tweaking. I am looking at playing around with modifications like custom barrels, changing trigger assemblies, etc. I'm not looking to do anything that equates to full-blown gunsmithing, but I do want to find a pistol that can be highly customized without having to break out a dremel.

7. Given the costs of what I might want to do with the pistol, I would like the initial gun to be somewhat affordable. I'm not looking to buy a $2k pistol just to change everything on it. By affordable, I'm talking about something less than or around the $850 mark.

8. I want it to have good ergonomics. I'm planning on shooting it a lot, so I do want it to be comfortable.

For a reference, I'll list the handguns I own or have owned.

Glock 22
Taurus Millenium Pro in .40
Smith and Wesson 680 .357 revolver
Magnum Research Baby Eagle in .40
EAA Witness Polymer in 9mm.
Hi-Point .45 (suprisingly, a fairly reliable gun, so I don't want to hear anything about it. :D)


I have a website that details the most recent guns that I have fired. I have reviews of them up there. I am not here to plug my website, though, so you can google it on your own if you have the inclination. I know this is a pretty demanding list, but I'm hoping that something out there can fit the role. So, give me your suggestions for a fun, tweakable, shootable gun. I'm not a brand person, so anything goes.
 
You want it for fun... in a caliber that can be decent for work or defense from animals. It should be comfortable and enjoyable, doesn't have to be a gun that zips through many magfulls of ammo. It should be well built, and a platform for customization. Caliber isn't important, but it has to be something that can be used for defense against animals.

It seems to me that you would enjoy a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Mag, or, for a few bucks more, a Freedom Arms Revolver. I say .44 Mag if you don't do any handloading, but go with .45 Colt if you do.

If that sounds good, but you want a REAL twist, for something totally different, pick up a Blackhawk in .30 Carbine. Flat shooting, accurate, with one of the most obnoxious blasts you ever heard or seen. Impressive fireball. No recoil. Not great for animals, but loads of fun.
 
New hand gun

Buy a sig sauer chambered in the 357 sig cartridge. it a very over looked cartridge and flat shoot and powerful. A lot of law enforcement are switching to this round.
 
.357 Sig

I have considered both the .357 SIG and 10mm as the next caliber I buy. I'm glad to see that you suggested it. I've debated the overlooked .357 SIG vs. the cult-inspiring 10mm for a while. The only experience I have had with SIG was with a P226 in .40 with the DAK trigger. How customizable is SIG's platform?
 
Steyr M9-A1 or M40-A1 - the most ergonomic gun I've ever picked up. Nice and tight, and pretty accurate, too. The 9mm is 15 rnds., and I believe the .40 S&W is 12.
 
.30 Carbine

I am intrigued by the .30 Carbine. I have never fired it, but I like the sound of throwing some low-recoil fireballs! :D Isn't the Ruger Blackhawk a single-action, though?
 
sorry

Your list of wants is wishes.

Suggest a easily modified 1911, or a way-less-easily modified EAA Witness (with swap-tops) as your only viable choices.
Perhaps in time the Springfield Armory XD models will have sufficient parts for modifying, too.

So:

-1911 (althouh your unreasoned fear of its single action escapes me)
-EAA Witness
-XD
 
Go to a range and rent some of Rugers full sized semi auto's.

Hey,they are big but what a blast to shoot.

And as far as fun guns to shoot,not much is more fun to shoot than a all metal CZ.
 
I am intrigued by the .30 Carbine. I have never fired it, but I like the sound of throwing some low-recoil fireballs! Isn't the Ruger Blackhawk a single-action, though?
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How 'bout an AK pistol, then?

Seems to fit many of your other requirements, too - price, parts availability, reasonably powerful, available and cheap ammo, ability to send a lot of lead downrange, and an incredible fireball. I shot one once and I recall the recoil was relatively mild. The fireball seemed several feet long.

The downsides (if muzzleblast isn't a downside) are that it'd be tough to carry (or put in your glove box) and it's hard to be accurate with it. Oh, and it might be tough to find nowadays.
 
One of my most favorite hand guns is the Ruger 30 carbine.
This is just a supper fun gun to shoot.
Great varmint gun, will work for SD and for a 6 shot wheel gun not to heavy.
Easy to reload with many options for bullets and powders.
Just an all around great gun.:D

P.S.
You buy one and don't like it let me know.
 
I say a steel frame Witness,or maybe a Sig P226 with 40 and 357 barrels...

You may want to check out the Witness Elite Match,SA only,but a sweet trigger,mine is the most accurate handgun I have ever shot...
 
I know you said that you don't want a Glock, but if you get the .40 cal. you can change it to 9mm and .357. You might be able to do that with Sig or XD, but someone else will have to answer that for you, I am not sure.
 
Single Action

I should probably clarify that I am not afraid of single action. I happen to like single action pistols just fine. The 1911 is a terrific platform that I wouldn't mind wearing on my hip. I just don't want it bumping around in my glove compartment. If I did have some strange reason for needing to pull this gun and fire it quickly (yes, I'm paranoid like that), I certainly don't want to have to worry about cocking it. Keeping it cocked and locked while riding over bumpy, rocky hills isn't really my idea of safety. That is my only reason for not wanting this gun to be single action. I don't mind a DA/SA as most of them come with safeties or heavy enough first pulls to prevent ADs. I apologize for not making that clearer, weshoot. :)

All of your suggestions have been terrific. A couple of you mentioned the Witness. I have owned a Witness before, although it has been several years. I only got rid of it to buy something that was rated for +P. I was on a reloading power kick in my younger days. :rolleyes: What caliber and which frame, steel or polymer, would you guys suggest?
 
I've never seen Steyr on any of the local shelves.
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You won't see them much. They're the best kept secret since, "I didn't do THAT with THAT woman." We have a couple of gun shops locally who will order them. They're like a Glock on steroids. Better ergonomics, better trigger, better construction. Extremely low bore axis. Very little recoil. I'm in Upstate SC, if you're close, I'd be glad to meet and let you try one of mine. All I can tell ya is I trust one with my life, the S40 (.40 S&W) is my main CC weapon. The S is a compact version of the M - 1/2" shorter barrel, and shorter butt. They're not imported any more and hard to find - if you see one, grab it.
 
I have a Ruger P89 DA/SA decocker/safety 9mm pistol and it is a blast to shoot. It came with 15 round mags and I added a 20 round mag.

I find it very accurate and ergonomically perfect for me. The plus is they are relatively inexpensive and reliable as can be. 9mm ammo is still fairly inexpensive too so that makes shooting it even better.
 
How about a CZ75?

It's been out for quite some time, very rugged, and for some people they're comfortable to shoot. You're looking at a steel frame, also. I don't know what's all out there for aftermarket goodies, but I'm sure CZ fans will tell you what to tweak on 'em.

I can understand your concern on 1911s. But with a grip safety/safety lever combination I don't see how it's remotely possible for BOTH of these to fail along with something to pull the trigger at the SAME time the grip safety is depressed.

If that's the reason why you're shying away from the 1911 platform, suit yourself...
 
re: Blackhawk in .30 Carb
and for a 6 shot wheel gun not to heavy.
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Umm, pretty much the opposite. They only come from the factory with a 7.5-inch barrel. The cylinder is like .44 Mag sized, but with only .308" holes in them. Beefy is an understatement. Unless you cut the barrel down or fill each cylinder with helium, this is a 44 to 46 ounce revolver.

It's heavy.
 
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