Recommend me a handgun to purchase

J

jasmith85

New member
I am looking to buy a new handgun but can't make a decision on what to purchase. I'd like to buy something I have never owned before and would prefer something in a larger caliber. I'll list what guns I have owned or still do own and my thoughts on them and would like some recommendations to check out at my LGS.

Sig Pro 2022: I have owned a variation of this gun in all 3 calibers that it is available in although the .357 Sig was the older 2340 model. I really liked the guns as you can tell by me having owned 3 of them but there was just something about the way it feels that always caused me to sell it. I love the fact that it was DA/SA.

Sig P226: What this gun made me think of was a bigger, higher quality version of the Sig Pro. It was a bit too big for me though, especially when you count the fact that I had a 9mm. If this gun came in .45 I would love it but I just found it too big and bulky for the caliber and sold it.

Rossi 46102: I loved this gun and regret that I sold it. I'm a huge fan of revolvers but haven't wanted to give the high prices for quality brands like S&W.

Ruger LCP: Good functioning gun but it was just too small for me.

Makarov: Very fun little gun. Fun to shoot and perfect for what I use it for which is a glove box gun.

Springfield XD45: This is the only gun I have owned that I just straight up disliked. I'm a big guy and can handle recoil but this gun left my hand aching by the time I put 50 rounds down range. My trigger finger would get especially sore from the trigger safety for some reason. My experience with this gun is why I have been hesitant to try a Glock.

Springfield 1911: This is a friend's gun but I really enjoyed shooting it. I have no problems with recoil from it and actually kinda enjoy the fact that its SAO.

I would like to get something completely different from what I've been shooting so far. One thing I have looked into is a Glock 20 but am hesitant because of my bad experience with the XD. I've thought about a 1911 as well but its not really new to me and I can shoot my friend's 1911 anytime I want. Does anyone have any guns they would recommend me looking into? It can be something you would recommend because of what I've said about the ones I've had or just whatever your favorite gun is. I'm mainly fishing for ideas right now.
 
I am sure you will be flooded with replies about CZ sonI might as well be the first.

If you like SA/DA guns, and you desire accuracy, a good trigger and great ergonomics then you owe to yourself to try a CZ. Several models are available in .40 S&W if you want a change from 9mm and don't want more .45 ACP experience.

I have an XDM compact in .40 S&W and I have not experienced any issues with shooting fatigue, even with using the short magazines. You might want to look at them again.
 
I don't recall having ever held anything by CZ so I'll make sure to look into them. I'm fine with guns in 45acp. The only gun in that caliber I've had issues with was the XD. One gun I was actually just reading about that I'm hoping to look at is a Magnum Research Baby Eagle in 45acp.
 
Well, you could look at the SIG P220 in .45 which would be very similar to the P226 you had. Also, H&K makes some very nice handguns in a variety of models and calibers. There are also lots of good deals to be had in the used market, so remember to check them out at your local store.
 
Have you ever tried a Steyr? I picked up an M9 (9mm) at Cabela's a couple months ago and love shooting it, and a couple of my friends (who are far more experienced than I am) are looking at buying Steyrs based on shooting mine. The trapezoidal sights are a little different from what some folks are used to, but I'm a fan. I've only seen the 9mm version in stores, but there are other calibers offered in the current lineup.
 
handgun recommendation

Try out an FN 9 or 40
If you have had sig pros you will love the FN
That is all I am going to say, try one and you will see what I mean
good luck
 
Second vote for CZ

I'll second the vote for a CZ. Actually... I've only ever had the Witness clones, but then I've also owned Mopars instead of Chevys, an old Triumph Tiger and a couple Moto Guzzis instead of Harleys and my favorite ATV is a Kawasaki 3 wheeler, not a Honda. In other words, for some reason I gravitate toward the things that conventional wisdom would say are not the "best" example of the class. :D

I also never seem to even see a CZ whereas I have found and gotten good deals on 4 witnesses.

As a bonus, buy a generic steel witness in any caliber and you can swap on whatever caliber top end you want. :cool:
 
If you are OK with used, then there appears to be a very nice Sig P220 on GunBroker. It is currently going at a very tempting price.

Please go ahead and remove the temptation. I don't need another one. :)
 
Save a little more money ...and buy a good S&W revolver...maybe something in a 4" ....in a K frame ( like a model 19 or 66 ) in .357 mag / and you can shoot .38 spl in it if you want to ...there are a lot of them around right now ...and you should find something for under $ 750. My point in adding something like this to your inventory ...is its a gun you'll be proud to own / and probably keep long term...and not get tired of it. Good quality revolvers just don't go out of style...and the quality is there on guns from S&W. There are some good N frames out there too ...in .357 mag ...especially in the model 28 / that is a lot more affordable than the fancier version the model 27. But look around / might be a 4" or a 6" that you take a liking to in the N frames.../ very nice guns.

The other consideration over another gun ...is consider getting into reloading ....Dillon makes 3 good presses ...their SDB is a progressive machine, handgun calibers only ...but relatively inexpensive. If you want to get into it big time ...consider the Dillon 650 press / maybe add a casefeeder later...keep the cost down.../ stretch your ammo budget ...shoot 3 times as much with the same ammo budget. But you need the personality for attention to detail ...!

Another option ...is look at some of the Single Action Revolvers...for something different...there seem to be a lot of used Colts around right now in .357 mag ...which is a nice caliber in the single action world. There are lots of options out there in single action ...different barrel lengths, some real high end guns ...some entry level guns / lots of used guns ...Ruger, USF, Colt, Freedom Arms, etc ...probably not much around under $1,000 ....but again its a gun you might hang on to long term. They're different / and fun to shoot.
 
I am with some of the others saying a CZ clone. I have a witness in 10mm and it is loads of fun and very accurate. I personally believe that it is one of the best fit in the hand ever.
 
I'm with the others here..
in a semi auto, next to a 1911, I like a cz or clone..
eaa witness, or better yet a witness match, or a cz 75 or 85..

have a witness standard, and a match in 45, and a cz 85 in 9mm all are single aaction only and saftey is like 1911..cocked and locked..

standard witnesses and cz's are DA/SA, but witness match and some models of cz are SA only..:)

K frame smiths are sweet, 19, 17,14 are some of my favorites..

partial to N frames as well..25 (45 acp) 27,28 (357)

all based on how they fit in your hand and feel..

for ones I haven't owned.. I'd be tempted by a ruger six (service/security) series..

if a 1911, try a commander sized one..
 
Walther PPQ. It's the one handgun that I have that fits my hand perfectly. Incredibly accurate. Super trigger. Priced right. (picked mine up for 550.00)
 
.44 Mag S&W. Sounds like it would be a unique pistol to have compared to your existing collection.....if you can afford the ammo that is.
 
Thanks for all of the recommendations. I didn't realize CZ had such a following but I'll definitely be checking one of them out on my next trip to my LGS. Right now I'm leaning towards either an IWI Baby Eagle in 45acp or a S&W M&P in 45acp but I have never held either so that may change when I do. After my experience with the XD I'm kind of hesitant towards a lightweight polymer frame like the M&P so the Baby Eagle is in the lead at the moment. Does a full steel frame like a Baby Eagle has make a large difference in felt recoil or should I not be using that as a factor for my choice?
 
Does a full steel frame like a Baby Eagle has make a large difference in felt recoil...?
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Yes... Especially since it's 10+1... It's gonna shoot .45's like a pussycat... It weighs 2.4 lbs. unloaded.
 
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I haven't shot a baby eagle, but I would say it would be very similar to the eaa witness steel..I enjoy mine..single stack 10+1, 2 lbs unloaded current specs..

which is a very pleasant shooter..the reason I'm saying this is you are comparing steel framed guns of similar sizes and weights, similar grip sizes and ergonomics,

both of these are clones of the cz 75, but in 45 acp, and I believe the baby eagle may start life off as castings shipped from tanfoglio in italy to IMI in isreal for fitting and finishing..

the witness is made by tanfoglio in italy..

cz and their clones..
CZ (Czechoslovakia)
armalite ar 24 (salizmar Turkey)
Sphinx (switzerland)
Eaa Witness or tanfoglio (italy)
baby eagle (isreal)
springfield had one, a european import not sure where they were made
Armscor has one
Bul (turkish I think)

more info can be found on the cz forum about these.. its been years since I followed all this..so it may not be current, but more of a passing thought.
 
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Sig P226: What this gun made me think of was a bigger, higher quality version of the Sig Pro. It was a bit too big for me though, especially when you count the fact that I had a 9mm. If this gun came in .45 I would love it but I just found it too big and bulky for the caliber and sold it.
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Have you considered the SIG 220 Carry model?
 
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