Reliability, Am I just lucky?

T

triplebike

New member
This year I have purchased 3 NIB semi auto centerfire handguns. I use factory brand ammo of all different configurations. I have never had any malfunction of any kind. No Mag problems, FTF, FTE. Nothing but flawless operation from any of these guns. There have been no modifications to any of these weapons. The were field stripped & lubed out of the box, that's it. They are all completely stock. They are field stripped, cleaned & lubed after each range outing. The average rds fired at each range visit is about 300. Did I just buy the right handguns or have I been exceptionally lucky?

Stoeger Cougar 8000 - rds fired - 2300+

CZ 75B - rds fired - 2000+

Beretta 92FS - rds fired - 1750+
 
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Good question. I am very familiar with the Beretta and CZ 75 and i think you bought very good guns.

The CZ especially is probably the best 9mm pistol at any price.
 
You chose great guns. Plain and simple.

However: there are situations where a gun will function just fine in sedate range shooting, but if you introduce some running, maneuvering, 1-handed shooting or other challenges involved, it might not work quite the same.;)

I have a Colt LW Commander that ran beautifully for lazy days at the range, but at a pistol match it started having a bunch of FTE's.

The problem turned out to be a combination of a loosely tuned extractor along with me limp-wristing my last shot in a designated shooting box before bracing to run to the next designated shooting box. I'd upset the platform just enough, with the bottom last round or two in the magazine not providing enough up-tension to help kick out a round.

Solution was to increase extractor tension so the brass was held firmly against the breach until hitting the ejector. And to follow through on my shots rather than preparing to drop my wrists as I moved to the next position.
 
I think both the guns made today and the ammo shot today is higher quality with less variation than in the past. Most people now have no problem sending a gun back if it fails. In the past, that may not have been the case as owner tinkering was more common.
 
Don't know much about the Stoeger Cougar.

The CZ and the M92F are service pistols that went through long development and testing periods before they were issued to military forces. You would expect that they would have all the bugs worked out, and that the only issues with commercial copies would be worksmanship issues.

Lucky?, Nah, good choices. ;)
 
I've had perfect luck with a several different brands. Yes, you do have good guns, but I think your situation is more the norm than anything else.

The internet magnifies gun problems to the umpteenth thousanth time.

Most people are just out having fun with their guns and not whining about a trigger that's more than an ounce heavy.
 
"aprox $2400 in ammo costs"


6000 rds of 9MM is $1200. You scared me there for a minute. It's my only hobby.
 
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A nice "medium" cost hobby

aprox $2400 in ammo costs for the year for 3 guns and the year ain't over. wish i could afford to shoot that much.
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I spend a lot on ammo too. but as long as the ammo keeps me broke enough, I won't have the money to go & buy a boat. Then I'd be broke-r..:D

It's a win-win!
 
Those are all quality firearms, you chose them wisely. I am not suprised they are at that count and running. Im betting the CZ75B lasts the longest but the 92FS may be a contender. They all speak for themselves with the round count. Good luck and I hope the just keep eating everything you feed them. :D
 
"Don't know much about the Stoeger Cougar. "

It's a Beretta Cougar that's now made in Turkey. $369 NIB, there's not a better value out there as far as I'm concerned. It's made on Beretta machines under Beretta supervision. Beretta owns Stoeger. It's been a fantastic handgun. I just traded it in on a Stoeger Cougar 8045. Same exact gun just chambered for .45 instead of 9MM. My 1st .45. I only have 200 rds fired through the 8045, just as flawless as the 8000 so far.
 
3 guns, no malfunctions, that sounds like what everyone should expect from their firearms. I'm glad you're a happy camper. I've never had a pistol that malfunctioned (after break in {kahr}) after thousands of rounds.
 
The internet magnifies gun problems to the umpteenth thousanth time.
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+1


And there's a tendency for people generalize flaws - e.g. their friend encountered a problem with a 1911 or an XD or whatever, and so they assume that all of these pistols are likely to have the same problem.
 
The beretta 92 and cz 75 have excellent reputations. I don't think you are experiencing anything out of the ordinary. I don't know anything about the stoeger cougar, have never used one or even seen one around here. I have only had one semi auto pistol that never had any kind of a hiccup and it was not a cheepy it was an HK USP .45acp. It was my first handgun I ever owned and at that time (I was only 21 and inexperienced) I thought most handguns were that reliable. I sold it several years later like a dummy. I have yet to own another semi auto pistol that operated perfectly out of the box from accuracy to reliability. I'm glad you not only have 1 but 3. I think you can attribute it to making smart decisions and buying the right guns, not luck.
 
I think any pistol you buy should be reliable out of the box

No 500 round break in needed . I have never had a problem with my Colts , Dan Wesson, Keltec, Kahr right from box .
Every auto I buy I remove from box. Make sure barrel clear, lube the rails ,then shoot 50 rounds. . I want to see if works right from box. I then clean and enjoy shooting it .
 
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