my day at the range
Well, I made it to the range today and spent three hours shooting a Glock 17, Sig 226, CZ 75, Beretta 92, and a HK USP. I spent enough time with each gun to get to know the functioning and whether or not I liked it.
The first gun I eliminated was the Sig. I’m just not a big fan of the long DA first shot, and every shot thereafter being short SA shots. I get off an accurate first shot, but it just throws off my rhythm. Secondly, I didn’t like where the slide release is on the Sig. It just didn’t feel like it was where it belonged, and in a really tense situation, I could see myself hit the decocker instead and expecting for the slide to close.
The gun I most *wanted* to like was the HK. Going in, I thought this was going to be the gun for me. It seems that with the HK you have the choice of decocking or carrying cocked and locked, which I liked. I had two problems with the HK. One, there was no way I could trigger the magazine release without turning the gun around in my hand. And I have large hands. I had to completely take my grip off the gun and push down the mag release, then re-grip. Secondly, I felt the decocker was getting in the way of the slide release. I tried, but couldn’t hit the humongous slide release with a good grip on the gun. So the HK was second to go.
After the HK, I shot the Beretta 92. It was nice. All the controls were where I wanted them, and easily accessed without changing my grip on the gun. But it still had the long DA pull for the first shot, with a trigger that was nowhere near as good as the Sig’s. It was also just too big. It was nice, but it just wasn’t going to be my winning gun.
The range I was at didn’t have a Browning Hi-Power, so I tried their CZ-75. I liked the ergos of it; I liked where the controls were, etc. But after one magazine, I didn’t like shooting it. There was a LOT more muzzle flip than with the other guns I had fired. It just wasn’t much fun to shoot.
So, that leaves me with a Glock 17, a Walther P99, and the HK P7M13.
I haven’t had a chance to try the M13, but I already have a couple of concerns. The mag release seems to be the same as on the USP. They’re expensive, I found a used one in excellent condition for $950, then add in a couple of mags and I’m up to around $1200. To be reliable, it sounds like they need to be meticulously maintained, as opposed to the Glock and Walther. I also question how difficult it would be to get it repaired, or to find parts for it in the future. But I still would like to shoot one, just because of the fanatical following they have.
Pretty much everything I’ve heard about the Walther I like. When I hold it, I get a nice feeling inside. Nuff said. I really need to find one to shoot somewhere.
And the Glock 17. To me, the Glock is like a tool. Like a claw hammer. It doesn’t look good, but it just works. And works, and works. With the Hogue slip-on grip, it feels damn near perfect. The controls are instinctual. It has what amounts to a lifetime warranty, combined with awesome customer service. Lots of add-on goodies available. And then there’s the terrible trigger pull. In a word, the trigger pull sucks. But no matter if I like the Walther or HK or not, I have to have the Glock. Out of everything I’ve tried, I can’t say the Glock is the best, but it’s by far the best for me.
So at this point, it’s not so much *between* the Glock and Walther and HK. It’s do I *also* want a Walther P99 or an HK P7 (or all three). So if anyone has shot all three, or even OWNS all three, I’d love to hear your comments. Of course if anyone else wants to chime in, or flame me, or whatever, feel free.
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