What's the most reliable hammer-fired pistol?

Your threads are interesting.

I’m going to say the HK USP and Mark 23. Not only the most reliable, but likely the most durable also.
 
Unfortunately, these amazing guns are no longer in production. I assume the P226 will be as reliable as the P229?
 
There's a long list but we first have to know a few more parameters, since the OP mentioned NATO approval. The military normally uses FMJ.
Of the guns with a hammer that I never had a reliability problem with is the FN 35, P210, the P1/P38 and HK P8A1. The last ones I used extensively in the military and reserve. I can attest that the P8A1 is also a gun that has as few parts failures as Glocks do.

A 1911 that is set up for reliability and run in can be just as reliable but I remember an article in the American Handgunner from a couple of decades ago, where a summer match was held somewhere in the mountains and temps dropped and snow came down heavily. The two guns that ran without a glitch were H&K Experts or Eiltes, while the tight match 1911s had hick ups.
 
I have a P229 that was a POS to start with. Turns out the feed ramp was machined incorrectly and the extractor spring hole was drilled at the wrong angle.

Runs fine now, but it will never be my favorite just because of the hassle it took to get it right.
 
HK Mk 23 may be the most thoroughly tested and abused for military use. It's reputation is very strong. Reliable, rugged, long lasting, tested in real life and very accurate... it may be one of the best ever made.
 
I had an impression that P229 is one of the rock solid choices. What was the issues and how did you get them fixed?
 
I have never had a reliability problem with a 1911 shooting 230 gr FMJ (45) or 130 gr FMC (38 Super) because that is what they were designed to shoot. That said, I shot Speer Lawman 200 gr JHP (the flying ash tray) in my military issue 1911’s (US Army) in the 1970’s. All my 1911’s, military and civilian have handled JHP and LSWC target ammo just fine. Two different 38 Supers were always stubborn about anything other than FMC.
I probably have more rounds down range through my Taurus PT-99 as anything and can’t remember ever having a stoppage of any kind.
I must be blessed because all my pistols run just fine, even a 44 Desert Eagle, a Coonan 357 and a cheap Italian 380.
 
The Shadow 2 is sort of an interesting option next to the other two.

Are you trying to decide on a handgun for purchase? You’ve had a number of threads along those lines.
 
bac1023 said:
The thread is bizarre

I think he’s just naming the guns that he knows, to be honest.
Click to expand...


It could be.

There are people on this forum that have owned and shot far more guns than I, such as yourself. I was also new to shooting once and other than having heard of a few firearms I didn’t know much. I can empathize with someone in the same boat.

Having been in that boat, however, I realize now that I didn’t ask the questions that would have been meaningful to me. In this case, we have one competition pistol and two duty pistols. To me the question isn’t which is more reliable, it is which is better suited for what I want to do with that pistol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top