tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post2795875614863143741..comments2024-03-29T06:30:37.772-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: What handgun to buy for self-defense?Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-92205424783295396672014-11-04T17:39:47.675-06:002014-11-04T17:39:47.675-06:00Whatever gun you get, be sure to test it before yo...Whatever gun you get, be sure to test it before you trust it. There has been a general drop in QC across the board.<br />Best to fire at least 200 rounds, with at least 50 rounds of your chosen defensive load. <br />Expensive, but so is a jam in a jam.Joe in PNGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-82458929133402204232014-11-04T05:27:00.342-06:002014-11-04T05:27:00.342-06:00I'd say that at least CZ, Steyr and Walther co...I'd say that at least CZ, Steyr and Walther could go up on the first-tier list if you include police forces and similar institutions (Border Patrol, &c) from outside the USA?<br /><br /><br />And also, I'd say fit should deserve a mention either before or after accuracy - because in a mechanically sound gun, it actually affects both accuracy and speed more than anything else, at least for a beginner.<br /><br />I mean, I did eventually train myself to shoot sort of accurately with the issue-model double action FN, but with that grip shape and trigger geometry I could never be quick with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-21670091475430099792014-11-04T05:19:57.245-06:002014-11-04T05:19:57.245-06:00I have owned pretty much every high end pistol and...I have owned pretty much every high end pistol and revolver ever made. My bedroom "gun" is an 870 Remington Wingmaster with an 18 inch tube. My "road" revolver is an 1873 colt clone, made by A.Uberty in the 1970s. IMO The ONLY thing to consider is reliability. The weapon has to go "bang" first time, EVERY time, and make a hole that bleeds out the bad guy FAST. Every thing else is frosting---RayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-75461212922713676962014-11-03T22:46:44.993-06:002014-11-03T22:46:44.993-06:00I had a Kimber 45 commander. It was a fail to feed...I had a Kimber 45 commander. It was a fail to feed and stovepipe machine. I changed magazines, magazine springs and recoil springs with no success. Sold it and bought an H&K. Will never buy any Kimber firearm again.<br />astrodominanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10755650141521881006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-10124978337597426472014-11-03T20:09:13.049-06:002014-11-03T20:09:13.049-06:00The number one issue is going to be how much pract...The number one issue is going to be how much practice and training will the new owner get and maintain. Glocks are great guns...but easy to have a negligent discharge with because of the design. Other semi autos with safety's need a lot of practice to make the use second nature. Wheel guns are far less likely to have a ND due to inadvertent trigger pulls but are harder to shoot accurately in DA mode. They are easier for novices to use. Virtually all modern handguns are adequate and reliable. The big issue, the one that is usually ignored is proper training and practice....which is an ongoing effort, not a one time deal.Dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-48767159008875266772014-11-03T17:18:33.870-06:002014-11-03T17:18:33.870-06:00Both of mine are older pistols, purchased around 2...Both of mine are older pistols, purchased around 2005 and 2008.<br /><br />I've had a few malfunctions, mostly when they were new, but after running a few hundred rounds through each of them, they settled down and go BANG every single time I pull the trigger.<br /><br />I guess the newer ones have slipped in QC.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-75385705385072859732014-11-03T17:00:11.633-06:002014-11-03T17:00:11.633-06:00@drjim: I'm glad you got one of the good ones...@drjim: I'm glad you got one of the good ones. They're out there . . . but so are a lot of bad ones, I'm afraid. I've seen three or four Kimbers with pretty serious problems. Still, if yours passes the test of reliability over time, hold on to it.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-79102463381076050882014-11-03T16:06:43.618-06:002014-11-03T16:06:43.618-06:00That's interesting. My Custom TLE has been 100...That's interesting. My Custom TLE has been 100% idiot proof after the first few hundred rounds to break it in.<br /><br />Kimbers like to be run run "wet" (lots of oil) during the first few hundred.<br /><br />I'd stake my life on mine if I had to.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-36875615205033288662014-11-03T15:54:35.165-06:002014-11-03T15:54:35.165-06:00@Sherm: That would fall under 'ergonomics'...@Sherm: That would fall under 'ergonomics', mentioned early in the article.<br /><br />@drjim: I'm afraid Kimber is emphatically <i>off</i> the list, due to reliability issues. See 10-8 Consulting's and Hilton Yam's comments on the problems they've encountered. For example:<br /><br />http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=232Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-37388460084398989322014-11-03T14:24:03.407-06:002014-11-03T14:24:03.407-06:00What, no Kimber on the list?
I've fired well ...What, no Kimber on the list?<br /><br />I've fired well over 5000 (probably closer to 8k) rounds through mine, and only thing I've replaced was the recoil spring because it was getting a bit "soggy".drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-84578717684406224272014-11-03T14:04:53.923-06:002014-11-03T14:04:53.923-06:00Might add Steyr to the list.
+ 1 on good magazine...Might add Steyr to the list.<br /><br />+ 1 on good magazines.<br /><br />GerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-66766574952316486212014-11-03T11:04:30.456-06:002014-11-03T11:04:30.456-06:00Tweel beat me to it... And GOOD quality spare mags...Tweel beat me to it... And GOOD quality spare mags if ine does semi-auto pistol...Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-7085887266104462962014-11-03T10:27:35.381-06:002014-11-03T10:27:35.381-06:00I believe you need to toss "fit" into y...I believe you need to toss "fit" into your calculations. My wife, for example, has fairly small hands. We had to "try on" handguns to find a quality gun from a reputable manufacturer that fit her. As a result my CZ75, which is recognized has having a long trigger reach, was traded for a M&P9 with adjustable grips. Dang. But at lease she can shoot it and shoot it well.<br /><br />That is also how my gun became her gun. (An often unrecognized danger.)Shermhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07098953206824247173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-21459888915815057372014-11-03T09:10:24.926-06:002014-11-03T09:10:24.926-06:00One of my late friends was a former Special Forces...One of my late friends was a former Special Forces sergeant. He had health problems that sapped his strength along with vision problems. He lived in a 40' motor home often parked in isolated areas. His choice was a Bond Arms Snake Slayer loaded with .410 defensive loads. <br /><br />Well Seasoned Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16670165728759453075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-21552578301933837722014-11-03T09:07:30.722-06:002014-11-03T09:07:30.722-06:00Peter,
What you say is equally true for magazines...Peter,<br /><br />What you say is equally true for magazines. A cheap magazine reduces the reliability of even a fine a weapon to that of a cheap one.<br /><br />One should buy and use only factory magazines from your weapon's maker. They cost more, but you know what you are getting.Glenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826464928376433382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-40030724592942033692014-11-03T04:41:33.092-06:002014-11-03T04:41:33.092-06:00@I.B.: I'll give some thought to an article o...@I.B.: I'll give some thought to an article on SA. Good idea. Thanks.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-59403877220795978932014-11-03T04:08:14.641-06:002014-11-03T04:08:14.641-06:00When I get the "what gun should I buy" i...When I get the "what gun should I buy" in class from those just starting out on the learning curve, my response is very similar to what you just posted, Peter.<br /><br />The only thing I'd add is "practice with your gun, then practice some more. No, more than that." <br /><br />And, at some point, once one has learned to manage the gun rather than just operating it, get off the square range and try something like IPSC, IDPA, ICORE, etc. that presents different shooting problems to solve. The more one knows about "running the gun" and how one performs with it under stress the better. <br /><br />Share the experience with family members who are capable of doing so - you may always have the gun you train with on your hip but one never knows when incapacitation strikes and a spouse, or nearly-adult child may have to step up and carry the day. <br /><br />I'd stress developing situational awareness; I point out in class the reason one carries a gun is because, sometimes, all of your efforts at avoiding trouble may fail. (Might developing SA be a good topic for a future post? I've read your book and expect that your experience in prisons and in Africa would form a rather good foundation for that.)Inconsiderate Bastardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-65928895488433950472014-11-02T23:17:02.888-06:002014-11-02T23:17:02.888-06:00If possible, try before you buy. Go to a range tha...If possible, try before you buy. Go to a range that you can rent pistols at, and try some out. This way you have a better chance of getting something you like and can handle.<br />Get training if you can. A few tips on stance and proper hand placement can help accuracy and even reliability dramatically. tweellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164718561825615886noreply@blogger.com