If you could only have one...

A

Amphibious

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I've made peace with the fact I'll never have time to shoot as much as I want to these days. A range trip is 3hrs of driving, and has no winter maintenance, so when I go I want to make it count.

I want one pistol, to have a glorious shooting experience the rare times I make it to the range. something refined. Something i'm excited to hold in my hands.

Informal plinking, knocking down steel, and shooting for groups. 9mm, semi-auto... Price isn't much of a concern.

Sig P210 Legend Target Is topping the list at the moment

CZ75 Target Sports has a wonderful trigger

Dlask/Para 1911 all tricked out? I really like buying Canadian, but then there are the Kimbers



Thoughts?
 
Some type of p210 would be the top of my list too. The target legend is a beautiful shooter.
 
P210 would be stellar.

Alternately, entertain your expensive tastes with an HK?

HK_P7M8_-_pic1.jpg
 
If it's gotta be in 9mm Luger I would select:

Glock 17 Gen3 standard sights or factory night sight (optional Tac light M3X)

Beretta M9/ 92FS /Inox

Sig P226/ Mk26 Navy Seal

HK USP Tactical 9X19 with threaded barrel

Kimber Custom 2 Tactical 1911 in 9mm Compact with bull barrel & night sights

If you're only gonna have 1 pistol, 9mm is a GREAT option second to .45ACP. 9mm ammo is cheaper than all other ammo, and still packs a punch and very flexible will weight selection from hyper velocity +P 115 grain @ 1350 fps to the heavier 147 grain JHP ammo @ 975 fps
9mm is such a great little round. Although my all time favorite is the massive 230 grain FMJ hardball .45ACP and the sizzling +P 200 grain JHP @ 1050 fps .
 
I love the .45, and if we had american-esq ammo prices and availability, i'd look for nothing else. as I'm punching paper and ringing steel, the 9x19 makes perfect sense. I've shot quite a few 92's, but they never excited me, same for the Glock offerings. Although that was some time ago, and maybe they deserve a second chance.

i've Never handled a USP...
 
If you don't mind concentrating that much money into one gun then you picked a winner with the Sig 210 from all I read about them.

Kimber looks nice from a distance but when you get up close and move some parts around you'll find that they are built to their cost point. The ~ $1K versions have a looser fit than the high dollar models. If you want a 1911 that is in the same performance and price point as that Sig or even the CZ Target then you should be looking up scale at something like a mid to higher end STI, A Dan Wesson or possibly a lower cost Les Bauer.

If I were looking at your situation where I can only get to a proper range very occasionally I'd still want two guns. I'd have a good reliable .22 for working on avoiding the inevitable flinch that returns when one only gets to shoot handguns very rarely. I'd then have the nice center fire gun to play with once you work out the flinch bugs. Otherwise if you're at all in the typical shooter category you'll find that much of your range trip is spent making shotgun like groups until or if you can get back into the proper groove. I've seen even long history shooters that got distracted by some "real life" thing and couldn't shoot for some months. When they came back they got easily frustrated because their skill and control had gone down the flusher. Mostly and typically it's about ol' man Flinch setting up residence. A rimfire handgun could aid in getting back into the groove more quickly so you can enjoy the rest of the day.

And finally, for the amount you're going to shoot by the sounds of it if you like/want a nice 1911 I'd get one in the proper .45ACP chambering. On the other hand if you go for that Sig P210 then stay with the 9mm.
 
Have you fired any of these firearms? If not I suggest going to a range that rents guns, or find nice people here on CGN near you to let you try theirs, so that you get a feel for what you shoot best. We are not all built the same: arm length, hand size and many other factors will contribute.

When I tried out a large number of firearms most of the ones people are listing I could not shoot that well: Glock, H&K, Beretta, CZ and so on. I found the Sig or 1911 with weight and the type of grip to be much easier for me. It could be anything for you.

Also, should you get a Sig or 1911 you can buy a .22LR upper kit for most of them. I prefer this over a separate firearm because you are using the same trigger and grip.

Those are just my opinions though... but they have worked for those that took them to heart.
 
Very valid points. I should have clarified, one centerfire handgun. .22 handguns are far to much fun to not have one, and rimfire firearms are an essential part of any range trip.

Haven't been able to get hands on with the 210 yet, but the overwhelmingly positive reviews speak volumes.

I'm down in the states almost monthly and get to shoot with friends there. Buckets of Glocks, 1911's, Walthers, and XD's. Polymer guns just don't have the soul of a well machined piece of steel to me, regardless of their attributes or accuracy. I'm rather old fashioned in my tastes. Sold my last handgun a few years back, now the bug has returned.
 
If i was going to have one higher end handgun I'd echo the suggestions of the Sig 210. It has always interested me. The alternative would be a higher end 1911 but I'm not sure how sensitive you are to ammo costs or if you are a reloader.
 
Amphibious said:
Very valid points. I should have clarified, one centerfire handgun. .22 handguns are far to much fun to not have one, and rimfire firearms are an essential part of any range trip.

Haven't been able to get hands on with the 210 yet, but the overwhelmingly positive reviews speak volumes.

I'm down in the states almost monthly and get to shoot with friends there. Buckets of Glocks, 1911's, Walthers, and XD's. Polymer guns just don't have the soul of a well machined piece of steel to me, regardless of their attributes or accuracy. I'm rather old fashioned in my tastes. Sold my last handgun a few years back, now the bug has returned.
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If you want a nicely built gun with plenty of soul, a revolver should be in the running. Smith makes two of them now that are chambered in 9mm.
 
While I greatly enjoy my pistols, may I suggest you try something like a revolver in .38/.357 or .44 magnum at least once before you commit?
The ability to switch from mild .38's to filling-loosening .357's is always fun. (.44 special to .44 mag. even more so)
I think I prefer shooting my revolvers over my semi's about 70% of the time.
Bonus also in that you don't have to chase brass if you're a reloader.
 
Pietro Beretta said:
If it's gotta be in 9mm Luger I would select:

Glock 17 Gen3 standard sights or factory night sight (optional Tac light M3X)

Beretta M9/ 92FS /Inox

Sig P226/ Mk26 Navy Seal

HK USP Tactical 9X19 with threaded barrel

Kimber Custom 2 Tactical 1911 in 9mm Compact with bull barrel & night sights

If you're only gonna have 1 pistol, 9mm is a GREAT option second to .45ACP. 9mm ammo is cheaper than all other ammo, and still packs a punch and very flexible will weight selection from hyper velocity +P 115 grain @ 1350 fps to the heavier 147 grain JHP ammo @ 975 fps
9mm is such a great little round. Although my all time favorite is the massive 230 grain FMJ hardball .45ACP and the sizzling +P 200 grain JHP @ 1050 fps .
Click to expand...

how do you even put GLOCK in with the rest of the list you have there?
thats like mixing 12 year old scotch with grape cool-aid!

if ya want something ###y and nice that will leave you smiling when your done then get a Kimber.
that is what Kimbers are for, i have one and its a smile maker.
i also have a glock and its for practical/tactical shooting, not pleasure shooting.

i think what ya need to do is make your wants a little better known.
do you want a poly gun or a metal one?
do you want a mass production gun or a hand tuned one?
do you want nice looking and smooth or plastic and brick like?

from the OP i got the impression he was looking for something mid to high end non plastic.
if that is what we are looking for then Kimber (or Dlask, havnt seen one myself but i hear they are uber nice!)
 
If 9mm semi auto is what you want and money is no object, any Sig 210 would be my choice. Of the 9mms if owned and shot, my FN Hi-power circa 1974 would by my choice. It is a fantastic gun in every respect, and at 750 bucks you'll have a ton of money to spare for gas, range dues and ammo.
 
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