Restricted in progress... looking at handgun options...

I had the same problem. It finally came down to the Glock 17, or a S&W M&P 9mm. I went with the M&P. I love the grip on the M&P. It fits like a glove, and you can change the palmswell grip depending on how big your hands are. Ultimately it came down to ergonomics.
I still love the Glock, and will eventually get one as well, but I`ll go with the Glock 22.
Cheers,
R.J.
 
Was able to spend 20 minutes or so at Epps, and felt up a few sidarms :D... after the fondling I came away with the following (obvious for fit):

Still on the list (and in the order I liked the best):

1. Steyr M-A1
2. SigArms SP2022 Sig Pro
3. Glock M17

Off the list:

1. Tangfoglia Force 99
2. S&W M&P9
3. Beretta 96

Yet to try:

1. HK P2000
2. HK USP
3. Walther P99
4. CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow
5. Magnum Research

I'll have to go back for another visit. The guys at Epp's are always good... :)
 
Go to a gun shop and ask to handle as many as possible once you've got your restricted.

In mid feb I went to multiple gun stores an handled nearly 20 guns before deciding on one.

Loved the feel of the M&P's but hated how stiff the controls felt.

Always loved Beretta's but did not want one.

USP's were a great feeling too, but just didn't wow me.

Picked up a Ruger P89 and was holding it my hands for probably...5-10 minutes, just feeling it, operating the controls and just looking at it.

Love is NOT at first sight I'll tell ya that. The P89 was the last of the handguns I handled before making a decision.

My super ugly ugly ugly baby!! I think it looks like complete ass but I just love how it feels.

They didn't have the Ruger P89, so I will have to try elseware if I want to hold that one...
 
Well I was able to spend another 20 minutes or so at Epps, and came away with a revised list:

Still on the list (and in the order I liked the best(so far)):

1. Steyr M-A1
2. Magnum Research Baby Eagle / SigArms SP2022 Sig Pro
3. HK USP
4. HK P2000

Off the list:

1. Tangfoglia Force 99
2. S&W M&P9
3. Beretta 96
4. Walther P99
5. CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow
6. Glock M17

Yet to try:

1. Ruger P95? (the one that was suggested earlier)
No other choices otherwise...

The guys at Epp's are really great to deal with.
 
From your " still on the list ", I think Baby Eagle is a very good pick if you prefer a steel gun. Best of all it is a CZ clone and build better than CZ, now if you prefer to join the Sig community, then the SP 2022 has very high rating from the sigforums but this gun is very stocky, at least my small hand cannot fit nicely. A lot of people love the trigger of SP 2022. Ruger make reasonable centerfire pistol for the money but if you going into some kind of IPSC race, you better off look for some other. Since Ruger is not quite common seen at competition and I guess there must be some unknown reasons.

Trigun
 
Not a fan of MA-1's here. A friend had one for about 60 days before selling at the total agreement of a bunch of us. Well machined, looks great, strips great. Jams, tried new mags, more jams....shoots like crap. Could have been a "made on Friday"...no comment on dealer support as I was out of the loop.

I've also been recently hearing the MRI "babies" have quality issues too. I was looking into one myself.

You've got at least 4 others on your list that I have had experience with and could recommend. The USP, Tang, Shadow and Glock are all very good and give you a nice variation. I also recommend Sig 226's.

If you can't try them at a range, handle them some more at a store to see what fits nicely. See if it's a nice weight and balance for you. Check if it's in your budget and if the ammo is readily available/priced right locally. They are all very well made, accurate shooters.

Just my thunking.



Gdog
 
No other choices otherwise...

See if you can get a chance to dry fire the glock. If you want your trigger to break like glass, the glock isn't for you.

Look into the sig 226. There is a deal at questsar where you can get them for 900 bucks brand new. Normally they go for 1150-1200. I know alot of people like them.

Seriosuly look into a 22LR. You don't even need to buy new, just something to train you into having proper muscle memory. If you only use the centerfire you get, I can almost gaurantee you'll develop some sort of anticipation or flinch, and you'll be all over the target.
 
Before buying any handgun go to Youtube and search on Todd Jarrett, watch the video on how to hold a pistol, then hold your choices properly. It seems "obvious" to many experienced shooters that everyone would know the correct grip, it isn't necessarily so. Then buy the pistol that allows you to hold it properly, if you buy a pistol that forces you to hold it incorrectly you'll find that after some practise your groups are nice and tight, and in the wrong place. No fun trying to relearn the most basic aspect of handgunning after having fired a few thousand rounds downrange.
 
Not a fan of MA-1's here. A friend had one for about 60 days before selling at the total agreement of a bunch of us. Well machined, looks great, strips great. Jams, tried new mags, more jams....shoots like crap. Could have been a "made on Friday"...no comment on dealer support as I was out of the loop.

I've also been recently hearing the MRI "babies" have quality issues too. I was looking into one myself.

You've got at least 4 others on your list that I have had experience with and could recommend. The USP, Tang, Shadow and Glock are all very good and give you a nice variation. I also recommend Sig 226's.

If you can't try them at a range, handle them some more at a store to see what fits nicely. See if it's a nice weight and balance for you. Check if it's in your budget and if the ammo is readily available/priced right locally. They are all very well made, accurate shooters.

Just my thunking.



Gdog
I think it was a Friday gun, good sir. Mine is excellent, and I know of at least a couple of other very satisfied M-A1 owners on this board and elsewhere.
 
Thanks again everyone, all good.

I am trying to see what else is available nearby for me to handle...

My list that I posted, are the ones that fit me the best, feel the best, and look the best to me...
 
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