Test Drive Questions

mmattockx

mmattockx

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I will be challenging my exams tomorrow. Assuming I am successful, I want to start shopping while my paperwork goes through. I plan to go to The Shooting Edge in Calgary and test drive a number of handguns for fit and function in my hands. I am looking for a 9mm handgun for target work, plinking and maybe IDPA if I like the looks of it and things work out. So far, I figure to try out a 1911 Colt (or clone), CZ-75B and some of the Sig alphabet soup models. Are there any in particular I should make sure I try? Any others I am missing? I am not a fan of the Glocks, both for looks and the polymer frames, but will give some a try just to see. Who knows, they might be perfect for me...

I have smallish hands, so I suspect the single stack 1911 frame may work the best for me. Any good reasons to look at the 1911 in 45ACP instead of 9mm? I like 9mm for the lower recoil and lower costs. I plan to reload regardless of calibre(s) I end up owning.

Thanks,
Mark
 
The 1911 is a great pistol but it was originally designed for .45 ACP. 9mm 1911s have a reputation for being finicky. So if your heart is set on a 1911, I would recommend the original .45ACP Government Model. If you want 9mm, get the 1911's younger sibling - Browning Hi-Power. Although it has a double stack grip, it is still quite slim (and can be made even slimmer with aftermarket grips) and should be a good fit for small hands.
 
capp325 said:
The 1911 is a great pistol but it was originally designed for .45 ACP. 9mm 1911s have a reputation for being finicky. So if your heart is set on a 1911, I would recommend the original .45ACP Government Model. If you want 9mm, get the 1911's younger sibling - Browning Hi-Power. Although it has a double stack grip, it is still quite slim (and can be made even slimmer with aftermarket grips) and should be a good fit for small hands.
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I actually really like the HP, too, but I hear lots of comments about the hand eating hammer. I will make sure I handle one before I buy. I am not set on a 1911, I just expect the slimmer grip and frame to fit my hands better. I do love the 1911 looks and it is a classic, but for my first centerfire handgun (won't be my last, I'm pretty sure) I want to stick to 9mm. I can always add a 1911 in 45ACP later on down the road.

BTW, I passed both exams today; my RPAL application will be in the mail this weekend. :dancingbanana: One of the handguns used in the practical was a Beretta 92 and it fit me better than I expected. I am going to try and get a test shoot on one of them now, too.

If IDPA is a major goal of mine, which pistols are better suited to it and fit the rules better? It must fit a box and be under certain weight limits from what I have read. I believe the CZ75B is a good choice for that, others?

Thanks,
Mark
 
mmattockx said:
I actually really like the HP, too, but I hear lots of comments about the hand eating hammer. I will make sure I handle one before I buy. I am not set on a 1911, I just expect the slimmer grip and frame to fit my hands better. I do love the 1911 looks and it is a classic, but for my first centerfire handgun (won't be my last, I'm pretty sure) I want to stick to 9mm. I can always add a 1911 in 45ACP later on down the road.
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You said you have small hands, so I doubt you'd have a problem with hammer bite. It only becomes an issue if you have large or very fleshy hands. In any event, hammer bite can be easily rectified by either bobbing the stock hammer or replacing it with a factory SFS hammer or an aftermarket Cylinder & Slide unit. If you want a classic 9mm semi-auto you can't go wrong with the BHP...it's one of my favorite pistols.
 
capp325 said:
You said you have small hands, so I doubt you'd have a problem with hammer bite. It only becomes an issue if you have large or very fleshy hands. In any event, hammer bite can be easily rectified by either bobbing the stock hammer or replacing it with a factory SFS hammer or an aftermarket Cylinder & Slide unit. If you want a classic 9mm semi-auto you can't go wrong with the BHP...it's one of my favorite pistols.
Click to expand...

Good to hear. I definitely don't have large or fleshy hands. I will make sure to try an HP in my range trips.

Thanks,
Mark
 
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