What makes a handgun reliable?

The less a pistol strays from it's original design, chances are the more reliable it will be. Some add-ons such as hi-visibility sights have little effect on reliability or accuracy but could make the gun easier to shoot accurately.

Acceptable accuracy in a fighting gun is probably about 10 MOA. Can you make use of 5 MOA in a high stress shooting scenario or for that matter during casual shooting at the range? If the gun is used just for target shooting, then perhaps tightening it up, tuning it for target loads, doing some trigger work, and investing in a match barrel will produce useful results, and increase the dollar resale value of the piece, but it won't be a fighting gun.
 
As stated not so tight tolerances, a chamber that accepts most rounds, a larger ejection port, good extractor. The heart of a semi-auto is the magazine, a good reliable gun with a crappy mag will jam. A good feed ramp makes a big difference as does a basic but strong design. However if you have crap ammo it can still cause the gun to malfunction despite everything else in it’s favour. Combine any of the problems above with poor handling (limp wristing) then you will have a series of problems.
 
I'm surprised nobody has said it yet, so I might as well. The most reliable handgun may be a revolver.

I don't own any. I don't even particularly like them. I have seen them jam. But when all is said and done, the mechanical simplicity of a revolver is probably just plain more reliable and accurate than a semi-auto.

Sigh. I'll stick to my 1911 anyway.
 
EdGCNM said:
I'm surprised nobody has said it yet, so I might as well. The most reliable handgun may be a revolver.

I don't own any. I don't even particularly like them. I have seen them jam. But when all is said and done, the mechanical simplicity of a revolver is probably just plain more reliable and accurate than a semi-auto.

Sigh. I'll stick to my 1911 anyway.
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yes or not, I have a primer sticking out and jam the cyclinder and I had to bring my gun with 5 round live 357mag ammo in the cyclinder to visit Kelly at smoking gun. Some old revolver start have timing issue and cannot be solve just by yourself and have to do it by gunsmith. In most case semi auto are more easy to repair.

Trigun
 
Revolvers are not as "simple" as some people may think, nor as tough. Their design poses a whole new set of challenges.

I thought revolvers were very tough and durable - until I owned one and opened it up and looked inside at all the tiny little parts - and the way the cylinder actually turns etc.

A 1911 is way more durable in my opinion, especially if exposed to some external traumas.

Just look at what all the pros (police, soldiers etc.) are using - not too many use revolvers anymore - and I don't think it is solely due to smaller round capacity.

...

Kurgan, I agree - the first Highlander was the best - the rest was a race to the bottom. Still can't figure out how they ever got Sean Connery to be in the third one...
 
Kurgan said:
I whole heartedly agree with Vic777.

How accurate does it need to be? What are you using it for? Home defense is pretty much negated by the safe storage law. By the time you get it loaded it’s probably too late to have any effect, at least in my case. I do know of some people who have much quicker access though, but in my case with 2 small boys the more difficult it is to get into the safe the better, statistically at least!

Now when you line up at the 20 yard line it’s nice to be more accurate than the guy beside you! But does it really matter? The accuracy potential of the firearm may be compromised but the squishy organic bit holding it!

Is it a compromise situation? Do you have to weigh your needs? Target shooting= accuracy, ideally bull every time, and combat=reliability, ideally bang every time?

Is it like an SUV? A compromise between on and off road?

Is there a handgun that excels at both?
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Somehow, there has got to be a way to comply with the storage law and have quick access too :evil: anyone out there have any suggestions? :wave:
 
I have seen a safe that has finger grooves and buttons for an electronic combination lock. The idea is that you place your fingers in the grooves, tap the combination and open the safe. In our case we would also have to remove a trigger lock and my ammo is stored in a separate locked location. I guess your ease of access has to be appropriate to your perceived degree of threat

The big issue for me is the 2 small boys I have in the house. I am more concerned with accidents than home invasions. I know what I was like as a boy and I would have spent all March Break trying to crack the code! Now as a responsible firearm owner and dad I am trying to teach them proper safety procedures, morality, not to glorify firearms, and above all keep there mouth shut outside the house! If we can teach the younger generation to respect firearms but not be terrified by them maybe there will be a sport for them to enjoy.
 
THOR74 said:
A 1911 is way more durable in my opinion, especially if exposed to some external traumas.
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I have to admit the fact that in 80 or 100 years a well cared 1911 will still be shooting. My G17... maybe, but not sure. But if i think of reliabilety (spelling?) in a combat situation, i will trust this little plastic bastard more than any other gun out there.
 
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THOR74 said:
Revolvers are not as "simple" as some people may think, nor as tough. Their design poses a whole new set of challenges.

I thought revolvers were very tough and durable - until I owned one and opened it up and looked inside at all the tiny little parts - and the way the cylinder actually turns etc.

A 1911 is way more durable in my opinion, especially if exposed to some external traumas.

Just look at what all the pros (police, soldiers etc.) are using - not too many use revolvers anymore - and I don't think it is solely due to smaller round capacity.

...

Kurgan, I agree - the first Highlander was the best - the rest was a race to the bottom. Still can't figure out how they ever got Sean Connery to be in the third one...
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Revolvers can easily jam, if chunks of lead/copper get caught up in the cylinder and if the ammo is not properly crimped, a bullet may seperate from it's case and lodge forward jamming the cylinder while shooting. I have seen both events happen several times.
 
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