Which pistol?.. Noob warning!

[twoguntim]

M&Ps are nice to shoot and hold, but I find the trigger a bit crunchy. I'm very happy with my Grand Power K100 which is in the same price range. XDs and Glocks feel odd in my hand. The CZ 75Bs are also great guns that won't break the bank.

Since I'm absolutely cursed for faulty products, I would only buy a Norc if I could inspect and shoot it first. Otherwise you are playing the odds.

In my opinion, if you buy a Norc you will shoot it for a while and then want a good gun, at which point it will sit around collecting dust and you will have spent more money in the end. Buy a M&P or K100 and don't look back.

 

[Spencer]

I have two Norks, a 1911 NP30 and a Tokarev combo. Both of these are well finished and shoot just fine as far as pistols go. Don't waste your money on tuppaware, get a solid Norinco for half the price. The people that dismiss them are just trying to save face because they know they are mugs.
If you want real accuracy get a rifle.

 

[ian_in_vic]

I have two Norks, a 1911 NP30 and a Tokarev combo. Both of these are well finished and shoot just fine as far as pistols go. Don't waste your money on tuppaware, get a solid Norinco for half the price. The people that dismiss them are just trying to save face because they know they are mugs.
If you want real accuracy get a rifle.

I'm not knocking the Norcs, they offer excellent value, I've got the 1911 compact I also have a Tok (not technically a Norinco, it's PLA production from 1966) but the M&P is truthfully a better designed, better shooting, more fun to shoot pistol. I've fired nearly everything I could get my hands on over a lot of years, from Ruger 22's to the 50 Desert Eagle and many dozens of pistols in between, including some really odd sh*t (308 single shot anyone?), and given a choice the only normal production pistol I'd prefer is the P7M8. That gun costs at least twice as much as the M&P. It's that good.

 

[dinsdale]

CZ75b.
Quality, reliable, accurate, work for xDPA and IPSC production, and affordable.


I am biased though. Love my CZ75b Tutone!

 

[BBq_Woa!]

I agree with the slie release comment..it is next to useless, but I slingshot 99% of the time anyway.

The M&P can't be for everyone...but all the points you mention are the ones that the gun is generally praised for, and that I like it for.

Just goes to show pistols are a matter of personal preference and taste.

Agreed

I also slingshot all the time as well haha. but I dunno. if a mechanism is on a gun it should do something as far as I'm concerned.

but yes, praise to them! I just dont like em

 

[BEARMAN]

What do you want to do with the handgun? If it is just plinking at the range, get what ever feels good in your hand and that you can afford. If it is for IPSC or IPDA or Bullseye or any of the other games, you should specify which because different guns fit into different games better than others. One thing to remember , parts for 1911 seem easy to get , parts for anything else you need to go to the dealer. Where and who is your nearest S&W dealer and how long has this model been in production and when will they drop this flavor of the month. S&W seems to be looking for the ideal semi-auto pistol design, and when they come close they seem to drop it completely and try something else. The only thing that seems to stay constant is their revolvers. Just my opinion.

 

[manboy]

If you like tupperware, and I admit I don't, the S&W is a decent choice. For me the lighter gun equals more recoil (Basic physics) but the gun is certainly gaining popularity and I believe it is a cut above the Glocks...now.

The only NOrincos I have owned are the 1911 varieties both in 9MM and .45acp and they are rock solid guns, well made and can be turned into outstanding shooters.

ps Ignore Manboy's comment about reliability of the NOrks - he obviously hasn't owned their 1911 A1 in .45acp or their NP 29 in 9MM

i've shot, handled, and seen fail, all the norc's you list. and i've owned various models of norinco guns. they are not, and can never be, anywhere close to an M&P or a glock. i know, i own both. if you are recoil shy, that is something you need to work on through training, not buying the heavier gun. man up.

yes, the norc's can be tuned up, but buying a real gun in the first place will save you the trouble. basic common sense.

 

[ian_in_vic]

i've shot, handled, and seen fail, all the norc's you list. and i've owned various models of norinco guns. they are not, and can never be, anywhere close to an M&P or a glock. i know, i own both. if you are recoil shy, that is something you need to work on through training, not buying the heavier gun. man up.

yes, the norc's can be tuned up, but buying a real gun in the first place will save you the trouble. basic common sense.

I have to agree, if I was looking at a 1911 today, I'd save myself some money and get an STI Spartan, they seem to be terrific out of the box.

PS what is the deal with recoil complaints, my 45 Norc compact has MUCH more recoil than the M&P or any Glock I've ever fired, recoil in polymer framed guns is softened by the frame, not magnified by it (physics).

 

[Canuck44]

Having a lower bore axis will reduce muzle flip as it directs the redoil straight back into the hand reducing the hinging effect of your wrist but a lighter weight of gun will recoil more than a heavier one - Newton's 3rd Law of Motion - all else being equal.

The frame of the Glock/S&W cannot in itself absorb recoil - unless you think it compresses under recoil - and it doesn't.

Take Care

Bob

 

[Maple Leaf Pilgrim]

I have a TRP Operator and a SIG P229R 9mm. I love them both. They are great handguns as both are accurate, robust and reliable.

The TRP Operator is a personal favourite. Last week I went in to work, picked up my Operator and put a full mag into the noggin' of a 25yd. PPC Qualifier Target at 10m cold. I hadn't picked up that pistol for over three weeks and it still did what I told it to!

The pistol feels heavy and is, but the balance of the gun is very reassuring and makes it pleasant to shoot. The sights are very well thought out and when operated properly the gun shoots where you point it (exactly where you point it) to such a degree that when I have been practicing I can put in med shots at will. . I have only had a single issue with this gun and it was with a magazine. I use CMC Power Mag 8 rounders now and there has been no problem since. Once I left the gun uncleaned for over four hundred rounds (and that was an act of will-power) without a hitch before I broke down and cleaned it. The full length rail is distinctive and some people don't like the full length guide rod, but SOCOM and MEU/SOC seemed to have liked these guns when they got them to fill the gap.

The SIG P229R is a helluva gun. I got it a few weeks before our last IDPA match, put three hundred rounds down the pipe before the match and when it was all said and done I came in fourth in SSP and was awarded "Top Novice". On one stage I was so in the zone I was doing Mozambique drills for the fun of it. If you want a good little gun that will be reasonable to feed, the P229R 9mm is one to really seriously consider.

The P229R is a very pleasant gun to carry during competition and I had to make a mental note to remove it and store it legally before I left the range! The gun is pretty light for its overall size but is very good at handling the recoil, almost despite its weight. The gun, like the Operator is instinctive to aim and the night-sites line up beautifully when you present. I broke it in by running almost three hundred rounds through it before my first cleaning (another act of will-power, let me tell you) and the only thing that happened was it sporadically failed to lock-back on the last round. Not bad for a gun right out of the box, hey?

 

[ian_in_vic]

Having a lower bore axis will reduce muzle flip as it directs the redoil straight back into the hand reducing the hinging effect of your wrist but a lighter weight of gun will recoil more than a heavier one - Newton's 3rd Law of Motion - all else being equal.

The frame of the Glock/S&W cannot in itself absorb recoil - unless you think it compresses under recoil - and it doesn't.

Take Care

Bob

didn't mean to imply that the frame absorbed recoil, my understanding is more that the greater mass of the slide actually takes more of the energy, which reduces the sensation of 'kick' to the hand (because the frames mass is much lower) (could be wrong, read it somewhere)

 

[Assyrian]

..........or you can get a new Taurus 24/7 for $550...

I just bought a 9mm 24/7 today...(wished they had a stainless though)
Tried out a bunch to see which 'Felt' right. Which controls felt comfortable to use, basically which one seemed "natural" inside my big mitts, the Mag release was in *Just the right spot*, The Slide release was within easy reach, etc.

I luved the 24/7. For $600 I luv it even more.

 

[tree mugger]

Well, I can attest to the reliability and accuracy of the Norinco NZ85b. Its fantastic, so good I got rid of my Browning after seeing what the Norc could do.

There are a few on this board with various "tupperware" and "plastic-fantastics" that can attest to the effectiveness of my NZ 85b.

 

[steyr_m]

Be wary of anything that says, "Made in China". Save a few extra dollars and at the minimum, buy a Glock. I think Questar has a Glock 17 going for $649. I agree with Koalorka, get a P7M8 it's way more expensive but you'll take it to the grave. Remember in the long run, cheap is always more expensive...