Accurate Semi Auto?

3296 Views 31 Replies 21 Participants Last post by ScottA, Dec 12, 2012

TLuker

Discussion Starter · Dec 10, 2012

I'm thinking about picking up a good vehicle pistol. The problem is that I'm just not a pistol guy. I've always been a rifle guy. I had a couple of target pistols years ago and was really good with those, but I didn't have one with less than a 10" barrel. Now I'm trying to figure out what a good semi auto would be for me?

I'm mainly after accuracy but also a high capacity magazine. I was thinking something full size like a Barretta M9. I've always heard really good things about their accuracy but I have no first hand experience with them. So what are some recommendations for an extremely accurate full size semi auto with a decent price.

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Bigcat

· #2 · Dec 10, 2012 (Edited)

The avgerage number of rounds fired in a civilian self defense situation is 1.7..

Think about this for a moment...

So IMHO no need for a hi capacity.

Since you seem ot care about accuracy let me submit that 6 rds are plenty to solve any civilian self defense problem, especially if you carry a speed loader which is easy to do in a car (it takes me about 1.5 secs to reload with one, 2 seconds in the dark.)

Revolvers are better balanced and inherently more accurate, than the sexy semiauto loading Pistols
In a civilian self defense situaiton first shots count and this is where revolvers really shine.

So I'd start looking at those..

I have 23 yrs in the army and so love my AR's, but for Handguns, I go revolver every time for the very reasons outlined above.

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Squawk

· #3 · Dec 10, 2012

Call me Patriotic or Idiotic but I only buy American made. S&W VTAC 9mm for Home/Car defense. S&W Shield 9mm for CCW.

Beretta, Springfield, Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Hekler & Koch and Walther all make high quality pistols IMHO. Some make 1911's. Lots of choices. If you are not planning on using for CCW, choose what ever feels best in your hand.

Good luck.

g17frantz

· #4 · Dec 10, 2012

If you want accurate, uber reliability and manual safeties, pick up a full size 1911. If you want concealable (subcompact or compact) Glock 19 or a Springfield XD or a commander length 1911.

TLuker

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 10, 2012

Squawk said:
Call me Patriotic or Idiotic but I only buy American made. S&W VTAC 9mm for Home/Car defense. S&W Shield 9mm for CCW.

Beretta, Springfield, Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Hekler & Koch and Walther all make high quality pistols IMHO. Some make 1911's. Lots of choices. If you are not planning on using for CCW, choose what ever feels best in your hand.

Good luck.

Good call on that. I do try and buy American made, all of my rifles are except my Enfields.

Just out of curiosity are revolvers that much more accurate than semi autos?

Squawk

· #6 · Dec 10, 2012

TLuker said:
Good call on that. I do try and buy American made, all of my rifles are except my Enfields.

Just out of curiosity are revolvers that much more accurate than semi autos?

I've never owned a revolver. The ones I've shot we're like shotguns. You have to bury the front sight. Not a fan. Plus I like having something with a higher capacity. I'm a pistol guy.

Not sure about accuracy but I promise you that if you practice with a pistol, you can be just as accurate. Plus dead is dead. Don't matter the the firearm.

nitestalker

· #7 · Dec 10, 2012

I think Bluez is right on. The facts are the High Cap pistols are products of modern marketing. As posted the average gun fight expends less than 2 rounds. I would add the average range is 7 yards or less. If you have to shoot a BG at 75 yards 15 times you will likely end up in court. There is a point when the engagement goes beyond your personal safety.

SSGN_Doc

· #8 · Dec 10, 2012

Beretta has a plant in Maryland, Glock has a factory in Georgia, Sig has a plant in New Hampshire. Springfield imports parts from Brazil, and whole guns from Croatia. So the buy American thing can get a bit hard to define.

Accuracy requirements for a defensive pistol are not the same as what you need for a match gun. If you are taking the time to pick a button on a shirt to shoot, you are probably dead.

I would take reliability and fast handling as priorities over degree of accuracy. Most high quality pistols from the manufacturers that have been listed will produce enough accuracy to get you solid torso hits at what would be considered defensive ranges (typically 10 yards or less).

Sig, Beretta, Glock, Springfield and S&W all make excellent, reliable autoloaders that are capable of very good accuracy for their type. Many manufacturers make good 1911 models that are also very accurate and reliable. Many folks on here sould likely recommend that you get to a range with some friends, or at a range that rents guns and try shooting several different types and see what you shoot well.

I never thought much of Glocks until I tried one and found that it fit me and was easy for me to shoot well, and employ quickly. I also shoot Berettas and Sigs pretty well, but the double/single action transition takes a bit more concentration when transitioning. 1911s are my favorite for target shooting.

IF you want the utmost in accuracy then there are some high end 1911s, Smith and Wesson makes a 952 target moded from their custom shop that is a close sompetitor for accuracy with the Sig 210. Both are highly sought after as target guns. They are not common or cheap though.

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SSGN_Doc

· #9 · Dec 10, 2012

REvolvers have an accuracy advantage of having a fixed barrel that is attached to a rigid frame. Autos have to overcome having the barrel move to unlock from the slide after chamber pressure drops.

JTJ

· #10 · Dec 10, 2012

They can both be accurate. A revolver is not as ammo sensitive as a semi so you can vary the loads more and not worry about feed issues. I carry a revolver when hiking because I can load shot shells. A 357 revolver will shoot around 19 different cartridges but most are out of date and hard to find. Most people just shoot 38 spl and 357 magnum. For a truck gun, I would choose a revolver but that is me. A 4" Ruger GP100 or Security Six or a S&W 686 would be good choices. If you still want a semi, S&W M&P and Ruger SR are nice.

Commocarl

· #11 · Dec 10, 2012

If you are willing to look outside the "Made in America" box read up on the CZ-75. A modified Browing Hi-Power that has been used behind the Iron Curtain as the standard LE Pistol for a good long time.

Squawk

· #12 · Dec 10, 2012

If you don't mind a used gun, you can get cheap revolvers that would fit your needs.

BeyondTheBox

· #13 · Dec 10, 2012 (Edited)

1. 1911 5" barrel. Low maintenance easy strip solid construction and will last forever.

2. Glock, any Glock pick your poison, I love my 30, is 45 cal double stack with 10rnds. It isn't my favorite, because it's ugly and I hate double stacks due to width, but for this purpose it suits well.

Preference aside everyone else is right about revolvers. Balance is better, fixed barrels are better and reliability is of a higher probability. However the BS about only 1-2 shot average is just that BS. Averages aren't acceptable to me and they shouldn't be to you, not when your life is on the line. There have been plenty a situation where multiple rounds and magazines/loads are needed. Don't play chance with your life, get an auto loader and practice with it.

John_Deer

· #14 · Dec 10, 2012

The Ruger P95 is pretty accurate. Shooting silhouettes out to 25 yards it does pretty good. One thing you have to remember when shooting a pistol, it's not a rifle. If you are used to shooting rifles you have to lower your expectations in a pistol. No pistol is going to be as accurate as even the cheapest rifle.

Bob Wright

· #15 · Dec 10, 2012

As far as accuracy goes, nothing out performs the Colt Gold Cup .45 ACP.

I had one years ago set up for hardball ammunition and it made a pretty good field gun for varmint hunting out to about seventy-five yards or so.

Bob Wright

locutus

· #16 · Dec 10, 2012

You can have what you want with Beretta 92 or SIG 226. Accuracy, dependability, high capacity, and probably most important of all in my opinion, NO MANUAL SAFETY!!

( the Beretta is available with or without the safety)

The Beretta is standard issue of the armed forces, and the SIG is secondary standard. That's pretty good company to be in.

oli700

· #17 · Dec 10, 2012

tluker said:
i'm mainly after accuracy

cz 75

tluker said:
also a high capacity magazine.

cz 75

tluker said:
i was thinking something full size

cz 75

tluker said:
so what are some recommendations for an extremely accurate full size semi auto with a decent price.

cz 75

rhyno13

· #18 · Dec 10, 2012

The absolute best out of the box semi auto pistol would probably be an H&K

LeadSlanger

· #19 · Dec 10, 2012

oli700 said:
cz 75

cz 75

cz 75

cz 75

Yes! What he said.

Its all gonna come down to what you like best anyway, but for excellent accuracy, excellent ergonomics and a time proven reliable pistol, you can't beat a CZ 75.

Bigcat

· #20 · Dec 10, 2012 (Edited)

I am going to add another 2 cents, though technically it isnt answering the OP's question:
The current fad with high capacities is just a fad, because with modenr autoloaders we <can>.

Hollywood has driven a lot of this ,where the main characters and sometimes even teenage girls, shoot a dozen attackers with head shots while running w/ autoloaders.

Heck, I couldnt do that and I spend 400 dollars a month on ammo.

Also lots of ammo adds weight..

back when I carried a Glock 19, I would do so with only 4 rounds in it.
yes you heard me right. Why?

Weight .....and a situation that needs more rounds is so rare for all intents and purposes it doesnt exist.

Remember we are not Police or military that SEEKS OUT trouble.
as a civilian self defender you have a completely different requirements set.

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