What's a versatile, easy-to-maintain sidearm?

[Mystery_Milk]

Hey guys, I've gotten good advice here in the past so I'd thought I'd ask here.

I'm looking for a versatile handgun. Mostly it's going to be used as a range gun and as a backup gun for hunting. I've also got weird-dimension'd hands where my palms are pretty normal-sized for a guy but my fingers are small. While this sucks for things like playing instruments or finding gloves, I can actually wrap three fingers around the grips of guns like the Glock 26 or Ruger LCR, and actually prefer grips of that size.

I also don't clean my guns after every trip to the range. I clean them every few trips, or before events. I've had guns that I ended up disliking because they required cleaning after a single range trip or else they started jamming.

So far the on-roster autoloaders I have my eyes on are the XD 45 Compact Service Model and the Glock 30SF. I like .45 ACP because since there's a 10 round limit in this state anyway I might as well go for the bigger bullet.
I like the XD 45 Compact because it doesn't have finger grooves (which almost never fit my fingers) and because it has an in-production 22LR conversion. The 22LR conversion is a plus because the roster mostly only has heavy target 22's that (in my experience) need to be cleaned often and are picky about ammo. From what I've read the polymer ones (Phoenix Arms and Walther) aren't very high quality.
The Glock has the brand advantage and a bigger aftermarket. Both have 460 Rowland conversions, which I might consider if I ever bowhunt wild pig or something else that might charge me, but it's definitely not something I'd feed my gun a steady diet of.

I've also been looking at .357 Mag revolvers. I'd shoot .38 Spl most of the time, but I'd like the option of being able to use .357 Mag. I've been eyeing the LCR and the SP101. The LCR has a really nice trigger pull, but I don't really like snub-nose revolvers. I'd prefer at least a 2.5"-3" barrel, which the SP101 has.

So, any suggestions? Did anyone who was looking for a handgun for similar purposes find a "perfect gun"?

Thanks in advance!

[aca72]

GLOCK 19

[vinny_land]

GLOCK 19

+1

[Michael777]

Glock

[b.thomas]

A good friend use to carry a .357 mag revolver while he deer hunted.
As I recall it was a S&W stainless with a 4" barrel.
I always told me the first round was bird shot to take carry of snakes, the last five were hard cast, lead/semi-wad cutter .357 mag rounds he reloaded himself.

[RobG]

Ruger GP100 4" stainless with a grip you like. Stout, reliable, decent trigger that can easily be made excellent, mild 38 spec to heavy loaded magnum capability.

[dwinters14]

XD. People overlook them because of the glock hype, but ergonomically, and functionally it's a better firearm.

The grip angle isn't as steep.
Loading chamber indicator on TOP.
Loaded striker indicator on the back of the slide.
Grip safety.
Ambi mag release.
Large slide stop/release.
STEEL SIGHTS.
Stainless mags that come flying out when you hit the mag release.

With all that said, they can also run dry as a desert and eat everything you throw at them accurately. The trigger isn't great, but you get used to it. Never had a FTF.

[DArBad]

Any full size steel 1911 firing a .45acp cartridge from a mainline production maker is " versatile ".

You can use it to hunt deer at a reasonable distance, protect yourself from wild hog and two legged predators. You can install 22 LR conversion for economical practice.

[sierra11b]

I wouldn't say a 1911 is easy to maintain though.

I'd go stainless Sp101 or S&W model 66.

[GlockN'Roll]

A Glock cheaply and easily meets all of your criterion...

Every shooter needs at least one Glock.

[Euphoria526]

A Glock cheaply and easily meets all of your criterion...

Every shooter needs at least one Glock.

NOT true. Nobody “needs” a glock.
I’d prefer an xd or m&p over a glock any day.
Or a cz
Plus xd’s Can be had for cheaper anyways.

[Griffdog]

For your intended use I would go with 3" SP101. Many different grips available and you can clean it whenever.....or never. Also, can shoot 38 Special most of the time and heavy 357 Mag when needed.

[GlockN'Roll]

Yes of course, the whole world is wrong and the members of the "anti-glock squad" are right...

Clearly the market hasn't caught up with the real "value" of these other guns, which consistently sell at a discount.


Watch out for the edge of the flat earth when you travel...


I own or have owned all of the aforementioned brands and yet I own more Glocks

because of their ease of maintenance, dependability, accuracy as well as the huge market of accessories and holsters.

Every holster and sight offered can be found for Glocks, no doubt the manufacturers are falling for the same hype...

[Nor*Cal]

Yes of course, the whole world is wrong and the members of the "anti-glock squad" are right...

Clearly the market hasn't caught up with the real "value" of these other guns, which consistently sell at a discount.


Watch out for the edge of the flat earth when you travel...


I own or have owned all of the aforementioned brands and yet I own more Glocks

because of their ease of maintenance, dependability, accuracy as well as the huge market of accessories and holsters.

Every holster and sight offered can be found for Glocks, no doubt the manufacturers are falling for the same hype...

The whole world? Come on now, settle down with your fanboism. The guy only said that not "everyone" needs a Glock and he's not wrong. Some of us prefer different brands than Glock. That doesn't mean they are bad guns, just not to everyone's liking.

[michaelthepsycho]

Unless you're dead-set on getting new, there's no reason to focus on the roster.

I don't know how many rounds your range trips are, but most modern full-size guns (that aren't super tight) can make it a few thousand rounds without cleaning; unless you're dumping them at torture test speeds.

Get a G30 as you like the .45, and you can pop a G29 slide on it for 10mm hunting backup; or vice versa. Finger grooves you can bubba off.