Handgun Buying Guide Based On the Trigger Pull

[Paradiddle]

Jesus who can read all that? You should spend more time dry firing and less time typing on the interweb.

[HUTCH 7.62]

any springfield XD series

[tacticalcity]

The one I tried had a longer reset than I would have liked. Other than I loved it. Fits my hand great, has a grip safety to cut down on NDs, and the balance felt pretty great. My only issue was the reset, and it was only a little bit longer than the Glock. Not drastically so. It certainly fits my hand better than the new midsize and small frame Glocks due to the finger grooves being a little narrow for me. I know lots of instructors who swear by them.

People keep getting hung up on the fact that I went with the Glock for this trip. It was a matter of chance. I was equally sold on the 1911, HK USP as I was the Glock. Found a hell of deal one, that was the deciding factor. I could careless about the name on the side of it. I just don't want to have to fight a DA trigger under stress with only seconds to get off a controlled pair or a headshot.

The class my cousin and I am about to take is all about that kind of shooting. I am told the three handguns seen most there, and suggest most by the instructors there, are Glocks, 1911s and XDs. When the XDs first came out people wanted them to get a little time in the field first, but from what I have read, seen, and been told they have pretty much gained favor with the training schools.

So as opinionated as I clearly am, I can't say the XD would be a bad choice.

Front Sight offers the Glock, XD and 1911 for rent. I wish the USP was on the list, just so my cousin could get some time on it before he buys it. Maybe they are not a fan of it. Or maybe, they feel the offer enough variety for renters already. Who knows.

If my Cousin holds off before he buys, they will teach him how to run a gun through the paces. Then when he gets back he could rent the gun he interested and truly put it to the test before parting with his cash. For a while there, it just looked like he had his mind up. Now it sounds like he might do just that. Either way...it's his money...he can do what he wants.

And yes, dry fire practice would be much a more productive use of my time, though I am not sure what the son of God has to do with it.

With a screen name that includes the word "PARA" in it, I would think you be a 1911 fan...but maybe it means something else.

[dansgold]

... I am told the three handguns seen most there, and suggest most by the instructors there, are Glocks, 1911s and XDs.
...
Front Sight offers the Glock, XD and 1911 for rent.
...

There are very good reasons for this. First, these tend to represent a high percentage of hand guns which people are likely to buy. I've been told by one source that - taken together - these account for something like 75% of the semi-autos sold.

As a corollary, these brand/models also dovetail mechanically quite well with the modified "modern technique" taught by Frontsight ... so it makes good sense to rent these weapons.

I'll reiterate my previous opinion that it's a matter of "horses-n-courses". I've trained alongside soldiers carrying the Beretta 92 ... it just makes sense for them as it is functionally identical to the M9 they carry in the field. Regardless of other factors, it just wouldn't make sense for them to train with anything else. "Having a good experience" is way down on the list for them.

Ditto my comments re: my choice of the Ruger SR9. The FBI agent I (barely) outshot was carrying a Glock22, a duplicate of his duty weapon. In this case, the superior trigger, lack of manual safety and years of field experience and FBI training didn't trump my "inferior" Ruger. For perspective consider that neither of us got a grad sticker, much less a DG that day ... and a volunteer fireman got a PERFECT score ... go figure.

It's wise to not become too opinionated. I compare this to my experience as a musician. Pros can point you to all sorts of superior instruments, but they can make anything sing. Amateurs tend to be much more fixated on equipment, because practice is HARD, and getting better gear is more under their immediate control.

[tacticalcity]

I've trained alongside soldiers carrying the Beretta 92 ... it just makes sense for them as it is functionally identical to the M9 they carry in the field. Regardless of other factors, it just wouldn't make sense for them to train with anything else.

I said the same thing, just with a different examples. I used the police officers instead of soldiers, but made the same point. If you are issued a weapon, and that is the weapon you are required to carry it makes perfect sense to train on that weapon system. Train with what you carry. If you are hoping to get hired on with a department, and getting a head start in your training, train with what they carry. So totally agree with you.

"Having a good experience" is way down on the list for them.

Well, I'm not spending this much money so my cousin can have a bad experience. That would be silly.

As a corollary, these brand/models also dovetail mechanically quite well with the modified "modern technique" taught by Frontsight

I would take that as an argument in favor of buying one of those guns if that is the kind of training you're gonna get.

my choice of the Ruger SR9. The FBI agent I (barely) outshot was carrying a Glock22, a duplicate of his duty weapon. In this case, the superior trigger, lack of manual safety and years of field experience and FBI training didn't trump my "inferior" Ruger.

Well good for you. That's always an ego boost. I did better than 2 law enforcement officers even with the Beretta 96F I was using. One had a Beretta that was DAO. The other had a Browing Hi-Power. It was a big ego boost, but other than that I didn't read too much into it. A computer programmer and homemaker kicked all our butts. They both had Glocks by the way.

And I do not consider your Ruger inferior Ruger SR9. I have not personally had a chance to try one out. I might find it is the gun that will change my mind about the Double Action trigger forever (I am assuming it has one since you're arguing against my position that the DA trigger is harder to learn on but I have no idea, I havent had the chance to check it out yet).

It's wise to not become too opinionated.

Having a different opinion than yours doesn't make me opinionated. It just means I have an opinion. If I were screaming the praises of the Ruger SR9 you would find my arguments perfectly rational.

Amateurs tend to be much more fixated on equipment, because practice is HARD, and getting better gear is more under their immediate control.

From your statement about your performance at Front Sight you and I are pretty much on the same skill level. Changing equipment did make a difference for me...a huge difference. I did not make that decision on my own. I made it at the urging of other students and my instructors, all of whom were shocked that I did not perfom as well as expected on that final test. I had done significantly better leading upto that point. They, and I, were all expecting me to do. The asked what went wrong. So I explained the issues I was having, and then they explained to me the differences between trigger systems and suggested I try a Glock or a 1911. So if listening to their advice, and for me it worked. So if paying attention to the advice given to me by pros, and finding out it helped makes me an amatuer, I am ok with that.

Pros can point you to all sorts of superior instruments, but they can make anything sing

I've said a bunch of times. With a enough training and practice you can learn to use any system. I do not dispute that. My point is, some equipment is easier to use than others. If you did not find that to be true. I respect your opinion. The part I do not understand is that you don't respect mine.