most reliable semi?

[saki302]

Sig, HK, Glock. I have seen folks who have been able to limp-wrist jam my Glock 19 with lighter loads, but that's no fault of the gun.

My friend's old S&W 5906 was also the most absolutely rock-solid reliable gun I've ever seen. It even cycled (unwisely) with .380s.

-Dave

[Mr. Ed]

My Glock 22 jammed on me quite a bit, but after I switched out the magazine followers, it jammed no more. Very reliable.

My XD40s are also very reliable.

[desertram800]

Glock, then the Beretta 92FS, then the Sig. I've never even seen a malfunction with a Glock in person. I see way more problems and malfunctions with the Sig then the 92FS, and the 1911's are the prima donna's, they rock until they get a pea under their mattress, then they whine and complain and refuse to do any work! GLOCK GLOCK GLOCK!!!

[Shenaniguns]

My Glock 34 has over 8300+ rounds even with 1000 rounds of no cleaning and had one Fail to Feed at around the 6000ish mark that I attributed to the ammo WWB 147gr HP or ISMI recoil spring that was about due for replacement, it hasn't happened again 1000 rounds after with the old ISMI or since I put the factory spring back in 1300 after the ISMI. Shooters need to plan for a failure and try to Tap Rack Bang back in the game (as long as it didn't feel like a squib) or Tap Rack Click remove mag rack and hopefully bang lol

[1911su16b870]

Guns that I own, stock out of the box, that eat all the ammo I have fed them, including FMJ, and various HP loads:
Kimber (TLE, CDP and UCDP)
Glock (17, 26 and 21)
XD9

[PressCheck]

Glock

[SVRider]

people also say XD's are good too... i personally think they are ugly so i never looked twice at them.

In general terms, I tend to agree with you....there's not much that looks as clean to me and has the lines of a good ole' 1911....but in this regards, I guess I'm "function over form".

Around the house, I'm not completely comfortable with keeping a 1911 "Condition 1" (cocked and locked). To me, the XD is a good compromise all around: Glock like simplicity (no safeties or external controls needed to get the pistol ready to fire....revolver-like in that regards), totally safe loaded until you pull the trigger (both trigger and grip safeties, but just grab and squeeze and it will go bang), extra safeties (firing pin block, loaded chamber indicator and striker cocked indicator). As an added bonus, I really like the ambi-mag release as I do not have to reposition the pistol in my hand to drop the mag. I can do it with my index/middle finger.

My first was an XD45 Service. That just got sold yesterday as I didn't need two. The trigger was my main complaint. The pistol also shifted a bit in my hands. I liked the system enough, but had these small complaints. The final solution: XD45 Compact. In Cali, no reason for the longer grip since you can't get 13-rounders. The Compact grip was short enough that it forces my hand into a repeatable position every time I grab it (same reason I like the G23 over the G22). This is important to be able to shoot it accurately. The grip is also smaller than any of the other double-stack 45's as well (G21, P14), and feels and points more naturally (like a 1911). Size-wise, it's a good compromise. It's about like a Talon III....big enough for a full-sized duty weapon (especially if you use the full sized magazine and grip extension...you make it back into a Service), yet small enough for CCW, but still packs that old 45 punch.

The day I picked up the Compact, off it went to Springfield Custom to take care of the other "problem". Full trigger job (reduced pull, overtravel and reset), weld and refit barrel to match specs and fit Heinie Slant Pro Straight Eight night sights. I absolutely love the pistol now. I've basically doubled the cost, but I love it and the money was well spent in my eyes. It shoots tiny little holes. I'm spoiled by nice 1911 triggers. An XD will never have as nice of a trigger as a properly tuned 1911 trigger, but it's not too far off now.

I've got some nice pistols, including quite a few 1911's (most recently Nighthawk Talon). Sacraligious as it may be, the XD is now my "go to". It's sitting there loaded and ready to go at a moments notice, yet completely safe. When called upon, just grab, point and squeeze. I have zero doubts that it will perform when called upon.

.....OK, long ramble, but just to give you some opinion from my perspective....

[ianS]

This is such a tired and old old old debate, I'm surprised at all the posts. Everyone has an anecdote about such and such gun failing. Does it mean anything? Nothing is 100%.

+1 Good call.

But some brands are better than others. Some models within a certain brand are better than others as well. And pistols orginally designed for a certain caliber tend to be more reliable and durable than guns rechambered for a different round.

For instance, Glocks and SIG Sauers in 9mm tend to run better than Glocks and SIG Sauers in other calibers.

Full size single stack all stell 1911's in .45 tend to run better than double stacks, compact, or aluminum framed 1911's.

I'm talking statistics. There are many micro compact 1911's that seem to run well (with judicious spring changes) but odds are there are more full size single stack all steel .45 1911's that run better longer.

[saki302]

Just a Sig FYI- I have a bunch of Sigs, and not one has ever jammed.
I have all P220 series guns though, and one X5.

-Dave

[JohnJW]

I think any modern mainstream semi-auto is reliable these days but nothing is 100% reliable. Can't go wrong choosing a Sig, Glock or HK. Of all my guns, once you shooting enough rounds they will usually have some minor hiccup once in a while. I think eventually all guns will jam and you just have to know what to do when it happens.

Even my favorite P7M10 that failed to fully returned to battery a few time in the last 10 years. . . .maybe that's because it has the same return spring as the M13 though the M10 has a much heavier slide. . . . no big deal, either re-rack or just recocking the gun will bring the slide back into battery. I still prefer it over others because it's accurate and very very fast. . . . faster follow up shots and faster reloads . . . M13 is just as good, but the bigger caliber gives the M10 a slight edge.

[kris&bela]

beretta 92fs(clones) or some folks like to call it M9-EVEN RELOADS,NOT A PROBLEM....

[krim]

Not that it means anything, my P228 has over 22k rds and only 1 FTF.

[vandal]

I can't believe noone has mentioned Glock!

[Harbinger]

Ha! All these dudes posting with caveats.

"Most reliable...after you replace ..."

"Most reliable if you avoid...."


I think the answer to the OP's question is factory mandated to be in all capital letters:

GLOCK



Mike

[Got Stuff?]

GLOCK


I set out on a mission once and I did manage to get my G30 to fail to fire.

I bought 500 rounds of steel case wolf and went to the range with some buddies. This was the wolf ammo with all that gooey red crap around the primer area. After about 300 rounds all that red crap finally worked its way into the firing pin and would cause a fail to fire or light primer strike about every 50 rounds. We finished up the 500 rounds anyway. I took the G30 home and did a complete strip down and cleaning. I took it out the next day and put 150 rounds of WWB through it without a single hitch and have never had a single hitch since

The moral of this story is that the red crap on the wolf ammo will gum up anything and everything and I haven't used it since!