Great Guns

There are a lot of good handguns available today.  The questions we get at HCA usually involve asking which gun is "best" or which guns someone should look at.  Realize that the answer to that will differ for each person and will boil down, in many cases, to subjective factors.  Asthetics, feel and balance are a few of these factors we can't quantify. 

Here are some of my picks and how I'd categorize them for "appropriate" uses.

.22 LR handguns
For small game, target shooting, training & practice or just plain fun, the .22 is hard to beat.

Ruger Mk III .22 Semiauto



Ruger Mk III

No matter how hard you try, it's hard to beat the Ruger MK-III for reliability and durability. Ruger offers this model in various barrel configurations, including a heavy "Bull" barrel.  Adjustable sights on some models make it a great long range critter-getter.   

Prices are still reasonable on the Ruger, though they have gone up considerably in recent years. A 4-inch blued Ruger Mk-III will cost you in the neighborhood of $260 while the stainless steel, similar to the one pictured, will start around $330.  Quite reasonable by anyone's standards. 

The one downside to the Ruger pistol is that it can be a little tricky to take down and reassemble for a good cleaning.  Make sure your gunsmith or gun dealer shows you how to field strip and reassemble the gun before you take it home.  The Ruger makes a great field pistol for anyone who wants to spend a lot of time in the outdoors.


Ruger Single-Six Convertible

There's no doubt in my mind that if I were looking at a .22 to pack as a survival companion, the single-action Ruger Single-Six would be the one.  Sturdy, rugged and no magazines

to lose.  Plus it has a .22 Magnum cylinder to give you the extra power for larger critters.  Dressed up with adjustable sights (a necessity when switching between .22 LR and the magnum) with a 5-1/2 inch barrel it weighs in at only 33 ounces. The smaller frame is easy for even youngsters and ladies to handle. 

Available in the low $400 range, this is an excellent revolver for hunting small game.  The stainless versions will cost you about $50 more and might be worth the low maintenance cost to you. Willy-nilly as I am, I just like the looks of a blued revolver much better.

S&W Model 617 - The Stainless Masterpiece

Well, Smith & Wesson calls it their "new" masterpiece in keeping with tradition of the older K-Frame Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece.  I disagree.  The full-lug barrel makes it heavy for a .22 and while that may be good for keeping the muzzle on target, it makes the gun less agile.  It's a lot of weight to lug around for "just a .22" as well.  And that's the 4-inch model. The 6-inch model is heavier and less responsive to swift changes of direction when trying to bag a rabbit or squirrel.

The good news is this thing is a tack-driver.  Literally.  After my first range session I returned a few days later with some thumbtacks.  Spaced on the target I managed to hit 18 of 20 orange thumbtacks at 20 yards.  The two I missed were my own fault.  The 10-round chambers aren't too tight -- a problem encountered on some previous S&W 22's -- and are easy to reload, if somewhat time consuming. 

9mm Pistols

The vast majority of 9mm pistols on the market today are much better than those of 30 years ago.  Lighter, more capacity, less expensive and lower recoil thanks to new designs.  Deciding between one model and another should come down to what you want it to do -- home duty or CCW -- and how it fits your hand.  Here are some models I'd suggest anyone look at. 

Glock 17/19 Pistol
Love 'em or hate 'em, the Glock is a reliable companion.  They're about as handsome as a hammer and just about as tough.  The Model 17 is the "service" model while the Model 19 is a more compact model for CCW.  Truth is, I've carred the Model 17  just as easily as the Model 19 and like the extra muzzle weight of the longer 17.  Either will serve you

well.  These utilitarian pistols rarely have functional issues and are as safe as the user.  I don't recommend these as someone's first semi-auto pistol however. The lack of an external safety means absolute trigger discipline is a must. 

Lots of people dislike the grip angle of the Glock and I find that it's not perfect for me. It doesn't quite point naturally for my grip, angling slightly high for me.  But this is correctable if you use the sights (or have time to use them).  At close quarters, this barely matters, but a natural pointing ability means there's less chance of missing under stress.

Beretta 92FS / USA M9

The Beretta Model 92FS or it's Military version, the M9, makes a great defensive arm. It's too large to easily CCW, being as large as a G.I. 1911 but fatter, the Beretta is just comforting in the hand.  It sits low in the hand and the sights are generously wide, a big benefit for older eyes. The

open-top slide means you'll probably never see an empty case get stuck in the slide. Accuracy is excellet, in part due to the sights and recoil is mild.  The mild recoil is due to how low the gun rides in the hand. Best of all, they're relatively attractive (as if the Italians would deliberately make an ugly gun). 

One thing that is surprising is that Berettas sell in the mid $500 range. That's comparable to the CZ P-01 pistol.  It would be difficult to choose between the two, though for home defense or a full-size  service pistol, I prefer the Beretta.  It's traditional DA/SA is smooth and the double action trigger is lighter than most.  The safety is slide-mounted.

Compact 9mm's
When it comes to compact 9mm pistols, I'm biased in favor of single-stack magazine guns.  First because they're thinner and easier to cover up.  Secondly, they're lighter because you're shaving off at least 5-7 rounds of weight and the extra weight of a wider grip. Last but not least is reliability. Single stacks don't seem to have anywhere near the feed issues of double-stack guns. 

S&W 908 - Compact
The 3.5" Smith & Wesson 908 was intended to be a bargain-priced 9mm pistol for people who wanted a solid performer without spending a lot of money.  It featured a single-stack grip, Novak sights and a bobbed hammer to prevent snagging.  It is the less expensive version of the firm's popular 3913 Ladysmith without the embellishments and slightly trimmer lines.

Purists will point to it's bore axis being higher than more modern designs and thus subject to more muzzle rise. Others point to the silly magazine disconnector or slide-

mounted safety.  Yet somehow we managed to get along perfectly fine without these changes for fifty years. This is an aluminium alloy framed gun of proven design and durability. Accuracy is very good out to 25 yards and it's quick handling makes it a good choice for CCW on a budget.  Alas, S&W stopped producing the 908 in the last few years, but you can probably find one lightly used for around $399. 

CZ-75 P-01
From the Czech Republic, the CZ name has always meant well built, quality firearms. If you have larger hands, the CZ-75 line might work for you. My hands are "medium" sized and for some

reason I find the reach to both the trigger and safety lever a tad too long. Not so with their recent P-01 model. The P-01 is a redesign that moves the safety/decocker to the rear of the frame, much like the 1911. The trigger is still a hair further forward than I'd like, but workable.

The P-01 Compact is a traditional DA/SA 9mm pistol with a 3.9" barrel and a 10+1 capacity. Priced in the low-to-mid $500 range, it sits well in the hand and points well. The 3-dot sights are generous enough to allow quick alignment.

Next time I'll talk about big bore autos and revolvers that are great guns. 

In the meantime, if you have your own favorite great gun, let me know by using the email link below.  Tell us why it's a great gun.

Also, if you know of a gun that's a real "sleeper" -- a gun you bought that far exceeded  your expectations, please drop me a line about it too.

Comments or questions?  Email Me.