On 4/18/2016 at 1:26 AM, Alonerankin2 said:

Let me know what you think about that ruger 1911, I've been pondering a ruger or s&w e series for a few months now. 

I hear good things on them. Especially the Smith. 

I haven't played with the Ruger 1911 yet enough to get a feel for it. I have shot a box of factory ammo out of it, and some of my reloads to just check for function, and a little plinking at a steel plate. With work starting, and spring bass fishing in full tilt, it will be a while before I get a good amount of rounds through it. The last 1911 I bought, a Rock Island, was just this past Feb. and by the end of March I had 1000 rounds of mostly my own hand loads through it with no problems, other than a couple "normal" 1911 break-in hiccups. I changed the factory recoil spring to a 16lb Wolff spring after 500 rounds, and the extractor tension out of the box was too tight for my liking, so after about 500 rds I checked it again, and re-tension'd it to my liking. I can tell you the Ruger is a "different" feeling for me as the RIA, and  Colt I have, and the old USGI Remington Rand I used to have were plain jane, bone stock, "GI" type guns. I already, in my limited time with the Ruger love the Novak sights...........those low-pro GI style sights are getting tougher to shoot with as my eyes age, and I DO NOT miss the hammer bite I sometimes get with the RIA and Colt with their old style short grip safeties, that extended beaver tail on the Ruger is a big + for someone with bear paw hands like me.

I am not a fan of the S&W M&P Shield.  A couple of my friends have them and love them, I have shot them several times and just don't care for them especially the trigger.  I have a Ruger SR9C and in my opinion it is a pretty decent gun.  But my gun of choice and every day carry is the SIg Sauer P320 Compact with the small frame in 9mm.  The trigger on this gun is just amazing.

On 1/26/2015 at 9:13 AM, SPEEDBEAD. said:

I like the Shield in 9, not so much in 40 due to the snap. I prefer anything M&P over Glock IN MY HANDS (there will inevitably be someone who takes offense to that statement LOL).

 

In the winter, dressed for conditions, I carry the 45c without any imprinting issues. I don't think you are crazy at all.

 

On 1/28/2015 at 0:28 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:

 

 

Ditto Speedbead.  I bought my wife a shield and really like it.  Nice gun and shoots really well.

Can't stand the Glock either. I know it's like the Grail to some but it's not my gun. Never had a feel for them. I do like the Ruger SR series I have a SR45 I keep at bedside.

Also Ruger service is freaking awesome if you ever have to deal with them. I bought a P95 at a pawnshop and had to send it in is how I know. They went through it repaired it and had it back to me in 10 days and wasn't charged a fee. That is service considering I told them it was a pawnshop purchase. 

Thanks farmer, happy plinking! 

On 4/23/2016 at 0:45 PM, Mr Swim Jig said:

I am not a fan of the S&W M&P Shield.  A couple of my friends have them and love them, I have shot them several times and just don't care for them especially the trigger.  I have a Ruger SR9C and in my opinion it is a pretty decent gun.  But my gun of choice and every day carry is the SIg Sauer P320 Compact with the small frame in 9mm.  The trigger on this gun is just amazing.

As someone who has BOTH a Shield now and an SR9..........it's Ford vs Chevy. Both are nice, both have decent triggers, I will give the edge to the SR9, but it's not a huge edge. 

Collect 'em all!

Just like ice cream, not everybody likes the same flavor.  That's why I strongly encourage people that ask me which gun would I buy, I tell them to try start visiting guns stores and handle everyone they can put their hands on.  Then find one of the indoor ranges that rents guns and shoot the ones you think you like.  That saves a lot of that second guessing when you pickup one different than the one you bought.  Before I bought my Glock 20, I probably shot 15 different pistols in 9mm, 10mm (40S&W and 10mm) and 45acp before deciding the Glock 20 was the one I wanted.  However, I also have a fairly large hand, it takes a 2X glove to fit and I wear a size 15 ring, so that big, fat grip actually feels pretty good in my hand, but would not recommend it for people with small hands.  Yet, my granddaughters hand is probably half the size of mine and she shot the h**l out of it and loved the way it felt.  However, it have also installed a 3 1/2 pound trigger and after market sights, and she really liked that.

I bought the Glock, but I still think the 1911 is the most iconic hand gun made and keep saying one day I'm going to buy one, just for it's looks.