What's one handgun that impressed you the most?

[Tool]

Let's focus on home defense guns with a price tag of <$1500 if possible.

I took my HK P30 and P2000SK to the range yesterday. The P30 was dead accurate. I used to think I was a terrible shooter .

However, what impressed me the most was the P2000SK. That tiny thing enabled me to shoot as accurately as my P30. I did use a 15-round magazine, so that half-inch extension to the grip perhaps helped. I suspect the main reason it was so accurate was due to the weight of the slide. That handgun surely feel top heavy.

[bac1023]

Quite a few did. One standout was the Laugo Alien.

Probably why I’ve got four of them…

[Mike Irwin]

I've had many handguns impress me over the years.

The most recent one, though, was the Walther CCP, and that was because, of the hundreds, if not thousands, of different makes and models of firearms I've handled and shot over the years, the Walther CCP fit my hand so naturally it was as if it was custom made for me.

[stephen426]

Dang bac1023! Save some for the rest of us! LOL They aren’t Pokemam. You don’t need to catch them all!

In terms of a gun that has impressed me and continues to impress me, I’d say the CZ Tactical Sport Orange would be the most impressive in my collection. The trigger is super light and crisp and the gun is insanely accurate. I added a red dot mount where the thumb rest goes so I have a non-reciprocating red dot.

I’d say my Les Baer Monolith Heavyweight is also pretty impressive, but the trigger isn’t as nice as the CZ. It is clean and crisp, but not nearly as light as the CZ TSO. The Monolith is designed as a carry gun so it makes sense that the trigger wouldn’t be super light. Mine has the 1.5” guarantee at 50 yards. If it goes out of that spec, I can send it back. Total tack driver.

[TheFlash]

My Ruger Vaquero in 45LC that I bought new many years ago.
With 250gr loads, the fixed sights shoot EXACTLY to point of aim and it's easy to chew out the bullseye on the target at 15yds.
(I've had many people stop by and look to see what I was shooting - the Vaquero is that accurate.)
I'll never sell it and it will go to my son when I can't shoot it any more...

And yes, this is the semi-auto forum, but just had to mention the Vaquero.
For semi-auto - I have an older S&W 1911 in 45ACP that shoots very, very accurately...

[Tool]

Originally Posted by bac1023

Quite a few did. One standout was the Laugo Alien.

Probably why I’ve got four of them…

That's a nice collection. However, those guns are toys for the rich. I can find very decent handguns at a price of <$1500 for home defense purposes.

[bac1023]

In terms of a gun that has impressed me and continues to impress me, I’d say the CZ Tactical Sport Orange would be the most impressive in my collection. The trigger is super light and crisp and the gun is insanely accurate. I added a red dot mount where the thumb rest goes so I have a non-reciprocating red dot.

The Orange CZ’s are very impressive.






Even more impressive are the Phoenix Drake and Redback. Same basic design, but Swiss build quality.

[TunnelRat]

Originally Posted by Tool

That's a nice collection. However, those guns are toys for the rich. I can find very decent handguns at a price of &lt;$1500 for home defense purposes.

You didn’t set a price bracket nor did you say it had to be for home defense. Not every pistol out there is for home defense.

To the question at hand, I’m struggling to come up with a handgun that really impressed me. I think the P365XL shoots quite well for its size. I have gone out to 100 yd shooting C zone steel plates without a lot of effort. Most of the more “micro” pistols I owned before it did not seem to shoot as well (the trigger on the P365 is nothing to write home about, but it seems to recoil well). Not a semiautomatic, but I always enjoy shooting classic S&W revolvers and I find their double actions to be impressively smooth for what at the time were production pistols.

I have far more expensive pistols, but honestly I don’t think my 2011s actually impress me. They are expensive pistols with nice triggers and good weight distribution. They should shoot well and generally do. To the same end I have shot the German made P226 X5s and I find they had very nice triggers, though again I expected that. For me there is an element of performing better than expected when I say I was impressed.

[44caliberkid]

The Canik TP9SFx impressed me with the price, $450 (on sale) which included 3 magazines, a holster, optic mounting plates and tools, all in a nice hard case. Plus, it is the most accurate 9mm I own. Never expected that in a striker fired gun.
After that, the RIA 1911 Compact (Officers size). Fist full of 45 ACP power, 100% reliable with any ammunition and target pistol accuracy at 15 yards. Impressive little gat, for $350.

[44 AMP]

one I've always been impressed by is the original .44 Auto Mag.

Fie on your legions of tilt barrel duty class pistols! They are hills! Hills are lovely places, to live and work, but they are not mountains. Hills don't impress me, Mountains impress me!!

[bac1023]

That's a nice collection. However, those guns are toys for the rich. I can find very decent handguns at a price of <$1500 for home defense purposes.

Was your thread limited to sub $1500 HD handguns? You asked what impressed us and I told you what impressed me.

I don’t need an impressive pistol for HD.

[FITASC]

One that has impressed me is the HK P7 (and its variants). As a LH shooter, I appreciate a design that is completely ambidextrous. With its fixed barrel it is also surprising accurate; being all steel lets follow up shots be a little faster.

[Screwball]

Originally Posted by FITASC

One that has impressed me is the HK P7 (and its variants). As a LH shooter, I appreciate a design that is completely ambidextrous. With its fixed barrel it is also surprising accurate; being all steel lets follow up shots be a little faster.

Agreed… but the P7M8 and I’m a righty.

I recently got one from P7Pro. German frame, new US produced slide. Very happy with it… to the point that I carry it religiously when off duty. My previous carry gun was a 9mm converted 642-1, which I loved for the light weight.

The P7M8 is steel, and a little heavier. But it is unbelievably thin. Carries great, with a good belt and holster.

That being said, above the price limit… which I don’t think really matters if it “impresses” the owner.

[stephen426]

@Screwball,
I have a friend that carries a P7M8 as well, but I wouldn’t do it. Mine got some minor pit rusting just sitting in my safe. I can’t imagine how bad it would be if I was sweating all over it in the South Florida heat. It is also pretty heavy for a gun that only holds 8 rounds. I could get that in. Glock 43 with plus 2 mag base plates and Glocks are practically impervious to corrosion.

[wild cat mccane]

My P226 Elite experience was late, but it's light years ahead of any common gun on the market, imo.

I think the number one gun is the P365 and it has deserved.

Will be interesting if the Achron styled design changes the handgun game in the future.

[Screwball]

Originally Posted by stephen426

@Screwball,
I have a friend that carries a P7M8 as well, but I wouldn’t do it. Mine got some minor pit rusting just sitting in my safe. I can’t imagine how bad it would be if I was sweating all over it in the South Florida heat. It is also pretty heavy for a gun that only holds 8 rounds. I could get that in. Glock 43 with plus 2 mag base plates and Glocks are practically impervious to corrosion.

I’m in ME and the P7Pro ones are nitrided. Biggest reason why I decided to go with one… superior finish.

[bac1023]

Here are two guns that impressed me. An American Sig P226 X-Five Classic and a P226 X-Five Legion.

I have several German X-Fives, which are nicer, but these American models exceeded my expectations and cost a lot less.

[amprecon]

So easy to be accurate with, compact, but not too much, alloy frame goodness.

[1972RedNeck]

S&W 686 5" half lug. Wonderful trigger and it puts any ammo I feed it into respectable groups.

[Swifty Morgan]

I would only use a wimpy little pistol to protect my house if something came between me and my long guns, but my choice for a self-defense pistol is a plain old Glock. Reliable. More than accurate enough for self-defense distances. Parts available everywhere. You can get them in 10 mm and .45.

But I put Wolff springs in my Glocks because I have had two plastic guide rods fail.

You don't need a competition gun with a perfect trigger to shoot a burglar. Any gun that will shoot into an area the size of an orange at 50 feet is way more accurate than you will be at 3 a.m. in a life-or-death battle.

I use Crimson Trace lasers because most self-defense situations don't happen in perfect lighting. Trying to use the sights when a laser is available seems stupid to me. You practice using the sights for years, and then someone jumps you in a dark parking lot. Lot of good that practice will do.

[bac1023]

I use Glocks for home defense as well. They are tools and do a basic job. Hardly anything I’d call impressive. To each their own, obviously.

I’m just trying to understand what home defense has to do with this thread.

[stephen426]

@bac1023
Besides… if you ever had to shoot someone in self defense, better to do it with the cheapest gun that will reliably get the job done. That way you won’t have your pretty and expensive guns taken for evidence. LOL

[44 AMP]

I’m just trying to understand what home defense has to do with this thread.

The OP said he wanted to focus on home defense guns < $1500...
which, I ignored, since there are no home defense guns <$1500 that impress me...

[Screwball]

Originally Posted by stephen426

@bac1023
Besides… if you ever had to shoot someone in self defense, better to do it with the cheapest gun that will reliably get the job done. That way you won’t have your pretty and expensive guns taken for evidence. LOL

Percentage of people on gun forums that fired their gun in self defense…

Personally, my life is definitely worth more than $1,500 to me. My previously mentioned P7M8 was $2,400… again, if I need to use it to defend myself or anyone else… zero hesitation. Granted, I’m in L/E, so it may be a little different mindset… but if my $2,400 pistol allows me to do what I need to (stop the threat), I’m happy with it.

Guns are tools. If it’s a collector piece or sentimental item… I get it. I have guns like that. But again, not sentimental to me if I’m dead.

[armoredman]

The one pistol that really impressed me with reliability, accuracy, eCZellent feel in the hand, ease of carry, everything I look for in a defensive sidearm.
P-10S. It is my full time EDC now.



Here is an older video I did on it, sorry for the terrible production.

https://youtu.be/UcRCh1p63xY?si=MQ71KqjZK6s3Xh2b