So are there ANY reliable handguns available?

**Crow Hunter** · 04-17-11, 11:48

This is a serious question.

Are there any actual reliable handguns available? If you read this forum, there are potentially serious issues with practically every single model of firearm now available.

-Glock Gen 4

-Now apparently Glock Gen 3.5 (My new term for a Glock Gen 3 with some Gen 4 parts)-Which by default means any Gen 3 Glock since all future spare parts will most likely be the new "updated" design.

-SigArms any non-German produced model (How do you get German spare parts?)

-S&W M&P sears and striker problems (Maybe fixed now?)

-S&W revolvers, unless it is a pre-MIM no lock revolver

-Any 1911 less than $2,000 from the factory (And probably not even that)

These are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are lots more, but you get the idea. (And don't even get me started on ARs or AKs or others....)

So, if someone was going to start fresh and purchase a quality defensive arm that is going to be used to potentially defend himself/herself, what would should they buy?

A Glock 19 Gen 3 pre-2010 and try to scrounge enough spare parts of the "correct" generation to last indefintely?

A HK something? Is ithey truly better, or are there just not enough in the hands of serious shooters to ferret out problems?

Let's discuss...

**Cosmo M3** · 04-17-11, 12:03

Originally Posted by Crow Hunter

This is a serious question.

Are there any actual reliable handguns available? If you read this forum, there are potentially serious issues with practically every single model of firearm now available.

-Glock Gen 4

-Now apparently Glock Gen 3.5 (My new term for a Glock Gen 3 with some Gen 4 parts)-Which by default means any Gen 3 Glock since all future spare parts will most likely be the new "updated" design.

-SigArms any non-German produced model (How do you get German spare parts?)

-S&W M&P sears and striker problems (Maybe fixed now?)

-S&W revolvers, unless it is a pre-MIM no lock revolver

-Any 1911 less than $2,000 from the factory (And probably not even that)

These are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are lots more, but you get the idea. (And don't even get me started on ARs or AKs or others....)

So, if someone was going to start fresh and purchase a quality defensive arm that is going to be used to potentially defend himself/herself, what would should they buy?

A Glock 19 Gen 3 pre-2010 and try to scrounge enough spare parts of the "correct" generation to last indefintely?

A HK something? Is ithey truly better, or are there just not enough in the hands of serious shooters to ferret out problems?

Let's discuss...

there is no such thing as a truly reliable weapon.

You can't really go wrong with any of the top tier manufacturers: HK, Sig Sauer, Glock, S&W...however I would give the edge to HK over all of them with my experience.

**halo2304** · 04-17-11, 12:30

You want a reliable handgun, get a single shot.

Seriously though, S&W or Ruger revolvers are pretty reliable. Not much to go wrong. Taurus, YMMV.

For autos, H&K, Glock, Sig, S&W (though no personal experience) all are reliable firearms. Are there a few bad ones out there, sure. The likelyhood of getting a bad one is pretty remote. Also, you have to take into accout who's complaining and how many similar complaints there are.
If several people had issues with Brand X not extracting properly, there may be something there. If someone says they bought Brand X as their first handgun and it's a piece of crap because it's jamming, I wouldn't read too much into it.

BTW, what would you do if you bought a car that broke down?

**opmike** · 04-17-11, 12:45

1. There's no 100% reliable line of handguns on the planet, and if you're holding out for one, you're just wasting your time.

2. If you're doing your due diligence when reading this forum, you should quickly be able to find which handguns people are generally having fewer issues with.

3. Every forum is subject to the statistical pitfall of self-selection bias and hearsay.

EDIT: Nevermind, link was posted below

**JarHeadTim** · 04-17-11, 12:59

http://https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887

**maximus83** · 04-17-11, 13:11

I agree there's no absolutely reliable weapon in a universe where things run down, rust out, and fall apart.

But there's RELATIVE reliability within a certain frame of time. With pistols--though none is absolutely failsafe--the probability is that, during the years that you'll be using one, certain pistol brands are going to run far longer and better than others before they fail. And I think those patterns of probability are what forums like this help to establish. Yes, Glocks, M&P's, even HK's have problems. But, these guns are also relatively easy to fix, plus they tend to have LESS problems than other competing pistol platforms. In an imperfect world, you gotta run SOMETHING if you don't want to throw rocks, and I think you're still better off researching and going with pistols that have the best reported track records.

And FWIW, I'm not of the tribe that thinks it's impossible to get a duty-reliable 1911 for under $2K. I agree it's not easy and the odds are against you, you're far better off just going with something like a Springfield Pro, which runs $2500. But I still think it's possible. There are some threads in the 1911 forum that discuss some possible options.

**JHC** · 04-17-11, 13:30

Flawed premise. Great pistols available. It could hardly be easier to get equipped with the finest combat pistols. Plenty of options. But you have to do your own work beyond just plunking down the cash.