Guns ... guns... and more guns

[rycerz]

So I got to play with a few guns today and here's my take:

LCR 38special: not a bad trigger pull, not a bad weight to carry, kind of bulky for carry cause of a cylinder, not enough gun to hold onto when shooting though I don't have big hands but still when I pulled the trigger on it it felt as though it wanted to twist itself out of my hand and I had to readjust my grip after each shot.

Smith and Wesson M&P 45ACP. I shot one when they first hit CA and I wasn't impresed with it. It shot great but the trigger felt odd. I came back to it after probably 2 years or so and I was more then pleasantly surprised and impressed. I'm actually thinking about picking up the compact one. It was dead on accurate and the grip felt very comfortable and the trigger break was amazingly clean and crisp. One downside is the fact that the beaver tail is a bit long: the subcompact beavertail is shorter but the compact and fullsize have a beavertail that you'd want to have on a 1911 that has a hammer.

HK USP .40 S&W: HK's... not much can be said about them except that they're tough as nails, dead on accurate but I don't think I'll ever get used to the European mag drop.

Glock: I do have to admit that they are nice guns but I just don't like the feel of them. The grips are too "square" and never fit my hand right. In any case, the new RTF frame felt interesting. It felts great on the strong hand but it was so so on the support hand: a bit rough on the palm. Nothing tragic, but it definately felt different. Anyways, IIRC It was the 22RTF.
I have also made an interesting comparison between Glock 30 and Glock 36. While I prefer single stack handguns (O-Frame all the way!) I do have to say that the 30 felt more comfortable. Also the size difference between the two is nearly negligeable and given that I think that 36 is a better choice of the two.

[coq]

Originally Posted by rycerz

I have also made an interesting comparison between Glock 30 and Glock 36. While I prefer single stack handguns (O-Frame all the way!) I do have to say that the 30 felt more comfortable. Also the size difference between the two is nearly negligeable and given that I think that 36 is a better choice of the two.

Wait...30 felt more comfortable, not much size difference, yet you think 36 is a better choice? Just wondering if I read that right. I've got a 36 and like it very much...even the small width difference between that and a 19 is felt in IWB. I've never shot a 30, but I want one. I've heard good things. Sounds like a fun day with all that variety. I really dig it when I get to try stuff that is new and different to me. Thanks for sharing.

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by coq

Wait...30 felt more comfortable, not much size difference, yet you think 36 is a better choice? Just wondering if I read that right. I've got a 36 and like it very much...even the small width difference between that and a 19 is felt in IWB. I've never shot a 30, but I want one. I've heard good things. Sounds like a fun day with all that variety. I really dig it when I get to try stuff that is new and different to me. Thanks for sharing.

Hang on... I always get my glock numbering screwed up: 30 felt more comfortable and 30 is a better choice: it's barely any thicker but you gain 4 rounds in capacity and the grip feels better.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by rycerz

So I got to play with a few guns today and here's my take:

LCR 38special: not a bad trigger pull, not a bad weight to carry, kind of bulky for carry cause of a cylinder, not enough gun to hold onto when shooting though I don't have big hands but still when I pulled the trigger on it it felt as though it wanted to twist itself out of my hand and I had to readjust my grip after each shot.

Smith and Wesson M&P 45ACP. I shot one when they first hit CA and I wasn't impresed with it. It shot great but the trigger felt odd. I came back to it after probably 2 years or so and I was more then pleasantly surprised and impressed. I'm actually thinking about picking up the compact one. It was dead on accurate and the grip felt very comfortable and the trigger break was amazingly clean and crisp. One downside is the fact that the beaver tail is a bit long: the subcompact beavertail is shorter but the compact and fullsize have a beavertail that you'd want to have on a 1911 that has a hammer.

HK USP .40 S&W: HK's... not much can be said about them except that they're tough as nails, dead on accurate but I don't think I'll ever get used to the European mag drop.

Glock: I do have to admit that they are nice guns but I just don't like the feel of them. The grips are too "square" and never fit my hand right. In any case, the new RTF frame felt interesting. It felts great on the strong hand but it was so so on the support hand: a bit rough on the palm. Nothing tragic, but it definately felt different. Anyways, IIRC It was the 22RTF.
I have also made an interesting comparison between Glock 30 and Glock 36. While I prefer single stack handguns (O-Frame all the way!) I do have to say that the 30 felt more comfortable. Also the size difference between the two is nearly negligeable and given that I think that 36 is a better choice of the two.

Funny I liked the feel for the 36 over the 30. But I think I know what you mean. The grip if I remember right is longer (from front strap to back strap) than your typical 1911 single stack firearm.

One thing I don't care for in either of them is the extended grip on to the magazine. Never could get used to that. Sorta annoys me.

[BonoVox]

BTW I love my 2 M&P 45s. Wish I could get a compact version of it.

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

BTW I love my 2 M&P 45s. Wish I could get a compact version of it.

Compact or subcompact? The choices are long barrel + fullsize grip, shorter barrel + fullsize grip, shorter barrel + shorter grip. Suprizingly enough the subcompact (shorter barrel + shorter grip) was not that much smaller then the compact (short barrel + fullsize grip).

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by rycerz

Compact or subcompact? The choices are long barrel + fullsize grip, shorter barrel + fullsize grip, shorter barrel + shorter grip. Suprizingly enough the subcompact (shorter barrel + shorter grip) was not that much smaller then the compact (short barrel + fullsize grip).

One of my favorites is my M&P 40C. So I guess subcompact. Never held any of them though.

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

One of my favorites is my M&P 40C. So I guess subcompact. Never held any of them though.

Looking at their site it is the smallest of the three.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by rycerz

Looking at their site it is the smallest of the three.

I own the 40C. Is the subcompact 45 the smallest?

[mark]

[quote=rycerz;163092]So I got to play with a few guns today and here's my take:

LCR 38special: not a bad trigger pull, not a bad weight to carry, kind of bulky for carry cause of a cylinder, not enough gun to hold onto when shooting though I don't have big hands but still when I pulled the trigger on it it felt as though it wanted to twist itself out of my hand and I had to readjust my grip after each shot.



I am getting the LCR, going to start DROS tomorrow, when handling it at the gun shop, it felt very light and could hide it completely in my hand with thumb holding onto grips, I take it the recoil is somewhat agressive?

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by rycerz

So I got to play with a few guns today and here's my take:

LCR 38special: not a bad trigger pull, not a bad weight to carry, kind of bulky for carry cause of a cylinder, not enough gun to hold onto when shooting though I don't have big hands but still when I pulled the trigger on it it felt as though it wanted to twist itself out of my hand and I had to readjust my grip after each shot.

Sounds like when I shot your 44 mag!!

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by mark

I am getting the LCR, going to start DROS tomorrow, when handling it at the gun shop, it felt very light and could hide it completely in my hand with thumb holding onto grips, I take it the recoil is somewhat agressive?

Yes... the recoil to weight ratio I think is a bit off. I like the idea behind a really light gun to drop into your pocket but it also needs to handle right. It's possible that my paws just weren't made for the LCR and that's why it handled wrong for me, but I think that the light S&W revolvers fit better. A possibilty to improve (IMO) LCR's handling would be to put a rubber grip condom
Anyways, I do recommend trying it if you can before buying it. It's nice and small and light to carry BUT I didn't like it for followup shots.

[mark]

good advice thank you,

they do have the S&W lightweight in .357

and test firing is ok with them, so I will try that out

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by mark

good advice thank you,

they do have the S&W lightweight in .357,

Yes: they have some that are 38 special and some that are 38special/357 mag. The grip while somewhat similar is different enough to allow for better control (in my opinion).