brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
They do make a 7 shot .357 now (I had to get one). I do like my two GP100s but I have not put copious amounts of ammo through them either. Same goes for my Kimber which has never malfunctioned.
help ranking these pistols...
- Thread starter Kramerica
- Start date
gravelyctry
Gold $$ Contributor
Based on your criteria of reliability and build quality, the GP100 has to be at the top of the list.
I’d go for the colt as #2 since it’s a revolver, the Beretta #3, and the rest tied for last.
Neil
I’d go for the colt as #2 since it’s a revolver, the Beretta #3, and the rest tied for last.
Neil
KMart
Gold $$ Contributor
Inside a barn, shotgun and a pallet of shells = Me having a hard time getting wood... :/
TMI
Tell us what you intend to do with the pistol and we can give you a more accurate answer.
TAJ45
Silver $$ Contributor
TMI
In my best Foghorn Leghorn:
" Boy! I say BOY!!! Stand up. They all be goin' over yore haid".
It depends upon intended use. Revolvers are the best at utility work, and semi autos are best for defensive purposes. Out of the one's that you mention, the GP100 is without a doubt the best revolver. It is built for stout, and will withstand a constant diet of full house .357 Magnum.
Of the semi autos listed, I would favor either the Kimber or the Beretta, simply because they are both well proven platforms, and even though the Ruger semi auto options have their followings and are also reliable pistols, they have magazine disconnects installed, which in a defensive handgun can be a liability, especially when doing a "tactical" reload, or removing a partially used magazine for a full one and retaining the partial for future use. If you are covering an area during a fight, with a Ruger pistol when you remove the mag, the pistol will not fire until another one is inserted. This means that essentially you have an unfireable weapon. Some say that this is no big deal, but I have never been comfortable with this, especially if you have shot someone and are ensuring that they are really down while using the lull in the action to top off your weapon. It all depends upon your training. Mine highly discouraged the use of weapons with this feature off duty, and my duty weapon did not have this feature.
My personal preference in revolvers are the Pre 1999 Smith and Wesson revolvers, or Ruger DA revolvers, and Glock or H&K semi autos, but only one of those was listed in your choices.
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In the pistols listed, go with the Kimber 45. In the revolvers listed to with the Colt Cobra. I believe they will prove to be the most accurate, if you hold and squeeze nice and solid.
In my opinion the Ruger GP100 would present the best combination of reliability and strong construction. With light .38 special loads you can shoot the gun all day without fatigue but you can shoot hot +P .357 loads if you want enough power to drop almost anything that you would be a threat to you. Ruger is renowned for making strong frames and resilient moving parts, they last forever.
But when you are picking a gun you need to define what it will be used for and then look for the qualities that would give you the best performance for that use.
Next I'd look at the caliber that you think you would be able to shoot without causing you to fear the recoil or limit your shooting sessions due to fatigue.
Finally, you need to pick one that fits your hand the best. If the gun doesn't feel comfortable in your hand you wont practice much and without practice you wont shoot well.
I carried a Kimber Ultra Carry II for almost decade and never had any problem with it but it doesn't fall within the parameters you specified (best reliability and strength).
As for Glock, well I'd agree that it's a very popular gun but they don't work reliably for me. I'm left handed and I've fired several models of Glocks (43, 40, 41, 20) and I've had an unusually high number of malfunctions with all of them - I suspect that it's a left handed shooter thing. So, for me, Glocks are not reliable and I wont own one.
None of my 1911 style guns have ever failed except for a few that jammed on poorly made hand loaded ammo.
I've never had any revolver malfunction except for my Ruger Super Blackhawk that I blew up with a hot load (double the normal amount of powder under a 240 grain XTP bullet).
As for Glock, well I'd agree that it's a very popular gun but they don't work reliably for me. I'm left handed and I've fired several models of Glocks (43, 40, 41, 20) and I've had an unusually high number of malfunctions with all of them - I suspect that it's a left handed shooter thing. So, for me, Glocks are not reliable and I wont own one.
None of my 1911 style guns have ever failed except for a few that jammed on poorly made hand loaded ammo.
I've never had any revolver malfunction except for my Ruger Super Blackhawk that I blew up with a hot load (double the normal amount of powder under a 240 grain XTP bullet).
Let’s boil it down into types first...
Double action revolvers
357s
S&W 686, S&W 66, 19, S&W 27...
Colt Python, 357...parts can be an issue
Ruger GP100s, P101
38s
(Same order but model numbers change) so far as I know Ruger only makes 357s.
45 ACP Autos
Colt 1911, 1991, any series.
Springfield Armory
Smith&Wesson, Glock, CZ
... (there are some other lesser known makes that are just as equal to Colt and SA.
Kimber & Les Baer (while based on the 1911, these are not what Browning intended nor are they really match ready.)
...
Norinco
9mm
CZ75
Glock,S&W m&P, S&W Gen2, Springfield XDM
Walther, (including P38)
Colt 1911
Ruger P85 or P93
Beretta 92, Taurus 99.
So the ones you have to choose from are middle to low in their respective packs. Of the bunch the Ruger GP, but I’d look elsewhere really.
Rube Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
I bought my GP 100 in the late 90's. It's everything you have just described. It's ease of handling makes it a point and shoot weapon. It's always on my hip when I am hunting and is my choice for when I open carry.
I've owned a lot of pistols over the years and none of them have ate ammo like the Glock. although I personally don't care for the pistols feel, it is definitely the most reliable pistol I have ever owned
My brother has a GP100, fires every time, build like a tank, just can't hit anything with all the different ammo he has tried. I've put thousands of rounds through my kimber, always fires, always(almost) hits what I want it to. Joshb, if your Beretta is italian made or early american made with an italian barrel, it will shoot much better with cast bullets sized one or two thousands over for a tight bore fit. the overseas barrels had a tendency to run large. Otherwise the 92 is ultra reliable.Glock.
I have a Beretta 92. It won’t hit a barn, even if you’re standing inside it. I own a Beretta Storm and it’s great. Accurate as hell.
A good friend bought a Kimber. It kept breaking.
I hate Rugers.
I’m actually a big fan of Colt 1911s. I own a few so the Colt Cobra would be my pick from your list. Colt makes nice guns.
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
Always nice to know there's another unabashed Foghorn Leghorn fan around here!In my best Foghorn Leghorn:
" Boy! I say BOY!!! Stand up. They all be goin' over yore haid".
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
OH, I almost forgot to answer the OP's question.
I carried revolvers but swung over to the 1911 years ago. My carry was Kimber 45ACP in a lightweight officer's model configuration. I trusted it implicitly. Now I have moved to the S&W Shield in 9MM and couldn't be happier. Always reliable and no slouch in the power department with those Hornady Critical Defense loads I carry. But of late I have finally gotten on board with the Clint Smith'ism "A pistol is for fighting your way to your rifle". Only my rifle is a pistol; Springfield Armory Saint pistol in 5.56 with brace and 7.5" barrel. Add Sig Romeo red dot and a Streamlight weapon light with an extra 30 round Magpul of two (okay so 3).
I carried revolvers but swung over to the 1911 years ago. My carry was Kimber 45ACP in a lightweight officer's model configuration. I trusted it implicitly. Now I have moved to the S&W Shield in 9MM and couldn't be happier. Always reliable and no slouch in the power department with those Hornady Critical Defense loads I carry. But of late I have finally gotten on board with the Clint Smith'ism "A pistol is for fighting your way to your rifle". Only my rifle is a pistol; Springfield Armory Saint pistol in 5.56 with brace and 7.5" barrel. Add Sig Romeo red dot and a Streamlight weapon light with an extra 30 round Magpul of two (okay so 3).
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