01/04/2022
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. So when an individual who doesn’t shoot a lot, less than a thousand rounds per year, talks about how their particular firearm works “just fine”, it doesn’t carry the same weight compared to someone who shoots for a living or works at a shooting range, or teaches fi****ms classes. The latter group sees an exponentially higher number of situations, sees which type of fi****ms routinely fail in their classes, and develop firm opinions about which guns do and don’t work reliably. I put together this list of reliable fi****ms based on my experience, based on what I have seen work reliably. I am specific about some brands and less specific about others.
G***k 9 mm pistols, Gen 3 or newer for parts availability. Double stack magazine models preferred. I have wide hands so I prefer the model 17, but the model 19’is also excellent.
CZ 9mm pistols based on the CZ75 steel frame pistols. Some can be less reliable but once proven these pistols can go 100,000 rounds with little issues. Better than average accuracy.
Beretta 9mm based on the M9/92FS. The custom versions made by Langdon and Bill Wilson make these pistols a true delight to shoot. Only use Beretta brand or their Mec Gar Italian magazines. The reason military berettas were known as unreliable was because of low bid contracted magazines.
FNX Tactical 45 or it’s 9mm cousin. Only the hammer fired pistols.
FN Striker fired pistols aren’t reliable. Too many recalls on their trigger design.
Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm pistols. Their 45 model is also good.
Walther PPQ M2 in either 9mm or 45.
Amazing factory triggers, above average accuracy.
H&K p30.
Sig Sauer P226, P229, P228 P220, the older West German models are the most reliable! The newer models are nice but they are fitted tight and don’t run as well when they get any dirt or crud in the mechanism.
I don’t personally like the P320 versions myself but some love them.
1911 pistols have developed a reputation for unreliability. A huge part of that comes from people who aren’t true “gun people” trying to run a gun designed for experts.
If you want to run a factory 1911, use a C**t, Dan Wesson or one of the expensive custom models such as NightHawk, Wilson Combat. I do not recommend any Asian made 1911, Kimber, Springfield. They aren’t reliable in factory trim.
While I despise Ta**us, their model 92 copy is pretty good. Nothing else they make is reliable enough.
The Springfield XD line of pistols simply don’t hold up under extended use. They break too often. Every person I know who shoots a lot, that bought an XD when they first came out. None of them still own an XD. None! That includes me.
While I personally love shooting revolvers, I don’t consider any newly made revolver reliable enough to use for combat or daily use. Old gun people like me know which older revolvers run and already bought most of them up. The good ones are so expensive, you could buy two reliable semi auto guns for the same price, or buy one and take a good training class.
R***r revolvers would be the only newer model revolvers I would carry, but they would need a trigger job, which kind of negates their use for me.
R***r. While I like the company, their self defense pistols have always had extractor issues and aren’t on my list. They usually run perfect til their extractor breaks.
I have had it happen to pistols I owned. Their warranty was great but warranties only matter if you survive the gunfight.
I own and love several R***r fi****ms, I don’t carry any of them for self defense.
Don’t be offended if your favorite didn’t make it on my list. I am merely talking about guns which I have seen or had personal experience with concerning function and reliability.
If you are a new shooter and select one of the pistols on my “good” list, you will likely be very satisfied and won’t have to upgrade to a decent pistol later. People who buy guns that aren’t on my good list often have a less than ideal experience and either trade up to something better, or simply leave the shooting world and never return. You will be money ahead by spending the required money now and you won’t have to cry a second time when you realize you wasted your cash on a piece of junk pistol.
Choose wisely.
