Handgun info... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Plantman · #1 10-17-2006, 11:48 AM

I have been thinking about buying a new handgun to add to my very limited collection. I currently have a Sig220(?) in .380caliber and Glock23 in 40 caliber.

I was thinking about getting a Beretta 92F as I have had one before and liked it quite a bit.

However, I came across the FN 5.7 and it seems impressive based upon what I have read.

It's smaller than I thought it would be, has high capacity(20rounds) and supposedly teh 5.7 calber is extremely high velocity with very little recoil.

Any ideas or thoughts on these?

Thanks

dannym · #2 10-17-2006, 12:10 PM

I think there are enough handguns in Miami.

Matt L · #3 10-17-2006, 12:32 PM

There are too many in criminal hands, that's for sure. A few more in honest folks' hands can't hurt.

I've heard that the 92 and 96 can be hard to clear after a malfunction. I don't much like the exposed barrel of them.

The FN 5.7 does look pretty nifty. I have no idea how well it performs.

I'm considering a nice 1911A1.

BAVBMW · #4 10-17-2006, 01:04 PM

As the happy owner of a 96, i can't offer much advice on how hard they are to clear after a malfuntion, mostly because I've never had a malfunction. I've tried. I break down before the gun does. I tried to see how long I could go with out cleaning it before performance suffered. I couldn't do it. Somewhere after 1500 rds, I couldn't take it anymore, I had to breakdown and clean my gun. I've shot thousands of rounds, mostly the cheap Walmart variety Winchester "USA" 165 grain FMJ loads. The biggest problem I've found is that even the cheap ammo adds up...

As to the exposed barrel, a few thoughts: The exposed barrel dispenses with the weight of the metal that is used as a "shroud" in other guns. The exposed barrel dissipates heat faster. The exposed barrel allows for easier attachment of barrel end accessories (availibility subject to local law and/or budgetary concerns). The exposed barrel provides for easier cleaning, or more to the point, one less place for gunk to collect and build up. The exposed barrel allows you to create "custom" looks easily, by buying a barrel in another finish than the rest of your gun, useful if your interested in purchasing another barrel in another caliber, say .357 SIG in the case of a .40 cal model 96, that allows you to shoot a different load (check with your gunsmith for applications where this can be done), with different color barrels, plainly visible, mistake get much harder to make.

The fact that the 92 is standard issue to our armed forces means that aftermarket support and accessories are incredibly easy to come by.

A few quick thoughts from the top of my head, feel free to ask for others...

MV

OldPokey · #5 10-17-2006, 01:06 PM

Try a Colt Python .357 - you won't be disappointed. Works when the semi-autos get all gummed up and their magazine springs loosen up. Leave it loaded with the hammer down on an empty chamber - it's about as safe and reliable as a home defense weapon can be.

Hatterasguy · #6 10-17-2006, 01:14 PM

IMI Desert Eagle, chambered in .50 AE.

Do they make .50 hollow point rounds?

John Doe · #7 10-17-2006, 01:24 PM

Dontcha love it plantman, when you ask a question about a specific gun and get a bunch of useless trivia about other's peoples personal choices?

Those FN's look cool to me, but I would imagine the 5.7 ammo is pretty expensive. If you don't care or are not going to spend much range time with it, this wouldn't matter. Ditto on the hot barrel. It looks like a "super gun" for personal protection, especially with its boast that it can pierce body armor. Personally, I don't like the shape of the trigger, or the fact that it is double action only, but then again I am not a glock fan either. I haven't shot one, but doubt their claim that it has less recoil than "any" 9mm auto.

aklim · #8 10-17-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPokey

Try a Colt Python .357 - you won't be disappointed. Works when the semi-autos get all gummed up and their magazine springs loosen up.

Leave it loaded with the hammer down on an empty chamber - it's about as safe and reliable as a home defense weapon can be.

How many semi-autos you have that have gummed up springs and what not? I haven't had a gun that hasn't fired yet. Of course, I clean and oil my guns heavily if I am storing them. If for home defense, I have had semi-autos by my bedside. When I clean the bed area, I clean the gun. I also don't load up the magazine to the max. Every now and then I ease the springs. Also I take it out for practice so it gets cleaned.

I would say that leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber is good for the old single actions where the hammer was sitting on the firing pin or the firing pin was embedded in the hammer. Modern revolvers do not have the hammer sitting on the firing pin directly. The hammer will hit another part of the gun which will transfer the force to the firing pin. However, this part is only present when the trigger is depressed.

aklim · #9 10-17-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

I have been thinking about buying a new handgun to add to my very limited collection. I currently have a Sig220(?) in .380caliber and Glock23 in 40 caliber.

I was thinking about getting a Beretta 92F as I have had one before and liked it quite a bit.

However, I came across the FN 5.7 and it seems impressive based upon what I have read.

It's smaller than I thought it would be, has high capacity(20rounds) and supposedly teh 5.7 calber is extremely high velocity with very little recoil.

5.7 is designed to penetrate body armour. I am not sure I would want that for home defense since you don't know what you are shooting at most of the time so you cannot practice for that particular target. IOW, you may have to shoot at what you can shoot at and not a picture of a man like at a target range. Also the target range does not move. So, if you miss or hit a narrower part of the body and the bullet penetrates too much, well, you risk it going into something else that you don't want it to. The wife has a G23 with laser sights. I have a G21. Loaded with glasser slugs, the penetration is minimal and the force spreads out a bit more

Plantman · #10 10-17-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

Dontcha love it plantman, when you ask a question about a specific gun and get a bunch of useless trivia about other's peoples personal choices?

Those FN's look cool to me, but I would imagine the 5.7 ammo is pretty expensive. If you don't care or are not going to spend much range time with it, this wouldn't matter. Ditto on the hot barrel. It looks like a "super gun" for personal protection, especially with its boast that it can pierce body armor. Personally, I don't like the shape of the trigger, or the fact that it is double action only, but then again I am not a glock fan either. I haven't shot one, but doubt their claim that it has less recoil than "any" 9mm auto.

The ammo price will come down at some point.

Guns and Ammo had a real favorable article of it. The author did claim that it had a very manageable recoil.

A 200 yard handgun? Now why would I want shoot that far?

BAVBMW · #11 10-17-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

Dontcha love it plantman, when you ask a question about a specific gun and get a bunch of useless trivia about other's peoples personal choices?

I mention my experiences only because he specifically mentioned the model 92. The model 96, which I have, is the same, the only difference being the caliber, 9mm vs. .40 (10mm).

As to the 5.7, I suppose I could have offered my opinions on how "cool" I thought it looked, or how expensive ammo, that I've yet to see in any gun shop, let alone mass retailer, might be. I could have gone on to expound on the way other features looked.

But since my actual knowledge on the gun is limited the brief bits I've read. I thought I'd stick to what I actually know. My apologies. Tonight when I get home, I'll read my GUNS and AMMO magazine, look about on the internet, and then I suppose I'll have worthwhile material to add to this thread. I'll be almost as useful as someone who's actually bought one of these and managed to put several thousand rounds through it. In the meanwhile, I guess I'll just STFU.

Again, my apologies.

MV

Matt L · #12 10-17-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

IMI Desert Eagle, chambered in .50 AE.

Do they make .50 hollow point rounds?

Try to find .50AE ammo that isn't hollow point. I think you'll find it rather difficult.

But that hollow-pointed ammo is somewhat pricy compared to FMJ or CNL. For the .50AE, it's well over $1/round.

BAVBMW, I appreciate your kind review of your '96. I've seen these before and was curious about them. The plus for me is that I already shoot .40S&W.

R Leo · #13 10-17-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

A 200 yard handgun? Now why would I want shoot that far?

Because you can.

And, if you decide to go with the 92, purchase a "Border Patrol" model. The BP's slide is beefier and won't crack after 15,000+ rds.

OldPokey · #14 10-17-2006, 02:48 PM

Sagging magazine springs are from experience. I took my old Springfield Armory model 1911 out after it had sat fully loaded for a year. First three rounds worked fine, the fourth was never chambered. Did the same thing with a Beretta 92, and it stopped after 7 rounds. I have friends who have tried this with other versions of the same weapons, and with Sigs and Glocks, without this problem. Granted, I purchased both weapons used, and after replacing the magazine springs had no further issues.

This was not a particularly scientific test. It was just to see how the guns would operate "as is" before I cleaned them. On the other hand, I did this with a S&W .38 I inherited. It had been in its case for 11 years. After a careful inspection, I took it out to the range with the 5 rounds that had been in there all that time - and it worked.