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

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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.

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

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.

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1984 300TD

IMI Desert Eagle, chambered in .50 AE.

Do they make .50 hollow point rounds?

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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?

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

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.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

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

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.

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1984 300TD

BAV--my response wasn't directed to you--I thought your post was very informative and to the point. Directed at the folks who responded to "anyone know about this gun?" with, "why don't you get a _______like I have instead"

weeeeeerrrrrrrd.

I haven't read the previous posts, so I don't know what has been discussed, and what hasn't. And I know you Yanks seem to be allergic to 9mm, but have you considered a Browning Hi-Power?

I have 14 pistols, including 2 Luger 9's and 2 Luger 30's, but my favorites are my four 357 Magnums....... I love the S&&W model 19 with a short barrel, the Dan Wesson with 6" barrel, the Ruger hammerless 5 shot (a great carry weapon) and lastly -- my Ruger Stainless SA, which is very accurate and easy to shoot. In a life threatening situation, I will always take a revolver over an autoloader; autoloaders do occasionally jam in one way or another. I have never had a revolver in good, clean condition misfire in any way.

As with cars, we all make our choices for our own reasons. BC

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