Best Natural Pointing Semi-Auto's?

10540 Views 33 Replies 28 Participants Last post by flugzeug, Feb 7, 2008

weshowe

Discussion Starter · Jul 31, 2007

Gents,

Took some time last night to break out all my big bore semi-auto pistols and did some dry fire practice with each. The goal was to find which of them pointed the most naturally "at speed". It was interesting what I found. First, having small hands I discovered that the larger handgun grips pointed the most poorly while those with single stack or "slimmer" grips came up like laser beams. I'm sure those with larger hands might find the opposite true. Calibers were 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S & W, and .45 ACP.

Results, in order were:
My 1911 Combat Commander and Government Model .45 ACP's
These have also been my most carried pistols.

Browning Hi-Power in 9mm or .40 S & W. Although the lighter 9mm version seemed to track on target a bit faster. The .40 version feels more like a 1911 handling/weight wise.

The big surprise was the Sig P226 Elite. With the addition of the short trigger mod and slimmer factory grips the Sig tracks every bit as well as the two single actions above and feels VERY solid. More trigger time is needed. The new P225 will get tested tomorrow, but I seen no reason it won't be every bit as good as the P226.

The Grock 19/23 and 36 pointed exceptionally well, too. Tupperware sucks, but I can't argue with the shoot-ability of the those platforms. The larger/wider Glocks do not point as well as the smaller pistols. Again, probably just my small hands.

As much as I love my CZ's I have sold most because of the grip configuration and long trigger reach. The safety is also not acceptable because of short thumbs. In the case of the bigger CZ-97 the pistol was just to big for my small hands. The pistols simply will not work for me.

My Beretta 92 compact tracks well, but is hard to keep on target due to the long trigger pull. Mind you, I am using a very firm grip. Again, it's probably just my small hands being the issue. There are certainly no reliability issues with the Compact. The safety being inadvertently activated seems to be a continual problem. One reason I no longer carry the '92 for self defense.

There are a host of darn fine pistols out there. What works for you? Maybe I should have phrased that: "What's in your wallet".

Wes

See less See more

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

Bob Reed

· #2 · Jul 31, 2007

Hello Wes,

The FN-Browning High Power & Government Model 1911 handle's Better than Anything I've ever touched.

In Fact, all Browning Designed Pistols, Point & Shoot so well, they don't even need sights.

Take Care.

dogsoldier0513

· #3 · Aug 6, 2007

That title belongs to the S&W M39-2. No doubt about it.

See less See more

Stephen A. Camp

· #4 · Aug 6, 2007

Hello. "Feel" is subjective to be sure, but for me the winners are the 9mm Hi Power and the 5" 1911 followed very closely by the CZ-75.

Best.

G

· #5 · Aug 6, 2007

For me it's a tossup between the High Power and a Combat Commander.

xcop

· #6 · Aug 6, 2007

Model 39 definitely

G

· #7 · Aug 7, 2007

I have had no experience with these, but I always heard that the P-08 Luger was a "natural" pointing pistol; aiming was allegedly much akin to pointing one's index finger. If so, it is a major improvement over the Mauser C-96 broomhandle that I have shot. I guess I'm too old school.
vasp

pff

· #8 · Aug 7, 2007

Hipower and G19. Hands down.

Luger is pretty good also.

Colt Combat Commanders as long as they have the arched housing.

Not a defensive piece, but I like High Standards for pointability also.

Regards,

Pat

See less See more

bentonville

· #9 · Aug 7, 2007

Have any of you fired an HK P9S? I just got one and fired a couple of mags. through it. It points very naturally for me: almost magically. Any others have experience with these HKs?

Chris Stephens

· #10 · Aug 7, 2007

Hello,

For me, it is the CZ-75, BHP and then followed by the 1911. The thicker grip frame of the CZ and BHP work very well for me personally.

Chris

dogsoldier0513

· #11 · Aug 7, 2007

Have any of you fired an HK P9S? I just got one and fired a couple of mags. through it. It points very naturally for me: almost magically. Any others have experience with these HKs?

A friend of mine had one in .45ACP that 'someone' had done a 'trigger job' on. The SA trigger pull was so light that the gun would 'double' when fired.

sgphoto

· #12 · Aug 7, 2007

CZ-75B and Makarovs. The CZ-97B is close, just a tad less than the CZ-75B.

Steve

twoguns

· #13 · Aug 7, 2007

Howdy folks,

As has been noted what works best for one person will not work well for another, given the differences in hands, grips, ect. Why they make and sell so many Fords, Chevys and other makes every day too.

Personally my favorites are Sig P226, CZ75B/SP-01, Kahr K40, and 5" 1911s. I think my HP is a natural in my hand as well, but my grip locks the slide release up during every mag, so it has to be only a fun gun for me now.

twoguns

oberstlt

· #14 · Aug 7, 2007

I prefer my BHP until it goes off and then I like a standard 1911 for some odd reason.

spikey614

· #15 · Aug 7, 2007

I have always liked the BHP grip. I just recently had a chance to shoot the S&W 3919. I did like that one too but I'll stick with the BHP's.

1911's are good too. My Kimber Cust.II shoots very straight and is quick to get back on target with 230gr FMJ's. At least for me.

jimhigginbotham

· #16 · Aug 9, 2007

Hello. "Feel" is subjective to be sure, but for me the winners are the 9mm Hi Power and the 5" 1911 followed very closely by the CZ-75.

Best.

Ditto for me, but stressing that how you hold it means a lot. Bring the gun up on target with your eyes closed. Then open them, if you have to shove the sights down (or up for that matter) that is not the gun for you.

I know wheel guns are not considered in this topic but the best pointing wheelie for me is a Round Butt K-fram S&W.

Jim H.

weshowe

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 19, 2007

Gents,

Thanks for your responses. Jim, I agree with you on round butt K-frames...

Wes

BarryinIN

· #18 · Aug 19, 2007

I don't know if there is a more subjective thing than how a gun points. What points well for me won't point well for my wife.

But my usuals- the 1911 and HiPower- point fine for me. Whether that is from shooting them more than anything else and me adapting to the guns rather them being "natural pointers", I don't know.

Shooting one-handed makes a difference to me. The "slant grip" High Standard .22s feel better for one-hand Bullseye shooting than the later "military grip" guns to me.

Have any of you fired an HK P9S? I just got one and fired a couple of mags. through it. It points very naturally for me: almost magically. Any others have experience with these HKs?

I had a 9mm P9S for a while. As I recall, it felt really good except for the trigger being so far foward it felt like it pivoted from the muzzle.

mbott

· #19 · Aug 21, 2007

Gents,

...

As much as I love my CZ's I have sold most because of the grip configuration and long trigger reach. The safety is also not acceptable because of short thumbs. In the case of the bigger CZ-97 the pistol was just to big for my small hands. The pistols simply will not work for me.

For me, it's just the opposite. Any Glock I've ever picked up just doesn't point well for me. The grip angle is all wrong. The CZs, on the other hand, naturally point very well.

--
Mike

arminius

· #20 · Jan 2, 2008

S & W M 39 ( - 2, in my case ).

For target work the handgun which fits me best is a FNHP with Pachmayr Presentation grips.

H

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.