Glock vs S&W vs Ruger

[Sgt Cole]

When looking at other handguns on the market out there, these three manufacturers all seem to do very well, have comparable products (handguns is what I'm looking at) and all have great reviews/decent prices.  I want to put it out there to get some other opinions as I may purchase one of these in the future.  I'm looking at Glock 19, M&P9 and SR9 in particular but would love feedback on their 40 cals as well.  There are so many handgun makes and manufacturers out there that are good but I would like to keep the discussion down to these three manufacturers.  As it stands right now I'm leaning towards the S&W as I already have an SD9VE and Bodyguard and am more than satisfied (though I feel my PCR is better quality  ) with them.  The Ruger and Glock are both appealing as well, not to mention availability of accessories/mags, etc. particularly for Glocks which is nice too.  I appreciate any feedback.   

Thanks,
Sgt Cole

[Towns]

My first handgun was a Ruger SR9c.  It handled and shot exceptionally.  The slide has fairly sharp corners and has a heavy recoil spring, making it harder to rack.  But, I loved shooting that gun.  I ended up trading it to buy something else.  Ruger customer service is by far the greatest.  You have no warranty in writing, but they will fix anything in the first year including shipping both ways.  They tend to fix things after that for years and years, but you may have to pay to ship it to them. 

Palmetto State Armory has them on sale right now for $349.  That is a great price.  Oh yea, the SR9 full size is also $349 right now.  I have ordered from them and had no problems. 

My son has a Glock 19, which shoots well, but as so many other say, I just can't get past the grip.  As you said, after market parts and accessories are readily available.

Having said all that, what about a compact CZ 75??

[twowheels]

The M and Ps are very nice. I have a compact 40 with apex trigger it is a keeper I like it more then the XDs we have had and the glocks I've handled and shot.  Mine lacks a safety (a good omission).  It carries well, has good capacity, is accurate, has a good trigger and is stone reliable. 

[Sgt Cole]

Having said all that, what about a compact CZ 75??

I have a CZ 75D PCR and it's my favorite of my handguns!     I'm trying to get ideas to expand and diversify my little arsenal.  My dad and brother both have an SR9 and SR40 respectively.  They both tell me great things about it.  My dad also carries an LC9.  He got his CCW permit and the gun before I got my PCR and when he held the CZ he was like "I should of got one of these instead!"   Thanks for the info!

Sgt Cole

[Sgt Cole]

The M and Ps are very nice. I have a compact 40 with apex trigger it is a keeper I like it more then the XDs we have had and the glocks I've handled and shot.  Mine lacks a safety (a good omission).  It carries well, has good capacity, is accurate, has a good trigger and is stone reliable.

Yeah my SD9Ve was my first handgun I ever purchased and I got it for just $300 new.  It's a nice gun with good capacity if you need it as I got it for home defense originally.  My father-in-law gave my wife a Bodyguard w/laser sight for her birthday last year and it's a pretty nice pocket pistol.  Thanks for the info!

Sgt Cole

[XCRcarpenter]

I recently gave in and took a closer look at Glocks. Worth looking into is the detail strip. kinda neat!

[TX_Southpaw]

I had a VTAC M&P and I still own a regular M&P both in 40.  I wish I had kept my VTAC and sold my range kit M&P...oh well.

My favorite part about the 40 model is that you are able to swap barrels between 40 s&w , 357 sig, and 9mm.  New mags are needed for 9mm.  You can't do the reverse with the 9 mm M&P.  If you were to do something similar on the Glock, I think you'd need to change barrel, recoil spring and ejector in addition to the mags for a 40 to 9mm swap (from what I read).

M&P mags are really expensive and hard to find, but hey so are some CZ mags. I've seen a video where P-09 mags work in a 9mm M&P.

I've only shot/owned 9mm Glocks.  They work.  I've always been told you can't go wrong with Glock, M&P, or XDM.  I just like my CZs more.

[Joe L]

Get whichever one feels best in your hands.  All of your choices are good candidates. 

Joe

[papaairbear]

+1.  As Joe said, get the one you feel the most comfortable with.  You're not going to go wrong with any of them.  My son has an SR9 and a G19 and I really enjoy shooting both of them.  So much so that I bought a G23 and enjoy shooting it.  But we both have larger hands so the grip issue isn't a problem for us.  For me, the M & P just didn't feel like it belonged in my hand,  You have a couple now so that isn't your issue.  I guess one of the primary reasons I bought the glock is because it's so easy to take down,  I feel I can do it (field strip and reassemble) in total darkness,  And the more I shoot it the more I like it.  Ugly as is may be, it fills it's purpose well.  Not much help I'm afraid, but you asked for honest and focused opinions.  Good luck!

[s0nspark]

I have owned several different models of Glocks and M&Ps in the past - my wife currently owns a Ruger SR9C. My thoughts - and just my thoughts...

I loved the simplicity of the Glock platform but the ergonomics were fairly horrible for me. The triggers were even worse. Glock's QC has been lacking as well, at least the last couple of years - it may be better now.

I had 2 M&Ps - both 9mm, both with the Apex DCAE upgrades... and both not very reliable or accurate for me. I was disappointed enough to decide never again buy S&W. (sorry Shield - I am quite happy with my Springfield XDs!)

My wife's Ruger is a solid gun. The trigger is good - better out of the box than either the Glocks or M&Ps after upgrades IMO. The gun has a few small issues, as Towns mentioned, but nothing you can't get past. I suspect that once all of the production and design issues are resolved with the Remington R51 that my wife will be switching, though.

All that said, if I ever go polymer again it will be with a P-07 or P-09... or both

[M1A4ME]

I don't own a newer Ruger.

My first plastic gun was a Glock M31.  Disappointing accuracy led to an early retirement and I just never could get used to the grip or trigger.  Just not up to my standards (old 1911 guy).

Then I got an XDM in 9MM.  Better than the Glock.  Fit me better, shot better groups but was too big to carry (5.25" competition gun).  So I bought a 3.8" XDM in 9MM.  That little gun shoots as well or better than the big XDM.  Its not just me, 3 other people have shot them side by side and everyone likes the 3.8" bun better.  I carried it with the compact magazine in it and carried a couple of the 19 round (big mags for the big XDM 9MM).  My wife shot it one day side by side with the M&Ps (I bought a couple FS M&Ps) and like the 3.8" XDM so well it is now "her little gun".  The XDMs chamber/shoot anything and everything I've ever put in the magazine.  They've been 100% reliable, too.

I bought a full sized 9MM M&P and it was the answer to hand fit and it shot pretty good groups but had a horrible trigger.  The first range session I actually had to use both trigger fingers to get that darn thing to go off.  The next day, while cleaning it, looking it over, dry firing it, etc., it completely quit releasing the striker (if the striker was back at all - can't tell on the M&P like you can on the XDM).  I couldn't figure it out but instead of sending it back (I have a long history of nothing but problems when I take a gun back to the dealer to get it fixed - same thing with vehicles) I bought an APEX CAEK kit for it and installed it.  Great trigger after that.  So I got another FS M&P in .40 S&W and then bought a S&W brand .357 SIG barrel for it.  The the 9MM problems came back.  This time it was failure to fire/dead trigger.  Too many details but suffice to say that there was more than one issue and it was masked for awhile but ended up being the APEX sear, or the way it fit in the pistol.  The .357 SIG M&P keyholes bullets with all but one load I've tried in it.  I think I got the 9MM FS gun straightened out as the last couple of range trips its been flawless.  No joy on the keyholing .357 SIG gun yet.

Then I bought that P07.  Fits my hands as good/better than the M&P.  Shoots better than any of the first 3 brands.  Reliable (100% so far) and compact. 

I sure hope my next CZ purchase (P09 in 9MM) is as good as the .40 S&W P07.  If it is then I'm buying another CZ, probably a P07 in 9MM.

Just my experience so far.

[Sgt Cole]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback, it is much appreciated!   

For the Ruger, I do really like the look of that SR9c and have had good experience with Ruger in the past.  I used to have a 10/22 and a P95 (10rd version).  The rifle was great but I gave that to my brother a LONG time ago as a gift because I was out on my own and didn't have a gift for him when he graduated.  The P95 was a great gun and I'm disappointed that Ruger discontinued them because they were, IMHO, solid little guns and were of a good enough size that you could comfortably carry.  I had to pawn that thing back in the day for financial reasons.  Lately I was looking into getting a 15 round version of the P95 but the only place you can find them now are at gun shows cause they don't make them anymore.  That's pretty sad as those were great little guns.

I'll have to go and get the feel of all three and see which one I like the best.  My preference would be Ruger, then S&W then Glock. 

I absolutely love my PCR.  It was accurate out of the box and the only complaint I had was the double action, as it was a new pistol was incredibly rigid and wound up giving me a blister on my finger after running about 300 rounds through it.  The single action trigger pull is perfect.  I need to take it back out again though as I put a snap cap in it and fired it hundreds of times to try and break in the double action more.  That seemed to help but we'll see next time I shoot it.  That's also one thing I love about my PCR and the Ruger I used to have is the SA/DA.  I like the satisfaction of knowing with the hammer down it's safe and plus the increased accuracy of firing it in SA.  Of course that is my preference and opinion.  Regardless though I still want to diversify my collection and get more proficient with the other types of action on a lot of these newer handguns.  Hearing everyone's experience and perspectives is truly helpful and hope to hear more!

Thanks,
Sgt Cole 

 

[Towns]

I agree with your DA/SA preference.  I can see the desire for "same trigger pull on every shot", but I like DA/SA for the reason you mentioned. 

I hate to divert the thread, but it sounds like your PCR would really benefit from a trip to Cajun Gun Works.  Or if you feel so inclined a DIY polishing job.  Here is a link to a thread on the subject. 

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=42537.0

I feel like my P-01 already had a perfect DA pull right out of the box.  But I hear some CZ's have heavy / rough DA pulls.

[s0nspark]

I agree with your DA/SA preference.  I can see the desire for "same trigger pull on every shot", but I like DA/SA for the reason you mentioned. 

Absolutely agree. I like that the first shot under stress is not as easy to take accidentally. Plus I prefer the safety benefits of DA with a hammer fired gun since I carry appendix.

I hate to divert the thread, but it sounds like your PCR would really benefit from a trip to Cajun Gun Works.

ANY CZ benefits from a trip to CGW

[Sgt Cole]

Thanks s0nspark and Towns, I'm going to look into that for the trigger.  Any info helps!   

Thanks,
Sgt Cole