By R.K. “Bob” Campbell | Contributing Editor
We are all in search of that one handgun that will make us a better shot.
The groundwork to be done first is to master the firing grip, stance, aim and trigger action. But we have all done that and are fine shots we just need a handgun to compliment our skill. Correct?
There are handguns that compliment a trained shooter. There are others that will defeat even a fine shot. The best handguns have a handle that feels natural and the sights come online quickly. The heft—weight and balance—are good and the pistol just seems to hang on target. The sights are well designed for the intended purpose. The trigger action is smooth and consistent. There are standouts in the handgun field that work well for almost every shooter. Sometimes you must branch out and embrace a new experience. Get out of your wheelhouse. Put aside misconceptions.
One of those misconceptions is that a larger gun with a long sight radius is a better shooter. For many of us—and I am mostly considering personal defense and informal targets inside of 25 yards—a well-balanced mid-size handgun works well. As a youngster, I tried the Smith & Wesson N-frame Model 28 and Model 27 revolvers in .357 Magnum, and later the L-frame revolver. Sure they kicked less with similar loads but as long as you used .38 Special ammunition it didn’t matter. I found that the four-inch barrel K frame revolver was fast and effective for my use and I was the better shot with those revolvers. Not for 100 yard trick shooting, no, but for most uses the 4-inch barrel belt gun was my best choice. Today a Glock 45 9mm is my best shooter in the polymer frame world. I tried an M34 with its long slide, I was hoping for the best, but I went back to the Glock 45. Then there is the Dan Wesson 1911—I call these guns my cheaters. They make the best of my ability. Let’s look at some of the better balanced shooters and how each allows a trained shoot to run a cheat sheet in the shooting game and perform exceptionally well.
Striker Fired Guns
The Glock 17 is a well-balanced and reliable handgun. If you fire the Glock 17 more accurately than any other Glock don’t let me dissuade you. When the Glock 19 was introduced, I found a nice compact just about ideal for carry. It is a popular duty gun for overloaded cops. But I did not shoot it as well as the 17. Then along came the 19X and M45. With a short slide and full size 17 type grip these pistols are fast on the draw and very manageable in rapid fire. Then came the optical sight revolution—or epiphany as I called it. Sight radius no longer meant as much. But the M45 remained my best shooter.
Steel frame short slide
Another paradigm that I find exceptionally well suited to my shooting style is a steel frame Commander. This is a 1911 handgun with the slide shortened to accommodate a 4.25-inch versus a 5-inch barrel. The original Commander was an aluminum frame handgun and they kick more than the steel frame Government model; of course they do they are ten ounces or more lighter. The steel frame handgun shoots exceptionally well.
The Dan Wesson Specialist is my favorite all around 1911. It has been years since I carried a Government Model for any reason. The Specialist is superbly balanced. With a Holosun PMO mounted this is an incredible piece of equipment.
Another handgun that fits this bill nicely is the Springfield Emissary, another steel frame Commander style. I like the Springfield a great deal. While it costs less than half the price of the Dan Wesson it shoots about ninety per cent as well. You pay a lot for that last little bit of accuracy!
Striker fired polymer and metal frame pistols
The Smith & Wesson SPECVI is a great shooter in the rarified metal frame striker fired world. The trigger is simply superb and ergonomics are sound. I like this pistol a great deal. It may replace the Glock daily carry gun. With its Aimpoint ACRO optic and perfect balance this is a great shooter. It is pricey I wouldn’t kid you but it is a great handgun.
Smith & Wesson K frame revolvers
I cut my teeth on these revolvers. The plain old Military & Police is often an extremely accurate revolver. These Hand Ejectors are among the most reliable revolvers ever manufactured. They will take a lot of use and come up shooting. These are among the few revolvers I recommend in the original version. Without MIM parts and that damned action lock these are exceptional handguns we are not likely to see the like of again. The best shooter among them is a well maintained five inch barrel .38 Special that left the factory in 1970. A two-inch barrel M&P I carry often when hiking is seventy-seven years young.
Little guns that shoot like a big gun?
There are small guns that shoot very well for their size and weight class. Among these in carry guns are the nicely balanced Glock 48, 9mm and the SIG P365 X and Macro types. These pistols have a grip just large enough to accommodate most hand sizes well. The longer slide compared to short slide pistols aids in balance and hit probability.
Then there are the rimfires. A .22 that raises things up a notch or too is the Taurus TX 22. I have the compact version. I have never seen a TX 22 that did not run well. This is a credible all around handgun that beats the socks off pistols such as the SIG P322 for reliability. I like it a lot. There is nothing like the metal frame Browning Buckmark .22 for a pleasant shooting experience. This handgun never fails to impress. It is heavier than the polymer frame handguns and features a bull barrel. This is a pistol more accurate than the shooter behind it.
Ammunition
Don’t feed a fine firearm third rate ammunition. A load that burns clean and exhibits a good accuracy potential will compliment a good shooting handgun.
Grip stance aim trigger
To get the most out of these handguns you must master the grip, stance, trigger control, sight picture and sight alignment. Not to mention follow-through! Structured consistent practice is needed to develop skill. I recommend the NRA basic handgun class to begin with and other more highly developed classes whenever possible. I am sometimes asked which handgun helps the occasional shooter most. Is there a handgun that compliments an untrained shooter? No not really. A double-action revolver is a good beginner’s gun, the Glock striker fired handgun is a good choice for general issue with a minimum of training. But you should be better than a minimal shooter. You must value your life more than that. Just the same I understand time and economic factors. Concentration on the sights, trigger, and follow through are essential. And find your cheater gun that works best for you.
