From: danbri@danbri.Auto-trol.COM (Dan Brigham)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: 9mm: Which *not* to buy?
Date: 8 Oct 92 00:53:24 GMT
Organization: Auto-trol Technology Corporation -- Denver, Colorado

In article <1992Sep28.221436.11199@cs.rose-hulman.edu> you wrote:
: 
: Thank you for all the responses to my recent posting of the .380 vs.  
: 9mm.  I had pretty much decided to go for the 9mm and most people  
: agreed with this.  
: 
: Now I have to figure out which one to get as most of you informed me  
: that there can be several problems with the Ruger P-89 (aside from  
: the "boycott".)
: 
: I plan on using this for action/combat pistol shooting (not too  
: serious; no compensators, optics, etc), casual target shooting, and  
: home defense.  This seems to require higher capacity (12+) to compete  
: in the combat matches (I saw my first this past Sunday!).   
: Unfortunately, I have quite small hands.  As an aside, are adjustable  
: sights a must for combat shooting?  I would like to get a new 9mm for  
: less than $400 at a gun show and have listed below what I think are  
: contenders regardless of whether they are too big for me.  I plan on  
: going to the local store sometime soon and handling as many as  
: possible.
: 
: AMT On Duty (reliable or not?)

I have heard some uncomplimentary things about AMT, but then haven't we all.

: Astra A-100 (someone said these were very accurate)

No info

: Browning BDM

I have a Browning Hi-power and if the BDM is half the gun the Hi-power is, you
could not go wrong. All that I have heard is that it is even better then the 
Hi-power. I have had great luck with Browning products, a nicer finish you cannot
find. (Think about a used Hi-power, you may be able to get a decent deal at a 
show). I have had a single return to battery on this when I first got it but it
has never re-occurred several thousand rounds later, I would have to say it was
me probably limp-wristing it, otherwise no problems or jams.
 
: Colt All American 2000

I have felt one of these in my hands at a show, definitely not real comfortable
and the finish is a bit suspect.

: Glock 17/19

I have an early 17 and love it. This is one of the ugliest guns in the world to
look at but a great shooter. The people who say small handed people should beware
could be correct, I have small hands (normal palm size, very short fingers) and
this fits me great, however I have seen some people it did not fit. Never had a 
problem or jam with it.

: "Hi Power" clone
: CZ-75 clone

Why get a clone when you can get the real thing? The real thing is what built the
reputation.

: Ruger P-89 (until evryone shoots it down again)

This was going to be my choice until I shot it at the range. This has the lousiest
trigger pull you can imagine. It is a big clunky piece of iron that has some fit
problems that from my session shooting it affected the accuracy. I would stay 
away from it for that reason alone (Mr. Bill politics have nothing to do with 
this review, although they would be a double good reason to stay awa from this)

: Springfield P-9
: Star 30M
: Taurus PT92/99

No information on above 3.

: 
: Which ones should I not bother considering because they are very  
: unwieldy, inaccurate, or poorly made?  Thanks again for the help.
: 
: Michael Ray
: 

Several people have mentioned the Sig and clones, if your price range can be 
bumped a bit the Sig is a great shooter but not for small hands. I feel the clones
are in the same position as Browning clones. I personally cannot shoot the Sig
well because of hand size but I have a friend that makes some nice groups with
his.

--
Dan Brigham                 Auto-trol Technology
(303)252-2418               12500 N. Washington St.
                            Denver, Co. 80241-2404
e-mail - ico!auto-trol!danbri