What is the most jam-proof, most reliable semi-auto pistol ?

[daddySEAL]

I believe that is right, Photoman.

Just as it's true for by 23 and 27.

But the 17 is full sized, I primarilly am interested in hearing about other makes....that are very concealable(like my 27 is)

[Will938]

Sig 226/228

[angrybeavis]

angrybeavis
see, there's an example of what I was saying. You have more than one 75B, and other(s) are problem free...but one individual has problems.

I use WWB 180 gr. ammo with zero problems in mine.

But do you own, and have the same good luck with their RAMI concealable pistol?

Nope, just variations of the 75...

My issues with WWB could have just been a bad batch, but I haven't tried it again to see.

[KinnyLee]

I believe that is right, Photoman.

Just as it's true for by 23 and 27.

But the 17 is full sized, I primarilly am interested in hearing about other makes....that are very concealable(like my 27 is)

I don't think JBirds will admit it, but both me and him induced a double feed on our G17 on the same day. His G17 and my G17. Maybe it's bad mojo?

[Dan20703]

Just saw your reply, how about a compact CZ 75? Like the P01 or PCR?

I bought a P01 model used and have put 600-700 rounds through it (many brands of ammo) without a single hiccup. I trust my life with it.

Now can I say that for every situation from here on out it will never fail? No. Nobody can say that and be 100% sure.

[cbr600]

Any company can turn out a defective unit. My strategy is to find a firearm that suits me (fit, manual of arms, size, etc.) made by a reputable company with a warranty. Shoot the heck out of it. Send it back for warranty work if it malfunctions. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Having said that, if I was in a situation where I had to grab a NIB handgun for self defense, I would feel most confident with a Glock 19 or 17 or a Sig P228 or P226.

P.S. My Glock 19 likes blackberry jam.

[yerasimos]

I do not have extensive experience with multiple guns, experimenting with multiple calibers and bullet weights. That said, from what I have read, one's chances of finding a "keeper" on the first try may be enhanced by choosing a handgun that fits your hand properly and feels comfortable in a proper firing grip, selecting the caliber that the gun was originally designed around, and shooting the bullet weight (and design?) that the gun and/or cartridge was designed for. This calls for a little research on your part, though forums like this can be helpful.

Just off the top of my head, I would guess that a 5" 1911 design in .45ACP, using 230gr bullets, or a Glock 17 (chambered in 9mm of course) would probably be more reliable choices than a 10mm 4" 1911 in 10mm or 3" 1911 in .45ACP, or a Glock 27 shooting 135gr bullets. It is not my intent to be hating on 10mm or .40 S&W, or compact guns or flyweight bullets; what I am saying is that conservative choices in handgun design, caliber and bullet weight will probably yield the best chance of a winner from the outset, without spending a lot of time and money experimenting. Make and proof your choices in hardware (the method for doing so may be a topic unto itself), then spend your time, resources and effort tweaking your software (your shooting skills) and you will be more capable of handling whatever challenge you may face in competition or the street than if you spent your time constantly tweaking and experimenting with different bullets and guns.

[kwf2006]

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[Dougmyers5]

I know Glocks have the reputation of being incredably reliable, No
Matter what type, make or grain of ammo you use.

Many "individual pistols" of most makers would work flawlessly for that individual weapon, but not all the ones manufactured by that maker might necessarily have that "luck" or reputation for the breed (and make the same gun and/or model that is ammo sensitive and jams now and then for that certain buyers now and then).

Would you guys agree?
And if so, which other makes of pistols, if any, are known for being non-jamming, please?

I'm looking for as many 1st hand user responsence as I can get...to try to get a consensus..........And is depended on thousands of rounds of multiple ammo makes and grains having been pumped through to give an answer. (Not just users having tried only a couple hundred rounds of similar types)
thanks

====================================

Glocks have issues at times also.

http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/glock-kb-faq.html

[Stupid]

Not to defend Glock, but any gun can kb. The kb in Glock - thegunzone is quite biased. If one fires a double-charged round out of overused shell, s/he could pretty much make any gun go flying, not just Glock. With the popularity of Glock, is the kb statistically higher? we don't know. Using this example can explain nothing.

Speaking of reliability, avoid any 1911 style gun. Glock, HK, Sig and Beretta all make great firearms. Before I got into them, I thought jamming was of norm with auto-pistols - yeah, i had a Colt 1991A1.

[badkarma56]

There are many current pistols which are considered reliable and everyone seems to believe that their particular brand is "the best"!

That said, I consider H&K, Beretta, Glock and Sig Sauer to be the most reliable "mass-produced" weapons on the market. Each brand has their own tried-and-tested performers (H&K USP/P2000 series, Beretta M9/92FS, Glock G17/G19 models and the Sig P220/P226 platform).

Choosing between these fine weapons is a matter of personal choice and individual shooting style.

[daddySEAL]

Dougmyers5,
Interesting website and info.

Would a solution be to install a stronger guide rod spring?

[whohears]

my glocks 19, 20 and 35 have all performed flawlessly. at least 2K rounds each without failure. One caveat, I installed an extended slide release on the G35 and found my thumb would ride on top of it and prevent the slide from going into slide lock with an empty mag. removing the extended slide release prevented the problem.

I've had one or two failure to go into battery with my glock 27 out of 600 rounds. could have been me limp wristing or could have been ammo. But I've heard of this happening with other baby glocks--maybe the double recoil spring?

My sig 229 in .40 has had no failures in probably 1K rounds. However, my thumb rides on the slide release and it will not go into slide lock with an empty mag because of this. I don't shoot it anymore because of this.

My S&W 1911 failed after ~700 rounds. The plunger tube sheared off. S&W repaired it under warranty. I'm selling it now as I just don't trust it.

[jbirds1210]

I believe that is right, Photoman.

Just as it's true for by 23 and 27.

But the 17 is full sized, I primarilly am interested in hearing about other makes....that are very concealable(like my 27 is)

I don't think JBirds will admit it, but both me and him induced a double feed on our G17 on the same day. His G17 and my G17. Maybe it's bad mojo?

And they both happened within thirty seconds of each other! The odds of that are not good.......but it did in fact happen. Factory ammo in both guns if memory serves me correctly!

[Mithras61]

Speaking of reliability, avoid any 1911 style gun. Glock, HK, Sig and Beretta all make great firearms. Before I got into them, I thought jamming was of norm with auto-pistols - yeah, i had a Colt 1991A1.

I've been shooting 1911s for most of my life, and the times when I had problems with jamming, failing to eject or failing to go into battery turned out to be me not doing my part right (like not holding the grip firmly enough, limp wristing, etc.). The design is one of the most reliable around (especially with ball ammo), IMHO.

I've had more problems with my Ruger 22/45 than with anything else. It seems to have issues ranging from failure to eject to refusing to feed the second round out of one of my two magazines if it is fully loaded. I haven't figured out yet what the problem is, but I will (it may not like the Federal American Eagle ammo I've been using).

I don't shoot Glocks. I don't like the way they fit my hand & the angle I have to hold my wrist to shoot is uncomfortable for me (I broke both my wrists when I was young & lost some flexibility in them). I don't have any knowledge of unreliability issues with them.

I think the most reliable form of hand-size firearm is a revolver, followed by long standing pistol designs with many years of testing behind them (e.g. - 1911s, Glocks, Sigs, etc.), but that is also just my opinion. One of the benefits of the free market is that unreliable designs tend to not last.

As for THE most reliable firearm, I don't believe there is any such thing, and that the OP will have to try a few of the more popular models to find what he likes and what works reliably for him.