TexasCHLforum.com

Bulldog1911 wrote:

Katygunnut wrote: reliability is the most important factor in a SD handgun. Absolute assurance that the gun will go bang

From my earlier post...
"fire...a couple thousand rounds down the range, checking for functionality"

I saw that reference and I agree that you should fire as many rounds as practical with your carry gun(s). Not just to check for functionality, but also to make sure the operation of the gun is ingrained in your muscle memory. If your gun proves to be unreliable in doing this, then definitely DO NOT carry it.

My point was that independent of anything else (including the practice referred to above), I would strongly prefer a gun that I knew would be reliable even if mistreated (dropped, kicked, left with too little or too much oil, not cleaned regularly, etc). It would not be unreasonable to include these things as part of a good test of reliability for a carry gun, at least for me. I took your initial post to criticize the idea of picking a handgun that can survive a fall and still function. My apologies if I misunderstood the point of your post.

Bulldog1911 wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote:

SZINK wrote:Broke from that short of a fall?? NO good! I have dropped my G26 from chest level on the concrete floor (sounded like it went off ) and only had a small scratch...glock FTW side note- have never dropped my 1911....

That is what makes Glock the best self defense pistol one can purchase.

Really?!?!?! Not trying to get into Glock/1911 debate, but i just can't follow your logic here. The test of a good SD pistol is to drop it from your chest and see what happens?
I though maybe...fire...a couple thousand rounds down the range, checking for functionality and accuracy might be a better test.

Got me thinking...maybe I should drop my Browning .308 and see how good of a hunting rifle she is...

My personal opinion is that reliability is the most important factor in a SD handgun. Absolute assurance that the gun will go bang is more important to me than a slight difference in accuracy. In a SD situation, I am most likely going to be under extreme stress and firing at relatively close range. Under these conditions, there will not be much difference in effective accuracy among any modern, name brand handgun.

I'll take a gun that I know will go bang even if I abuse it somehow, or forget to keep it fully lubricated, etc.

I own 1911's for fun at the range, and for looking purty in my safe. I own Glocks for my go-to SD guns.

I have different standards for a hunting rifle, because the purpose of that weapon is completely different than the purpose of my SD weapons. For a hunting rifle, accuracy goes up quite a bit in importance.

The only guns I've ever dropped have been Glocks, so I've never had any issues with damage. That said, I would think that any reputable gun manufacturer would stand behind their gun staying operational and undamaged after a 2-3 foot drop onto a hard surface. Thats not a very high bar for reliability.