Firearms Friday: (Temporarily) Out Of Stock

I have seen the frustration both online on various forums and Facebook pages and also in person when the firearm that they have been looking for is currently nowhere to be found. And this is a regular occurrence for one reason or another and I guess you could say that ammunition falls into the category too. Thankfully, there have only been a handful of times over the year when I was looking forward to seeing something in the store only to find it long gone from the shelves… usually my situation is that I just want to be able to see it in person not necessarily to buy it.

These disappointing moments usually come down to two very simple reasons… legislation/politics/current events and new products. Those are the two basic categories that cause the shortages on the shelves. While there are other reasons that we encounter from time to time (i.e. low production numbers, recalls, poor ordering by the shop, etc.), those moments are few and far between. Especially lately when there have been lines of people either in person or on wait lists trying to purchase certain products.

Over the past couple of year, even so recently as a week ago, there have been constant attacks on our right to own certain firearms, magazines, and even ammunition. These usually cause what I like to call the camper lines when people are showing up hours before opening or even the day before and waiting for the doors to open so they can be one of the few to walk out with what they want. For everyone else, it is out of stock. We definitely saw this cyclical pattern when there was talk about banning AR15 rifles. While I was never one of them, I remember seeing the pictures and Facebook posts of people lining up the night before the local shop opened its doors on Saturday morning.

The other times when I have been unable to inspect a firearm was basically because it was a new release. From the successful Springfield Armory Mod 2, the single stack Glocks, and striker fire products from Sig Sauer and H&K to the failed Remington R51, each was hard as heck to find on the shelves as the wait lists didn’t just consist of a few names, those lists were pages upon pages of interested buyers. And some are yet to be determined as Remington still has to do a full rollout after the recall and Ruger just released the American line of pistols. I am curious to see both in person if I can find them in the stores and some of the other items that come out of SHOT show this month.

I guess what this all comes down to is that we have to be patient. Once the legislation failed, the supply went right back up and AR15 rifles and pistols are once again readily available. And all the new pistols are no longer new and I have even seen a number of them in the used cases. Out of stock rarely lasts and if you can wait there will be plenty of opportunities to buy what you want in the future (and most likely save you a lot of money).

Firearms Friday: The Sound Of Range Music

As I noted last week, I would rather take a pistol to the range over a rifle. It is what I have more experience with and frankly I am much more proficient with a pistol. Now I am sure that this will prompt much debate, but, as of this moment, here are a few of my favorite handguns and the ones that find their way into my range back most often.

Smith & Wesson M&P Pro CORE / Smith & Wesson M&P9 Full Size

In the end, this is the handgun that I shoot the best with at the range. While the trigger is far from the best on the market (the Pro CORE model is far superior to the standard package) the ergonomics and reliability are on par with the best. Additionally, there is a little bit of simple unexplainable preference. I also prefer the consistent pull of striker fire pistols which leads me to my second choice…

Glock 17 Gen 4 / Glock 34 Gen 4

Probably the most natural to get on target than any other pistol in my hand. The slight change in the grip angle is superb and the trigger is just above average. However, the fit and finish leaves something to be desired. Overall, this is probably the firearm which I am second best with at the range. Again, striker fired but not all the handguns on my list have that in common…

Para Ordinance 1911 Expert 14.45 / Para Ordinance 1911 Expert Stainless

Until relatively recently, I wasn’t a big fan of the 1911. While they have great triggers (for the most part) and are highly accurate), I wrongly viewed them as overpriced with limited capacity. They were also predominantly in a caliber which I was much less familiar compared to the 9mm. However, I came across these models at a price point far below those firearms previously mentioned and one of them settled the capacity argument pretty handily. Once those two dubious arguments were settled, caliber wasn’t really a question anymore. This leads to the next firearm on my list…

Kimber 1911 Poly Pro Carry 4

A high capacity 1911 with a polymer frame. Any questions? This is a great combination between old and new with a reliable design upgraded with additional capacity and a lighter frame. As a bonus the frame was actually made by BUL in Israel much like another one of my favorites…

IWI / Magnum Research Baby Eagle / Jericho

Really this is the Magnum Research Baby Eagle as the Jericho (the name it has before Magnum research and the one it bears again today) has a frame mounted safety rather than a slide mounted safety of which I am familiar. This is another highly accurate firearm which takes much of its functional design from the CZ 75 (another favorite) and adds a rugged Israeli edge to it. This is a great range companion but not something I would use in competition like the Smith & Wesson Pro CORE, Glock 34 Gen 4, or the following firearm…

Springfield Armory xDM Competition / Springfield Armory xDM

While further down the list than some of its direct competitors, Springfield does produce a fine striker fired firearm with the xDM. The feel is a little different and the grip safety is something you have to get used to (similar but different from the 1911) but it is accurate, reliable, and just plain fun to shoot at the range. You also don’t have to reload as much with a magazine capacity, in 9mm, of 19+1. A few more rounds than something that you could easily conceal…

Sig Sauer P938 (Limited Edition)

This particular model had a beautifully engraved a blued slide. It is the perfect balance of concealability with the function and accuracy that you would find in a full size 1911. So much so that it performs surprisingly well as 25 yards on the range. The only minor issue that I have heard from people is having to carry a pocket gun cocked and locked… not an issue with a good holster but that is another topic altogether. It does take some getting used to but then again so does every firearm…

H&K P30S

Some people love the H&K trigger while others hate it. For me it just takes some getting used to as I have improved at the range each and every time that I have taken it out. On top of that, there might not be a firearm on the market with better ergonomics (the Walther PPQ is close) or fit and finish. One company that is pretty close when considering the latter also has a pretty impressive Special Forces pedigree…

Sig Sauer P226 MK25 / Mitchell Arms TZ99

The MK25 is built to take a beating but that doesn’t meant that Sig cut any corners… on the other side of this equation are copies like the TZ99 which offer the same form and function but with limited attention paid to the fit and finish of the pistol. The MK25 isn’t the most accurate or the best overall firearm on the market but it does the job in any conditions. While the double action trigger is lacking, it is one of the best when it comes to single action with regard to both feel and accuracy when compared to others with the same action.  

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

Light, concealable, reliable, and accurate. One of the best in class for concealed carry and a great compliment to the M&P. In addition to being a practical firearm that doesn’t break the budget it is an easy to use striker fired pocket pistol with a reasonable amount of accuracy and capacity for its size. Not my favorite but certainly nowhere near the bottom of the list (that spot is reserved for the Remington R51). However, I will say that the Khar CM9 (CW9 and PM9 should also be considered) is really close and I would have no reservations recommend those firearms as well.

So those are my top 10 (and a few extras) which I really enjoy taking to the range. There are a lot of others that I have enjoyed shooting but there is limited space on the list. But, since I know there are a lot of you that didn’t see your favorite mentioned above, here are the next 20 on my list:

11. Beretta PX4 Storm / Stoeger Cougar
12. CZ 75 B / EAA (Tanfoglio) Witness
13. Sig Sauer P320F
14. FNH FNS 9
15. H&K USP9
16. Glock 21 Gen 4
17. Beretta M9A1 / Taurus PT99AF
18. Smith & Wesson 39-2
19. Ruger SR9 Stainless
20. Sig Sauer SP2022
21. CZ P-07 Duty
22. Kimber Pro Carry II
23. BUL Cherokee / EAA (Tanfoglio) Witness (Polymer)
24. Walther PPX
25. Canik TP9
26. Taurus PT24/7
27. ATI Fatboy Lightweight
28. Beretta 9000-S
29. Ruger LC9 CTC
30. Beretta Nano

Still not seeing your favorite? Well, either I haven’t shot it or I don’t much care for it. But, in the end, this is simply my opinion. Doesn’t mean that I am right or wrong (mostly the latter on a daily basis). That is my list, what is yours? Share your top 10 below just please don’t mention Hi Point.