06-16-2012, 03:35 AM
If your looking for a .45, try getting your hands on a Ruger P97 and shoot it a bit. The P97 is an easy to shoot gun and in my experience reliable, I've put 3000 rounds of about 8 different loads/brands through one and never had a single failure of any kind, though never more than 250-300 rounds at a time. At about 25 yards I'm looking at on average 2.75 inch groupings for an eight round group. No, it is not an elegant autoloader, but it will get the job done. The gun is fairly cheap and you should be able to pick up one used in good condition for about 400$. Of course the ammo cost isn't the greatest. I've handled the newer Ruger p345, and I like it so far. It seems to perform at least as well and possibly better. Can't really give a great review as I've only fired about 100 rounds through one and don't personally own it so I don't get to shoot it on a regular basis.
Now if your just looking for a pistol to go plinking with, the M9 really isn't a bad choice and it is tough and reliable. Though you'll still pay for a new one (600$ or there about new). It is a full sized hand gun, so your larger hands shouldn't be a problem. I had to sell mine recently due to needing some extra cash to help pay for some of my mothers medical bills, but fully intend to buy a new one after I've upgraded my computer. I have no idea how many rounds I have put through an M9, some where around 10,000 or so since 2005 would be a good estimate though and in that time I've only had a failure and I'm pretty sure that was my fault entirely (only had 5 rounds loaded in my last magazine and slam loaded it to start firing, got off one shot but the remaining rounds in the magazine where nose down, rolling around in the magazine with the follower stuck down inside and askew. This was in a 15 round magazine.). I've had varying degrees of accuracy with it, from a bench rest at 25 yards I've had as good 1.5" and standing 2.25"-2.5" was fairly common. This gun was also my Concealed carry gun of choice, I used a HBE Leatherworks Com III IWB holster and wore a slightly larger shirt and had no problems with it. Of course it takes some getting used to but that can be said of any IWB holster. The reason I like this holster is that it has offset belt loops, so it doesn't add to the thickness at all and is more comfortable than the others that I have tried for any length of time.
In any case, I hope this helps you out a bit.
Now if your just looking for a pistol to go plinking with, the M9 really isn't a bad choice and it is tough and reliable. Though you'll still pay for a new one (600$ or there about new). It is a full sized hand gun, so your larger hands shouldn't be a problem. I had to sell mine recently due to needing some extra cash to help pay for some of my mothers medical bills, but fully intend to buy a new one after I've upgraded my computer. I have no idea how many rounds I have put through an M9, some where around 10,000 or so since 2005 would be a good estimate though and in that time I've only had a failure and I'm pretty sure that was my fault entirely (only had 5 rounds loaded in my last magazine and slam loaded it to start firing, got off one shot but the remaining rounds in the magazine where nose down, rolling around in the magazine with the follower stuck down inside and askew. This was in a 15 round magazine.). I've had varying degrees of accuracy with it, from a bench rest at 25 yards I've had as good 1.5" and standing 2.25"-2.5" was fairly common. This gun was also my Concealed carry gun of choice, I used a HBE Leatherworks Com III IWB holster and wore a slightly larger shirt and had no problems with it. Of course it takes some getting used to but that can be said of any IWB holster. The reason I like this holster is that it has offset belt loops, so it doesn't add to the thickness at all and is more comfortable than the others that I have tried for any length of time.
In any case, I hope this helps you out a bit.
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.â€
― Heraclitus
― Heraclitus