Which Handgun $$$$$$ ?

["DoubleAction"]

I often wonder if one were given $2500. to spend for one single handgun, which would they choose and for what purpose. With no less than $2,000. for the piece, and some remaining for a holster, or accessories, which handgun would one give a serious look at ?

This process of thought was inspired by a friend of mine who had acquired a collection of handguns over a period of time, with an overall investment of around $2500. Of all the pieces in his collection, I found not one which measured up to a value of $300.; with most being around $200. He often talked about buying a Kimber but found it difficult in putting down so much for one single piece. I always thought he desearved better than what he had acquired, if it mean't having only one handgun.

[MLB]

I think that at this point, I have all of the handguns that I really *need*, and am concentrating on those I admire. I don't think you need to spend that much for something you're actually going to fire, so maybe I'd look for something collectable.

Of course, I've never handled a Wilson Combat 1911 either. Maybe I'd change my opinion...

[TMan]

When you spend a lot of money on something, you want a quantum leap from what you currently have. When I traded the Jetta GLX and got a BMW M3 it was a quantum leap that led to a lot of satisfaction. Trading the M3 for the Z8 wasn't that quantum leap and was not as satisfying.

So if you owned one of the good Kimbers, going to something like a Wilson CQB would not be a quantum leap. Going from a Glock to a Wilson CQB would be a quantum leap. (Maybe not so much in accuracy, but in trigger control).

So, what would be a quantum leap for TMan? I think I'd go for the Sphinx 3000 Competition, although I'm not sure of the current price in the US because the dollar has been dropping like a rock to the Euro.

Here are the specs:

SPHINX 3000 Competition OPEN

Technical specification

caliber 9mm para, 9x21 mm / .40S&W
barrel length 5.31 in.
capacity 18 + 1 / 14 + 1
length over all 10.82 in.
height 5.43 in.
width 1.30 in.
weight 49.41 oz.
trigger pull SA 3.30 lb.
sight variable
safety manual safety
color two-tone, black, stainless

It is made is Switzerland - need I say more?

[TA]

I think I would be looking in the direction of a high end 1911. Maybe even getting one built by one of the Masters in the industry. I think I would be over budget.

[MLB]

I think I'd like to put one of those sights (like on the Sphinx shown above) on my RMII just for the "cool" factor. What do you call that type?

[5ontarget]

It looks like a reflex sight of some kind.

[TMan]

I have one like that, which I bought at my local gunsmith's. The guy behind the counter showed it to me. It had a switch that allowed you to change the cursor to different types. I took it home, and then there was some amount of time that elapsed before I mounted it on a pistol. It didn't work. I took it back; I demonstrated to the guy behind the counter how it didn't work.

Did you ever have someone look at you like you were the village idiot? I get that expression a lot. He turned it around 180⁰, and then he said: "Try looking through it this way."

Unfortunately, since I'm a long ways from the gun safe, I can't tell you who made it.

CDNN has one for $49.99 part number TAR45 ( cdnn.stores.yahoo.net/taspmiparesi.html )

["DoubleAction"]

Those sights are sometimes referred to as Halo sights. The screen features a red dot and makes for quick target acqusition. Tasco once manufactured one called The Optima 2000 but another company produces it now.

Edited to Add: www.dentrinity.com/ClarenceLai/fp.htm

eabco.com/jpoint01.html

This one I have mounted of one of my Buckmarks, using a Weigand mount.

[TMan]

DA, I know photography is playing tricks here, but exactly how long is that barrel?

I guess you need all that porting to handle the heavy recoil of the 22LR's vs the 22 Shorts. ;D

["DoubleAction"]

The barrel is 7 1/2" but very light. Finding aftermarket barrels for the Buckmarks is not an easy search, however, Volquartsen had this one. If there ever were any noticable amount of muzzle flip, using the mini mags, I did not notice and surely don't notice any now. The match chamber on this barrel leaves very little tolerances for any sort of particles, so I really have to keep everything very clean while loading magazines.
This rimfire is so easy to shoot, it is down right boring at the range.

[TMan]

Did you know that Tactical Solutions now carries replacement barrels for the Buckmark? They call them Trail-Lite vs. Pac-Lite.

www.tacticalsol.com/products/Trail-Lite.htm

["DoubleAction"]

TMan; Thanks. The 4" inch bull barrel with the threaded end might prove useful if I could ever convince myself that my local chief or sheriff would sign off on a permit for a sound suppressor bond. No chance in that, these cops deal with far too many drug dealers, gang members, domestic violence reports, and drive by shootings.
I will still keep them in mind and post that in our link pages.

[5ontarget]

I've been trying to think of which handgun I'd get for that kind of money. I knowledge of guns in that price range is pretty small. I don't have that kind of money to spend on one, so I try not to tempt myself by looking.
That being said, I'd probably go with a 1911 of some flavor, as I don't have one in my collection yet. STI, Wilson and Les Baer come to mind, but I don't have any specific models pick out.

I'd also consider a target model .22.

I doubt I'm good enough to notice a major difference between a $2500, and a $5-600 gun. I don't know for sure, I've never shot the expensive guns. I've only handled them at gun counters, gun shows...

["DoubleAction"]

I think we all would want to look at something we don't already have. I would be strongly inclined to pursue a pre-owned SIG P-210. A Korth Revolver would be a sought after piece, but I don't think I would be able to find one at that price.

[TBT]

A Nighthawk Custom 1911. If I can get it in under $2500. I've actually thought about making the plunge and picking one of those up but I need too many guns. That's something to buy after your collection is well on its way. Right now I have no revolver ... no assault riffle ...