buying guns over the web? **finally bought one!!!** What about ammo????

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
:thumbsup:

Springfield's are in the same price range as Glocks. Yes, they are more than Taurus, but like with anything else you get what you pay for.

While you do always get what you pay for, there are a lot of times that you pay for much more than you get.

I am a salesman, I need to be sold. Blanket statements like "you get what you pay for" mean nothing to me. I like to have nice things but I don't consider something nice exclusively by its price tag.

With all that being said, I just got back from a very well respected gun shop (Al and Bobs). I told the guy exactly what I wanted (concealed carry gun. Most important thing is reliability, then size, then fit, then price)

We started off with the Taurus PT709 slim since that was the one I was most interested in. It fit great in my hand, had a decent size and weight, and I couldn't find anything I didn't like about it. Then we moved on to a couple Glocks. They were much fatter, didn't "feel" as good as the Taurus and were at least $250 more. I also checked out a Springfield that was a very nice gun. It was the only one comparable to the PT709 but it didn't have an external safety and was also $350 more.

I am basically sold on the PT709 slim. Now its just a toss up between what finish (the stainless is a pretty bitch) and .40 vs 9 mil...or both??
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
While you do always get what you pay for, there are a lot of times that you pay for much more than you get.

I am a salesman, I need to be sold. Blanket statements like "you get what you pay for" mean nothing to me. I like to have nice things but I don't consider something nice exclusively by its price tag.

With all that being said, I just got back from a very well respected gun shop (Al and Bobs). I told the guy exactly what I wanted (concealed carry gun. Most important thing is reliability, then size, then fit, then price)

We started off with the Taurus PT709 slim since that was the one I was most interested in. It fit great in my hand, had a decent size and weight, and I couldn't find anything I didn't like about it. Then we moved on to a couple Glocks. They were much fatter, didn't "feel" as good as the Taurus and were at least $250 more. I also checked out a Springfield that was a very nice gun. It was the only one comparable to the PT709 but it didn't have an external safety and was also $350 more.

I am basically sold on the PT709 slim. Now its just a toss up between what finish (the stainless is a pretty bitch) and .40 vs 9 mil...or both??

If the most important thing is reliability, there is a good chance you will be upset with your Taurus. They do have more issues than the other, more expensive, brands. Any gunsmith will tell you that.

Also, how was a Springfield $350 more? Springfields are like 400 something. Is he selling that Taurus for $100?
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
If the most important thing is reliability, there is a good chance you will be upset with your Taurus. They do have more issues than the other, more expensive, brands. Any gunsmith will tell you that.

Also, how was a Springfield $350 more? Springfields are like 400 something. Is he selling that Taurus for $100?

Springfield was $699.
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
I think you're right. I thought it was a Springfield but maybe it was a Sig? I dunno.

I just know that it was well over $300 more than the Taurus.

Why dont you buy online? You could get the Springfield online for the same price as your Taurus in the store.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Why dont you buy online? You could get the Springfield online for the same price as your Taurus in the store.

Because I didn't like it as much as the Taurus.

This is one thing I don't want to settle on. Can you link me to something that shows a higher failure rate in Taurus guns vs others?
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
You really don't want a Taurus. I don't know how many people you need to tell you.
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
just one with an informed opinion. Not rumors or stories they have heard.

I did a quick search and found many forums with people telling their Taurus horror stories. If you took 5 minutes you would find them. You dont see many Sig or Springfield horror stories...you catch my drift
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
Get your Taurus and enjoy it. Look at the bright side, when it fails and you get killed you won't have to worry about complaining about the reliability. I'm not trying to sell you on a brand, pick one. Don't be pinching penny's when you are putting your life into the weapon. When a mugger is coming at you and your Taurus jams is not when you want to thing, damn I should have spent a couple hundred more. Glock, Sig, CZ, Smith and Wesson, Springfield, Ruger, and many others. If it's a range gun then a Taurus is fine. I'm contemplating picking up a Taurus P1911 for a range toy. A Taurus is not a carry gun, end of story.

On a side note, you don't need an external safety. All it is is one more thing to screw up under stress. The only safety you need is between your ears. Keep the finger off the trigger until you want it to go bang. I will never own a pistol other than a 1911 that has a safety.

A PPS wouldn't be my pick of the litter either. It's better since the recall but I don't have complete confidence in them. Honestly I would suggest a revolver. It's your first gun so make it simple. Pull the trigger until it goes bang. If you get a semi you better make damn sure you practice clearance drills before murphy pays you a visit.

I say pick up a Ruger LCR and call it a day. Small, pocketable, and dead nuts reliable.
 
Last edited:

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Get your Taurus and enjoy it. Look at the bright side, when it fails and you get killed you won't have to worry about complaining about the reliability. I'm not trying to sell you on a brand, pick one. Don't be pinching penny's when you are putting your life into the weapon. When a mugger is coming at you and your Taurus jams is not when you want to thing, damn I should have spent a couple hundred more. Glock, Sig, CZ, Smith and Wesson, Springfield, Ruger, and many others. If it's a range gun then a Taurus is fine. I'm contemplating picking up a Taurus P1911 for a range toy. A Taurus is not a carry gun, end of story.

On a side note, you don't need an external safety. All it is is one more thing to screw up under stress. The only safety you need is between your ears. Keep the finger off the trigger until you want it to go bang. I will never own a pistol other than a 1911 that has a safety.

A PPS wouldn't be my pick of the litter either. It's better since the recall but I don't have complete confidence in them. Honestly I would suggest a revolver. It's your first gun so make it simple. Pull the trigger until it goes bang. If you get a semi you better make damn sure you practice clearance drills before murphy pays you a visit.

I say pick up a Ruger LCR and call it a day. Small, pocketable, and dead nuts reliable.

its not my first gun by any means. I grew up shooting rifles and shotguns. I've shot a few (5+??) handguns, so I'm not exactly a rookie. That's why I said I preferred an external safety. The shooting routine I am used to is: 1. raise gun and acquire target 2.check behind target and release safety 3.fire

I'll do some more research, I'm not trying to be small minded. But the one thing I know about ATOT is they tend to flame anything that they don't consider to be top of the line. It wasn't that long ago that they were flaming people hard...really hard for even thinking about buying a Vizio TV or a Kia car. Now there are a good percentage of those same people that own those things.

I'm not trying to be cheap, I'm just trying not to waste money. I've got a little over a month before I can carry legally, so I've got plenty of time to change my mind.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
I never use the safety on my guns that have external safeties (H&K) when carrying. One more thing to think about when you're thinking isn't working so good.
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
its not my first gun by any means. I grew up shooting rifles and shotguns. I've shot a few (5+??) handguns, so I'm not exactly a rookie. That's why I said I preferred an external safety. The shooting routine I am used to is: 1. raise gun and acquire target 2.check behind target and release safety 3.fire

I'll do some more research, I'm not trying to be small minded. But the one thing I know about ATOT is they tend to flame anything that they don't consider to be top of the line. It wasn't that long ago that they were flaming people hard...really hard for even thinking about buying a Vizio TV or a Kia car. Now there are a good percentage of those same people that own those things.

I'm not trying to be cheap, I'm just trying not to waste money. I've got a little over a month before I can carry legally, so I've got plenty of time to change my mind.

Springfield/Glock are not top of the line by any means. They are middle of the road, but very high quality and reliability.
 
Last edited:

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Springfield/Glock are not not of the line by any means. They are middle of the road, but very high quality and reliability.

can you link me to a couple that you would suggest? I'm looking for something small enough to carry but not a pocket pistol.

Thanks man!