In keeping with our discussion of 1911s and third generation smiths, here are my nominees for the handgun awards:
Prettiest Gun
The prettiest handgun I have ever owned is a Taurus PT945. This isn’t the actual one. I sold it 20 years ago. I just like the combo of wood, stainless gun, and brass colored accents. This could easily be a BBQ gun.
Best recoil
The handgun that had the best recoil was a Sig Sauer P229 in black stainless .357Sig. That thing recoiled straight back with no real muzzle flip. It won me a few IDPA trophies, back when I was shooting them in matches in the early aughts. The lack of flip allowed for very fast follow-on shots.
Most Recoil
Using full power Buffalo Bore ammo, my M&P10’s recoil is what I describe as ‘snappy’ and is the most recoil I’ve felt from a handgun. Hey, I haven’t shot a 500S&W yet, so there may be more to this…
Worst Trigger
Hands down, the worst trigger I ever had on a handgun was a Taurus Millennium. It felt like you were using your finger to drag a metal plate across a gravel parking lot.
Best Trigger
This is where 1911s shine. My Kimber Ultra TLE II is by far the best trigger I have ever felt on a handgun.
Does anyone else have ideas for handgun awards?
I’ve owned and carried dozens of different handguns in every defense caliber since I first began CCW in 1989. So let’s hear some ideas, because you all know I will be happy to give you my opinions…
19 Comments
Badfrog · August 31, 2026 at 4:02 am
Best grip. Tie between a GP-35 and a CZ75
Joe Blow · August 31, 2026 at 5:49 am
Interesting RE: the Sig… I’m a Smith man myself, but have been considering a Sig plastic fantastic if the free cashflow were to allow. I’ve got .357Magnum revolvers… I was looking at that round for the next gun (9mm is already covered), and considering the Sig line.
Georgiaboy61 · August 31, 2026 at 8:19 pm
The 357 Sig is a great cartridge, albeit one which is declining in popularity. A lot of its mojo in the marketplace has probably been stolen by 10mm Auto, but the 357 Sig is still a top performer as a LE and personal defense cartridge. The hotter +P 9x19mm loads now approach its bottom end in terms of power, but the healthier 357 Sig loads are still substantially more potent.
RIck Duplichan · August 31, 2026 at 6:56 am
Believe it or not, the best handgun trigger I have come across is on a Kel Tek PMR30. Better than any of my 1911’s.
JimmaJoe · August 31, 2026 at 7:47 pm
I believe it!!
Himself · August 31, 2026 at 7:05 am
I think the best trigger I’ve seen, in the double action category, was a Colt python. Smooth as butter. Pretty damn handsome gun also.
It's just Boris · August 31, 2026 at 7:19 am
The “interesting thought…” award: Taurus Curve.
J J · August 31, 2026 at 8:26 am
“Best Overall Pistol” is my Sig P229 Legion DA/SA in 9mm. I changed the factory trigger springs to lighter ones. The most consistently accurate pistol I own. I say it makes me a better shooter than I actually am.
JebTexas · August 31, 2026 at 11:45 am
Best factory single action trigger: Dan Wesson Revolver in .44 mag
Best Trigger: Glock 19 g5 (hate Glocks even tho I own one) w/ Timney trigger
Worst: Springfield 1911 in .45…”drag a metal plate across a gravel parking lot.” Indeed!
WDS · August 31, 2026 at 11:57 am
How about we rate plinker pistols?
The very first pistol I ever bought was a Ruger MK1 Sadly, it had too many feed issues, sold it to a gunsmith friend. Bought a NIB S&W 622 in 1989. the thing has had God only knows how many rounds through it. It’s very light, handles & points well. It also digests whatever brand of .22 I put in the magazine and btw, it is also a good candidate for a suppressor IF you can find the adaptor for the barrel.
Divemedic · August 31, 2026 at 12:40 pm
The Sig Mosquito I have is a pile of garbage. It is more finicky about ammo than a 1911. The M&P22 is fair to middlin. It’s OK, but nothing to get excited about. My favorite plinker is the lever action .22 I’ve had since I was a child.
Chris · August 31, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Hands down for me is the browning bl-22 lever gun my pops bought me for my 9th bday. A little short now at 59yrs old, but I still have it and it’s still as accurate from day one.
WDS · September 1, 2026 at 10:17 am
I also have the old man’s Browning .22 target pistol. 4″ & 6″ interchangeable barrels. I don’t shoot her too often, it’s more of a sentimental piece IYKWIM.
Mark Gowen · August 31, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Best EDC gun?
Best (non AR) rifle for fun/sport/defense?
Favorite gun, for no practical reason?
Divemedic · August 31, 2026 at 3:08 pm
I think EDC gun is dependent on many things. Each person is going to have one gun that’s their favorite and is the one they shoot best.
My favorite gun for fun? That’s the gun I’ve owned the longest.
Meanoldfart · August 31, 2026 at 5:44 pm
The best stock, unmodified trigger I ever shot was a Union Switch & Signal M1911A1 that I qualified with at Camp Margarita. I would have dearly loved to have taken that home w/me, but the Marine Corps frowns on that sort of thing. They were still using M1911A1s when I finished my last hitch so I never shot a GI issue M9 Beretta. I did get my hands on a Taurus PT99 Stainless which I thoroughly enjoy shooting & keep by the bedside crammed w/147gr. HP’s but it’s too big a concealed carry weapon & I stick w/an AMT Hardballer for that. The best recoiling & most elegant (to me) is a Pietta Remington 1858 Target model w/adjustable Ruger Blackhawk type target sights. I got a Kirst Pale Rider conversion Cylinder set w/ a ring plus .45 ACP and .45 LC 5 shot cylinders & a Howell 6 shot .45 LC cylinder. A lot of people find the Remington pattern SA revolvers top heavy & the grip angle odd, but it fits my pudgy little rat paws very well. It’s essentially a range toy, but even w/cowboy loads it’ll thump the shit out of a hog, especially w/Winchester 250 gr. Lead RN loads. The worst recoiling was a nickle plated S&W M29 .44 mag w/a 6 in. barrel that I got cheap back in the early ’80’s. I got a ton of .44 Russian cowboy loads very cheap a while back & let the kids shoot it at family events so they can tell everyone they shot a real .44 magnum.
Steady Steve · August 31, 2026 at 5:56 pm
I agree on the Sig 229. I have the Elite model and also have the .40 S&W barrel which makes it like owning 2 different guns in the way it feels between the 2 calibers. For best trigger my Kimber TLE RL 2 with threaded barrel which is awesome with a can on it and Winchester Super Suppressed in the mag. My EDC is a Walther PPQ M2 in 9mm, accurate and has an excellent trigger.
Sardaukar · September 1, 2026 at 5:04 pm
What I consider to be the worse pistol I have ever owned was a HK VP70 in 9mm. Bought it brand new in late 1970’s.18rd magazines. Was originally designed for the West German border police to fire 3rd bursts with a shoulder stock/ holster attached. (Mine was Semi-auto only). The first of the Teutonic plastic fantastic ‘Wonder 9’s invasion. The trigger pull was 13 lb.s. I sent it to HK and after 3 months they returned it saying nothing was wrong with it, perhaps I should do more hand exercises. 🤬 I managed to get it down to 12 lb.s by teflon coating the metal parts and using a synthetic lube. That was it. There wasn’t any metal you could’ve polished or removed to get it better. The sights were also really odd and not intuitive. I sold it a year later for almost what I paid for it.
I think this pistol gave rise to the saying “HK, because you suck and we hate you”.
My favorite fun gun is my Dad’s old M-1 carbine he bought when discharged after WW2. Grandkids always enjoy shooting it too.
Favorites. – Area Ocho · August 31, 2026 at 3:39 pm
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