So, I am pretty damn well settled into 9mm Glocks as my platform of choice. I own 5 (+ a gen 4 g35) and have tons of mags and support gear and proprietary sight tools and yada yada. They aren't going anywhere is the bottom line.
That said, I have found myself more and more wanting a metal framed handgun that I can 'fall in love with' a little more, and ideally a platform that will help me expand my handgun repertoire + skill via a new trigger system (SAO, DAO, SA/DA, etc). This is of course going to take backseat to skill building with the guns I already own, but as I am meeting my financial targets and finding more money on the side, I want to start thinking about buying into a second platform that will complement my Glocks.
Logistically, I have tons of 9mm, but am also already sort of bought into S&W revolvers, too. I have a J frame that I consider indispensible and a Model 19-3 that is one of my favorite handguns of all time. I have a modest amount of .38 ammo (ball and JHP) lying around, so this might something to consider. That said, I also do have a shitty .45 1911 (RIA Tactical 5") that I could use as a backup/training gun if I decided to buy into 1911s..
As for qualities I am looking for in the new platform (more or less in order of priority)-
1. Must be reliable, durable, easy to maintain. I can't always be frustrated that it's not working or I won't love it (and the whole point is to love it).
2. Secondary to the above, I must be comfortable carrying this gun (or a smaller derivative within the same platform).
3. I want it to be purty. Steel or aluminum frame and ideally with wood grips that don't make it the thickness of a baseball bat.
4. Secondary to the above, I have smaller hands, so humungo pistols with long LOPs are sorta out.
5. Ideally chambered in 9mm or .38/.357, but .45 is on the table as per above.
6. I sort of like the idea of this second platform being a "ban state" alternative (i.e. 10 rounds or less). I am about to renew my CT CCW permit as my parents live there and I may have occasion to visit them and may want to bring gun with. Also would be nice to have on deck in case I end up relocating to a ban state, or the ban state comes to me (I do live in CO, after all, so the threat is real).
7. Sort of interested in either a revolver, DAO or SA/DA platform, as I've found my work with the M19 has directly improved my marksmanship with glocks.
With that in mind, here are what I have considered with pros and cons below:
1. S&W Revolvers (S&W 640 Pro, then maybe a 3" fixed sight K frame, and buying similar, older smiths as they appear)
+Amazing triggers and downright beautiful guns.
+I already own 2 no-lock smiths
+Chambered in a caliber I support
+Good training for my J frame, which I do continue to use somewhat regularly
+Older fixed sight smiths can still be found for cheap online (i.e. 4" Model 10s/64s)
-Not interested in current production Hillary Hole smiths as defense guns, which limits a lot of my search to the used market
-Though I love revolvers, they have drawbacks vs. bottom feeders for self defense.
-Options for changing out sights + putting in tritiums are limited and spendy for most models, esp. the pre-lock
-My ideal carry smiths - the 3" K frames with adjustable sights - are not easy to come by or cheap when they can be found
2. Ruger Revolvers (4.2" GP100 +/- Match Champion, and a SP101, +/- a 3" for carry)
+Current production Rugers are great - no hillary hole
+GP100s are built like tanks. Nuf said.
+Less expensive than S&W Revolvers as a whole
+Front sight can be easily swapped on newer 4" GP100s.
+Chambered in a caliber I support
- triggers aren't as nice as S&Ws, but this is a minor consideration as they can still get pretty darn good
- I own a J frame already, so I'd have to consider manual of arms differences + buy an SP101 to offset the J
- Same revolver vs autoloader drawbacks as above
3. 1911s (9mm or .45, a 5" govt and probably a 4.25" for carry)
+Definitely fulfill the tinkerer/passion of the gun bit.
+I own a 1911 that, while kind of crappy, works well enough to be a decent training gun.
+Used 1911s can be pretty often found on gunbroker for a steal if you look long enough
+Good ban state bottom feeder option
-All of the usual 1911 problems
-I'd prefer a 9mm but add on to that the extra work of getting the 9mm to run
-While you can get good deals on a 1911, that doesn't obviate the work and money I'll have to put into getting them to work.
-as a correlate to the above, good 1911s = $$
-I actually don't love the SAO trigger? I find I shoot much better with DA style triggers for whatever reason.
- .45 would be cheaper and easier to support, but ammo is spendier and .45 is harder to shoot well than 9mm
- 4-4.25" guns will be spendier and might be harder to get running
4. SIG Sauer Classic series (p229, P226, P239, P225)
+Modern platform with lots of support that is known to be reliable
+Fulfills the pretty factor, especially if I get one of the single stacks, as I can tolerate the thicker wood grips on those more easily
+SA/DA trigger that I actually quite like, though it will be sort of hard to transition
+I can buy 9mm SIGs, which saves me a lot of money as I have 9mm stacked nice and deep for now
-On the spendier side vs. some of the revolver options
-Buying into P229s would mean no wood grips (too thick)
-Splitting my money between double and single stack SIGs means 2x as many mags
5. Berettas (Not sure which model but ideally a 92D or 92G, +/- a compact)
+ Pretty factor is there
+ Reliable FS guns with readily available 15rd mags
+ Chambered in 9mm
-Very thick with long triggers for my hands, especially with wood grips
-Does not fulfill ban state carry role
-Standard 92s with the fixed front sight drive me up the wall. Not being able to easily change out the front sight will make me crazy.
6. CZs (CZ P01, PCR, and maybe P07 for practical backup version)
+ Pretty factor is there
+ Known element, wide aftermarket
+ They have both metal and polymer guns with very similar ergos so I can buy into the plastic guns as daily drivers if that makes sense long term
+ Relatively inexpensive
+ Chambered in 9mm
-Some reliability issues are known
-Sight options are kinda limited
-Does not fulfill ban state criteria
-Longer LOP than SIGs but shorter than berettas
So, what say you? Anything I haven't thought about? Again, I will be doing this in as much of a planned/controlled fashion as possible - ideally as I make progress on other financial goals of mine - so I am going to try to plan this out as carefully as possible. Any/all input is welcome.