Best Gun for Target Shooting - What's Your Experience?

[XDS45]

Here is a topic that I'm sure will draw a deep and wide range of opinions: I am looking to make a purchase of a 5th handgun. I currently have my CHL and carry an XD-S .45 Single Stack or a S&W Bodyguard 380 (depending on my attire). I also have a Colt 1911 Series 70 9mm Gov Model, and a Ruger New Model .22 Revolver. Obviously, the Colt and Ruger are the most accurate... But, I would hate to run hundreds of rounds through the Colt and the .22 isn't very much fun to shoot (it's mostly my daughters gun when we go to the range.)

All that being said, I *think* I want to get a .40. I know that when shooting in a competition it is probably not a good choice, but I mostly want to compete on a friendly level with friends out on the ranch. (knock down 6 steel targets while being timed). So, I'm looking for advice on a particular model of a .40 that would be fun, smooth, accurate and durable. Recommendations based on experience with several types of guns would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time! Be safe and have a plan!

[RX8er]

Have you considered adding a revolver to your collection? A nice 357/38 would be a nice tool in the shed.

[Iunnrais]

Just got my first revolver after several semi-autos and it was a blast at the range :) Definitely up there on the fun factor.

[A-R]

Nothing recommended will be more accurate or fun to shoot as a range-only gun than a 9mm 1911.

That said, if you simply must have a .40 (not my favorite cartridge to shoot for fun - lot of recoil and muzzle flip compared to 9mm and .45) any of the big three brand's full-size duty guns would work

Glock 22 ( Gen 4 will have slightly better recoil characteristics and grin ergonomics)

Springfield XDM .40

Smith & Wesson M&P .40

Could also look into a 1911 in .40

[NordicTexan]

Hmm, its funny because I also alternate between the XDS and the S&W bodyguard for carry guns.

I like my XDM in 9mm at the range, but I also have a great time with my Walther P22. With the 22 i think its all about what you are doing. My brother in Law and I will often shoot at the splater targets that are the dart board (where we play traditional cricket), Battleship and then one that looks like a donkey dressed as a canidate for office ( we play a game with that one where we call donkey but is really horse, called shots ie "his left cuff link).

We have a lot of fun, and it forces us to use good fundamentals and at least in the past, 22LR isn't too expensive to shoot.

[Teamless]

As my Brother In Law (Nordic Texan) has just posted, we have a LOT of fun with the .22's
Of all my guns, if it were not for the need to carry a defensive weapon, I would say my Ruger Mark III 22/45 is the most fun handgun I own.

I also has a Sig Sauer 522 (AR-22) which is tons of fun as well, but the Ruger 22/45 is the tops in my book

[QB]

I don't have any .40 caliber suggestions but I've had great target shooting fun with the following:

H&K Expert 9mm
H&K Elite 9mm
Sig P210-6 Heavy 9mm
SVI (Infinity) .38 Super with ported Schumann barrels
S&W 952 9mm
Witness Elite .38 Super
Colt Special Combat Competition .45ACP & .38 Super
Beretta Stock 9mm (good luck finding one of those)
SIG P226 Stock 9mm (won't find one of those easily either)
SIG X-Five 9mm

Also had a CZ 9mm Champion.......or something like that, will have to check as I can't quite remember, but they don't make them anymore, they've been replaced with something else.

ALL of the above guns made me look like I actually knew what I was doing and are fabulous shooters

[TeXJ]

My Sig 2022 is fun to shoot. Online there is a guy that bought a little handgun that shoots .25acp. Now that looks like fun

[JALLEN]

It depends on the target shooter. We used to have a fellow who shot Bullseye Matches with a group at the local range every week. He was in a wheelchair, and used a Ruger Mark II, stock, the plainest semi-auto there is, not even a bull barrel, to shoot very competitive scores week after week, while most of the rest of us fretted and searched for a "better gun" to raise our sometimes drab scores, blamed it on the sights being misaligned. I even had a box of ammo on one occasion that was so underpowered it wouldn't even make holes in the paper targets!

Even the cheapest, most ordinary, well made pistol is accurate enough to get good scores, if you do your part.

[n5wd]

... I *think* I want to get a .40. I know that when shooting in a competition it is probably not a good choice, but I mostly want to compete on a friendly level with friends out on the ranch. (knock down 6 steel targets while being timed). So, I'm looking for advice on a particular model of a .40 that would be fun, smooth, accurate and durable. Recommendations based on experience with several types of guns would be greatly appreciated.

You might want to take a look at the Sprinfield 5.25" XD(m), which is available in 9mm, .45 and 40 . Designed with input from Rob Latham ( a pretty serious competitor in his own right ), it's got great ergonomics, weight is where most folks seem to want it, with fibre optic front sights and adjustable rear sights. A lot of folks tune theirs up with competition triggers, but mine did what I wanted right outta the box (I'm shooting the 9mm version). The extra barrel length really helps -it makes me shoot better than I really am.

[WhiteFeather]

.22 Ruger MK (whatever) cheap to shoot accurate lots of up grades ......

Here's my personal favorite MKII Pack-Lite bull-barrel, Clark built lower, Burris Fast Fire optic and a Sparrow suppressor




I've shot thousands and thousands of rounds thru this little dandy

[C-dub]

.22 Ruger MK (whatever) cheap to shoot accurate lots of up grades ......

Here's my personal favorite MKII Pack-Lite bull-barrel, Clark built lower, Burris Fast Fire optic and a Sparrow suppressor

[ Image ]


I've shot thousands and thousands of rounds thru this little dandy

And you were what, an assassin in a previous life?

That sure is purdy.

My dad has a Mark II that he is still unwilling to part with. So, desiring a .22 handgun, I ended up getting a Colt Gold Cup just this past weekend on sale at Cabela's. I will take it to the range this Sunday. Based on others' reviews it should shoot well and be fun to shoot. I do not have a lot of experience with handguns. I had a Glock 22 & 27 for about 10 years and I liked them just fine until I shot a .45. I compete with my Glock 21SF and would rather shoot it or the 30SF than any .40 now. I do not have a 9mm and have only shot one a couple of times. It's okay, but since I carry a .45 and enjoy shooting them I don't see a need to get a 9mm. Although, I think my BIL wishes I had a 9mm now, because if I did I would have some ammo stocked that he could shoot too.

Anyway, I would agree that just standing there shooting at a stationary target is boring with just about any gun. Get thyself to a club or range that will let you do different things or that has different types of events like IDPA or .22 2-gun matches or 3-gun. I saw my first .22 2-gun match last weekend and that kicked the hunt for a .22 handgun into overdrive and had one by noon the next day. I am really looking forward to my first 2-gun match. For shotguns, try 5-stand, sporting clays, skeet, or trap. I've been doing 5-stand with mine and have had a lot of fun so far. A friend, The Marshal, took me to the skeet and trap range one day and that was fun too. He's taking me back next month.

However, as far as just standing there at a regular range, maybe you could try some games. I've seen some targets that have a small deck of cards on them. You could play poker with a shooting buddy at a distance that would make it challenging.

[Skiprr]

I understand the .40 S&W option. I've taken several handgun classes that involved metal spinners. If you want a pistol round that will get heavy metal spinning--or stop it with one shot--the .40 and the 10mm are your best bets.

Mind you, I love my .45s, but a 180- or 200-grain .40 at 1,050 ft/s will swing metal better than just about any other round common for semi-autos. A Buffalo Bore 10mm 180-grain out of a five-inch barrel will generate 1,399 ft/s; but it will also be more difficult to control for follow-ups.

My aforementioned courses were all shot with a Glock 35. But I own several Springfield XD(m)s and would highly recommend them. If your interest is spinning steel, buy your .40 with at least a five-inch barrel: longer barrel, greater muzzle velocity.