Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns The perfect handgun, right out of the box!!!

In your opinion, are there any handguns that are absolutely perfect right out of the box? I mean NO modifications needed whatsoever???

For me: S&W's 4" 617 K-22 revolver. While most gun snobs turn their noses at the presence of MIM internals, I say it's exactly those MIM internals that make this fun absolutely perfect right out of the box. The MIM parts are so precise that the action of my 617 is as smooth as any pre-war S&W just the way it sits. I mean, I'm a gunsmith so an action job costs me absolutely nothing, and yet in 10 years of ownership I have NEVER so much as taken the side plate off of the gun. Springs are a bit stiff but that's because it's a rimfire. Yes I could lighten that up some but it really doesn't bother me at all. I think of it as a training aid for "mere mortal" revolvers. If EVERY DA revolver I owIned feels like a Python, I may not shoot a borrowed gun too well. But heavy springs and all, I have won several matches shooting DA against people with match tuned Rugers, and even against a guy with a Pardini (shame on him)

The Hogue rubber grips contrast nicely with the stainless finish, and are comfortable. The finger grooves are a touch small for my mitts, but they still work out quite well, so I've never felt a need to replace them.

The only criticism I can lodge is the accuracy, which is good, but not great. It won't hold up to the old K-22's, and a Ruger Standard at just under half the price will almost halve the groups. Now that's not because my 617 is so inaccurate, but because even the lowly Ruger Standard will pull 3/4" groups at 25 yards if you do your job. Really quite remarkable when you think about it. The best my 617 will do is 1.40 at 25 yards with premium target ammo. But it will do 1.56" with CCI mini mags, so handgun hunting squirrels is very doable. In fact the worst group it has ever produced is still well under 2".

Now you sentimental sorts would be quick to say they just don't make them like they used to, but wait. The legendary reputation of the K-22 came from match bullseye shooting...and truth be told most match shooters would shoot only from the most accurate chamber, using the six gun as a single shot. Still the old guns were more accurate, but not because they were made better but because they only had to align 6 chambers, where the new 617 has to alIgn ten. To do that you do lose a very small bit of accuracy, but gain 40% more ammo capacity and easily 200% more fun if you're a DA shooter.

So there you are, the model 617 by Smith & Wesson. A truely perfect handgun, right out of the box.

So what's your idea of a perfect handgun right out of the box. Remarkably, I can think of several others. That means times are very good for handgunners.

Hence the "Colt Camp Perry"

Glad you like your gun!! I would too!!

As a combat gun the Glock comes SO close...but those horrendous plastic sights ruin it. And the M&P is just as close as the Glock...but then there's that silly trigger with the hinging lower half that's supposed to be some sort of "safety" device...they're joking right?

The Ruger Mk III's and Browning Buckmarks can give a couple lifetimes of outstanding service with absolutely no modification. Accuracy is superb, triggers aren't perfect but more than serviceable, and they're very reliable. What's more, depending on which model you buy, they can each be very handsome pieces to boot.

Many Sig's are nearly ideal in out of the box condition if you are okay with the traditional semi-auto DA trigger action. If it fits your hand, the CZ-75 is perfectly adequate right out of the box, and so is the Beretta M9 (rather large, but quite serviceable)

There are many 1911's out there that can be "perfect" right out of the box.

Unfortunately my favorite auto pistol, the Browning Hi-Power doesn't make the list because of the safety lever. If you do a proper hold with thumb resting on the safety, the rear section of that oh-so-poorly thought out "ambi" will punish you.

That "Perfect" 1911 would be called a Les Baer. I'm sure many here that own one would agree.

People do mods mainly because they "want" to, not because they have to. With the exception of having to adjust the sights, I've never had to modify a gun I'd purchased to get it to be reliable or accurate. I've only done so to personalize it.

Les Baer 1911

A few.

The Smith M25-2



The Smith P&R'd M629



And the second handgun I bought when I was 17, a M63.

I would say Glock and HK's. I haven't owned a 1911 yet but one is on the list, so I can't comment.

Any Colt Custom Shop piece. Keep it "in the box". The hell with Wall street,gold,silver.

What grips are on the Model 63? I have a couple of 4" j frames that could stand that treatment...

My suggestion would be the Ruger SBH Hunter model. It comes with two grip styles, one of which will fit almost any hand. And it is perfectly suited for the task it was built and named for.

Ruger Single-Six (convertible) 22 LR / 22 WMR.

I had a Colt Officers Model Match 22 LR
which was more technically perfect and accurate -
but the little Ruger SA is more perfect fun.

I agree to with Kevin about Glocks. The stock sights suck. However, with the factory night sights I think they qualify as perfect for duty carry without modification.

By the way, nice to see you on the board again Kevin. It has been slow in the handgun forums lately.

-Z

tominboise-

I was think'n the same thing. nice grips!

I love my 63's. Counting working on farm, fish'n, I probably have carried them more than anything.

Until the Hogs Came!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wife's S&W Model 34-1 right out of the box has always worked.

Any top-of-the-line 1911 usually works right out of the box. If I can get my Wilson Custom I'm sure that'll work right out of the box as they use all machined steel parts, no MIM in a Wilson any more.

I'd have to have a big box.

I can't live with less than I have.

Too many different uses for them. Like you need a tool box, not a single adjustable wrench.

I had a Ruger MK2 Gvt. bull barrel. Most accurate out of the box handgun I owned. Test target was an indication of how accurate it was. Never touched the sights either.

My SW 625 was perfect out of the box, have not changed a thing. My most recent glock is a gen 4 22 and it was close but would still swap out for a ghost rocket and sights.

I agree the Les Baer would be perfect out of the box and for the price I would expect that.

Only two at the house that I have not felt the need to change anything. A High Standard Supermatic Citation, perfect as it came from the box. Did not even need the adjustable trigger adjusted. In 30 years all I have done is shot it. Last year I did replace the recoil spring, as it is considered maintenance. Second is the wife's S&W Model 60, She loves it just as it came. Perhaps the DA could be lightened a bit with a spring kit, but it is not bad at all as it came. Other J frames I have had were not as good.

I have no idea. A cheap gunshow junk box find and they are darn nice in the hand.