What's your favorite non-1911 semi auto CF pistol?

First topic message reminder :

Just curious what some of your favorite non-1911 semi auto CF pistols are. My favorite so far has been the CZ75 platform, I've had a Shadow 2 and traded that into a Accu Shadow. Here's my Accu Shadow. I've also got some interest in the S&W 52, S&W 952 and P210. 

I thought I wanted a Model 52 till I shot one.  I no longer want one.

The Shadow 1 and 2 are upgraded factory pistols. The Accu Shadow 1 or 2 are Shadow pistols run through the CZ Custom shop, it has the 1911 style bushing to improve accuracy as well as a full action job. My Shadow 2 had a good trigger but my Accu Shadow trigger is better.

SMBeyer wrote:I thought I wanted a Model 52 till I shot one.  I no longer want one.

Why is that? Different strokes for different folks i guess. I want one at some point since its such an icon target pistol.

Got to shoot a friends 52 and it is a nice pistol, would like to have one. Another friend has a CZ that is set up for SA only and it is a nice gun to shoot.

zanemoseley wrote:

SMBeyer wrote:I thought I wanted a Model 52 till I shot one.  I no longer want one.

Why is that? Different strokes for different folks i guess. I want one at some point since its such an icon target pistol.

It seems they’re hit-and-miss in the accuracy department.  I was texting Gunny Zins to clarify some Marine Workbook questions and I showed him the attached target.  When he learned it was from a 52 he was impressed.  He said he never saw one that shot well enough for a 2650 shooter.   

I'm surprised you don't have any tipped bullets on that target. I have scored many shooters using a 52 and 99% of them have tipped bullets in the target. I have always found they shoot okay at 25 yards but 50yards I have never seen one that I would consider using for a match. I have never liked the grip, I don't care for the overly arched mainspring housing. I tried several of them and went with a 1911 38 instead because they would group at 50.
Jon

I have heard of people having accuracy issues at 50 especially which is probably why you are Clark and KKM getting into 52 barrels. Truthfully if I got a 52 it would never see a match unless I was doing it for fun. Jon is building me a custom 1911/38 special that I will shoot in matches I hope. 

I wish the 952 didn't command so much money. I guess not nearly as many were made as the 52.

I used to build CZ/TZ's in the early 90's for IPSC. If I ever get time (yeah right) I'd like to build one for BE. I like the grip and can get 2 5# trigger pull that I actually like.
Jon

Gave me a reason to finally get a good picture of this.

Pardini GT45 II

I love 1911s, but this pistol is just something special.  If the 1911 is a Ford F150, then the GT45 is a Lamborghini.  Both are pretty great at being what they are.

my 52-2.

I have a further question along this theme - what guns are the top shooters (HM's, etc.) using for CF?

I've tried:-
S&W M52-2. Very finicky about ammo. Sold.
Walther GSP 32SWL - difficult to get the ammo tuned for 50 yds. Sold.
STI Range Master in 38 Super - very nice with good ammo. But rather heavy. Sold.
And a lot of other "run & gun" models- all sold!

SIG 1911 9mm worked on by Dave Salyer - with good ammo it is very nice. Keep!

I'm currently using a Pardini HP32ACP, but it is also quite finicky about ammo and trigger is tricky to adjust (maybe I'm just a Klutz!) and I found the standard angle grips did not suit me. Recently got an upright (GSP/1911) angle grip that is better. But still not achieving the results I expect.

My mentor advises me to just shoot my 45 wad gun for CF and thereby hopefully improve results for both CF & 45. No doubt that is very sage advice.

What say all of the experts?

Radjag, the majority of seasoned shooters really wanting their best score will be shooting a 1911/45 for CF. That's kind of why I omitted the 1911 platform from the discussion, fact is nearly everyone loves the 1911 platform and most people (me included) shoot their best scores with them, if we included them in the discussion it would be a 1911 thread real quick.

Dear Zane. OK good answer - sorry I don't want to hijack the CF thread and turn it into a 1911 story.

On the subject of M52-2 though it is probably my favorite gun to shoot I only shoot it indoors because it is in fact awful at 50 yards. I thought it was me, lack of follow through or some other fundamental deficiency. However with a dot off of sandbags it was only 9 ring accurate at 50 yards with Federal factory wadcutters. I still love it and my best CF scores indoors are 97 slow fires with the 52-2 and my Colt .38 wadcutter. Both with irons:)

Colt OMM

orpheoet wrote:On the subject of M52-2 though it is probably my favorite gun to shoot I only shoot it indoors because it is in fact awful at 50 yards. I thought it was me, lack of follow through or some other fundamental deficiency. However with a dot off of sandbags it was only 9 ring accurate at 50 yards with Federal factory wadcutters. I still love it and my best CF scores indoors are 97 slow fires with the 52-2 and my Colt .38 wadcutter. Both with irons:)

Clark makes a new barrel and bushing for the 52-2 and guarantees better groups at 50 yards. The barrel and bushing need to be fit to your gun and will cost $375.00 plus fitting. 
https://clarkcustomguns.com/gunsmithing-service-category/sw-model-52-gunsmithing-service/

Jon Eulette wrote:I'm surprised you don't have any tipped bullets on that target. I have scored many shooters using a 52 and 99% of them have tipped bullets in the target. I have always found they shoot okay at 25 yards but 50yards I have never seen one that I would consider using for a match. I have never liked the grip, I don't care for the overly arched mainspring housing. I tried several of them and went with a 1911 38 instead because they would group at 50.
Jon

Mine doesn’t seem to show tipped bullets with Magtech ammo.  My reloads with Bear Creek, Speer and Magnus HBWC do show some tipping but not all.  This target was with Magtech, IIRC.

I look forward to some one other than Clark making 52 barrels. Their dimensions and tolerances are all over the place. All the smiths I've talked to hate fitting them.
Jon

Wasn't KKM supposed to be making S&W 52 barrels? Or maybe that was a rumor.

KKM will not be making them anytime soon. Could be a year or more when I last talked to them. They can hardly keep up now with 1911 barrels.
Jon

bob finger wrote:Smith 745 is my non 1911 favorite.  bob

I have had a 645/745/845 thru the shop, all like new, and  they just don't fit my hand (which saddened me )

otherwise, if it is not a 1911 , 

SIGP series otherwise (P6, P220, P228)

CZ Shadow 2 Accushadow 9mm. Without a doubt it is the finest 9mm target pistol I ever shot. Super nice trigger in single and double action. Workmanship on the pistol is outstanding.