josh99ta

Thanks guys, and I appreciate the props on the photography as well. It's a hobby of mine (along with cars, trucks, and motorcycles), although it's all taken a back seat in recent years to golf and guns (I still want another bike though). This gun blued doesn't look so hot, but in stainless it makes a really nice contrast against the polymer frame I think. I hear a lot of complaints about the looks but to me it's a sexy gun in stainless. Haven't thought of a name for her yet. I feel like she definitely needs one. I have to think of a good one for though, something sexy but with an attitude. Hmmm...I'm thinking Roxy fits pretty well.

Gun porn of my new toy and first ever handgun purchase, the Ruger KP95PR. I've always enjoyed shooting shotguns for sport but never have been a big fan of handguns, but now that it's my own handgun and it's for the protection of my home it's a lot more enjoyable to shoot than handguns in the past. Broke it down and cleaned it really well today and decided to snap some quick pictures. Only put 50 rounds through it but I can't wait to get back to the range and get some more time with it. Having a tough time keeping my hands off of it. LOL

I'll get on the pictures ASAP guys. I am a photographer on the side so hopefully I can get some good shots soon. I was using a two handed grip, but I golf so I'm used to not gripping too tight and keeping everything loose. Obviously with shotguns you don't really have to grip it, just hold it firmly. Any input on what to use to clean/lubricate it, or is it all pretty much the same? I'm loving this gun so far. I can't keep my hands off of it. I think the wife is jealous. LOL Totally different shooting a pistol when it's your own gun. I enjoy it a lot more than I have shooting pistols in the past.

Apologizes Bearman, I must have confused posts because the person I thought I was replying to there had a few Glocks listed in their signature. The P95 is definitely a blocky pistol, no argument there. I just thought the person telling me that was complaining about it, and thought they were a Glock-shooter, which is even more blocky than the Ruger to my hand. Sorry for the confusion. The P95 vs. Cougar debate is a moot point now. Bought a Ruger P95 with stainless slide yesterday. Also picked up a Hogue grip since it's a polymer gun and I've heard reports of the grip getting slick. Since it's not going to be a CCW weapon I keep on my person I didn't care about the slight extra bulk, and it makes the gun feel perfect in hand (even more perfect than it already felt). Shot 50 rounds yesterday too. I've heard of Ruger's having failure to feed issues if they're not cleaned before being shot because of the grease and oil from the factory. I didn't clean mine before shooting and sure enough I had a few FTFs. I was shooting cheap ammo, Blazer Luger 9mm target junk, but I don't think that had anything to do with it other than the gun wasn't cleaned before being shot. The FTFs were my technique I think (gotta keep those wrists firm and that gun down). Once I got my technique corrected it was rocking and rolling. I'm a shotgun shooter, never been terribly accurate with a pistol, but I was shooting every so slightly left and up of where I was aiming, but very consistent, tight 3" patterns at 10, 15, and 20 yards. Not bad for a cheap gun and a rookie handgun guy. The gun fits my eye very well and shoots great. I'm only left and up a little because of my own technique, not the gun. Shot a Sig P220 also. I had just as tight of patterns with the Ruger as I did with the Sig. Not bad for a gun that was less than half the price of the Sig. Overall I couldn't be happier with my first handgun purchase.

I'm leaning more and more towards the Ruger here guys. Simply for the reason that this will be one of only a few handguns I plan on owning (I want a revolver for myself too and a CCW gun down the road, plus finding something for my wife that she is comfortable with which may end up being my revolver). I'm just more of a long gun shooter. It gets my blood pumping. Shooting handguns doesn't do much for me, but it's a skill I want to develop for obvious safety reasons. I can't tell the different between a $50 and $100 bottle of champagne, even though I'm sure the $100 is better, to my palette the might as well be the same. If I hadn't ran across the Stoeger the Ruger would be the clear cut choice all day long against a lot of guns I handled that people would put well ahead of the Ruger. If I was used to shooting the Stoeger I may have trouble going to the Ruger, but since they're both new to me I'm sure I'll be just fine with the Ruger. It also affords me more free money towards ammo and accessories, which is always a bonus too.

Also it's been pointed out to me that revolvers are great for home defense as you never have to worry about FTF or anything like that. If you were looking at revolvers in the $350-400 price point or less, and you liked the feel of the Ruger P95 and Stoeger Cougar, what revolvers would you recommend I look at? I didn't hold any revolvers today nor have I ever even shot one.

I haven't heard any reports of Beretta/Stoeger customer service. I will have to research that. I have always heard good things about Ruger customer service. Ruger is American-made, which is a bonus to me personally.

It's hard enough to find a place that has Stoegers around here much less find one to actually shoot. I doubt I'll be able to shoot it before purchase. I can probably locate a Ruger to shoot. It would be a good way to either seal the deal for the Ruger or turn me away from it towards the Stoeger. Not really worried about resale. I pretty much plan to buy quality firearms that I'll keep for a long, long time. Something you can never really have enough of IMO. You shoot Glocks and think the Ruger is blocky? I do not like the ergonomics of Glocks. They just don't feel right in my hand. The Ruger is on a bigger frame with a bigger grip, but actually fits my hand well. I find it odd that you'd commend the Stoeger for being not as blocky yet own Glocks. Could you be a little more specific as to why you'd prefer the Stoeger? Both feel great in my hands, albeit different. I find the grip to be just right to get a good grip on the gun. The trigger complaints I haven't heard though. I've actually heard the trigger on the Ruger is very nice, but that's just from internet research and a lot of forum opinions. Care to elaborate what complaints people have with the trigger? What didn't you like about the P95? How do you think the Cougar would be better? Just trying to get some solid, detailed info as it's my money (and potentially my life as it'll be a primary home defense weapon) on the line.

That's what I lean towards simply because the Ruger fits my eye better. In my experience that's a pretty important feature. LOL The Stoeger felt better balanced, on par with the three-times-more-expensive Sig Sauer P220, but the Ruger didn't have a loaded clip in it either which would balance it out some. Breakdown/re-assembly is important too as it's my first handgun, I would like to keep things simple. Still though that Stoeger just felt so good to handle.

I hate to be the newbie making the "This vs. That" thread but it's decision time on buying my first handgun and I'm hoping for a little first hand experience from some more knowledgeable people. I did a lot of running around today checking out a lot of different guns. I found out I really don't like compacts too much, and I hate subcompacts. To my hand I like a full framed gun, probably because that's what I've always shot if I shot a handgun. The absolute top two guns I checked out today for my hands and my eye were the Ruger P95 and the Stoeger Cougar. I actually ran across the Stoeger at my last stop as most places didn't have it in stock. I thought the Ruger P95 felt better than any of the Glock, S&W, Springfield Armory, and Taurus guns I held by a considerable margin. Luckily I ran across the Stoeger because it was a dream to handle. It felt every bit as good as my buddy's Sig Sauer P220 and for half the price. So now I'm down to the Ruger P95 or the Stoeger Cougar 9. I want the most reliable gun possible. Primary uses are for a glove box/nightstand gun that I can also have fun with at the range. CCW isn't high on the list right now, down the road I'll probably get a compact or subcompact just to cover that base, but for now I want a gun that feels good to me. To me the Stoeger felt better in hand, felt like a more high quality gun. The Ruger's sights did line up better to my eye though by a little bit. Price wise the Ruger is about $70 less, and since the sights fit my eye better and the P95 has a reputation for extreme reliability I tend to lean towards it, but I do really like the feel of the Stoeger. What do you guys think?

Hello, hello. Figured I'd make my introductory post. I'm the new guy from Nashville. I grew up in Joelton not two miles from where the Academy of Self Protection is. I've lived all over Middle TN and spent some time in Bowling Green too. Currently I don't own any guns, but am in the process of making a decision on what to buy. A lot of people in my family hunt, myself included, and I'm much more of a shotgun guy. Not much into deer hunting but I love bird hunting (especially quail and pheasant, anything with the dogs gets my blood running). I bought my first home back in July in Cane Ridge and I'm looking to buy a few self-defense items that I can also enjoy at the range or out shooting clay pigeons. I'm going to pick up a Mossberg 500 for a cheap, fun gun to shoot and also for home defense if the need ever arises, and hope to pick up a nice over/under soon as my primary hunting gun. I'm having a much tougher time selecting a handgun though. Got it narrowed down to a Ruger P95 or a Stoeger Cougar 9mm. What do you guys think?