Shopping for handgun

[Glenn G]

They make something similar today, but from what I've read they can damage the rifling in your barrels.

Yeah if the case were to rupture in the barrel it would do some damage, I only ever shot them out of my Cheapo HI-Point .45 I bought to test ammo I wouldn't dare put in my USP, I actually ended up loving that gun, never had a single malfunction after thousands of rounds and I think I cleaned it once, It was blow back operated and heavy so the felt recoil was nice and I could shoot all day without alot of fatigue.

Hell that gun is in the same box in the basement as those slugs! Haven't thought about it in years, Next time I'm home I'll go put some lead downrange and tell you how it did, if it still works without a jam I'll see if I can somehow get it back to Germany with me. (I doubt it but I can try)

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[Big Boss]

I have been feeling the need lately to pick up some protection. This Thanksgiving I'm hoping to get my guns from my parents house. I have waiting for me there a 12 guage, a .357 revolver and a .22 rifle. I don't know what brand/model etc. But, I've really been waiting to get a semi automatic pistol too. I'm thinking .45 or a 9mm, something that my wife can feel comfortable shooting too. I've been reading up a bit, and it seems that a lot of folks prefer the 9 becuase it's cheap to shoot and that there have been many developments in ammo that make it pretty close to the .45 in terms of stopping power. I don't know much about guns, but I do have some experience shooting them. I basically want something that's affordable to shoot and easy to maintain. I've been reading a lot of good things about the Sig p320 and the Beretta PX4. What do you guys think of these? Any others that you'd recommend instead?

I have owned a few different calibers of guns and the 9MM is a great round. I owned a Beretta PX4 and it was a fantastic gun. It shot very smooth, very accurate and it was a breeze to strip it down and clean it. Very light, and I wouldn't hesitate to trust my life with it...but I got rid of it. The only complaint about the gun that I had was the trigger. It wasn't bad, just was not as smooth as my 1911. I probably could have had the trigger worked on, but in the end I knew the trigger would never be as good as my .45

My friend that I go to the range with has a S&W M&P 9MM Pro Series. That is one of the finest shooting guns out of the box that I have ever shot. The trigger is nice and crisp, the sights are amazing (for out of the box) and it is extremely accurate. The trigger is fantastic, probably one of the best from the factory that I have shot. I highly recommend checking that one out as well.

Another one of my friends has a Springfield Armory XD.40 The trigger is very good on that gun as are the sights. I personally am not a fan of the .40 round. I have only shot a few hundred rounds with it, but just not a fan of it. It has a bit of snap to it, not a lot of recoil but it feels "snappy"

 

[Litenin75]

I have a Sig 229 .40 and I love it. Shoots easy with very little recoil. My father has PX4 9mm subcompact. I've shot it several times, but it's too small. I have also shot the PX4 compact which is a very nice gun and will be my next purchase. Either way, as others have said, finding a range that rents is by far the best way to go.

 

[Big Boss]

That is the best advice ^ find a range that has rentals and rent a few guns before you decide. Almost nothing is worse than buying a gun without shooting it, then hating it when you shoot it.

 

[PamAndJim]

You got the best advice possible from Evolvd. Its interesting how many list what they have or they like. It makes no difference, what you need is to go try different weapons and the same for your spouse. Then don't get caught in the Semi auto only camp. It may be that a 6 shot revolver in .38spl is what you decide on ultimately because its reliability and ease of use that matter in the dark of night.

I completely agree that it was great advice, and I am going to try to take some time over Christmas to do just that. But, if I can at least have an idea of who makes good stuff and who doesn't that'll give me somewhere to start.

Also, I will have the .357 revolver (which I will hopefully bring home after Thankgiving) which will be the bedside gun until I get something new.

To answer another question from above, yes I have a 6 year old daughter.

 

[Mattrix]

I own a Sig Sauer P226 and P227, I prefer the P226. Going to the range and trying before you buy is your best bet, but I highly recommend the P226.

I also highly recommend the P226, love mine!

 

[ConspicuousConsumption]

I've got it all and i used to be an operator. Get a .45. The lady can shoot it, you can get cheap ammo, and it blasts like a son of a bitch. But controllable. Don't fool yourself about the 9.

 

[5 O UFO]

Opinions will vary about what is a good brand versus what sucks. If you check out any gun forum, you will find all the same kind of fan boy versus troll action that is common in any online forum. I see more Sig, Glock, S&W and Springfield XD in semi auto and S&W and Taurus in the revolvers than anything else. That's not to say others aren't other good brands too. My daughter and her husband carry Ruger LCPs. I have a few acquaintances who have CZ's.

I've been shooting 1911's for about 4 years. I've had several Glocks and Sigs over the years prior. I liked them. They were relatively inexpensive and in the case of Glock, parts are common and they are easily modified. In the end, I found that even though a good 1911 costs more, I am far more accurate with my 1911's. To me this is the most important factor behind weapon reliability. My wife used to carry a couple of different Sigs (238 and 938) and even a Glock 19, but she was not as good of a shot with any of them as she is with my Kimber Stainless Ultra TLE II. Therefore, she now shoots a 3" ATI Titan Extreme 1911. We have several different makes and models of 1911 in 5", 4" and 3". Parts are common and some parts are interchangeable between manufacturers that are following 1911 common specs. There are exceptions though.

Finally, just one more opinion - If you are using any weapon to protect you and your family, reliability should be number one on your list, your accuracy with the weapon at number two and price would be number three. It's all about getting the weapon to put lead down range accurately on every trigger pull because that gives you the best chance to still be standing when the smoke clears.

With whatever you choose, best of luck and be safe!

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