Hey fellas! I've convinced the wife to let me buy a hand gun. I would like some input on what you guys like and what the pro's and con's of certain models are. I'm by no means an expert on hand guns so I'll be depending on the experience and advice I gather from your input. I'm an active duty Marine and have had extensive experience with the M9 Beretta 9MM Pistol but that's pretty much it. My father has a S&W .40cal that I've fired a couple of times and it shoots really well. That's the caliber I'm looking to get. I wish I had the opportunity to go test shoot a bunch of pistols and make my decision that way but I don't. Here's what I'm looking to get out of this hand gun...
- Home defense
- CCW
- Side arm for hunting and camping
- Recreational shooting
- Pissing off liberals
I'm looking at spending up to $1K but could go a little over that if it's necessary. I'm just looking to make a well informed decision and not regret what I end up buying.
__________________ Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my handgun...
Check the Springfield Armory 1911 types. Their EMP is pretty decent and very concealable. Of course there are the "plasiic" guns (Glock, Kahr, S&W, etc).
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I pesonally like revolvers better. The #1 reason is I shoot them better. #2 is they are simple to operate in a life or death situation, not only for myself, but also for my wife, kids, etc. You don't have to think about mags not being pushed in, stove pipes, safeties, long pull, short pull as you do with a semi-auto pistol.
For home defense, I would choose a ruger redhawk or gp 101
For hunting and plinking, I would choose a ruger blackhawk or vaquaro
For CCW, I would choose a spur-less 2" revolver in a 38 or 357. You choose S&W, Taurus, Ruger
With a $1000 budget, you could buy 2 pistols. I have nothing against semi-auto's I just don't shoot them as well and use too much ammo. I always figure that a problem that can't be solved w/ 5 out of a .357, probably can't be solved with 8 or 9 or 10 out of a 9mm or 40. I think of sidearms as a means to getting me to a long gun.
If it was me I would probably buy a .357 revolver and a .22lr semi-auto such as a browning buckmark or a ruger.
If your stuck on a semi-auto. I like the xd or the m&p. Ruger's are dependable but heavy. Sig's have a good reputution. You might like a 1911. There are so many choices. You just have to see what feels good, fits your hand and is in your budget.
Check the Springfield Armory 1911 types. Their EMP is pretty decent and very concealable. Of course there are the "plastic" guns (Glock, Kahr, S&W, etc).
Spencer, I have to agree with bugsnbows. I've had the opportunity to shoot quite a few handguns and if I were to buy one it would be the EMP from Springfield Armory. They had a display at the Shot Show that held every gun in every caliber that's offered by them. Since your looking for a nice gun as well as one that can be carried as a concealed carry gun, this one fits into both categories. Here's the link to the website.
Awesome! Thanks for the advice fellas! I'll be going to Gander Mountain this weekend down in FL and maybe Bass Pro when I get back. I'll definitely look into the pistols you gentlemen mentioned.
__________________ Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my handgun...
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Springfield XD... 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, take your pick. I have an XD 9mm service that I really like. I'm more of a fan of the 45 ACP, but my wife doesn't shoot a 45 worth a darn and doesn't like them because of the recoil. The 9mm suits her fine, and if I can't drop a bad guy with the 17 rounds the pistol holds, a 45 wouldn't have made a difference anyway. That said, if you're looking for a gun for CCW, you're probably going to want a compact handgun, which kindof reduces its versatility for the other uses you mentioned (i.e. hunting). The problem lies in the fact that the compact will be smaller and much easier to carry all day concealed, but isn't that great for a hunting gun, and really isn't the best choice for home defense where concealment isn't an issue. A compact is also not that great as a plinking gun, because they're generally not as accurate and certainly not as easy to shoot well, and the recoil will be substantially higher than a full size pistol.
So here's my suggestion, since you say you're willing to spend $1,000 or a little more... get yourself a reliable compact sidearm for CCW like an XD Compact in 9mm or 40 S&W. Then look into a used Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag for hunting and home defense. Load it with .44 Mag for hunting deer and hogs, and load it with .44 Special for home defense and target shooting. Better yet, forget about the handgun as a first line of home defense and use a shotgun, keeping either handgun purely as a backup.
Thanks again for the advice fellas! Just to clarify, I wasn't planning to actually hunt with what I end up getting. Just to take it hunting with me for bear/hillbilly defense.
__________________ Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my handgun...
Ok.. lets start with the basics before you go into the woods with this thing...
Are you willing and able to defend yourself with the necessary force when the situation arrises?
If not then grab some mace because I don't recommend you getting a gun to carry.
If yes, then answer these two:
Is a permit required to carry in your state (if so do you have one)? Do the laws in your state allow you to carry while hunting?
After that think about what you're going to use it for. If you say concealed carry (Which I consider carrying while hunting or fishing to be concealed carry) Then I would go a semi auto with the max capacity that feels right to you. The things that you want to consider is dependability and speed vs. knockdown power. My advice is to try out whatever you can and hold as many as you can. Personally I carry a but revolver daily and when I'm hunting I'll carry either my 9mm or 40 cal. I don't have 45 yet but I will shortly. Check out the below link. Its not the best but its more info than I'll be able to give ya.
Buying my first hand gun. Need advice.
