What pistol for self defense?
 

Hi everyone. I figured this would be the best area to post this. I have recently gotten my pistol permit and I would like to know what pistol I should get for self defense. The problem is that I only have $400 to spend. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

David Larson

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Hi David and welcome to the boards!:D
Lots of different opinions here but mine is really simple.....45acp
In your price range a Ruger P-97 <just like mine:D> would be an excellent choice;)
Or a base model 1911-A1 made by Kimber, Springfield, Colt....
If you are going to carry everyday, I might even consider a 9mm Makarov, East German or Bulgarian. They can be had for a couple of hundred bucks, the ammo is cheap and they are dead reliable. Shot bunches of them w/o ever a failure to feed, fireor eject!
Plus the bullet looks like a slightly shrunken .45
But these are just my opinions;)

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Taurus 44 sp. 2 inch ported barrel. Easy to carry and shoots great.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I like my 45 acp. My wife has a 38 special that will work as well. I have noticed in a lot of areas, people are starting to carry 22 mags. The little revolver darenger type. They are putting rat shot in the first chamber, and regular bullets in the others. The thinking behind it is, if someone messes with you, you hit them in the face with the rat shot. If they still feel froggy after that, you put a bullet in them. Now if I was looking for a gun best suited for home self defense, Id go with a shot gun. Something like a 870 cut off. Lot easier to aim.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Currently, I carry a Kimber Pro Elite (custom shop) .45 acp. I love this pistol!!

If I was on a limited budget, which I have been in the past, I'd probably go with a EAA Witness in .40 or .45. I've owned one of these and it was a great firearm.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

If you are not an avid shooter AND are very familiar with the operation of the a semi-auto pistol (clearing jams and feed problems, etc....) then I would recomend a good revolver. While not the most high tech of firearms, just about any revolver is simple to operate, and nearly 100% reliable. The simplicity of operation is especially true is the gun will be for home defense and your wife / significant other may have to use it.

Something along the lines of a short barreled .357 like a Ruger SP-101 makes a very good defense gun.
Use some very light rounds intended for defense loads like Defender MagSafe. These rounds will disentigrate in sheet rock, avoiding dangerous over penetration problems associated with some of the other handgun rounds.

I was an avid IPSC shooter, and have a number of semi-auto pistols, however the gun I carry (when required) is a revolver.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I carry a Sig P232 in 380 acp. I would rather have a larger caliber but the fact of the matter is the P232 is smaller and easier to conceal. With a cheap inside the pants holster and an untucked T shirt you can't tell I have it on, and I am skinny. How offten do you use it anyway? Most of the time the sight of a gun scares them off if you do pull it. I have never had a centerfire semi auto jam on me. I would highly recomend the Sig P232 for carrying, for the bed room I have a 357 Mag with 140gr XTPs. A shotgun would work also, don't cut the barrel shorter than the legal limit.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

You took the words right out of my mouth. A well-maintained revolver is dependable 100% of the time, which personally is a requirement for any self-defense weapon. My wife and I both prefer the .357 Magnum as a self-defense cartridge, and we never have to worry about jams. The Ruger SP and GP lines are a good place to start looking if you're interested.

If you'd prefer an auto, check out theSteyr M40 pistol. It's a great gun for the money, and you can buy 9mm (M9) and .40S&W models. It tends to fit different people very well, the barrel sits low in the slide for good balance, plus it ships with triangle/trapezoid sights that tend to line up faster than three dots (after some practice at the range).

The M40 can be picky about ammo, though. I've had bad jamming experiences with Remington UMC and other cheap ammo brands. If you do decide to get one, stick with Federal and Winchester.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

For your price range a small revolver would do well.38spl or 357mag.If you can come up with a little more money look at one of the Baby Glock's.I prefer the 40S&W over a 9mm. One of my favorite defense rounds is the 45ACP.My carry gun is a Glock M-27 in 40S&W mainly because of the size and reliablity of the Glock's.The Ruger SP101's are available in several different calibers.Go to gun shops and handle as many as you can. See which one feels good to you and within your budget.When it comes to a defense gun it's doesn't pay to skimp when you life may depend on it.
Ruger Redhawk

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Sorry, I forgot to mention, This is for me to carry concealed. I already have shotguns and rifles for hunting and home defense of need be.

David Larson

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

DTLarson I forgot to mention Welcome to the forum.I gathered that's what you were talking about.I'll stick to what I said in my previous post.
Ruger Redhawk

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I often see used Ruger GP100's in gunshops that have been sold by the state or local police departments. Last batch I saw were selling for about $250 a piece.

For a little over $400 I would look at a Springfield xd-9 or xd-40.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Or a S&W SW-99. I believe that Walther makes it for S&W. If not it is an exact copy of Walthers P-99 and Smith must be paying royalties to Walther. They run right about the same price as the Springfield XD.

I like the safety features that the P-99 has. Like a cocking indicator and a decock function and it is a double action auto so from decock all you have to do is pull the trigger and it acts just like a revolver on the first shot. You don't have to worry about recocking it.

They have a full size with a 4.25 inch barrel as well as a compact with a 3.5 inch barrel and a shortened grip.

I have been looking at a lot of them lately for the same purpose as you and I am down to the compact 1911, Springfield XD and the P-99 / SW-99. I just need to go shoot some to see how they feel slinging lead. Although just holding them in the store the SW-99 feels / fits the best by far.

Here is the link to them and a pic of the full size model.
http://www.swfirearms.vista.com/stor...sw_activeTab=1

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

On a budget, I would pick up a 38 or 357 Mag four inch revolver. While not real easy to conceal, when it comes shooting time these are about the easiest guns to shoot well. Load 158 grain P+ lead Hollow Points. They are at the top of the one shot stop cartridges. The 45 Auto in the Ruger is a bargin priced auto and tough as nails.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

i;d say used glock19 9mm, or 3-4in 357, easy to shoot, easy to conceal, ammo aplenty and affordable,

on the revolver status, any of the major players (smith and wesson, ruger, taurus, colt)

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Just to let you all know, I made my decision. The Smith and Wesson model 642. It is a hammerless five shot .38 revolver. Thankyou for all your help.


David Larson

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

The best pistol for self defense? that's easy... the one that you feel most comfortable with. Personally, i have seen people pick up a 45 ACP and say "this is my defense gun" yet they can't shoot it 10 feet and hit a life size target cuz they flinch or can't get their hand fully around the grip. You almost have to laugh. They would be better protected shooting a .22 target pistol if they ever needed to defend themselves. But that's the point. Go to the gun store, pick up some revolvers, and semi's and just see what feels most comfortable. Pick what is easy for you to use and a caliber that you can handle. Don't feel un-comfotable if it's not a .50 desert Eagle. You won't need that kind of fire power. Put it this way, i go over 215lbs and stand about 6'2" and i prefer to shoot a 9mm pistol. is it the most powerful? nope, but i am good with it and that's what matters. If fits my hand and shoots real well. Doesn't have the knock down power of a .45, but i would rather hit with a 9mm then miss with a .45 if i had a problem shooting a .45.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Semi makes a good point. Once in a while, you can scare off a bad guy by missing him. I'd rather knock them down where they were. You have to be able to hit what you're aiming at. If my Kimber didn't basically tear one ragged hole from 15 yards with an 8 round magazine, I wouldn't carry it for defensive purposes.

DTLarson, I hope you enjoy your new revolver and it provides many years of trouble free service.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Hi DTLarson,

There are many handguns that would work very well for concealed carry. And you will get nearly as many answers to the question you asked, as the number of people that answer you. There are quite a number of forums that are directed more closely to answering that question than HuntingNet.com. (Though you will find some very knowledgeable and well thought out here as well!)

Without knowing anything about you other than your desire to find a suitable handgun for concealed carry self protection it is very hard to give the best advice for your needs. But a few basics to consider:

1. Find a handgun that is sized reasonably enough that are going to willingly carry it all the time!

2. It is probably best to have one in a common caliber that is neither expensive nor difficult to find effective ammunition.

3. The gun should fit your hand (and spouse's as well if that is a consideration).

4. Don't buy something that any expected user (self/spouse) will be too intimidated with to practice.

5. Be willing to spend enough to obtain not only a reliable handgun but a GOOD holster. (There are few things that make less sense than having a handgun for self protection and then buying a cheap/barely usable holster in an effort to save a few dollars.)

6. If you'd like to find more information specifically directed to your question try some of these sites:

http://www.glocktalk.com/

http://www.plusp.com/classroom/

http://thearmedcitizen.com/

http://www.kc3.com/gear/guns_and_gear.htm

http://www.packing.org/

These are only a handful of the many useful sites directed towards answering your question.

Generally speaking it is hard to go wrong with any quality medium bore revolver or semiauto. You can obtain either new or used (insure if you're buying used, that it is not altered or damaged). The medium bores (.38 Special/.357 Magnum/9X19) tend to offer a reasonable level of power combined with controllability and affordability for plenty of practice.

If you haven't had much experience with handguns it might be worth your time and expense to visit a local range with rentals and try several. See what feels good in your hand, fits you, and you find not difficult to control. Also usually speaking, the attributes that make a gun smaller and easier to carry.......also make it more difficult to shoot well. So there is a trade off between portability and shootability. The only good way to determine which of these features work best for you, is to try out as many as possible prior to making your purchase!

Buy what you determine you feel most comfortable with........not what someone else necessarily thinks is best!

Good luck with your choice whatever it turns out to be!

Dave

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Congrats on your new pistol, DTLarson. The 642 will make a fine CCW pistol. Now comes the fun part, spending hours at the range.:D

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Hi DTLarson,

The S&W 642 is a fine choice! We have one, (my wife won't let me touch it......"It's her's!"), and it stays in a Galco leather pocket holster. Cindy either has it in her right hand front pocket, or she has two separate purses that accept the holster and gun and maintain them in a constant, protected, position. She is extremely comfortable with it.

BTW, Speer developed a .38 Special +P, 135grain Gold Dot load that was specifically designed to work at the velocities from a 2" barrel. (One of the large northeastern police departments that issues "snub guns" for back-up and off duty carry requested these to meet or exceed the general law enforcement parameters for bullet performance.) CCI-Speer developed the loads for that purpose and also released them for sale to the civilian market as well. That is the load you will find most often in either our S&W 642 or our S&W 649 when they are carried for CCW.

Good luck with a nice choice!

Dave

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

This is what I carry:

Taurus Millenium Pro (9mm)



Model: 111BP
Caliber: 9 mm
Capacity: 10 +1
Barrel Length: 3-1/4"
Porting: No
Action: DAO
Finish: Blue
Grips: Checkered Polymer
Weight: 24 oz
Construction: Polymer/Steel
Frame: Medium
Front Sight: Fixed- 1 Dot
Rear Sight: Fixed- 2 Dots
Trigger Type: Smooth
Length: 6-1/8''
Width: 1.125"
Height: 5.125"
Rate of Twist: 1:9.84
Grooves: 6
Safety: Manual Safety, Firing Pin Block, Trigger Block
UPC: 7-25327-31125-6
Order #: 1-111031P
MSRP: $445.00
Status: Available

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Well call me cheap! I have a Rossi 38 five shot in stainless steel. It's light and handles very well.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I got my wife a Desert Eagle 9mm. It was about in that price range and a great shooting pistol.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Danny, do you really believe that shooting one ragged hole vs. shooting 3" group at 15 yards, is going to make the difference in a home invasion? I don't. Things I believe will.
1. Some good glow in dark sights
2. Rather large sights. (rules out target sights that shoot one ragged hole)
3. Ease of use. Remember you scared, shocked, and groggy. I know from experience, with that mix, you better be able to operate the gun by pure instinct and conditioning. Glocks are simple, so are wheel guns. Can't mess that up too bad.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I see you picked one out, good for you, but I'll still throw my two cents in, in case there is someone else in your boat checking your post out.

I'd recommend a Ruger KP-97D or KP-95D, these are the P-series, stainless decockers with polymer grip frames....absolutely awesome guns especially for the price. The P-97 is .45acp, the 95 is 9mm, if they bring out a polymer stainless decocker .40S&W it would be better still for you. The polymer frames are light, and balanced towards the muzzle a great deal (since all the weight is in the slide and bbl, and most of it is in front of your hand. Fill the mag and it balances perfectly over your hand, and if you run them out in a hurry, as your shots are getting less and less stable from rapid fire, the balance point is moving more and more towards the muzzle, which helps reduce your muzzle hop.

Having polymer gripframes and having all the weight on top, recoil is translated more into a good rotation instead of a straight kick to the hand, which is good for beginners...and like I said, the gun being slightly muzzle heavy with a half mag or less helps keep this rotation down to a minimum, so the gun absorbs most of it's own recoil.

Beginners can get too caught up on all the gadgets on a gun, manual safeties are great and it's usually good to have one if your pistol is your first gun, but if you already know how to safely handle a firearm, a decocker is the way to go, you get double action/no safety speed of a double action with the light follow up shot trigger pull of a single action, pop the decocker and it's safe, but still ready.

Rugers are hard to beat, they may not be the finest firearms, but they're accurate enough for a pistol, and very very reliable. I've had my P-97 for nearly two years now, run around 10,000rnds through it so far, the only jam I have had was one stove pipe which happened when I only had one round and NO magazine in the gun, it shouldn't jam because of that, but it might have had something to do with it...if I were firing like that anywhere other than the range, it wouldn't matter because the gun wouldn't be worth much plumb empty.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

All I know is, the more accurate the gun, the more accurate the shooter is. If I aim center mass with that Kimber, I'm pretty dang sure that at least one bullet is going to take out the spinal column. End of aggression right there.

Yes, you have to have shooting skills, but the best shooter with a inaccurate gun is no better than an inaccurate shooter with an accurate gun. Here is where range time comes in. As far as the rest of your points go;
1. I have night sights on my Kimber.
2. They are large enough for me to see.
3. I spend enough time at the range that I can operate it "by pure instinct and conditioning". As a former police officer, I will probably be pumped up, and groggy, but I'm pretty sure I can take care of business should the need arise. That said, you don't need to have been a cop, or even gone thru the training. A good mind set, and plenty of time at the range practicing different scenerios will greatly improve your chances in a bad situation.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

If I'm going to carry a gun on me, it's a Colt .380. Not good at a long range, but good for personal defense. It kept me from getting mugged once at the ATM.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Well Danny, I am glad you are prepared. Also glad you said "you don't have to be a cop", cause I see alot of police and prison guards struggling to qualify here in Baltimore/DC area. If I was them, I would not feel confident with anything as a home defense gun except a wheel gun. I would trust more people on this site than them. At the range I go to, which is close to Jessup state prison, I see all these cops all frustrated cause of poor shooting, practicing on thier own time, trying to improve. The problem is most of them have never fired a pistol or grew up with them. This may be thier first time shooting. I try to help them out when I can, cause thier qualifications are not that difficult from what I can tell. They have trouble with the rapid fire I see the most. I gave a few the army's manual on handguns which is loaded with good information.

But for a guy, that needs to ask, what to get, I think they should start out with something simple, (ie not a kimber, or berretta, or HK).

I mean if some guy gets on here, and says, "hey looking to buy my first rifle, what should I get", I don't tell them my 300RUM just because I am very good with mine.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I don't even worry about sights.
I've shot enough competition to learn that sights only slow you down- especially at close ranges. After shooting portons of IPSC matches, I don't even remember seing a sight picture- I'm not an exprt shot, but I'm very proficient. With a gun that fits you well and points well (I've found the way the 1911 fits my hand and points for me to be uncanny) you waste your time by aiming. With a good semi-auto- the bullets go where my thumbs point- pickup/draw handgun, point at target, squeeze trigger. Remember that if you use this gun for personal protection, especially in a house, the shots you could potentially take are going to be very close- probably 15 feet or less.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

bigbulls:
I am not trying to disagree with you but we had two of the SW-99's blow up at the last canidate school for the local P. D training. Since that I and I say I on this matter, Would never buy one for myself.

I carrie a H&K 40 cal. for my personal protection. Although they are not cheap, they are worth it to know that I can count on my weapon 100%.

hunter338.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I might be old fashioned, but for the type of shooting we're doing here, pointshooting is hard to beat, once you get the hang of it, literally shooting from the hip and hitting a "rib-cage" is pretty easy at 20ft or less.

I don't know how rich some of yall are, but the biggest room you'll ever have in a house is going to be 10yrds across a 14" target (ribcage of someone facing you) is going to be 140MOA, at 10ft it's about 450MOA, at 15ft-across a bedroom-a spinal column is going to be about 40-60MOA, accurate shooting isn't a real issue here, it's getting lead into your assailant, a 230grn slug from a .45acp isn't going to feel good no matter where it hits you, walking three shots in half a second from kidney to heart is going to stop someone, and it can be done just as fast as finding your sight picture and putting the first one in the heart.

I never have liked glow in the dark sights other than on the front sight, all glowing sights are kind of fuzzy when they're glowing, and big, glowing rear sights can sometimes make seeing the frontsight difficult (green/white combos tend to blend together, green/red don't, but red doesn't glow very well).

Moral of the story, practice, practice, practice, anyone can learn to pointshoot or frontsight really well at 20ft on a rib-cage sized target.

Think of throwing a baseball instead of shooting, you're so close you can pretty well throw it from any position and hit your target, it's not a bomb from the fence to the 2nd baseman, guys that can do that fast play ball, anyone can wing it across the room and hit a recliner!

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

Nomercy- you said it better than I could:)

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

You big experts you. We might have to register you as a lethal weapon.

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

I carry a Kimber Pro CDP II .45ACP. During the extreme Texas summers, I carry a Kahr PM9 when I wear shorts. PM9 (can also get it in 40S&W) is pretty small and lightweight (under 1lb) and easy to conceal...

RE: What pistol for self defense?
 

My wife has a Bulgarian Makarov for concealded carry and it's an unbelievably relaible gun. The roundball ammo is dirt cheap and you can easily get ammunition more suited for self defence for it.
BigBulls; I read somewhere that Smith & Wesson bought Walther. They've actually turned the PPK/S into a fairly reliable firearm now. And they added a longer beavertail that cuts down on the damage that vicious little gun does to the web of your hand. Still wouldn't trade the Makarov for a PPK, though.