Time to buy a handgun-I need opinions

[mdivincentis]

Well, I am ready to buy a pistol. I would like a compact . 40 S&W or . 45 ACP.



Today I looked at the Glock 23, the Smith & Wesson M&P, and a SIG . 40 (model 226 I think?). The SIG felt very nice, but so did the S&W. My buddy has the Glock 23 and likes it very much. I would like to stay in the $500-$600 range.



The . 40 seems to be a good compromise between caliber and capacity, and the . 45's are a little more expensive, so I am leaning toward the . 40.



This gun will be used for recreational shooting as well as personal protection. It will spend a lot of time in the truck and also in the woods...



Anyone have any suggestions?







-Matt

 

[BigPapa]

If you want the extra rounds go with the 23. I prefer a Kahr P40. It's a single stack, polymer frame, SS slide, and the only exterior controls are the slide release, mag release button, and the trigger. It holds six in the mag. It's slimmer than a 1911 and a little smaller than the 23. I think it weighs @ 17 oz. unloaded. Carries great all day in a good pancake holster. I also carry 2 extra mags in a "wallet" opposite my real wallet for a total of 19 rounds.



Scott

 

[hammersley]

Why do you want a pistol??????

I mean a revolver is much better IMO - way more powerful AND dependable... . I have a Tarus SS 41 Mag hat is ported and today sells for over $500 - BUT it is fantastic to shoot and with the porting very easy - AND you can reload her way up there for example---





and my favorite Caliber - I have 14 of this caliber... the unsurpassed 41 Mag. .

And the Brazillian Germans did it right with the Tarus...



20. 9 ounces of real gusto . .



http://64.139.131.93/products/product-details.cfm?model=415SH2C&category=Revolver



44 Mag ultralight - 28. 5 ounces



http://64.139.131.93/products/product-details.cfm?model=444MULTI&category=Revolver



And if you like to spend more $$$$



Here's a 12 ounce - that's right 12 OUNCE 357 Mag... .

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...ted=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=15704





http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...selected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=



AND some very detailed data on the 41 Mag that most here aren't aware of...



from this article.....



http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41magnum.htm



The top handload in Lee’s Modern Reloading for the 240 grain bullet in the 44 magnum, hits just under 40,000 psi with 1548 fps (24/H110) and 1277 ft. lbs. muzzle energy. Now even though the 240 grain 41 mag load here carries about 200 lbs more muzzle energy over almost the same pressure with the 44 magnum 240 grain load. . :--) . we are still splitting hairs... . Hit an elk right with any of the three loads above, and it’s winter’s meat. Plus as my article on the 44 mag shows it to can be loaded in the right handguns to Mega-Mag loadings that make it almost equal in power to some of the lower 454 loadings... .



What I am trying to show here is that the 41 magnum’s potential is much higher than is normally thought, not necessarily better than the 44 mag or less in some way. Only that my 41 mags in strong guns can do the job on any heavy game animals in the lower 48 states, and much of Alaska’s also. And that the 41 magnum has some excellent features to it. Flatness of trajectory, by the way is one of them... along with very fine accuracy with almost all powders. In fact Blue Dot powder while not the top velocity getter, has got to be the top accuracy getter in every 41 mag I’ve owned. It’s the champagne of the 41 magnum powders.

 

[jwilliams3]

If you are going to shoot alot go with a 9mm.

Besides your shot recovery time is faster and you can pack some serious power with some +p Carbons.

 

[JoshPeters]

When I was looking I was seriously thinking about getting (I may still get) a Springfield XD40 or XD45. They are right in your price range and are a great gun for the money. I carried one for a while and shot it quite a bit. It fit my hand very well, so the pointability is great. I'd highly recommend either caliber. The . 40 is a little cheaper to shoot, but neither is and issue for any number of rounds at the range. (I have a Springfield 1911, loaded champion in . 45)



If I was looking for a pistol in that range the XD45 would be getting a hard hard look.



Just my . 02

Josh

 

[fkovalski]

I mean a revolver is much better IMO - way more powerful AND dependable.....

I would agreee with the above statement. But I am biased- I am not a fan of automatic pistols.



I would recommend a double action . 357 Magnum. You can load . 38 rounds and play all day at the range without breaking the bank as the latter rounds are not tooo pricey. then load the M rounds for when you mean bussines. I own Rugers.

 

[BILLVO]

I would agreee with the above statement. But I am biased- I am not a fan of automatic pistols.



I would recommend a double action . 357 Magnum. You can load . 38 rounds and play all day at the range without breaking the bank as the latter rounds are not tooo pricey. then load the M rounds for when you mean bussines. I own Rugers.

I am a Ruger man also I ran 45 lc for years then went to a 454 casull for the same reason I play with 45lc rounds all day through it then if I want to get serious I put the 454 rounds in her. You can't play with the 454 rounds to much they are a big handfull,the wrist takes a beating after 6 or so.

 

[BigPapa]

I like revolvers myself, you just can't beat the simplicity and the dependability.



However, the bulkiness of the revolvers cylinder is what steers me to the pistol. 3/4" is a huge difference in a carry gun. Even in a 5 shot cylinder the difference in thickness is huge plus I'm giving up 2 rounds. That's a 30% decrease in firepower.



Scott

 

[starkmr]

Allright guys, the man is looking for a carry pistol for protection that he might want to shoot for recreation occasionally. The revolvers, while my choice for hunting (480 Ruger), are not always practical for carry.



I have been looking for something in the above description myself and have shot the Springfield XD45 and am mightly impressed for the money. You get the whole package, holster, extra clip etc. By the way, the clips hold 14 rounds if memory serves correctly. I think you would not go wrong with this choice IMHO.





Mike

 

[MKline]

I have a Ruger P-89 (9mm). I've shot 100's of rounds through it and it has never let me down. I like the price also, about $450. It might not be the most accurate of all the guns on this post, but it would be one of the most reliable. (Besides if you want a sniper riffle get a . 243) :-laf

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

As an instructor, my advice is always to buy the one that fits your hand.

So I will restrict my reply to the ones you mentioned, not my other opinions.

(and yes, there are valid points in the above replies)

But, of the three you asked of, I find the Sig to be the best design, have the lowest failure rate, and the best shooter. I LOVE mine, and everyone who shoots it wants one, novice and experienced alike.

The best advice is to go to a range that rents and try them out. Find the one that holds and shoots quickly and well, and go with it.

Good Luck.

 

[fest3er]

I agree. Find a pistol that fits you and your hand. For me, I quite like my Glock-17: 17 rounds of 9mm, very accurate (from 5'-50'), very repeatable, has never failed to fire and is trivial to strip and clean. It works equally well in either hand.



If you are a gorilla and can fire a chain gun single-handed, go for the biggest caliber you can find. If, instead, you are of average build, you might just find that a . 32-. 40 cal. will be more comfortable.



And to repeat Schlickenmeyer again, go to your local range and test a few models until you find the one that fits you best.



N

 

[The patriot]

I reccomend a Glock for those not very familiar with guns... ... ... I also feel that someone that dont know their gun intimietly (sp?) should own a gun, no less be CCW'ing one.

I own and like the Sig P228. For available ammo, go with that with the factory 20rd stick mag(s) as long as carrying the mags aint too uncomfortable.

It will also accept the P226 mags if need be.

The Milt Sparks Versa Max II is my fav holster.

For a revolver, the old S&W model 19 is hard to beat. The advantage of being able to practice (which you should do at least weekly) with cheap 38 loads will add up fast if youre not a reloader. Gotta agree with fkovalski on that.

Alas... . my heart still goes back to the JMB 1911 design. Series 70 combat commander by Colt..... in 45 ACP. The Kimber in 38 super digests 9x23 with not a hiccup. A 124 Gr HP @ 1500 FPS is nothing to be trifled with. That's 357 magnum territory... ... with 10+1 capacity using the Wilson-Rogers mags.

Did I mention I like guns? :-laf

Eric



PS Just remember grasshoppa

Someone who carries a gun carries a Glock. Someone who shoots a gun carries a 1911.

 

[Pawpaw]

Lots of good advice above.



I have a Sig P239 in 9mm. It makes a very nice pistol for concealed carry. It's just a bit too big to fit in the hip pocket on your jeans.



Also, it is (or at least was) available in a kit which gave you the frame plus interchangeable magazines, slides and barrels so you can fire 9MM, . 40, or . 357 Sig ammunition.



I don't want to start an argument here, but the . 357 magnum has frequently been rated as the best man-stopper (based on 1-shot incidents) for many years.



The . 357 Sig round was designed to give identical ballistics in an automatic pistol. It is the round of choice of many police departments.





Bob

 

[WDixon27]

i must be weird, two kimber team match IIs one . 45 and the other 38 super, and my current side arm a glock 31 357sig, but i also like my taurus 8 shot 357 mag, the only one i won't and haven't carried is the 38 super due to it's 1. 75# trigger but i like to think of the 357 sig as a modern 38 super and with my hand loads the sig are almost as effective on pins too

PS Just remember grasshoppa

Someone who carries a gun carries a Glock. Someone who shoots a gun carries a 1911.

 

[Got Smoke?]

My father carries a Sig P220 in 45acp, but I find it a bit big being a fullsize for CCW. My personal choice is my 1911 4" Springfield Champion in 45acp. Its much easier consealed, and my GI (bottom base package) retails for $500 but I found one in KY and had it sent to a local FFL for a grand total of just under $400. Oo.



9mm may be cheaper to shoot & carry more rounds, but if your in a fight for your life I'd rather have a bullet that packs more punch with less rounds fired. One of the main things they instill in you when you take a CCW class here is besure of where you going to fire your weapon because you are responible for where that bullet goes if you miss.



I looked at a few Springfield XD's but they felt nose heavy to me... all barrel/slide. I even looked at a few Sigs and found one I really liked, but was to far out of my price range for my first pistol.



Like several others have stated find a range that will let you rent several pistols and find what fits your hand best, and is most comfortable to you.

 

[AMink]

I have a S&W . 38 snub w/concealed hammer for carry, also a Beretta in . 380. Like them both very much. I also have a Springfield XD40 Tactical (5" barrel) that I also like... a lot! I would try one of the 3" barrel XD's for carry if I had the money for another. I think that it is a very good gun for the cost, and as mentioned before, now is offered with holster etc. The XD is very easy to strip and clean, has redundant safeties, and is very easy (for me) to shoot well. Also mentioned above, the best thing is find a gun that you can shoot well. If you are 100% with a . 32 and can't hit the broad side of a barn with a . 45, then take the . 32! And practice, practice, practice!

 

[bmoeller]

I am a Ruger man also I ran 45 lc for years then went to a 454 casull for the same reason I play with 45lc rounds all day through it then if I want to get serious I put the 454 rounds in her. You can't play with the 454 rounds to much they are a big handfull,the wrist takes a beating after 6 or so.

The Taurus Raging Bull looks mean. . 454 Casull/45LC. Oo. Their new one in . 500 w/ a 2 1/2" barrel has got to be a handful.



A Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44mag w/10 1/2" barrel is a nice heavy gun.

 

[NETim]

Despite the fact that I'm a diehard Sig fan, given your price range and the models you listed, I'd go with the Glock. They're uglier than sin, but the darn things just work and work well.



The 40 is a great caliber. Recoil may be a tad "snappier" than a 9 but it is entirely manageable.



And resist the temptation to customize it. It will do everything you need it to do right out of the box. (Well, maybe put steel sights on it)



Also, you may want to consider the Springfield XD series. I don't have any real experience with them but they have a great reputation and are reasonably priced.

 

[The patriot]

IMO the P220 is a bit on the large side for CCW. It's an excellent gun. I own a 220ST.

Might work for some during winter.

Eric