Posted on 07/20/2006 4:24:49 PM PDT by Chasaway
I'm about to buy another handgun, primarily for concealed carry/personal protection. I live in Texas, have a concealed carry license and want a handgun I can keep on me pretty much all of the time, probably around my waist somewhere. There are some serious gun nuts that cruise these threads and I want to draw from your experience to make the best pick.
For a little help, I've used the Colt 1911 in .45 and .38 Super and loved the gun. I also really like my Baby Eagle in .45. The primary reason I like these two is the single-action trigger pull (well...I also really, really like the accuracy of my Baby Eagle). But they're both too big and too heavy for the carry weapon I'm looking for. I'm kind of leaning towards the Glock 27 (.40 cal) or its .45 caliber twin. My reservation is the trigger pull. I'd also be interested in a smaller version of the 1911 if I could find it in a smaller, easier-to-conceal size and was confident of its reliability.
Matter of fact, I wouldn't be opposed to a wheel gun, if it had the stopping power and concealability I'd like.
I know there's no way folks can know what I would like/feel comfortable with personally, but I'd really appreciate reading a discussion on it.
That is, if you don't mind giving your opinions about guns again.
And I know I prolly won't get any responses to this...'cause gun people don't really have any strongly held beliefs about their guns. And even if they do, they don't like talking about 'em.
The .357SIG round is basically a nominal 9mm bullet loaded into a slightly elongated .40SW size casing, therefore many guns that fire the .40SW can be converted to .357SIG with nothing more than a barrel swap (I have both barrels for my SIGs), and they use the same mags.
It is close to the 10mm in performance and is one of the flattest shooting rounds you can fire from a semi-auto pistol. Some folks have reported being able to make 100yd shots without using a rest (I haven't, it's just what I've read). It is LOUD outdoors but interior walls and other surfaces attenuate the noise to the point that it is bearable.
IMHO recoil is better than the .40SW (the .40SW being a quick snap and the .357SIG being more of a hard push), probably due to the lighter bullet weight (I am NOT a ballistics expert so this is just conjecture). I do know for a fact that many police departments have switched to the .357SIG and have watched their officers' range scores improve dramatically.
The ammo is a bit pricey, but if you shop around you can get some great deals.
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Howdy.
Should read:
The .357SIG round is basically a nominal 9mm bullet loaded into a slightly elongated .40SW size casing that has been necked down, ....
Good choice. I highly recommend it.
That was interesting...
Okay, good. And not 'cause I want to hear that. I just don't know enough about the Glocks or the .40.
Done, and done...
Thanks for the suggestion.
Charlie
That's my choice also. 5 shot, 3 1/16 barrel :-)
The PD issued us Glock 26's for off duty. Not a bad little gun. I can carry it on my ankle, in my waistband under my shirt in a De Santis nylon holster, which holds an extra mag. I carry it when the weather is warm, in the winter I carry my .45.
Good stuff! I enjoyed that and now feel comfortable loading my .357 with .38 spl, as long as it's speer gold dot.
Mine's the 2 1/4 in. barrel. I just got back from the range and fired about 25 rounds of 125 grain winchester .357 mag ammo through it at 15 yards. I could cover 75% of the holes with my palm which is about a 4 inch group (small palm) shooting offhand. The rest were pretty close. It has taken some range time to become comfortable enough with the recoil to get that good with it. The first time I fired it I thought it was going to jump out of my hand. A tighter grip and some instruction on reforming my grip to improve my accuracy helped a lot. I also spent some time with my 1911 Springer .45 today. All in all, a perfect day.
Excellent!
I need to get my butt to the range!
Bullet placement will always be the key to stopping an attack(er).
Agree 100%. See post 33 for my answer to proper placement. Lots of range time! And it's fun too! Since when was the last time doing something that's good for you fun?
I do most of my practicing at 10 feet or less. I think the odds of ever shooting someone who is 45 feet away from me to be very, very slim.
I do it just because I can.
Well-built and reliable.
Good stopping caliber esp. with hydrashoks.
Easily concealed. Lots of holster options or pocket carry.
Easy to take down and clean.
Double action first shot, single action after, decocker (not a safety) lets the reasonably careful carry loaded with one up the pipe and be ready to go when you clear the holster.
They are a little finnicky about cast (unjacketed) bullets, but I have never had a problem with JHPs or XTPs.
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