Purchasing a Handgun (Vanity)

[Elle Bee]

My choice:

MODEL 4510 .45/.410 (3" CHAMBER) MATTE STAINLESS REVOLVER

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[Jackson57]

After a couple of boxes of rounds, I calmed down and it was pretty accurate. I guess I was just excited at first ... Also, I’ve got the Baby Eagle .45 and an H&K P2000 9mm. I like them all for different reasons.

[mad_as_he$$]

Most women have trouble with any of the weapons you listed - especially if they didn't grow up with guns. By a shotgun and practice.

[mad_as_he$$]

Did you forget the sarcasm tag?

[mylife]

Noop I love the Mak

[mad_as_he$$]

OK. MFIL has one I call it the can saver. Different strokes, different folks.

[DeuceTraveler]

What a great response from the community so far. Thanks! This is great!

[Centurion2000]

My answer was to buy 03 buck for the 20 gauge, 20 pellets per shell. I'd like a 9 mm, but the wife completely freaked about a hand gun. Time will wear her down.

Piece of advice for you and any other guy in the same boat ... pick out your handgun NOW [even if you don't buy it]. Then, start buying hi capacity magazines for them NOW, that way when you do have her worn down to buy it you will not be stuck with 10 round max mag limits that I am sure the Dems are going to stick into another assault weapons ban law.

[ExSoldier]

Remember, when you've got a choice, your self defense weapon should be a minimum of a nine millimeter and a maximum of a 45. That gives you several calibers, makes and types of sidearm. Of the group you cited, forget the Bersa. The Glock 30 is a fine weapon but if your hands run to the small side it might be somewhat ergonomically uncomfortable. I've owned three Glocks: The big M21 in 45acp, the smaller M30 also in 45 and the subcompact M27 in 40. I enjoyed them all and was competent with them all. But the 45s always seemed to be too "blocky" for my taste.

The Beretta 96 series is mostly a 40 caliber. I find that cartridge to be very snappy on the recoil and offers a lot of barrel whip for a novice. I speak as an NRA certified Firearms Instructor with 20 years of experience and of course as a former US Army Infantry captain. There is another downside to the 40: It's very expensive to shoot and the ammo may be in short supply due to manufacturers having to fill government contracts. Even when available it's still expensive. You can shoot a heap of 9mm for what you'd pay for 40S&W.

I understand the new Ruger is a good example of the Ruger lineup. A real workhorse. They're good guns, but you generally won't find them riding the hip of a seasoned pro. Same goes for the PT92. If you like the PT 92 why not go for the original template in the Beretta M92?

For my money, the way to go is the Sig P226. I have one in the special "Blackwater" edition and I love it. Look at the folks who swear by their enough to trust their lives to it: Texas Rangers, Navy SEALs, and a host of alphabet soup agencies. Can't go wrong with the Sig Sauer P226.

[ozzymandus]

.357 case is .1” longer than .38 Special to prevent loading in weaker guns. the real difference is in the power of the load.

[SkyDancer]

Nope not me ... didn’t didn’t didn’t ....

[ozzymandus]

There’s nothing wrong with the Bersa,(AFAIK), but I wouldn’t make a cheap .380 my primary defense gun.

[Poser]

.357 revolver is the way to go. A used Ruger or Taurus will leave enough left over for a pump shotgun for home defense.

[Marauder]

They made one; I understand it’s been discontinued. I don’t know whether you can still get a conversion kit for the 9mm. Doesn’t matter to me, since I don’t plan to change it. And yes, I imagine it would kick.

I’m thinking of ordering the Millenium revolver from Cabela’s - regular cowboy Long Colt .45, a no frills sidearm. Right now it’s listed for $389, and if I could find a deal on a Henry, Marlin, or Winchester lever-action rifle or carbine chambered for the same round, that would be a good combo, and I’d get one.

That .380 model used to frame the .32, which is a sweet little pistol. Mrs. Marauder says I have enough semi-auto pistols for now, or I’d want one of those, too.

[TexasM1A]

First thing,
People who have Glocks and Sigs think that they are the only “real” pistols out there, they have a HUGE built in bias when it come to other manufacturers. It never crosses there mind that there are other guns out there that perform as well as there own weapon.
Start with a 9mm not a .380, get “personal protection” rounds (Hornaday TAP) and keep then in with the weapon while it is with you or at home.
Shoot as many as you can before you buy one, keep an open mind about different manufacturers.
After you buy one, get proficient at 10 yards first, then move up to 20 yards. But most of all practice, practice, practice...

Oh yeah enjoy, and welcome to the dark side, guns are like Tattoos, you can't get just one.......

[BellStar]

Lady Smith 38 I forgot to say needs trigger work hard pull can be fixed very easily. Ask when you buy it and recomended work can often be done on the spot. I love mine.

[gundog]

Slide bite is a danger for the unwary with it too.

The unwary will always get bit. The unsmart, more than once. Don't blame the Makarov. Aftermarket grips may help, though.

[rswan6574]

I have a Bersa Thunder 380. Best $300 gun out there as far as I’m concerned. All the others mentioned are a lot more expensive. For home protection you don’t need anything extravagant, only something that works every time it’s used (hopefully never). It’s easy to shoot, light weight, fires every trigger pull with no jams, and accurate.