Hand gun advice, please

[1rudeboy]

I plan on more time at the range this summer. I'd prefer to do so with reduced ammunition costs (I'm a large caliber guy). I know nothing of any caliber smaller than .40cal. I assume that something of the .38 types, or a .357mag might be cheaper, yes?

So here's the deal, here are my required specs:

semi-automatic
9mm, .38, 8mm, .32, .357mag (or something I don't know about)
magazine capacity not important
concealed-carry suitability not important (I live in Illinois)

I just want to have some fun burning-through a lot of ammo. Are there some smaller calibers I should consider? I don't want to plink with a .22--I'm not an interior designer.

[randomhero97]

Glock 19. Best all purpose semi-auto handgun there is. Accept no substitutes. I’m not a Glock fanboy, but that is my opinion.

[Dusty Road]

In 9mm I’d go with a Sig of your choice or Browning Hi-Power, in 357mag I’d go with an L-frame S&W with a minimum of a 4 inch barrel. You might want to look at the 357Sig also.

[ansel12]

I have always tried to be fair in life, so I carry a .22 short, single shot derringer, with a broken pocketknife for backup. I'll admit that the other guys say that I slow them down when we do target practice, but they are just a bunch of high strung guys anyway, with their giant "John Wayne" like cannons.

[ronnyquest]

Also, the suggestion about the .357 magnum pistol using .38 special for target practice is exceedingly economical.

[GunHoardingCapitalist]

I just purchased a Smith & Wesson M&P in 357SIG. This is by far the best handgun I have purchased, the ammo is fairly cheap $20-$28 for 50 rounds. So it is relatively cheap, it is a .40 cal necked down to a .357, so it doubles from a range-queen to my daily concealed carry.

[manc]

I carry a SIG P229 and was on the range today actually and I can tell you that having been in the military and having shot many handguns then this is by far the best in the 9mm

special forces uses it and many other depts for a reason.

I love it and it is easy to carry unless you wear tight clothing of course.

looking for a semi handgun and easy to carry but never has a stoppage and one of the msot accurate out there then get the SIG

[Frantzie]

LOL! I was thinking the same. .45?! LOL! 9 mm is pretty cheap. The feller with the CZ 52 idea is pretty good too.

[mylife]

CZ 52 in action.

[manc]

I have a sig p229 and having served and used many handguns including Glock then the sig is by the best.

[Blackhawk]

If your just looking for some bang bang fun get something in a 9mm. Ruger makes some okay for modest price. Still has some of the feel of the “big” guns but surplus 9mm is dirt cheap and plentiful. And don’t rule out carry. You might need to. Wife and I have S&W 5906’s for “plinking”. I load my own so I have a variety of loads with some “Hot” ones for real world needs. We got the brushed stainless for durability and the weight helps hold the recoil down. That and the fact that the S&W 5906’s just “happen” to use the same mag configuration as the Uzi,(pure coincidence :o) and yes the 30rnd mags work just fine. Can hold on target and go through all 30 just as fast as I can squeeze. Get stares at the range.

[ronnyquest]

Just my opinion (and those of everyone I know), but .380 is a useless cartridge. However, there are those who swear by them...

A local gun owner remarked to a customer about two weeks ago, who was considering a .380, “People say a lot of bad about the .380, but I’d hate to be hit with 8 of them.”

I remarked, “That’s the point; you’ll have to use 8 to take down a grown man.”

The customer bought the .45 ACP.

[Bronzy]

Female here. I have a S&W “pink” revolver. I like it. It is pink and feminine and said to never fail.

[Pollster1]

Dude, go with a good gun, a 1911 in .45 is my choice, with a .22 conversion. You can shoot the same frame, with the same feel, and switch back and forth in about a minute. Shoot off a hundred rounds of .22 for next to nothing, some plinking and some working of technique. Finish with a clip of .45 from the same gun with your other barrel, and you’ve had all the fun plus it was genuinely useful practice. $320, more or less, for the conversion kit from Cabela’s, Kimber, or a hundred other sources. Note: I won’t recommend a specific maker, but I like conversion kits and practicing on the gun I use. [A cheap .22 is about the same price, but I like the 1911 and the weight.]

[calex59]

The .38 super was a semi-auto round that some manufacturers made firearms for. It was supposed to be the self loading answer to the .357. I don’t think anyone makes a firearm form it anymore. If you buy a .357 you can fire .38 special ammo in it to save money and use the .357 ammo for self defense.

[Ramius]

I just bought a Sig Sauer P220 Elite yesterday, and took it to it’s first day on the range today. Wonderful pistol.

[digital-olive]

I’m quite happy with my Glock 21.

[sig226]

Everything you do with a .22 will reflect on everything you do with a .45. If you’re shooting a .22 badly, there is no question who is at fault. It’s the shooter. The .22 is the most accurate cartridge you can fire in a handgun.

You don’t mention what you mean by large caliber, so I assume you mean a .45 ACP. You’ll save around six bucks a box if you get a 9mm. So if you’re firing 150 rounds per range session, you’ll save around $20.00, depending on ammunition logistics.

You’ll also find that a good, accurate 9mm or .357 Magnum is not any cheaper than a good., accurate .45, so the gun cost is not really a factor. Personally, I believe that if I was allowed to own one handgun, it would be an S&W 686 with a 4” barrel. It’s stainless steel for protection from water. It has excellent balance and the trigger can be worked with the total cost under $1000.00. If you want to save a around $100.00 on the gun, get the Ruger GP-100. It’s not quite as accurate as the Smith, but it is a stronger frame and the hammer and trigger are stainless. The Smith hammer and trigger are case hardened carbon steel. You can shoot .38s in it for fun. You can shoot .38s in it for self defense. You can shoot .357 Magnums in it for self defense. You could kill a bear with it, although it’s not a great idea. You can also leave it in a drawer for five years and it will work when you take it to the range.

Regarding your opinion of .22s, check out the Steel Challenge. The purse was $390,000.00 last year and you have to shoot rimfire.

[element92]

you will get bored with a 9mm.
............................
learn to reload
buy a 44 magnum

[ronnyquest]

Probably in .38 Special? Excellent choice.

[X-FID]

For a semi I love colt .45 4091u, ( had the 9mm commander a long time ago) but wish I had the gov model with the 5” barrel instead of 4 1/4. For a wheel the gun s&w .357 is my next purchase I think. Still researching it though, maybe 686 with 4 inch barrel it’s a nice piece though expensive.