Posted on 04/27/2009 6:41:14 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo
My wife and I are planning to buy our first handguns.
My wife seems to want either one of the several S&W revolvers chambered in 357, so she can shoot 38SPL, or possibly the Walther PPK semi-auto.
My dilemma is more complicated. I want a semi-auto, but have yet to pick one, but I like the Beretta PX4 Storm, the IWI Jericho/Baby Eagle (hate the Baby Eagle moniker), the S&W Sigma, or the Glock 17. Glock 17 is probably my least favorite. I've also been told by one friend to stay away from the Baby Eagle, but I've seen good reviews for it.
What are your opinions on these?
I have been told that, as a beginner, I should shoot 9mm to start. Is this true, or is it okay to try 40S&W instead?
A revolver in .38spl or .357 is a good choice along with semis from Sig or Glock. What the all have in common is no safety... Pick it up, point it and shoot... Simple.
My personal favorite is the Sig. There are P6 or P225 models right now around that are German Military & Police factory refurbished pistols that are an excellent buy... These are single stack mags and although they hold fewer rounds they are easier and more comfortable to conceal due to the smaller size.
I don’t like the look of Glocks. Also, I prefer a bigger beaver tail kind of situation to make it harder for me to accidentally put my thumb behind the slide and end up a 9 fingered wonder.
Before you decide on a pistol, go to a gun store where you can handle them. Find one that fits your hand.
As to calibers, I think a .40 is a better second or third gun than a first. It has a snappier recoil and more muzzle rise than a 9mm. As other said, it’s easier to learn using something that’s low recoil like a .22.
I recently bought an HK P30 and it feels like it was made for my hand http://www.geocities.com/malbor2/guns/hkp30-2.jpg
Others will talk about stopping power and I agree that larger calibers tend to have more. That said, if you can’t hit your target, caliber doesn’t matter. 9mm are one of the cheaper calibers to buy(when you can find ammo!) and you need to practice often.
The single piece of advice you must take away from here...handle the weapons BEFORE you decide.
NRA.org can get you a list of certified instructors in your area. Then get training (both you and the wife). Then decide, and then proceed with a higher level of training. It can be expensive, but you didn’t just buy a house before determining your needs and financial abilities did you?
The local NRA instructors are a good place to start, and then go to a professional school-it is worth the money.
If your intent is to obtain defensive handguns, then get training first-then you'll know better what suits you and what works for your specific situation.
Much of the advice on this forum is well-intentioned, but not professional advice.
NRA certified Instructor
CCW Instructor
US Army CQC Instructor, etc.
Awesome! I just emailed a guy from the list in my area! Thanks!
Bumped and seconded.
For the record: I sold all my weapons not too long ago, to a person whose name I cannot recall. I have telephones, lots of telephones, even a cell phone ... I'm a good serf don'tchaknow. BWahahahahaha
For the record: I sold all my weapons not too long ago, to a person whose name I cannot recall.
Many guns in the stash
But had to sell for want of cash
To a name now lost from memory cache
Actually I have shopped for ammo lately. It is all difficult to find and expensive. I can still get 9 and 45. 40 is not a common shelf item here.
Reading my mind. .357 versatile and .38 easy to reload for practice, too.
At least before I sold/gave away all my stuff. Don’t need it anymore with this administration; they keep us safe.
I had one in 9mm several years ago and it was a very solid, good shooting pistol. Easy to strip. Inexpensive, too.
what caliber semi auto are you interested in? A baby eagle is just a CZ-75 clone gun, and is an excellent choice. Most cops and security forces in Israel carry this particular handgun.
I personally carry a glock 19.
your dilemma is even more complicated. You gotta choose the revolver by whether you just want a home defense wheelgun or one for concealed carry.
If you go for a CCW revolver, most people choose a smaller one, like a smith and wesson J frame 5 shot 38 or 357 or a ruger SP-101 in 38 or 357. They have shorter barrels and fewer sharp edges.
I've shot them both. For the price, you get a lot of gun that's fairly accurate and totally reliabe. And that's the important part.
Here in west virginia, for some reason, 40 smith and wesson is about all the pistol ammo, save 45 colt or 45 GAP,that you can get at most stores these days.
If you are really sly, sometimes you can find some 9mm at wal mart as they put it on the shelves. I havent been able to find a box of 45 acp for 2 months.
yes, semi- auto. But even in the military I often thought it was odd that you pull the trigger and another round is ready for you to pull the trigger again.
You have to TAKE SOME ACTION to disable it. If you set the gun down at that point without doing somethig, then the round is chambered and ready to fire.
It’s not me or you I am worried about... it’s that other guy- you know the one I am talking about... who would set it down “while I go fetch me a beer”
I’m sorry, I keep tellin you that you need to leave that place and come west.
No..Im sorry,,the first time I saw a spider the size of a pie pan Id be in the car headed back to west virginia.
I have a super blackhawk like that. I took one of my first deer ever with that revolver.
A friend of mine carries his bersa every day in the hot weather. He just carries it under his shirt in an IWB rig.
The only problem is, 380 auto ammo is scarce as heck right now.
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