*Vanity* Handgun Recommendation

me ^ | 6-17-09 | pinkpanther111

[pinkpanther111]

My husband recently purchased a Semi-automatic rifle for home protection. He and I discussed whether we should get a second one for me. I said I would be more comfortable with a handgun. I shoot more consistently with a handgun. So the obvious next question he asked is which one would you like?

I am not sure which one would be the best for me. I know I want semi-automatic beyond that I am not sure which features I should look for.

So I thought I would ask here; if you were to purchase a handgun for your wife, what type would you get? or Which features do you think is important for me to consider?

[School of Rational Thought]

Number one it must fire when required.

But handgun selection is a very personal decision. You will see this running through the posts. Get a glock, I have a glock. Only get a .45, I have small pen*s. etc. (a different arguement than reasonable stopping power, control, and nubmer of rounds available)

Your selection should be one that you are comfortable and confident firing given you are in a situation where you will need to fire the weapon. It should not be what someone else things is right for you.

Recommend trying a wide variety.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.auto-ordnance.com/PA-1TH_ta.html

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A 30 round stick, 10 round and 100 round Drum magazine
are optional.

[editor-surveyor]

"How about a .357 Mag?"

Ammo for .357 is seriously hard to get right now. - There are probably more of them out there than any other caliber, and ammo disappears within minutes of when it hits the shelf.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I have not figured out yet why anyone would buy one of those.

I don't understand the fascination either. But the gun world is full of "excercises in the possible" like the Desert Eagle in .357 Mag, which didn't do anything my 2 1/2" Smith 19 couldn't.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Mrs. Bustard doesn't care for it much at all. She's a Glockophile.

That's serious. I suppose all is forgiven if she's beautiful (all FReeper's wives are you know) and can cook. ;)

[omega4179]

If I was not all set already I would look at the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm and the FNH usa FNP-9 9mm both are modern safe polymer framed models with light recoil and latest safety features. People like the Springfield XD also.

[omega4179]

or a Glock 19.

[omega4179]

A Judge will shoot .45 LC its not a joke. Not sure about 410 buckshot though.

[SandWMan]

“You’re just about dangerous.”

Is this supposed to mean something? I recommended a DA auto and said she should try out several different ones and find one that suited her. Oh, yeah, I see now, that was horrible advice...

And yes, I am dangerous.

;)

[morkfork]

You can't go wrong with a Glock.

Every CCW instructor you meet will sneer at anything else.

Mine really like my CZ-52 at range day. :)

[editor-surveyor]

I meant about the safety ;o)

[melissa_in_ga]

Sig Sauer P232. Uses .380 ACP ammo. No safety, double action/single action only. Holds 7 in the mag. The only thing I don’t like is the mag release mechanism (it’s on the bottom and takes 2 hands to release), however, I don’t anticipate being in an extended firefight. If I can’t put someone down with 2 hollow points, I’m screwed anyway.

I’m thinking about adding a Glock 19 or a simple revolver as well.

[appleseed]

Whatever you get, learn how to clean it, use it and practice often not only target shooting but also drawing from whatever holster or other method of carry you use.

Self Reliant/Survivalist ping list

[SandWMan]

I absolutely cannot stand safeties (on pistols anyway). It’s just something to get in the way of making the gun work. Yes, I know that “with training” you can learn to automatically use the safety on the vaunted and much-worshiped 1911, but we’re not talking about a hard-core shooter here. And, yes, I think she should familiarize herself with many different guns, and learn how to operate any safeties, but for her own personal gun, perhaps something simpler and more instinctive would be in order.

I have a 1911, but almost never shoot it. Just doesn’t fit my hand. When I do shoot it, I don’t carry it “cocked and locked” but on half cock. It is vastly easier and more natural for me to cock the hammer than flip the safety with the side of my thumb.

Actually, I would recommend a good DA revolver to this lady, as have several others here. No fuss, no muss. Much more natural and instinctive, and definitely no problems with limp-wrist jams. I would also recommend practice, practice, practice, and also to “work up” to the chosen defensive caliber by shooting similar guns in .22Lr (another good reason for the S&W model 10....get a .22 Masterpiece to go with it, and you have two guns that are same size, same shape, and handle the same...besides, everyone needs a .22 Masterpiece.)

[combat_boots]

B R A S S

[Frantzie]

Is the Ruger LCR the newish 9 mm carry semi from RGR? Do you like it?

[appleseed]

Yep, best way to learn at the range. Although when the shtf those steps are accelerated quite a bit.

[Armedanddangerous]

Start practice with a revolver till you get the basics down or take an introductry handgun course from an NRA certified instructor.

Chances are in a few hours you will find which type of handgun you shoot the best.

My personal defense handguns which are right here right now are a S&W chief’s special 38 snubby and/or a Walther P-99 9mm pistol.

Id say that if you are determined to get a semi auto pistol, the best way to go would be a Glock. I have the 9mm glock 19, which is one of the most popular carry handguns in the world. Mine is easy to carry and magazines are easily obtained...at least until the chosen one gets around to banning them.

The glock is easy to learn and doesnt have a lot of switches and levers to confuse you late at night if you think a goblin is downstairs.

Also, 9mm is fairly low in the recoil dept and the 9mm ammo is somewhat cheaper to practice with..that is, if you can find it.

And theres the 16 rounds of 9mm in the gun part that is also a bonus.

[Armedanddangerous]

Sir I commend you..you gave good advice..

[hiredhand]

You can't go wrong with a Glock.

Except for little things like that manufacturing defect in a certain model they made chambered for the .40S&W back in 2005 that left a tad too much of the casehead unsupported and had a high *KB* rate.

Yes. They were good about taking the damaged pistols and replacing them at no cost to the owner. But IF you need a pistol, it rather defeats the purpose to have one blow up and destroy itself potentially while you still need it.

Also, Glocks do NOT digest SWC ammo and the warranty is voided immediately by firing reloads. Although I think that's not a unique policy to Glock.

Have you tried out Springfield's XD? A buddy of mine carries one and we swapped one day while shooting. I liked it a lot! Also, recently I read an article (in G&A I "think", so please don't quote me on this!), but as I remember it, somebody had fired 40k rds out of an XD with only about half a dozen non-critical malfunctions....WITHOUT cleaning it.