Posted on 08/06/2009 7:37:20 AM PDT by Feline_AIDS
With the new wave of criminal activity due to the economy working its way to a neighborhood near me, I am looking into buying a handgun for home defense (lots of tight walls at home—I just don’t see myself wielding a pump-action around the bend of a wall to ward off uninvited “guests”). I’ve looked at the Springfield web-site (at the XDm .40 cal.) I liked some of the selling points about safety, ergonomics, etc., but it seems a bit pricey. I’m looking for something that I’ll feel comfortable with and that will do the job. Can you offer any personal insights?
bttt
I can’t say that I’m “sorely disappointed”. I got what I paid for. Doubt I’d ever carry it, but police use it, maybe because mine has never failed to fire. I have it stashed where I can reach it quickly.
It was that or a this: http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/handguns/hi_point_handguns.html (You know, the gun that looks like a Black & Decker cordless drill? :^)
Springfield sub compact 9mm here in bi-tone stainless and black. 17 rounds of Hydrashock make lovely holes and my wife can shoot it. Hide it just about anywhere (google Crossbreed super-tuck) if you want it on body. I carry mine in my Maxpedition Fatboy and it fits like a glove.
I’ll second the H&K. I have 9MM USP compact and it’s fantastic. If fits my hand, isn’t heavy, low recoil, and if you use hollow point/hydro shock rounds, it’ll stop someone just fine :-) I also have FMJ rounds, as a backup.
I have a S&W 686P but am not a fan of S&W semi’s (except for the older model 41’s in .22 lr.) Have you considered taking a look at CZ? If you want a nine, their 75D or P-01 compacts are very nice and reasonably priced too.
Bump for later. Thinking about a M&P 9mm compact myself. I’ve read some good reviews on it.
I have the M&P .40 - great gun. Reliable, accurate and easy to take down.
Nice. I loved the fact that when I bought it, on the case it said “Illegal in California” because of the round capacity. Commie-fornia doesn’t want me to have this gun. Funny. I just keep it in a footlocker under my bed, and the wife can shoot it as well. I may look at getting a shotgun next. Suggestions?
Double Dog Ditto on Beretta 92FS
Untrue, they continue to make them after paying Glock an undisclosed sum to settle.
I count the word "Sigma" used four times.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=14733&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15713&isFirearm=Y
For years, I kept telling a buddy to “Get a Glock”.
I like them, and my bias showed.
Well, he got together about $350 (he only needed $150 more for a Glock) and got hte SVE40 (something like that), which was the compact Sigma .40 with the “Sigma” name.
He hated it immediately and you couldn’t find a trigger kit to make it bearable.
By the time he was ready to trade it in, Springfield came out with the compact XD40 and he liked that a alot, so he ditched it.
How much do you want to spend? Have you ever owned a handgun before?
I live in a condominium and I have a Smith & Wesson Model 27 Classic .357 Magnum with a 4” barrel as one of my primary home defense guns. It is a cannon but is also heavy enough to manage recoil and the longer barrel gives it better accuracy. The .357 is very versatile because you can shoot a great variety of ammunition from .38 Special, .38 Special (+P) and high-powered .357 Magnum cartridges. I have my gun set up to shoot Hornady Critical Defense FTX 110 grain .38 Special (+P) and Federal Defense 158 grain .357 Magnum Hydra-Shok jacketed hollow points which should be more than enough to deal with an intruder(s) The .38 Special is what I put in first because you have to be careful about wall penetration and hurting your neighbors.
I can’t get to that link to work.
Nasty guns and all.
The most recent versions don’t mention the “Sigma” anywhere on the box or the literature.
This would be my first handgun, though I used to go shooting with a buddy of mine a few years back. Am I seeing the price correctly for the S&W 27 (about $1000)? I thought the $650 or so for the Springfield XDm was a bit tough! It does look nice, though.
With limited funds and with the age of Obama upon us, I’m wondering if I wouldn’t be better off trying to pick up something that holds a few more rounds...
There is no reason to even think about buying a Glock anymore. The generation of plastic fantastic Crunchentickers have been surpassed by the Springfield Armory XD.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/
You also get an honest to goodness safety.
There is a problem using standard ball ammo but we civilians aren't held by the lowest bidder. Any ammunition company can sell a formidable stopper in 9MM such as the Federal Hydra-Shoks. A new shooter is also hampered by using a larger caliber. It takes more time to learn instead of slowly working up.
If your attitude changes because you have a gun, you’re doing something wrong.
The S&W Classic is not cheap and I got a deal on mine at $844. However there are more than one .357 made. You can get a brand new Ruger GP100 in Satin Stainless Steel with a 4” to 6” barrel anywhere between $430 to $560. The Ruger is an excellent pistol and very well made.
You can get a new Glock 21 .45 ACP (13 +1 Rounds) for about $500. You have to know where to shop.
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