Advice needed on personal protection handgun

08-01-2013 | Circlecity

[circlecity]

Looking for advice on which pistol to buy. After my first child was born 30 years ago I sold my pistol so as not to have it around the house. Now I am an empty nester and would like to get back into having a few handguns. After so many years I consider myself a newbie so all advice on which handgun to purchase is appreciated.

For my first gun I would like a 9mm autoloader. I intend to use it primarily for shooting at the range and for personal carry. Eventually I will also purchase a revolver to use as my primary carry weapon - but for now I'm looking at an automatic. I'm looking to spend between $450-600.

[Uri’el-2012]

U-2012>My personal favorite is a .40 S&W G27

i like the S&W as well, but he was looking for a 9mm.

I am speaking of a Glock 27,
forty caliber .40S&W cartridge.

My recommendation for 9mm carry is a Keltec PF-9

[MHGinTN]

Bers 9mm Ultra Compact Pro; order it with night sights.

[Uri’el-2012]

Looking for advice on which pistol to buy. After my first child was born 30 years ago I sold my pistol so as not to have it around the house. Now I am an empty nester and would like to get back into having a few handguns. After so many years I consider myself a newbie so all advice on which handgun to purchase is appreciated

Beginners should start with NRA Certified training

I would recommend training
from an NRA Certified Instructor in

Refuse to be a victim
NRA training for women
Basic pistol
Personal protection in the home
and the newly released
Personal protection outside the home

NRA Gun Safety Rules

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

[wku man]

I like my Ruger LC9. On the low end of your price range, very reliable and as small as many .380/.32s. With a wallet holster, it easily fits into the pocket of my khakis without printing. Trigger pull's a bit long, but range time will get you used to that. Get at least two spare mags, and load them with good defense ammo (I like Gold Dot 147-grain).

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Fightin Whitey]

Get one of these. Use it every day.

(Ruger sp101...I know it's not a 9mm or semi-auto..but before the fire I had a slew of semis, large and small, yet this was the one I always carried.)

[1malumprohibitum]

1. Springfield XDs in 9mm or .45 (9 would be first choice for you due to your stated info) Both guns are identical in size and weight.

2. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .9 or .40 or .45 (Same thing 9mm first choice

Both guns are excellent for concealed carry. Very slim and light weight. Both are sufficient size to make range work manageable if not pleasurable.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Who did you expect to teach your kids to shoot?

[Thane_Banquo]

My comment was reserved for the most recent generation of Glocks, generation 4. Earlier Glocks are very reliable.

Google “Glock generation 4 problems.”

[GBA]

Like many, I started with a Beretta 92 (M9) and always loved it, even though it didn't start all that well here. It's very accurate, with proven reliability and available parts, but it's heavy and, to some, a bit dated. I'm partial to it from past experience.

I also like my P250. It's lightweight, easy to carry if you choose to make it compact or subcompact, or make it full sized if you like it that way. The trigger is smooth and can be made shorter with a part from Sig and extended magazines are also available.

Plus, that gun would make for an easier transition to a revolver and back again with that action. Definitely try it for yourself. It can be what you want it to be, grip size, caliber, magazine, you name it, any time you want to change it. Ultra easy and generally very reasonably priced.

If you've started down the Sig Sauer aisle, then definitely look at ALL of their 9s. A couple of their SAS versions make me drool uncontrollably, so I am admitting my bias up front.

You may only need the one gun with one of those models...but hey, why just limit yourself to just one? What fun is that???

[circlecity]

"Get one of these. Use it every day."

As noted above, for my second purchase I do plan on getting a revolver to use as my primary carry gun. First I want to get a semi auto to use at the range to get my shooting chops back. You don't have reload a semi so often so I think it would be easier and more convenient to practice with initially.

[circlecity]

"If you've started down the Sig Sauer aisle, then definitely look at ALL of their 9s."

Are all Sigs DAO?

[VRWCarea51]

I just lost in a boating accident a real Nice Beretta Storm PX-4, in the .40 cal. Man am I sorry I took it fishing. I have owned Glocks, Sig Sauer, Browning High Power, Ruger P90 and P94. The Beretta fit my hand great and they have a mag lip that hinges down so your hand is fully engaged with the grip.

$575.00

[Mogger]

Polymer Judge, later add a Bond derringer in same caliber.

.45 Long Colt.

Then get some Winchester PDX ammo and some Glaser grays and blues and some Ultramax.

[thackney]

Whatever you do, stay away from the newest generation of Glocks. They have reliability issues.

The original recoil springs in the first Gen 4 Glocks had problems. The springs are redesigned a while ago and the problems do not exist anymore. If you buy one of the first ones, Glock will provide replacement springs.

http://us.glock.com/customer-service/recoil-spring-exchange

The sub-compact G26 (9mm) & G27 (.40) did not have this problem.

[Azeem]

For a simple, reliable gun, you have 3 real manufacturer choices. These offer you the most in holsters and availability.

M&P 9 Shield, M&P 9C
Glock 19, Glock 26
Springfield XD, Sprinfield XDS 9

Kahrs are nice but overpriced. KelTec PF9 is cheap and works (just ask George Zimmerman) but muzzle flips, same with Ruger LC9. I don’t like Beretta (M9 cured me of that). Walther is unreliable from my experience.

[MHGinTN]

http://www.bersa.com/bersa-firearms/thunder-uc-pro-series.html

The UC Pro model comes with two 13 round mags, is DA/SA, has a very good trigger in DA mode for first round, and I bought mine for what appears to be your low end to spend. I have not had a single failure of any kind with this little pistol and have made minor alterations in Taurus 92 9mm mags to use as hi cap back up for the UC Pro Bersa. There is a Youtube instruction on how to do the simple alteration to the Taurus mags to fit the UC Pro. If you can handle recoil, the UC Pro can be purchased in 40S&W and .45. I've shot the .45 and find it too snappy for the frame size.

[smokingfrog]

Mounting a tactical light to the accessory rail can cause some reliability issues, but that is the only one I am aware of.

[catnipman]

Glock 19.

Plus:

1. StreamLight TLR-4 & TruGlo TFO sights for Glock 19 from Amazon (sights will have to be installed by a gunsmith)

2. Howard Leight R-01526 Electronic Earmuffs, Allen Endura 11” case, 2 pairs 3M TEKK safety glasses, Kleenbore Gun Care Handgun Kit, Allen cleaning patches, all from amazon

3. Sightmark 9mm Luger Laser Boresight for sighting in the StreamLight TLR-4

4. HKS GL940 Double Stack Magazine Speed Loader 9MM Glock 19.

5. Tipton 9mm Snap Caps.

6. Lone Wolf Chrome Extended Slide Lock Lever for Glock 19 (optional)

7. Couple hundred rounds of defensive (hollow point) ammo and a couple thousand rounds of plinker ammo (probably only source at even close to a reasonable price will be some place like gunbroker.com)

8. Couple of extra Glock magazines (good luck in finding ‘em).

(This is the kit I came up with for a newbie friend who wanted 9mm auto after extensive research plus consultation with a deputy sheriff’s Sargent who’s a good friend and former M-16 armorer) in the military in the 70’s.

[tumblindice]

Another shooter at the range let me shoot his Beretta. Very nice!
He liked my PO1 too. A nine mm lets you carry more rounds and advances in JHP have narrowed the difference between it and the .40 ‘short & weak.’

[drbuzzard]

No, the more classic Sig Sauers are DA/SA. This would be the P229, P226, P220. I have a 226 and a 220 and they are excellent guns. However they are rather pricey.