Please recommend a good handgun

[Charlotte M. Corday]

I need the advice of an expert. Two nights ago, in nearby community, a high school football coach and his teenage son were murdered by a home invader. In the wake of this, I have finally decided to buy a gun and take a class in how to use it.

Here's what I am looking for in a handgun:

1. Easy to use, but not easy to discharge accidentally.

2. Powerful enough to stop an attacker, but not difficult for a small woman to handle.

What would you suggest?

[AngryJawa]

Here's another recommendation for American Classic Marksman on PIB in Norcross. I make the drive from Powder Springs to shoot IDPA there on occasion. They're good folks and they'll be glad to help you out in your selection.

A Smith and Wesson, Ruger, or Taurus .357 revolver is definitely the way to go for a first handgun. Go with a longer barrel instead of a snub-nose unless you want to carry it.

[xsrdx]

Better late than never BANG!

[arm958]

I got my wife the SP101 two years ago in .357 as well. I liked that choice because she can practice with .38's, and load it out for carry with .357 hollow points.

Great gun: Compact, not too light, and utterly reliable. I used to have one and wish I still did.

I would definitely recommend a revolver as a first gun. Anyone who chooses an auto for a first gun must be willing to spend time to completely understand its operation, combined with regular range practice.

[woerm]

Ms Corday,

as Stylin' Geek and Hope Springs said

try a variety of pistols,

check out the Ruger GP101 and the Keltec 32
which ever you decide on train, train, train

as you train so shall you act

get comfortable with the weapon,

also if time and $ permit get a 20ga pump gun with 00buck
they are useful 'trench brooms/alley sweepers'

most ladies have recoil problems with 12ga 00buck
pump guns are somewhat easier to maintain
also keep the guns clean and maintained

carry what you are comfortable using

I'm sorry to hear about the neighbors, We will keep you and yours in our prayers.

[facedown]

5 shot .38/.357, heavy enough to limit recoil, light enough to limit fatigue, speedloaders readily available, Ruger quality/reliability, MADE IN USA!

Excellent, Smithers!

[GovernmentShrinker]

Get two -- a largish revolver for home defense, and little bitty semi-auto to carry around all the time (realistically, most of us simply won't consistently carry something bigger, and a big gun won't do you a bit of good if it's at home and you're not, when the need arises). There are a boatload of good options for the former. For the latter, I highly recommmend the Keltec P32 -- a teensy featherweight plastic-framed .32 caliber semi-auto. I carry one in the outer pocket of my handbag at all times, and put it in my shorts pocket when I go jogging -- it weighs so little, it feels like having a keyring in your pocket.

[arm958]

Keltec 32

An under-rated gun, ideal for concealed carry. Heck, you can slip it into your speedos if you're at the beach. I wouldn't recommend it for a first time gun owner though.

[BudgieRamone]

Everyone has their own suggestions and I am going to voice mine. As a range employee, the best advice (echoing many already here) is to go to a local range and try out several handguns--asssuming they have a rental program. I would steer away from lightweight exotic metal (Titanium, Scandium) guns, unless you are going to be carrying the firearm. I usually recommend--again like many folks here--if the person is set on buying a handgun by a .38 spl/.357mag snubs are fine but anything up to 4" would serve very well. I recommend the .357 because of ease of finding the ammo (wally world and most sporting goods stores carry a nice selection). I recommend the revolver because it is less prone to failure under less than ideal conditions--you pull the trigger it goes bang. Smith and Taurus both make seven shot revolvers, always nice to have that extra round, but it isn't always necessary. Ruger and the above mentioned manufacturers produce quality firearms. Ruger and Taurus--from my experience--both have great guarantees and customer service. Also, if you find you like something that you have rented, I encourage you to shop around before buying. Try other gun shops/ranges, mark up is almost always different at competing stores, and at "boutique" type shops expect to pay premium prices.

While I would agree with the poster that said a .40 caliber revolver--my "knock knock" gun is a Smith 610, 10mm revolver--the large grip on a smith N-frame is a bit much for people with smaller hands.

On the subject of shotguns, shotguns are great for defense, the sound of a pump action being worked would be enough to motivate most sane people into leaving an area. While any name brand (remington, mossberg, winchester) will do, I am partial to mossbergs. as far as gauge goes 12 ga or 20 ga is sufficient. .410 while being a low recoil load, has few options for self defense loads. 20ga you gain a few more options and with 12 ga, you have the most. The only thing you give up with a shotgun is versatility--its hard to answer the door with the shotgun in ready position ;-D

In the end its whatever you are comfortable with, but please don't compromise on cost--just because a firearm is inexpensive doesn't mean its a good deal. and just because its expensive doesn't mean its the best. Do the research, go to the local newsstand and pick up a few magazines, do some reading, go to various websites, inform yourself.

jm2b

[from occupied ga]

She said she wanted to get one and that's how she should start. Getting more than one in a single short time period gets you on a fed list for possible harassment.

[Deguello]

"suggested using a shotgun"

I have taught several ladies how to shoot handguns. It would surprise you in how well a woman can shoot when there isn't any bad habits to correct.

The problem with shotguns is that I found many ladies tend to apply rearward pressure to the pump slide and keeping the gun from being able to fire. I could not break them of this. This is not intended as a stereotype, just something to note. There are many great female shotgunners around.

[cweese]

...i've never heard of this gun. do you have a link? thanks...

[MarkL]

For what it's worth, I'd buy a revolver as a first handgun for self defense. It's simple to operate, easy to load, clean, and most importantly, prove unloaded (if the cylinder is open, it's easy to tell). You will need less training to learn how to safely operate the weapon. But the most important thing to realize (as has been mentioned here before), that the "safety" of any weapon is completely dependant on the person weilding it. For a beginner, the best caliber is .357 magnum. The weapon fires a confirmed "man-stopper," but you can also fire .38 special training ammunition with it, allowing you to become proficient with the weapon (and with less recoil and muzzle flash, so you don't pick up bad habbits, like flinching). While I prefer a 5" or 6" barrel, since I mostly shoot targets, for defense, a 4" barrel would probably be better.

One other thing. If you're serious about getting a weapon for self defense, be sure to get this book. It's by Massad Ayoob, titled, "In the Gravest Extreme." Mas is a long time "firearms expert witness" who has testified in many trials. He's a former LE officer as well. He knows what you will go through if you're ever forced to use your weapon for self defense, and gives you an idea of what to do, and most importantly, insight into when you should and shouldn't use a weapon. It's a tremendous book, with a lot of very good information.

Mark

[Wombat101]

If you can find one Charlotte, I would recommend a Browning Hi-power. It's a 9mm, very reliable and one of the finest automatic pistols ever made. It has very little recoil and is very controllable. It's also a very simple to disassemble/operate weapon, which is another consideration (if you're going to shoot it, you must clean it eventually).

It's size may be a bit prohibitive, but, it has heft and when you run out of ammo, it makes a very handy club, sort of like an old .45 M1911A1, even if the magazine does hold up to 15 rounds.

[Redbob]

Pick a .357 magnum revolver, brand of your choice.
Stainless, so you don't have to spend a lot of time oiling it, and so there's no doubt in an attacker's mind what you have in your hand.
Ruger, Taurus, Dan Wesson are all good brands.
(Smith & Wesson STILL refuse to repudiate the deal they struck with the Clinton Administration!)
It can fire light .38 Special loads for target practice, and will positively stop any doped-up attacker, when loaded with .357 semi-wadcutters or Silvertips.

It will not accidentally discharge - you must pull the trigger - and it will not jam.

Regardless of what anyone will tell you about their pet automatics, they will and do jam, regardless of whether they're made by Glock, Ruger, Colt, etc.

[cruiserman]

If you're looking for a carry gun, then I would recommend a short-barreled .38. I got my wife a Smith 642. Internal hammer, 5 shot .38, rubber grips, light weight, and comfortable to shoot.

[from occupied ga]

On the subject of shotguns, shotguns are great for defense, the sound of a pump action being worked would be enough to motivate most sane people into leaving an area

Or possibly clue the enemy as to where you are and motivate the enemy to open fire on you.

[reluctantwarrior]

Smith and Wesson Chiefs Special with .38 Super hollow point bullets

[Space Wrangler]

My wife had very limited exposure to firearms before meeting me, and I based my decision for the revolver on that. My first revolver was a Ruger Security Six in 357, and I still have it and like it very much. I got the hammerless SA only model, and she's very happy and comfortable with it. I carry either my Glock 23, or an Uzi Baby Eagle in .40 as my primary carry gun, and a Sig p232 .380 as a 'warm weather' carry gun. It fits easily into the pockets of shorts, and is much more easily concealed than even a medium sized auto chambered in .40.

[Space Wrangler]

Yep, that's exactly the one I got her. Stainless, hammerless, and the factory grips fit her hand perfectly. No need for any aftermarket improvements. Great gun right out of the box.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Actually, I'm not sure that's true, especially if you buy them at the same time, hence only a single NICS check. I bought two at once a year and half ago just before my July 4 party, and I sure haven't been harassed, even though I'd bought a few others over the previous couple of years, including an AR-15 on that National Firearms Purchase Day staged to protest the UN's evil citizen disarmament schemes (I felt the purchase of an AR-15 was an appropriate response!).

I'm more concerned about being flagged in the illegal registry maintained by my State Police department (Pennsylvania). Which reminds me, it's time I sent some more money to that wonderful Allegheny Sportsmen's League outfit, that has been taking the lead in fighting that abomination.