Posted on 02/27/2007 4:29:26 AM PST by Elle Bee
I'm 90 miles from Cuba and I'm going to purchase a new handgun for a new house.
I'm thinking .45 ... Kimber
I'm open to all opinion and option.
I'm still holding out the thought of a revolver over an automatic for ease of maintenance in the subtropics
These threads are always informative and I would appreaciate your input before I make a final decision.
.
Don't screw around... see # 14...
Keep both weapons clean and oiled in that climate. Use them as often as possible. Two reasons: first, you need the practice, second, a tool used is a better tool. Then clean and oil after use.
A Kimber 45 is a very nice gun.
I'd recommend you seek professional help in the form of a handgun training class before you buy anything. You'll be able to make a better informed decision and your instructor will probably be happy to help you decide what is best for your needs. Knowing you personally, his advice would be much more valuable than mine.
Plus the emergency case will make a dandy flotation device for the swim to Havana!
For home defense go with two: S&W 686+ and a Glock 20. One at each end of the house.
Well, at least that's what I told my wife way we needed two :-)
.357 taurus titanium revolver - simplicity of operation - one handed operation (try working the slide with one hand on a 1911 clone) - corrosion resistance (I assume you're 90 miles NORTH of Cuba)
Home defense? Shot occasionally?
Get a revolver! pretty much foolproof.
Semi Autos are ok if you practice enough have the controls become second nature.
In the heat of a possible break-in your having to think about what control to push, flip, whatever goes out the window.
4" .357 Smith or Ruger. Load with .38+P ammo. (.357 in a house will deafen you w/o ear protection)
Now, you went and did it... I am going to have to add to my collection again...
Any Glock is fine, easy maintenance.
Since you mentioned .45acp, check out the Glock 30.
It's compact, similar to the G19/23 models, so it's concealable but it carries 10 big rounds.
You can go smaller with the G36 in .45 if 6 rounds will be enough, or you can go larger with the G21 if you want 13 rounds.
For the best compromise in .45acp Glocks, you can put a 13 round G21 magazine in the compact G30, and an optional grip adapter makes it even nicer. Go to a range and rent some, see how they fit your hands.
I have a Kimber Warrior and it is the best pistol I have ever owned.
Aside from that, stainless is a plus.
Depending on what fits, for a revolver, the Ruger SP101 in .357 mag is good, and you can practice with .38 special, which the pistol will fire also.
In semiautomatics, get what fits your hand first, Sig, Glock, Ruger, Kimber, S&W, and others all make good, reliable firearms.
If you decide to go with a semiauto, learn to field strip it (not very hard, really) and keep it clean.
This significantly lessens chances of a malfunction.
Make sure you have quality factory magazines, also.
Believe it or not, most 'jams' I have seen were because the feed lips on the magazine were bent or improperly formed on an aftermarket magazine.
Whatever you decide to get, practice with it. Accuracy with a pistol is a perishable skill.
Believe it or not, most 'jams' I have seen were because the feed lips on the magazine were bent or improperly formed on an aftermarket magazine.
And limp wristing!
I personally like my .357 Colt python I keep for exactly the same reason you listed. My wife is not firearms savvy, but even in the most stressful times of an adrenaline rush and confusion she can point and squeeze a trigger, and a revolver will always fire without jamming at least 6 times.
Visit your local gun shop and find a weapon that fits your hand, has the size and weight for you to feel comfortable handling and firing. Many gun shops have firing ranges for you to practice/try before you buy as well as qualified fire arms instructors. Money spent for a concealed carry class is more than well spent as it will teach you the gun laws of your particular area and the shoot/don't shoot legalities of your locality. Keep the weapon loaded with the mushrooming type ammunition at all times you are not practicing with other lower cost rounds. Set aside a regular time each month to practice on your local range. I hope you never have to use your weapon but you live in a very bad area of Northern Cuba.
There's a reason some guns are more popular than others.
Mossberg 500 shotgun
Smith and Wesson 686 .357 Magnum with a four inch barrel
Kimber 1911 .45 Auto
Browning High Power 9MM
If you're new at this, I would suggest staying away from Glocks. There have been too many negligent discharges.
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