Considering buying a handgun - any advice?

[Bidimus1]

1st define what you want the hand gun to do.

Personal Cary ? — go small but not tiny.

Target accurate ? - .22rf

Home Defense ? — Full size Auto or Revolver

Hunting ? -——— Large Frame Revolver

When in doubt for your first hand gun, a .22 is never a bad choice, ammo is cheap, so you can practice a lot.

[Hacklehead]

If you have little or no experience with handguns, I suggest a 357 revolver with a 2-4 inch barrel. If you have lots of experience, consider a 9mm, 40, or 45 semi auto. Glocks are my choice, however, do not buy one until you have enough discipline to keep your finger off the trigger.

[Thane_Banquo]

It really depends on what you're using it for. Carry? Then you want something thin, like a Kahr or maybe the Springfield EMP (if you have the money for it). Admittedly, I've never carried, but most experts agree thinness is the number one attribute for concealability.

If you're only going to use it IN the car and for home defense, a .357 revolver is excellent. The .357 is hands down the best man-killing round for handguns. Of course, .45 is right up there, and probably easier to shoot.

If you don't like revolvers, I personally recommend the Stoeger Cougar. It was my first handgun, and three guns later it is still the my favorite. Extremely comfortable in my hand. Very simple design and very reliable. I've had only one jam in over 1000 rounds, and that happened when my wife limpwristed it after it hadn't been cleaned in a while.

[papertyger]

How are they supposed to tell the difference between a limp-wristed shooter and a lousy pistol?

[dblshot]

That hasn’t been my experience but I see their point. Has that ever happened?

[Verbosus]

I love my Kimber .45, but I have to admit - I shoot my Ruger .380 a LOT more than anything else I have.

Small, compact, reliable - and I recommend it to others as well.

[Red Badger]

Bigger is better............

[tonysamm]

40 caliber Glock 23!

[Osage Orange]

Go to a range that rents handguns....and find one you like.

[Thane_Banquo]

If you have little or no experience with handguns, I suggest a 357 revolver with a 2-4 inch barrel.

Ahh, I don't think a newbie should be shooting .357 out of a 2 inch barrel. If you mean him to run .38 out of it, then maybe.

[meyer]

How are they supposed to tell the difference between a limp-wristed shooter and a lousy pistol?

Let me shoot it - if it shoots straight, then the other party's a limp-wristed shooter. If I shoot poorly, it's a lousy pistol.

[Silentgypsy]

Additionally, you can use Federal Hydrashocks (sp? and if they make them any more) for additional stopping power. To get the most bang for your buck, read thoracid and abdominal surgery journals for ballistics info.

[OB1kNOb]

If money is tight, I recommend the Hi-Point line. .380, 9mm, 40 S&W, .45 caliber. Most less than $200 with a lifetime, transferable guarantee.

I agree with 2DV. Hi-Point is also American made. I have both the 9mm pistol ($159) and the 9mm 995TS carbine ($300). I find 9mm ammo to be more available and less expensive to acquire than other calibers. If you carry for protection, load with jacketed hollow-points.

[muir_redwoods]

A “friend” of mine owns Glock, S&W, Ruger, Sig and maybe 8 or 9 others. If he had to pick just one it would be Glock, caliber your choice but it ought to begin with a 4

[The KG9 Kid]

FN-Herstal FNP 45 Tactical with Trijicon RMR LED (4 MOA reticule) optics, a Viridian X5L integrated green laser/taclight with dazzler strobe, and an AAC TiRant 45 suppressor.

There you go. Perfect gun for home and car.

Don't buy one before I get mine, please.

[RC one]

I think I'd go with two guns, one bigger gun that stays in the car and one smaller gun that gets carried when you leave the car. I think I'd try to keep the ammo the same so I'd go for a Smith and Wesson 686P with a 4" barrel for driving the car to the grocery store and a Smith and Wesson M&P 340 for walking to and from the grocery store. That's just me of course. Opinions will definitely vary.

7 rounds of .357 magnum, dependable, extremely authoritative

Five shots of .357 magnum, tritium sites, dependable, extremely concealable

[Thane_Banquo]

How are they supposed to tell the difference between a limp-wristed shooter and a lousy pistol?

Admittedly, my experience is limited, but it seems to me most jams in most guns are caused by some combination of limp-wristing, not cleaning the gun regularly, and using poor quality ammo on guns that need something better (i.e shooting WWB or Speer Lawman out of a Kimber).

[Disambiguator]

The Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum with a 4” barrel is a great all-arounder. Revolvers are less prone to malfunction than semi-autos.

The aren’t the most svelte gun in the world, but can still be concealed.

[Lurker]

You’re the only poster on this thread with a brain (besides me :)).

Hail and well met friend Snoringbear. I've recommended used .357's as a first gun forever for the very reasons you mentioned.

Nice to run into you. Best,

L

[ozzymandus]

Look at every handgun you can find. Make up your own mind.