Need Advice on a Firearm Purchase (Only 2nd Vanity ever)

10/04/02 | me, myself and I

[seeker41]

Help me decide witch one of these firearms to purchase as I am confusing myself. Currently I own a SW 357 revolver and that's fine for home. I am female with small wrists and average sized hands, kinda long fingers and would value FReeper advice if you have experience with either of these weapons. Should I look at Glocks as well? I don't care for 9mms such as Ruger etc. Thanks in advance.

Here is my first choice
HK USP 45

Second Choice

[HP8753]

If for home defense ...use 12ga. Shotgun with birdshot..#4 or #6...Less chance of penetrating walls like buckshot
And at close range inside ...Very effective

Shotgun blast to chest at 15 ft

***WARNING**** This pic is NOT for the faint at heart....

[The FRugitive]

The H.K. is very big. I'd get the HK compact, but the .45 compact only holds 8 rounds. The Compact .40 and 9mm hold 10 rounds.

Otherwise I really like the H.K.

I'm not familiar with the other gun.

[Mariner]

"Does the .45 kick that much"?

I'm a strong man and experienced shooter......and after 50 rounds at the range my accuracy is way down with the .45.....less so with the .40.......and the .380 and 9mm are about the same due to the predominance of the blowback action of .380's.

In order to shoot well, with confidence, you'll have to shoot alot. Most women won't shoot the bigger calibers much unless they work up to them slowly.

Confidence and sure accuracy are far more likely to save your life than a big bore.

[seeker41]

Wow, thanks for that great advice and technical discussion. I just don't like the 9mm pistolas and was afraid that people might think the recoil would be too much for me to handle with the 45 ACP's I had selected. Surely with practice this could be overcome. Actually I think the glocks are ugly. Isn't that just like a woman?

[wardaddy]

Those are all fairly large semis hon. The USP is quite large. I assume the Sig is a hair smaller. As for quality....it's like a Benz or a BMW....taste and comfort.

Kimber and Para Ordnance make smaller frame .45s and you might find a fat one with preban high cap magazines.

Glocks are fine and I know women who like them.....I just don't like shooting something that feels like a block of wood in my hand....it's just me.

Take a look at almost any small to meduim frame semi-auto in .45 from Taurus and up in price and pick what feels best. Cocked and locked is also a consideration to me. I also prefer 1911 style.

Gun opinions are like ....er belly buttons...everybody has one.

Stay safe.

[seeker41]

Snubbie revolvers - due to light weight - are often real troublesome;

That is part of the reason it stays at home. Thanks for your advice.

[bybybill]

big dog, small gun that you can handle or, the best home protector, a pump shotgun...everybody knows what THAT sound means

[fourdeuce82d]

I am female with small wrists and average sized hands, kinda long fingers

Ma'am, if you're shooting a .357, you can handle a .45 with ease- given some pointers/practice. Don't listen to anyone that says you can't.

If you want to go with a concealed weapon, a .380 may make some sense- my girlfriend carries a tiny NAA Gaurdian in her purse every day. but if you're looking for a full size auto, full-power auto, I'd give some serious thought to a 1911 .45- they don't kick a lot, (not to someone who shoots .357) and they have slim grips that should fit your hands just fine.

Main thing is to find a gun range that will let you rent different guns, and shoot 'em, several times.

Also, try going to web sites that focus on female shooters- use Google, and search "female/handguns" etc.

Much as we guys would like to help, we can be a little bossy.

[wardaddy]

See my #25.....I'm glad I'm not the only one. I swear I did not read past her vanity. Glocks =blocks to my hand.....plus I'm not big on that trigger safety.

I know Glock has rabid fans.....I submit in advance...LOL

[seeker41]

If you get the .380 you will have to empty the magazine and hope for the best...

Good to know. When I bought a shotgun, the clerk wanted to sell me bird shot so it wouldn't go through walls. I told him I wasn't worried about that, it needed to go through the door as well as the person. He seemed shocked that I said such a thing!

[Jagdgewehr]

Should I look at Glocks as well?

No. My (required) duty weapon is a Glock 22 (.40) but I prefer my Sig P226(personal weapon) over the Glock. Especially when its time to clean the weapon after shooting.

You may want to consider the P225 for compactness over the P220. The P232 is also a worthy choice if you want a smaller caliber from the 9mm. I belive that model is available in .32ACP or .380ACP.

[dighton]

My own (inexpert) opinion: are YOU comfortable with it? Does it fit, like your favorite clothes or car?

I'm pinging two FReepers who would know.

[MJY1288]

I consider Sig Sauer the best hand gun out there. I own quite a few of them. including the P220, P225, P226, P228, and the P229 in both .40 cal and .357 sig. I like the 229 frame because I feel it is very well balanced during rapid fire. The compact version (P228) is shorter and is not very well balanced, but easily concealed. The P220 and P225 are very good and I will never part with mine, But I like the P229 frame in .40 caliber the best.

[fabian]

I have the mid-sized glock 9mm and it shoots very reliably. I don't shoot very often lately, but have had it for about 10 years and have never had a jam. The sights are really easy to line up and the recoil is pretty light.

[wardaddy]

Damn.....I thought that was the HK tactical thigh gun....my bad. The Compact is ok...well made.

The Sig 232 is a great smooth finger pointer but if you're gonna shoot .380s....they ought to be a Corbon ammo product..(mankillers).

My maternal granny shot an old Spanish made 1911 copy .45 as an 80 year old and my mom at 70 has a .357 hammerless wheelgun so she might handle a .45 just fine. My wife's 642PD titanium at 10.8 oz shooting .38+P kicks as sharp a recoil as any hangun I've ever shot. Not a big shove like a rifle caliber in a Contender but very snappy recoil....it'll blister your palm in a hurry unless gripped very tightly.

[seeker41]

hehe...see post 30. Psst...not faint harted. I watched that horrid throat cutting video of the russian soldier being decapitated by a terrorist several times. Wished I hadn't now, but I did at the time. Terminal curiosity.

[Mr. Mojo]

My dad has that HK USP Tactical (with threaded barrel), and I've shot it a few times. It's very accurate and reliable, but I don't like either the trigger or the ergonomics. I'm a big fan of 1911-style .45 ACP's, but if you're looking for a reliable, accurate, and comfortable European rig with a nice trigger, I'd go for the Sig.

[wardaddy]

A lightweight .357 wheelgun with average loads will "kick" 20% more than a meduim frame .45 auto with average loads.

[HP8753]

Was it a Walmart clerk ??? ;-)

[efnwriter]

Go with a .45 you like, get professional training, and practice. In a dangerous situation you will do what you are trained to do. If you are not trained - and do not practice - you are a danger to yourself and others when armed - and otherwise, in a dangerous situation you will freeze or panic. The gun is a tool. You are the weapon.
Godspeed
Jonathan