[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Here you go.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Where do you live?

[dirtboy]

I don't know much about handguns, but I figure it's important to buy one that is really big, scary and military-looking, just to pi** off the gun grabbers.

[BCR #226]

I've been shooting for over 27 years. I'll give you my personal choice then tell you what you should do.

I love SIG's. I feel that I can rely on them at any time in any conditions. I carry a SIG 226 as my CHP gun.

Now, I would recommend that you go out to a gun store and check out various handguns. Find what feels comfortable and if you have the opportunity, try that particular model out before you buy. Make sure the recoil is okay and the gun feels good when shooting it.

Personally, I'd recommend you stick with the 226 if it fits your hand good.

Mike

[Tijeras_Slim]

Seems from your post you are interested in an automatic. In a 9mm/.40 I would reccomend either the Walther P99 or CZ75. In .45 the venerable 1911 Government Model (or variant thereof). All these will fit medium sized hands.

PS: Betcha this thread goes at least 400 replies. You might want to be a bit more specific on the main intended use of the weapon.

[Texas Mom]

Try the Glock 27.. It's referred to as the Mini Glock. Have had one for years and love it. My son who is a Deputy Sheriff uses one as an off duty weapon and my other son the Pilot got one for when the Pilots will be armed.. ( soon I hope) My hands are small and I can't handle the larger weapons. If you want to go really small I would recomment the Baretta Tomcat. I have them both. Both are good as a Concealed Weapon.

[paul51]

I have been pointed to the Sig Sauer P226

Got my vote

[snopercod]

For target practice, .22 ammunition is much cheaper than what you will need for home protection. The "Hydra-Shock" ammo in .38 or .357 Magnum ain't cheap.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

You just can't go wrong with a 1911-A1 unless you live in a very warm climate such as Florida where the clothes get smaller and the weapon gets harder to carry concealed.

It also offers what some of the newer weapons do not and that is the thumb safety which takes no extra time to use but offers an extra level of safety should you have your weapon taken from you and the loser perp isn't familiar with the weapon.


Others know much more than I and I don't carry the 1911 everyday but I do carry a weapon that has the thumb safety: the .45 cal Taurus PT145 but it's trigger is very long and not as smooth as a 1911's.


This thread is going to be at least 100 replies on a slow day and will go over 200 normally. Could go 500 if enough folks are homebound today.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Man, you are in the U.S. of A. now! Don't limit yourself. Get SEVERAL. A gun for every occasion! Shotguns, semi automatic rifles, bolt action rifles, pistols, revolvers.

Is it possible that a person who will not shoot it very often will be needing it for self defense when you are not around? If so consider getting a double action .357 revolver with a 4" barrel.

[snippy_about_it]

Here are some previous threads asking the same question you might want to take a look at.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/757093/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3aa8d6d10b79.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b2637e14c11.htm

[P8riot]

I have an older (pre-ban) Smith & Wesson Sigma SW9F (full size) in 9mm with two pre-ban 17 round mags and an internal lasermax sight I'd let go for about $450.

[xsrdx]

Practical pistol and home defense? Glock 22 or 23 would be my first choice for "one gun".

Nothing wrong with SIGARMS but if you want a DA pistol consider the HK USP series, probably my second choice for "one gun".

You'll get a bazillion recommendations for the venerable 1911 .45, which is a fine choice if you don't mind considerable recoil and the sometimes finicky reliability of production 1911s. Kimber and Springfield make affordable 1911's with decent reputations.

[AnAmericanMother]

I strongly recommend going with the .45 ACP, either a Colt Model 1911A1 pistol ("Old Slabside"), a Kimber if you're flush with funds, or the Sig-Sauer (either the full size P220 or the compact P245.) (I don't have a Kimber but I have the other two . . . I've shot a Kimber but can't justify the expense right now!)

The .45 ACP cartridge is accurate and easy to reload, and the Colt pistol is a natural pointer, accurate, easy to strip and clean, and impossible to destroy. It can be left in its natural "rattle trap" military state so that it will fire even if doused in mud, or it can be fine-tuned and tightened up to superior accuracy (at the cost of some reliability), and just about any level in between. When tuned up, there is no better large caliber target pistol (I competed with one of mine for several years), but I understand a lot of the combat pistolero crowd have gone to the DA pistols since my time. If you prefer a DA, I tried the Sig and the Glock but preferred the Sig.

I am not a fan of 9mm, never have been since my WWII vet dad told me that he saw a number of American GIs in N. Africa and Italy merely wounded by the 9mm Lugers and Walthers, not necessarily dangerous wounds either . . . but he never saw a live German with a .45 hole in him. To be absolutely accurate, this could have been because any German able to ambulate was leaving the vicinity as fast as he could hobble, but I don't think so. . . . Besides, the tapered case on the 9mm makes it a bear to reload.

[1stFreedom]

1911A1 !

[FateAmenableToChange]

Purpose is key.

Self Defense - H&K USC Compact in 9mm or .45 is my top choice, followed by the Glock 26, 27, 28 or 31 in 9mm, .40 s&w, .45 & .45 rexpectively; followed by Para-Ordinance in LDA; followed by everything else.

IDPA / IPSC / PCP match shooting - H&K USC match grade in .45; Kimber Custom Match in .45 or the Glock 21 (also .45). For IPSC, Para Ordinance in .45.

.22 Pistol (i.e., bullseye matches) - Ruger .22, heavy barrel, price limited only by how hard you want to compete.

Plinking and shooting beer cans off your fence rail - Ruger .22 is far away the best, followed by browning buckmark.

If you're in Michigan, the best place for a combination of price and selection is Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare. I've never been in Guns Galore in Fenton but it's supposed to be pretty good too. Don't buy at a gun show - prices and guns generally s&ck.

[mvpel]

You might consider the Glock 30 - it's a compact version of the 21. I own one, and I found it to be more comfortable to shoot than the 21. The grip might still be too fat for you, though - the magazine is interchangeable with the 21's. There's also the 36, which is a single-stack .45ACP, thus has a narrower frame and much more compact structure.

[wardaddy]

If you are a real Newbie to handguns then you should buy a .357 revolver which will also shoot .38 Special(s) as well. S&W(new owners), Taurus, Rossi, and Ruger all make fine models some of which are quite lightweight or have a high capacity cylinder that will take 8 rounds which is approaching 10+1 Semi-Auto post ban mag capacity. Revolvers are quite simple and reliable....point and shoot....very good for nightstand self defense with Glazer or Black Hills style "human target ammo".

That is just a start. If you insist on a semi-auto then by all means the Sig is a good choice. I doubt anyone here would argue with that.

Buy what feels good to your hand and shoot a few rounds first at your dealer's indoor range if possible.

For protection I would not go below .38+P in revolver or 40MM in semi-auto. (maybe 9mm or .380 in semi-auto if you are a small handed female...but with mankiller ammo)

Good Luck...take an instruction course while you're at it.

[grobdriver]

I am trying to choose a handgun for a variety of purposes - target, practical pistol and also for home defense.

You are buying a weapon for home/personal defense.
Everything else is a supporting disipline.
Ergo, you want a Colt model 1911. A service piece with minimal competition mods; Bevel the magazine well for better reloads, put on a pair of grips that work for you. Port it.
Anything else is destined to eventually break. You can stand that on the range, but not at 0200 with a big guy between you and your wife.
Load it with a brand of hollow point that you have tested IN THAT GUN and with which you don't get a single feed failure in a box of ammo.
Compete in Tactical class. Let others spend a gazillion dollars on a space gun. Practice and compete with 200 grain reloads boosted to make major, but put a box of ball through it occasionally so you don't forget what you're holding.
Practice, practice, practice. If you don't fire 100 rounds a month, you're better off with a shotgun.

[Centurion2000]

CZ-97 in 45acp aka Jericho and the Baby Eagle.

You can get it for about 400-500. Double action on the first pull and then SA the rest of the way and it holds 10.