Handguns......

[Matt]

The finest proper defense pistol I've ever shot is my pop's oh-so-custom Wilson Combat .45. The fit and finish is awesome, and by my third mag I was keeping 3" groups at ~50 feet. We only put about 18 mags through it that day, but it never even came close to hiccuping, which should go without saying of course.

I think Glocks are fantastic guns, everything I've read about them, how reliable, and indestructible they are. That said, I've never liked shooting them, I always shoot low with them, no matter what. Maybe with another 100 mags through one I'll get better with it, but I don't enjoy them, so I'll never do that.



Personally I'm looking for a steyr, they generally have a more rakish grip which is preferable for me. Plus that's what my target pistol was (back when I did a lot of competitive shooting) and it'll always be my favorite. Again, if you wanna keep a dime sized group at 10 meters hammerli and steyr are the way to go, just don't ever kid yourself into thinking they are carry weapons.

Remember, there are a lot of very good handguns out there, but there might not be many that are good for you. Try to test stuff out before you buy to find something that suits your build.

[boodlefoof]

Sig all the way. P-220, .45

[white79bu]

I carry a Springfield XD40 service concealed eveyday. It's a great weapon. I just bought a Springfield XD9 Tactical for plinking. Also a great gun. I installed a 16 pound recoil spring that tightened my groups. I am thinking about having them refinished. I love my xd's. I would like to have a few other pistols but I can't get away from xd's. To be honest I have been shooting more recently than driving the Malibu. But with car events comming up all of that will change. Andy

[muthstryker]

get a .454 casull :P but after you shoot it it leaves you thinking "should i do it again?"

[MikeDVC]

I carry a Springfield XD40 service concealed eveyday. It's a great weapon. I just bought a Springfield XD9 Tactical for plinking. Also a great gun. I installed a 16 pound recoil spring that tightened my groups. I am thinking about having them refinished. I love my xd's. I would like to have a few other pistols but I can't get away from xd's. To be honest I have been shooting more recently than driving the Malibu. But with car events comming up all of that will change. Andy

I replaced my Glock 26 with a XD9...and agree the XD is a great pistol.

[JamesJ]

I have not read all this, so this may have been said but .40 is a compression load and has alot more kick then a 9 or 45 so would go with one of then for cal size. and the 1911 springfeild is one heck of a tool.

[Steven]

Scott, go with the the .45. If you practice enough, you would not notice the recoil, and you can get low cost or reloaded, sorry, remanufactured .45 ammo. I just retired from the Police Dept. from where I live. My department issuses the Sig P220 and it has never failed. Several members carry the Glock in .45 and those guns have never failed. I carried and shot the Sig, but have carried and used the Colt MkIV Series 70 for approx. 20 out of 30 years. Due to being assisgned the less than lethal weapon on the Special Enforcement Team, I carried a Para Ord. P-14, a double stack magazine makes one feel a little better on entry. One thing to think of is with a 1911 style pistol, Springfield, Kimber, Colt, you can get a .22 cal upper to do some low recoil pratice with. (As with any sport, quality practice makes perfect). I believe that you can get them for some Glocks and other pistols.
Oh ya, I can tell you that people do not like getting hit with a 40mm soft impact round. Brings a smile just thinking about it.

[Madspeed]

I own a P220 Sig .45 I lub it moocho, very balanced and not much recoil, it sleeps under my pillow with some hollow points sleeping inside.
As far as a good home wep Id have to agree that a 357 revolver isgood but a shotgun is really best as it wont go through your walls and kill somone else IF you miss. It is UBER accurate and u can plink with .38's cheap enough. I own a ruger .357 as well

My other weps are a Mouser 8MM, Marlin 30 30, and a stainless Ruger Mini 30

[Samckitt]

After talking to the gun shop guy, he says the springfield 9mm can take 6 months or so to get because they only make the 9mm twice a year. For the price the .45 cal Kimber wasn't that much more. I may go look at one of them. But like I was told, I am going to go "hold" as many as I can first.
Thanks,
Scot

[Matt@RFR]

Allthough it's definetely a good idea to physically handle some pistols before buying one, keep in mind that with a 1911 you can change a lot of it's ergonomic characteristics with simple bolt on parts. Flat or bowed main spring housings, different triggers, different slide releases and main safety, pinky pads for the bottom of magazines if you have big hands, different grips, different beavertails, etc.

[TSSPAYNE69RS]

I like the .40 cal over 9's and it is very balanced with the one cartridge clip extension that allows your pinky something to go around. Compact enough to carry anywhere.

Troy

[64Comet]

Sig P239 .40 cal for me, fantastic gun. use it for home defense.

[jetsiphon]

Well, I wasn't going to post in this thread, but I can't resist.

For everyone who thinks that 9mm isn't substantial enough for carry, you need to do some more research. Modern bullet technology has pretty much leveled the playing field in the autoloading handgun world.

That being said, I own one of each and they all preform just about the same, however, I carry the one that I shoot the best with.

[Roadrage David]

Guys i got a 1914 german made Luger..... there is no substitute

[2Slow4U]

I will say that caliber makes little difference(9, 40, 45) if shot placement is good.

Ammo price shouldn't be much of a factor. There are many websites that offer bulk rates. I bought 2k .40 for around $350.(I shoot almost everyday) You just have to keep up with the deals.

[chicane67]

For everyone who thinks that 9mm isn't substantial enough for carry, you need to do some more research. Modern bullet technology has pretty much leveled the playing field in the autoloading handgun world.

Well, lets use another analogy shall we.....

If you wanted to drive thru a house, would you rather drive a Honda...... or a MACK truck ??

You are right about projectile technology. The .45ACP 230gr SXT (AKA Black Talon) is pretty much the cats meow. Not to mention that it will not over penetrate and go thru your objective and then another bystander.... or another wall.... and another.... and another....

As I stated earlier, when you have seen a subject take an entire magazine of 9mm Corbon hollow points in the upper torso and then he continues to come after you..... right then and there you learn to hit him once with a MACK truck instead. That is enough research for me.

Yeah you could carry a 9.... by I am under the idology of walking softly and carring a big stick.

And then there is rule 24.

[zero g]

I have carried Beretta's for the last 17 years when we switched from S&W M27's and Colt Python's in .357mag. The top one for the last 6 years 96G .40 and the bottom one the prior 11 years 92 SF 9mm.

I have shot thousands of rounds through these guns with all kinds of ammo w/nary a misfire. I stake my life on it every day and it has never failed me.

If you are a relatively new handgun shooter I would go with a double action rather than a single action.

[jetsiphon]

Well, lets use another analogy shall we.....

If you wanted to drive thru a house, would you rather drive a Honda...... or a MACK truck ??

You are right about projectile technology. The .45ACP 230gr SXT (AKA Black Talon) is pretty much the cats meow. Not to mention that it will not over penetrate and go thru your objective and then another bystander.... or another wall.... and another.... and another....

As I stated earlier, when you have seen a subject take an entire magazine of 9mm Corbon hollow points in the upper torso and then he continues to come after you..... right then and there you learn to hit him once with a MACK truck instead. That is enough research for me.

Yeah you could carry a 9.... by I am under the idology of walking softly and carring a big stick.

And then there is rule 24.

What it boils down to is pistol calibers are not ideal for anything.

However, if you are putting rounds COM and the person isn't going down, I'm willing to bet that caliber had little to do with it.

[MrQuick]

my .308 and .45 make nice holes in paper but thats not the point. My .223 is just small but it throws alot of them. Its personal preference. I like the guns over caliber. That new Kimber is real nice..

If someone where to break into my shop their getting a lump to the head to wake up to shackels and a push broom. Better to clean my shop then go to prison. I might even feed them. LOL

[airflowdevelop]

I have shot just about anything you could get your hands on. I have owned a number of Kimber's. The older the Kimber, the better the gun. The newer stuff has return troubles...STAY AWAY! Here are the things that are important to me...maybe important to you.

1. I use my carry, I like to target, and use my primary every time on the range. It must be accurate, and a pleasure to shoot.

2. I do not want to have to carry "special" ammo for my carry to perform.

3. I do not want a maintenance hog. I want to know that the gun can sit in my uncle holster for a couple months, and perform like the day it was bought.

4. You do not have 3 shots in a life or death situation. Do you want to count on enough time to spray and pray, when it is you, your wife, and kids on the line?


I primary carried a couple of Kimbers , a Sig, and a XD of a friends. I am not a German fan, but a friend (this was 6 years ago) got out of the USMC. He had a USP 45, we went to the range on a damp sunday morning. As I was fiddling around with my Kimber (damp return problems) , he was shooting a 6 inch group at 50, never missing a beat.

The next day, I went to my local armory store...ordered one up...and have not looked back! My USP is well broken in, and preforms as good, if not better than day one! Something I cannot say for every Glock, Sig, Kimber, Colt..that I have owned.

Good luck with your purchase...and buy something that is comfortable for YOU!
Dennis