Hand guns

[fishingman220]

I am looking at buying a gun for carrying and some shooting at the range. i am preatty new to guns and do not know alot about all the different choices. i am looking at the glock g23 .40. i am just wondering what everyone else has and what their opinions are.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Hand guns

Glocks are very nice guns. I have a 9mm glock and I love it. However the gun that i want the most is a Springfield XDm 45. They are AMAZING! I shot a buddy's and now i am thinking about selling the glock to get one.

anyway, glocks are great. you will like them.

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Hand guns

I have a 45 cal colt revolver. Mud, sand, snow, water, or what ever,it will always fire. dependable . B T W you do not shoot a gun . you fire it . If you shot it it would not be dependable.

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Hand guns

Desert Eagle Mark VII .357 magnum.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Hand guns

Are those just all reasons for wanting one? Just curious you are new AND want to carry, training is a must first - the gun needs to accomodate the need/want

 

[10thHawk]

Re: Hand guns

Sig Sauer makes a nice pistol. I've shot a few different calibers of them. well balanced

 

[JustJason]

Re: Hand guns

I've shot them all. From Glocks, Colts, Springies, Beretta, HK, Sigs, and FN pistols. My best advice. Join a gun club or find a place that rents. Shoot them all. See what feels good for you. Worry less about caliber, and worry more about hits and misses. Take the safety course, the NRA course is great. A combat pistol course is fantastic after you complete an NRA course. Learn how to do a double tap. Learn the 2 1. (2 in the chest, 1 in the head)
Practice, practice, practice.

I have a Glock 22, but rarely carry. I shot and want a FN 57. But will never own one because of Mass rules and gun/ammo costs.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Hand guns

I have a good number of handguns and like 'em all. I have a Glock 22 that I have carried daily as a "work gun" for about 10 years. It has performed flawlessly, as do the other 60 or so that I see fired on the range on a regular basis. Glocks are great weapons. They aren't pretty and they aren't something that anyone will likely ever consider a "safe queen" that will only be brought out for show and tell. IMO, they are a good gun for a reasonable price.

With all that said, I still am a revolver man by heart. If I could only have one handgun, it would be a 4" stainless .357, most likely a Colt. However, since they no longer make Colt DA revolvers, they are worth their weight in gold and most likely not gonna be a choice for a guy that wants a reasonably priced weapon for general use....Yeah, they are steep, I looked at a NIB, unfired Python from 1995 just yesterday. Asking price was 1700 bucks. If the price comes down a bit, I'll be bring it home.............Now, with all that rambling outta the way, if I couldn't have a Colt and wanted the stoutest, most durable .357 on the market, it would likely be a Ruger GP100.

Back to them Colts, here is my first and my favorite. I bought it 20 years a go brand new for 335 bucks. It is polished stainless and still shines like she did the day I bought her. I shot thousands upon thousands of rounds thru it and even successfully deer hunted with it. I wish I would have bought one of each barrel length and finish back then. The price on them used has nearly tripled. NIB they have tripled or more.

 

[86 century]

Re: Hand guns

This is what i carry Taurus titanium 18oz 38spl +p.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Hand guns

I like those little snubbies for carry. I have a Ruger SP101 in .357 and a Colt Agent in .38. The Colt is a little smaller than the Ruger, weighs less and is a 6 shooter to boot. It slips nicely right in a front pocket.

 

[rainman99]

Re: Hand guns

I have a Glock model 19 its small enough for conceal carry. You must be carefull with a Glock. If have a round in the chamber they have no safety switch. With target amio mine shoots a hair low at 25 yards my normal shooting distance. As said before take a training class.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Hand guns

I am a very avid hand gun/long gun person. If this is your first venture into shooting at a range I would strongly suggest a a decent quality .22 pistol for a number of reasons.

.22 will teach you everything you need to know as a start. The ammunition is FAR FAR cheaper. You can purchase 500-550 rounds of low end .22 ammunition for less money then 50 rounds of 9 MM or 40 S & W.

Once you have mastered the .22 all the way out to 25 yards and even 50 yards ...... then I would consider a second hand gun such as a 9 MM, 40 S & W or other caliber.

There are great quality .22's on the market such as the Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mark series.

I have seen far too many people who attempt to their days at the range with a weapon that is difficult to master and it only leads to frustration. Recently, I met a gentleman that owned three beautiful hand guns that were all "too much" for his ability and he was going crazy. I heard statements from him saying they were trash and were not accurate.... until he visited the range with me

You can purchase a Glock in 9 MM or 40 S & W but I would take it a step further and get a .22. People have posted some pictures of great concealed carry weapons and in the hands of a novice they can be frustrating to shoot.

What shoots a hair low at 25 yards may shoot a hair left, right or high for others.

 

[JB]

Re: Hand guns

I currently own a Ruger P90 in .45ACP and a Taurus PT22 (.22RF). I bought them to try out Semi-autos. The Taurus can be concealed very easily, but why I can't tell you. The Ruger is very heavy but easy to shoot and control.

I should have listened to my heart and bought a Browning designed handgun. I did very well with the Colt .45 when in the Navy and had a Browning HP in 9mm for a while.

The handguns I have had that I liked the most were a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 and a Ruger Super Single Six Convertible .22RF.

I have fired #1 daughter's Glock .45. I liked shooting it, but it is just too ugly. I like the esthetics of single action descendants of Col. Colt's masterpiece.

 

[arks]

Re: Hand guns

I am looking at buying a gun for carrying and some shooting at the range.

While it's fine to get opinions, don't depend on 'em.

As mentioned, rent or try out as many different ones as you can. The 'right' gun for you should be as comfortable as an old pair of shoes.

From my experience a good carry gun doesn't necessarily make a good range gun. They serve 2 different purposes.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Hand guns

I have a good number of handguns and like 'em all. I have a Glock 22 that I have carried daily as a "work gun" for about 10 years. It has performed flawlessly, as do the other 60 or so that I see fired on the range on a regular basis. Glocks are great weapons.

any time i want info or opinions on a new handgun, these are the guys i go ask. they trust it with their life.

as for my not nearly as informed opinion, i loved my Ruger Blackhawk .357. I enjoy my Sigma 9mm and I will soon be buying either a Springfield XD .40cal or another Ruger .357 this time a GP141.

before you choose a gun I would recommend looking around at ammo in your area. some is easy to find and some is near impossible and very pricey. .45 around here is nearly double the price of 9mm. considering you mostly want to do range days and get used to the gun that means lots of shooting. lots of ammo, can get very spendy very fast.


Let us know what you end up with.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Hand guns

I agree with the above comments on ammo cost/ availability. Try some different ones out, then decide!

FWIW- I have a Taurus Raging Hornet ( 22 hornet) that is really fun, but kinda spendy to shoot, tack driver... Also have a Springfield XD40, ok for carry but the grips do not fit me well so I am not real fond of it. My buddy shoots it and he really likes it, but then again his a much better shot that I.
So we trade while at the range and I get to shoot his Glock 23 which is a nice gun.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Hand guns

I was moving in the bigger direction. I want to buy one of those shotguns similar to like the weapons the police have in their cars.

Was surprised to find out that some load 6 plus shells. I want to use it for home protection, since I live a little ways out of town. Figure used they run about $350. I was going to go to ****'s today to see what they go for new.

A friend said his son has one of this type of weapon and you don't need a license to buy one in NY.

I forgot the particular model and brand his son bought. I just want something short.

 

[arks]

Re: Hand guns

I was moving in the bigger direction. I want to buy one of those shotguns similar to like the weapons the police have in their cars.

Remingtons are popular with law enforcement but IMO the best 'bang for the buck' as far as shotguns is the Mossberg 500. Inexpensive and stone reliable.
Mine is a Mariner and has a 16" (I think) barrel- shortest legal length. I added the Weaponlight. Perfect for home defense.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Hand guns

At work, I have the choice of either a Mossberg 500, Remington 870, or a Benelli M4 when it comes to shotguns. Either one of them is a fine choice and will certainly do the job for a homeowner.

If I wanted to save a few coins, I would give the Maverick 88 Security a look. It is the same shotgun as a Mossberg, just with the safety in a different place....The Mossbergs have a safety on top of the receiver that you slide with your thumb. The Mavericks have a crossbolt safety in the trigger guard like the Remington.........Anyway, they are good shot guns and won't break the bank. They can be had for just a shade over 200 bucks.

http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/88security.htm

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Hand guns

About handgun ammo, while I reload my own I have also used commercial reloaders in the past. It is a great way to save money on practice ammo. You send your brass and they reload it. Here is one company that does it:

http://www.mastercast.net/amo.htm


If you get bitten by the shooting bug, you can always pick up reloading. I actually like loading more than shooting. I find it rewarding being able to craft my own ammo that is usually more accurate out of my guns than factory stuff.