Good hand guns

kgb · 12-14-04, 04:43

Ok, I am in the market for a small hand gun. Something not expensive but not something that will jam easy. I want it to be compact. I will mostly use it just fo shooting at the local firing range this winter as a winter hobby I guess. So far I am liking Glock, Ruger, and Sig Arms.

What do you all suggest?

Thanks

tanda4 · 12-14-04, 04:48

Springfield XD-9

zzyyzx · 12-14-04, 05:00

What are you planning on doing with it? Just range shooting, or will you carry it also? If you plan on carrying, get something really small (i.e. Glock 26 or so). Even a compact is large to conceal.

What caliber do you want? The larger the caliber, the more expensive rounds are. 9mm is common and fairly cheap. The Sig 357 is a great round.

Finally, price. New, Glocks and Sigs are going to run you over $500 most of the time. Don't be afriad to buy a good condition used firearm from a reputable dealer. You can save some good bucks just because it's used. Also, go to the local ranges and ask their staff. They'll usually know if anyone is trying to sell a gun. Lots of time, when cops retire, they'll sell some of their "collection".

I have a Sig P228 and a Colt 1911. Both are excellent guns. The Colt is pretty much for collectable value as it's too big to carry and also being a .45 ACP, it gets pricing to throw lead down range. The P228 is one of the greatest guns I've ever shot. Being a little smaller than a full-size, it's great for people with smaller hands. You can't find the P228 in the US new anymore, but you can find the P229, which is almost the exactly same gun. The next gun I buy will probably be one of the 'baby Glocks', as no one else really makes something the same size & quality.

If you're strictly doing range work, look into the Ruger Mark III (might be IV). It's a .22, very cheap ammo, great for refining your skills and practically no kick. It's going to do much for self defense, but a fun handgun to shoot.

Hope this helps.

GearHead_1 · 12-14-04, 05:07

Tell us what "not expensive" means to you and we can probably point you in the right direction. Initial cost sometimes isn't the expensive part of shoting. As mentioned the .357 Sig is an excellent round but often pricey if you don't reload. You might also want to consider which guns have high cap mags available now that the ban is off. Glock and Beretta have an abundance of these floating around. If you are not looking for a concealed carry firearm compact also takes on a new meaning, for example a full sized Glock is pretty compact when compared to a Desert Eagle .50.

Can't beat a .22 for simple plinking and range fire.

1 Clean WS6 · 12-14-04, 05:28

Glock Model 29

Compact yet stupid powerful. I practice with 200gr CCI Blazer FMJ's and carry 175gr Winchester Silvertip's. Recoil is manageable with both loads (brisk though controllable) but the muzzle blast with the Winchester's is something to behold.

My safety rests with one.

kgb · 12-15-04, 02:57

Well, I guess I should not say that I want cheap. I just want a good deal is all. The Springfield XD series actually looks to be the size I want. I will look into those today as well. As far as what I am looking for....I will mostly use it for practice shooting at the local range but if I get a CCW I will want to carry it on my once in a very great while. Not all the time or anything. Also, I want it for self protection if need be.

zzyyzx · 12-15-04, 03:12

Once you've narrowed your choices down, go to a range and rent the guns you're interested in and put 50 rounds through each. That way, besides "looking good" and feeling good, you will find a gun that shoots well for YOU. That's ultimately what is most important is what you feel comfortable shooting.

FalconGuy · 12-15-04, 05:59

gunbroker.com, kind of like ebay for guns.

your comment about jamming got my attention. A well made and clean semi auto pistol made in the last few decades should never jam.

If you have jamming in any weapon take it a qualified gunsmith asap. Many times ramps need to be polished, even on new out of the box pistols. Other issues like bad non factory mags may be the culprit, even a dirty weapon can cause problems. Clean your weapon like you would clean your car, always use a little breakfree or suitable lube when done but a drop on a cloth is all you need, too much lube attracts dirt.

Dont ever think a jam is a minor problem, it might be a warning something is serious that could kill you.

On my 21st birthday my future brother in law and I went shooting. He handed me a 10MM S&W that was filthy and loaded some really nasty looking reloads he picked up from a local shop. I took two shots and passed it to my future wife. After she took two shots she passed it to him. At his first shot we heard and incredible boom, all he has left in his hands was grips. The bad relaods coupled with a dirty weapon led to an uncontained case failure. He was lucky to have survived. His hands suffered nerve damge that almost ended his carreer as a dentist.

That day I should have stopped when i saw the dirty weapon or the nasty looking reloads (cases looked like they had sat for 10 years wet). Since then I became a NRA certified instructor and a serious collector. I can honestly say I havent had a semi auto jam in 10 years shooting 3000 rounds a month. If you plan on shooting that much change your recoil sping once a year, cheap insurance.

Ok im off my soapbox now......

Accumulator · 12-15-04, 06:07

Yeah, try out different models and see what fits/suits you best. If you're not already experienced, have somebody who *truly* knows their stuff help you out. Learn how to hold a handgun correctly and *then* see what fits your hand/finger length.

Don't get something too small, smaller guns are harder to master/control. Don't get something too powerful for the same reason. It's all about trigger control and that's hard to learn with something that kicks a lot. When getting started, you want something with a decent length barrel so you can really *see* the sights (you want to see if they move when you pull the trigger, that's how you'll learn trigger control.

The small, handy models are really best left to experts. People who start with those seldom end up being able to hit much of anything. The way most guys go about shooting is like buying a rotary with a coarse wool pad and trying to master it by doing a black Countach.

I'd say get a .22 too, but I know most guys want a centerfire. Decide on revolver (get a .38, or a .357 but only shoot .38s in it until you're good) or a semi-auto (get a 9mm unless you have a good trainer in which case a .40 or a .45 might be worth considering). Get something that you can buy a .22 conversion kit for, it'll pay for itself in no time.

Can't overemphasize the importance of decent training. Most people are hopelessly incompetent with handguns and there's really no need for it. My wife went from a rank beginner to somebody quite competent (with a .45 auto) thanks to good training. Had she tried to learn on her own, or had *I* trained her, she wouldn't have *ever* mastered it. I shot for maybe 30 years before I really learned to do it right, and it was tough to break bad habits. Note that we burned up thousands of rounds learning how to use the things right- it wasn't quick or easy.

FWIW, my wife and I both prefer Colt govt. models in .45, though I also like to shoot S&W revolvers. Neither of us cares for the Glock's trigger or for any double-action semi-autos (don't like the transition from double to single after the first shot and we prefer to keep 'em cocked-and-locked). But yeah, a lot of people like Glocks and the SIGs are quite reliable. HK, Ruger, Taurus, everybody makes pretty good stuff these days.

Sorta like detailing- knowing what you're doing is more important than what you use to do it

Home defense- skip the handgun and get a 20 gauge semi-auto shotgun (no, not a 12 gauge pump

).

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I take firearms ownership and use rather seriously and I believe most people go about it all wrong (with sometimes tragic results).

Accumulator · 12-15-04, 06:11

Hey, FalconGuy, was hoping you'd chime in

Yeah, a decent semi-auto won't jam, that's like a new car stalling out these days. And "yeah" about shooting something questionable or even just being nearby while somebody else does

kgb · 12-15-04, 06:19

Thansk everyone! I have taken gun safety courses before and I will take a hand gun safety course as soon as I get one IF I even decide to get one for sure. The idea is still up in the air.

zzyyzx · 12-15-04, 06:56

There have been some excellent points brought up recently. Don't rush and take them all into consideration.

Accumulator.... can your wife talk to my wife? I took her to the range once, she fired one shot and set the weapon down and walked away. She has no interest in it. It's something I really enjoy and would love to have her enjoy it too.

And yes, a shotgun is great for home defense. Not only do you get 8 tries for one trigger pull, but usually the sound of a shotgun being racked gets everyone's attention. Even if you've never touched a shotgun before, EVERYONE knows that sound.