Advice on first handgun - In CA.

eharri3 · Mar 9, 2020

Tun-D[OP] initial post: ↑

A little background. I live in California and may move out in the next few years, but need to buy here for now. I grew up hunting with my dad and used to go out shooting all the time. I stopped hunting after dating a hippy in high school and don't have a real desire to hunt again, but I've been thinking about getting a gun for a few reasons for the past few years.
Reasons:
Target practice - I always loved shooting clay pigeons or targets with guns and bows. Recently started getting into archery with my kids and it's got me reminiscing about guns again.

Home protection - had a drugged out kid that knew the previous owners of our new house and invaded our new home on our 4th night in the house. Thank god he was on happy drugs and not violent, but I didn't have my bear spray or fire poker unpacked yet. And I have kids.

Wilderness protection. I love camping and getting out in the mountains, we have bears and there are crazy people everywhere.

I know that CA is a horrible place to buy guns with the limited availability of models and red tape - so not trying to get into that conversation. I'm thinking a 9mm would be best suited for all my needs ( maybe not enough for a bear) and price of ammo. I'd like to spend under $500 and have a single hand gun that will be my go to for all these and if I ever want to get a CCW can also be used for that.

I also have pretty large hands so something like the Glock 19 doesn't fit very well in my hands. I've been to a few gun stores and of all the guns I've held, I like the feel and price of the S&W SD-9VE the most. Might not be as reputable as a glock or some others, so looking for advice from you guys on similar guns in this size range - or glock 17 size range - preferably under $500. Again, in CA we are very limited on avail guns for sale so please try to limit to CA roster guns if you can.

By the way, seems kinds funny posting this question in a Tundra's forum, but I guess trucks, guns, and dogs all go together

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Really sounds like a 2 gun job for me. Large bore revolver for the wild and then a Medium size or full size semi auto 9mm for home defense and target shooting.

If you're trying to put all these jobs on one gun .45 is better than nothing in the wild. But I would rather have my .44 S&W 629 on a hike where there might be bears. If I'm really trying to do the jack of all trades thing here, Probably gonna be my .45 1911 loaded with 230 grain fmj for trips into the wild. If I'm new to the market and thought I really stood a chance of encountering bears I'd save a few hundred after I bought my Semi Automatic 9mm and find something like a used Taurus M44. Should be able to find them in the mid 4s.

If you haven't already, get your hands on a P320 Compact. Incredible trigger. I shoot my 320 way better than my Glock.

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