What's a Solid Choice for a Handgun?

I carried a Sig Sauer P226 40 cal on duty for years.

I was actually issued a Glock 22, but I just shot better with my Sig.

I would buy the same one over again. Although, I would choose 9mm if I had a choice. I got the 40 because the department used 40 and I figured I should at least match the ammo my partners carried.

Accuracy is important and you can keep a 9mm very steady when sending lead down range.

Go with what you are comfortable with and shoot often. If you ever have to use it, you don't want to have to think about it. If that makes any sense.

 

This guys entertaining https://www.youtube.com/user/hickok45
I've got a Springfield XD 45 with a laser I keep in the nightstand and I carry a XDs Mod 2 9mm and got one for my wife as well. I used to carry the 45 but 9 is so much more comfortable. Get your wife involved, shooting is fun.
Like everyone's said good luck on finding one but we've got Rural King around here and that's where I get all my stuff https://www.rkguns.com/

 

My early experience was with revolvers and 1911 pistols, but I started shooting a Glock in 1985 and that's all it took to make me a believer. I have bought and sold many different Glock models since then, and my favorites are the G34 and G41. The size, weight, magazine capacity and long sight radius of the 34 & 41 are perfect for me... I also have a G20 with a Hog barrel, because 10mm.

 

I had something similar a few years ago ... 7.62 x 51
It was 24.5" nose to tail.

 

Guns are a highly personal thing - from the way it handles, loads, sights, and shoots so many variables. Try several out at a range.

The Glock Fan Club is vast. I’ve surprised myself in what I like. My first handgun was a Springfield XD40 and it was dead on accurate and shot great for a great price. I also bought a $1000 Colt 1911 that I never liked and could never get it to shoot right and sold it.

My best gun is a Sig P226 - shoots like a dream and dead on accurate.

My point is it doesn’t matter the brand, style or price - you have to like and be comfortable with what your personal choice is. Use other opinions to help narrow down your choices but try out several to see what fits you.

Good luck!

 

Truth.

 

Looks like a pre Keltec RFB.

 

Glocks are great guns, and I really like my Glock 34. But a Beretta 92FS is a great choice for home defense. Each person is different, and each shoots different guns better than other guns. I always shot the Beretta better than any handgun and regret selling mine. I was more accurate with it, and its grip felt great in my hands, but I have large hands. It’s heavier, which better helps tame recoil, and it’s Double Action/Single Action and decocker are great safety features. Its single action trigger is superb. It’s also easy to maintain, disassemble and clean.

Compared to other, smaller handgun options, it’s weight and size don’t make it that comfortable for every day concealed carry, though, but I think it’s perfect as a home defense gun. Also, some with smaller hands find its relatively larger grip size a bit unwieldy. But I’ll say that my wife has very petite hands and thin wrists, and she never complained about that. She thought its heavier weight helped better tame the recoil.

About the same size as the Beretta is the Glock 34. It’s basically the same as a Glock 17 but with a longer slide. So it uses the same mags. Because it’s popular in competitions, it has a lot of aftermarket parts. Well, most Glocks in general have lots of aftermarket support. Unlike with my Tundra and other vehicles, I don’t usually swap parts out on my firearms, though, but I mention it as an option if you like to tinker and experiment with different parts on your gun. I will say, I’m not a big fan of Glock triggers, which may be why there are lots of aftermarket trigger options for Glocks in general. But Glocks are very reliable, as is the Beretta, and are also easy to maintain, disassemble and clean.

Either way, post pics of what you end up getting!

 

My newest baby as of last week....kinda pointless but cool

 

Remington 12 gauge Shotgun and AR 15 under the bed, Springfield XD 40 in the night stand, glok 27 in the Tundra, and when I carry, my Kimber Solo.. All have their own purposes and all can work if you practice over and over again until you handle it in the dark with confidence.

 

The RFB was available back then, this was the M1A/M14 conversion kit.

 

This is one of those questions were there is no right answer. Whats the best car brand? Whats the best watch? All depends on your taste and how you feel the weapon when firing it. My suggestion: Sig P226 9 mm. Its been proven to be a good brand, easy to fire and easy maintanance. There are a lot of Glock followers. For me those are two very different weapons. Most Glocks are made of polymers. Most Sigs are metal. Try them at a range or lend one from a friend, but fire it before making a final decision. Hey, if you get bored of it either buy another one or trade it in. Most important for you is to get familiar with the weapon BEFORE even firing it. Good luck!!!

 

Here's how you take your wife/girlfriend gun shopping.

1. Go to a gun store with a large selection of guns.
2. You both walk up to the counter and greet the salesman.
3. You tell the salesman that you are there to purchase a gun for her.
4. You walk away and find something else to do while she picks out her gun.

 

I agree about getting familiar with your weapon.
There are far too many people that buy guns, shoot them once, and carry them daily for years (my Dad is one of them).
With the internet and youtube there is no reason anyone can't learn just about anything on a particular firearm, from function to cleaning.
As @MT Madman suggested hickok45 on youtube had hundreds of great videos with unbiased opinions.

This a bit extreme for everyone, but a lot of us enjoy disassembly, reassembly, and learning exactly how the gun works.
I'm a bit OCD about having my firearms clean..







I'll add this about Glocks.
Some people dislike Glock because all the fan boys (like me) praise them so highly.
But aftermarket options and ease of getting parts
Many bitch about the grip angle, but it is easy to get used to it with practice.
With the Gen 4/5 the adjustable grip backstraps can help with it as well..

 

Great advice...^
My wife doesn't want to learn anything from me.
So she took her own basic handgun class and shot over 10 pistols.
She settled on a Beretta mini-cougar, so I bought her one.

After a few range trips she didn't like the wide double stack grip.
She is 5' 100#.
We sent to a gun show, she handled several guns, and settled on a Glock 42.
It was before the G43 came out or we would have got her one of those.
But she is happy with her G42
I added a vickers mag release and mag base.

 

I couldn't make my 42 feed reliably at all but it was one of the early ones too?
My Local Shop traded me even for the 43 when it was released though and it has been flawless.

I can not say enough about finding a shop that you feel that you can trust and pay more if you have to for the extra piece of mind you should expect from shopping there especially if you are new to all of this.

One case that you might get what you pay for and more.

 

My favorite. 9mm Kimber Solo.. Don't tell me they jam, use good ammo and they cycle perfectly.

 

So much advise.... I’d say follow everyone’s advice and buy one or two of everything.

 

Excellent advice because 1 is none and 2 in 1.

 

As to buying 2 of the same gun;

I liked my 3" Talo S&W 686+ so much I bought another one.
Bought it to give to my son in law, whenever that happens, whoever that is.



That and my Gen 2 Glock 17s are the only firearms I own 2 of..

One is a beater...



Then other damn near 100% mint.



No, that's a lie.....
I own 2 870s.
One I bought off a coworker, one is a vintage 1987 blued with walnut stocks I bought to collect.

 

For home defense for the inexperienced, I suggest a revolver or shotgun. Revolver for their simplicity and less prone to failure. Shotgun for the bang for your buck and relatively easy to hit a target with one with some buck shot loaded up. Just my $0.02

 

I'm having the same experience with my Kahr CW380.
Maybe I haven't met their 'break-in period' 200 or 300 round quota..



My Kahr CM9, flawless from day 1.



I liked it so much I sent the slide, mags, and some parts off for Ionbond.
Put a front night sight on it.





Disappears in OWB holster..

 

I too am a Glock fan. Just an fyi, the Glock .40S&W mags are the exact same mags and the Glock .357SIG mags, at least, that's my understanding YMMV

 

I had a Kahr .40, they really do need a couple hundred rounds to break in. Flawless after it did.

 

I haven’t seen a Sig P320 mentioned, but they are a super nice pistol if you’re looking for a subcompact.

 

Yes, that is true..

 

Glock 19 easy to carry or a little too large for concealed carry? Glock 43 better?