What's a Solid Choice for a Handgun?

Glock's seem to be popular here. I can't agree more. My .40 carry may be old, but is definitely faithful. Not too big, not too small, perfect.

 

Guns are like tools. There is a right one for the job, meaning your answer depends on what you need out of it. Are you carrying it? Is it for home defense?etc...With modern manufacturing even smaller caliber handgun ammo can pack some good stopping power. Some guys swear by .45 caliber because of the stopping power, but it can kick like a mule, if you can't hit what you're shooting at then it doesn't matter what caliber your holstering. In the end you cant go wrong with austrian firearms. I love my glock 30SF but nothing is as smooth and accurate as my .357 Smith and wesson. For carry I prefer M&P Shield9mm. If you're buying a gun for home defense may I suggest a shotgun instead of a handgun.

 

If I had a million dollars...

 

When I went for my CCW permit, the very first question I was asked by my instructor was "If you had to make a recommendation for a firearm for your wife, what would it be?"

I had no clue, so amid shouts of recommendations, I said "Beats me....whatever she's most familiar and comfortable with."

A few people laughed...but the instructor, after a shocked look, gave me a $20 and said I was the first person he'd ever asked that question to that had gotten it right. (He'd made a promise to his fellow instructors to give $20 to the first person who ever got it right.)

The same would be my recommendation here. I like my M&P Shield, and have enjoyed shooting/carrying Walther and Glock, but in the end, as far as owning and carrying one goes, it comes down to what one prefers/feels comfortable with.

 

I have a Glock 43 (edc) the Sig 365 came out a month after I bought my Glock. It gets great reviews. I might have bought the Sig. I am impressed by the Glock. Reliable, accurate and after trying it out at the range, it felt like an old friend—comfortable and easy. It’s important to match the ammo for the barrel length. The shorter barrel affects ballistics. And I train with the same stuff I carry. It’s more expensive but like the saying goes “train like you fight, and fight like you train”

Almost forgot the most important part: get some professional training, and become unconsciously familiar with the weapon.

 

Cmmg Banshee 300 9mm for the house or truck pistol one day I will get one

 

I have the banshee in 5.7x28mm it's amazing fun little mini ar

 

Seeing so many reasonable responses from gun "nuts" warms the cockles of my heart. My $0.02 for the OP- go try several and find one you are comfortable with. Also, you get what you pay for. If you are trusting this gun with your life, don't cheap out. Brand names like Sig Sauer, Glock, Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Walther, won't steer you wrong. Personally, I love the Sig Sauer P238 for carry. Great little .38 that puts the bullet where you point it at. Revolvers are simpler and very reliable but there is more kick to them so keep that in mind for your wife.

 

I'd like to have one in 10mm and swap in a pdw brace.

 

If you don't have much experience with them, your best bet would be to find a gun shop with an indoor shooting range. 99% of them have a boat load of guns that you can try out if you're planning to buy. That will give you and her the option to see what feels best and what you're most comfortable with.

 

https://fnamerica.com

 

Currently carrying my 19 which usually reside at the bedside. The 26 carries better but under the current climate I figure the extra rounds on hand can’t be a bad thing.... Even on my slender waist, a good holster makes either one disappear. 43 would be even more disappeared, and lighter.

 

I like and carry my G26 mainly for the obvious reasons yo mention but I also think I only own 1 mag for it alone.
All of the rest are for G19 or G17 and this is really my favorite Glock feature,the fact that the mags interchange upward as needed.

So I might have the factory Mag in the gun but always a 17 round or bigger as backup to that.

Or the G43 and as big a Mag for that as I can carry.

Wearing a gun is just like wearing anything else though and we each wear comfortably what is comfortable to us as individuals and no one can really help us know what that will or should be?

 

I have not read all the replies, but I'm sure this is the same type of thread as whats the best oil...

A revolver can be reliable and easy to operate my 2 copper if it's going to be you only handgun.

 

This is a very good suggestion. If you haven’t put the training in to be a effective and safe handgun user then go with a shotgun. Pump the sound alone will make any thug reconsider coming further into your domicile.

 

I'm glad this was posted. If all those tiny little parts worry you, go for a revolver. Cleaning is important if you want a reliable weapon.

May people have recommended lessons. I agree. Spray and pray is not away to use your gun. Can anyone recommend good courses around the country?

Do you have kids? A safe is MANDATORY. Others with more experience can elaborate in this. I think a biometric safe is the way to go. I will give you the example a friend gave me. You are in bed, its dark and you hear the window slide open somewhere in your house. The person is walking toward your bedroom. Personally, unless your a trained professional like some who posted here are, it will be next to impossible, in the dark to find a key and insert it, or turn the knob on a combination lock with your hands shaking. Don't forget your wife too in this scenario.

 

Opinions are like noses, everybody's got one, as you can see from all the responses above. Well, I didn't have time to read through all this this morning, but a good choice in handguns is like a good choice on a restaurant menu that is 20 pages long full of all kinds of things, where you have never eaten before. An older person or someone with physical restraints may chose a 380 or 32 in something that isn't small and light, to lessen recoil. I have smallish hands, and happen to love 1911s due to the single stack magazine making the grip not so wide and fat. I also like the Browning Highpower due to the ergo grip feeling really good to me despite the double stack mag. I also am a big fan of the S&W M&P, (have the full size 45) because it came with several grip panels. I put on the small panel and am very pleased. Don't count revolvers out. The K frame S&W is another fave of mine; Smith used to make it in .357 (don't think they currently have a .357 in the K frame) that works well for smaller hands. I think you can get it in .38 Special these days. Now people with larger hands might not like the Kframe, or some of the smallish semi-autos. You just have to handle and hopefully shoot a few different types to get an idea of what feels good and controllable to you - which means it needs to "fit". Try out the loaners at a range, or go to the range with someone who has a few different handguns you can try.

If you haven't been around guns much in the past, a good handgun safety course is a good idea. Some safe way to store it when not being carried also needs to be thought about. I keep my trusty M&P and one of my K frame revolvers in one of those quick access lock boxes that you have to press the button sequence and it pops open. Made of steel, it will thwart a child and slow down an adult. They gotta work to get it. Either put a light on the handgun OR get a good tac-light and store it with the handgun.

I agree that a shotgun is also a good choice, but practice with it to become familiar with the function and recoil. There too, the brand I feel is less about brand and more about how it is setup in terms of 'fit'. I went with Remington, because the safety switch is in front of the trigger guard where my small fingers can reach it. The Mossberg I handled has it on top of the tang where I have to shift my grip to reach it. I didn't like that. Maybe someone with larger hands can get to it easily with their thumb, but I could not.

This is a bad time to be thinking about these things, it is best to have thought through all this before shit happens. Hopefully your local gun stores have some stock you can look at, if they are open; maybe gun ranges in your area are open but I would not advise going anywhere unless you absolutely had to go...

 

Well, we ended up going to a couple stores yesterday and you guys were right...they were pretty low on selection. Some stores were even sold out of ammo. My wife ended up getting a Ruger Security 9. I didn't get anything myself and will wait for something that feels right and that I'm happy with. My wife is getting set up with some training courses to get better acquainted with her firearm.

 

Hi,

You may want to wait until this whole thing settles down. I heard everyone is panicking and buying everything off the shelves, so the choices might be limited.

 

I have small hands and prefer my Springfield Xdm .40. Shoots very nice and is very comfortable. My brother took me to a range to try different guns and that was the best fit. I also own a bunch of Sigs and like those as well. If she is looking for a pocket pistol the Sig 238 is perfect, low recoil even though it is small.

Honestly she needs to try multiple guns to find which one is right for her! Try going to a range and renting a few for her to try.

T

 

I would get a revolver if guns have not been a part of your life, its idiot proof (I don't mean that in a negative way). You point and shoot, its simple far less chance of jamming. A riot shotgun (short barrel) is also a great home protection piece especially in these times.

 

The best gun in the world is the one in your hand when you need it.

 

Two additional thoughts:

1) What you run in the gun has a huge effect on how the gun performs and how it feels. I avoid cheap ammunition and I only run brass. Training with what you intend to carry will highlight feed/performance issues. (I understand the Sig 365 initially had some failure to feed malfunctions I'm not sure if it was associated with the ammunition or the grip and I don't know if it was fully resolved.) Generally the higher quality gun manufacturers have much higher reliability.

2) My state requires a gun safe at home. I have used a few different brands. But, I am totally sold on VeriFi S4000, s5000, S6000 biometric safes--I've been using them for 3 years (I have 2) and they've been perfect every time and still showing >90% battery life after 3 years!. I've even bought them for extended family. Other brands have been troublesome (avoid GunVault)


I'm by no means an expert, But with 20 years of military training/use,+ 5 years as a federal LEO and it all started with my first rifle at age 6 (and a father that was the epitome of the NRA and gun safety)

 

Congratulations.
The only thing worse than not having a gun, is someone having a gun with zero training.

 

Nothing wrong with Ruger. Seems like a good choice. Just go shooting regularly and get very familiar with that gun. Enjoy and remember you can never be too safe with a gun.

 

Spend time training with a certified instructor that can teach you everything about that gun and how to use it , clear malfunctions , and how to deploy it under stress.
I cannot stress this point enough.
Owning a gun - of any kind - is useless unless you can use it under stress and use it reliably in a adverse situation. Find a good school / class lead by professionals .
Suarez International is the tip of the spear for experience and training.
I spent two days with them in their Pistol Ground Fighting class and it was friggin eye opening experience. I relearned everything i thought i knew about carrying a pistol. We literally did Jujitsu and MMA with handguns for two days , 8 hours a day. Getting punched , kicked , choked out , and fighting to get that gun out and rounds on targets.
Well worth every cent i paid.

 

It's funny that assuming guns haven't been part of his life you recommend that he get a revolver. But you then recommend a short barreled shotgun which would require an ATF form-1, $200 for the tax stamp, and a long wait. Seems like opposite ends of the spectrum to go from "idiot proof" revolver to an NFA regulated item.