Handguns...

I own several handguns of various makes and carry every day. I would recomend you get a glock. You can a good used glock in that range. I have found them to be the most reliable, durable, and acurate guns available. I trust my life to one, i can give it a higher nod than that.

I would look towards a 9mm (glock 17 or 19). With the 9 you get IMHO the best comp. between ammo capacity, stoping power, acuracy, and ammo cost.

Swarzkopf said:

Dude, recommending a 10mm to a first time handgunner is like recommending a Ferrari Enzo as a first car for a teenager...10mm is great, for someone with some experience. Furthermore, the cost of 10mm is pretty prohibitive. 9mm is a great first gun caliber.

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Nice, I was gonna write the same exact post but you beat me to it.

10mm? I don't even want to know what it costs to practice with that. And of the two that I've held (I actually was tested on a 10mm before I could apply for my LTC) they were both too big for the average woman to hold comfortably. It didn't really fit in my hand either, but I'm not a big guy at 5'7 160. I've never shot one before, but I have put 18 rounds through a sig .357 and that is plenty for the average female to handle.

I think that before peeps start giving advice on something like firearms purchases they should have first hand experience and not read a bunch of internet articles.

By gustang's logic, he might as well get a .50 caliber desert eagle, it has plenty of stopping power! Don't talk to your local dealer, talk to some peeps at your local range. Most people at my range are very friendly and helpful, and will let you take a couple shots with their guns for a beer in the bar after practice is done for the day.

Adam

Swartzkopf:

.40 S&W. You are right. 10mm is a little heavy to start out with. 9mm's are a smooth shooting gun but I feel that, like a .38, they lack punch. A 9mm would be a good beginner's gun. The .40 S&W is a midpoint.

I don't keep my guns for protection and at this stage of my life I don't feel I need one to make me a man. They are a tool to get a job done. I hunt and target shoot. Obviously shot placement is everything but a 10mm will bring down a deer a lot better than a 9mm. I've known guys (illegally) to kill deer with a .22 rimfire and also to have wounded deer get away.

As for guns around the home for protection, I don't have a scientific survey to refute your claims. I do know that Locally I hear about someone unintentionally getting shot by a gun kept for protection on a weekly basis. In my world I know of gun accidents occurring. My cousin almost shot my Grandpa when he arrived home unexpectedly one night. My friend (an ex-Marine) shot my other friend through the leg. A kid I played with as a young child found his dad's pistol, played with it and accidentally killed himself. I know of at least 3 people that have had guns go off accidentilly in the house. Those are accidents I can think of off the top of my head and I won't get into the intentional shootings. I don't know anyone who has prevented a burglary/home invasion by shooting an intruder or even by brandishing a gun. Wait, I do know one woman. Her crackhead stepson sent his buddies over to steal her paycheck. When she confronted them in the house, they shot her in the arm. She did get a couple shots off but didn't hit them. I've seen too many people buy guns for "protection" that really want to waive it around and impress their friends.

I'm not saying you should buy into one side or the other of the NRA/anti-gun lobby. Both sides are pushing their agenda. I am saying if you have a gun in the home it is a big responsibility that doesn't end when you leave the gun at home and go off to school, work or the grocery store. That is all I have to say on the subject.

Longer response coming later...but real quick:

I've twice used a gun to prevent myself from becoming a victim of a potentially violent crime.

Both my father and grandfather were also MULTIPLE (as in over 20 guns) gun owners and we've never had a gun accident.

A deer in the woods and a human attacking you aren't exactly comparable targets.

If you look at the balistic figures of a 9mm you will find ammo rated at +p or +P+ stacks up favorably aginst the the .40. I Know the .40 is more powerfull, but when you take into account muzzle flip, muzzle flash, shot capacity, and ammo availability, the 9 becomes a winner in my book.

I would refer to www.glocktalk.com for more handgun related info. They have subforums for all types of handguns.


BTW* 4 times in the last 6 months, my carry peice has provented me from becoming a victim of violent crime. Negligent use cannot be blamed on a handgun. They are not inherintly dangerous when used properly, just as my pencil does not inherintly mis spell words.

i enjoyed shooting a D eagle...might be a little much for the home though

Man, it's good to finally hear that some people think that 9mm is enough for home defense! I've heard so many things (on internet and personally) that the 9mm doesn't have enough stopping power. I have heard all these stories about people taking multiple hits from a 9mm and still not stopping them. I always felt that in the majority of cases that it was well placed shots that will win out in this situation. Having said that, I have a Browning High Power (13 round clip) loaded with Cor-Bon +P hollow points for my home defense gun. I have a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle and other hand guns/rifles etc, but I still like the old reliable 9mm for my house. We just moved into a new office off of a major highway and on the outskirts of our town, so I bought a Remington 12 gauge pump (870 Express Magnum with 18 1/2" Barrell-Security Model. New this one cost about $275 plus tax.). I think the 870 is a better all around gun for defense, but I thought I would have some concealment issues at home that I do not have at the office. Please, do yourself a favor and research your choices carefully about your particular situation before you buy one gun or another. You have been given some really solid advice here, choose wisely and practice, practice, and more practice. Good Luck to you!!

But I did notice an baby eagle that's a 9MM for about 450ish..

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The Baby Eagle is a nice gun, but quite honestly, the Glock has a better reputation (and deservedly so). By those in the know, and putting bias aside, the Glock and Sig Sauger pistols are regarded as being the most reliable pistols out there.

I'm sure the Baby Eagle would do you fine. But if you really want the best of the best...

10+1 means a 10 shot clip and one in the chamber, correct?

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Yup...that's how they advertise. My Glock 17 would be advertised as 20+1.

Yup, you'll be happy. Go to a few gun shops, tell them exactly what you want, ask to handle the gun, and buy whicher size fits best...

The Glock 19 seems to be a popular choice. It's a "compact" pistol but not real small and uses the universal 9mm Glock magazines.

Have you looked at Ruger's? You can buy a brand new gun for like $400. They are great guns for the price. I got a Ruger P90 which is a .45 and its my first gun. I've shot a Ruger 9mm and the 45 doesnt kick much more then the 9 if at all.

Swarz is right on most stuff other then when you go and get a permit they mail it out. You don't get it the same day at least I didn't.

And as for pulling a gun on someone you only do it if you feel your life is in danger and when you do pull it you shoot to kill as was said before. If not the person can come back on your for pulling it on them

zZsKyZz said:

I was told that I need to be 21 to carry a handgun.. I thought you could buy one at 18?

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no actually the oppisite. 21 to buy 18 to carry

Guero said:

no actually the oppisite. 21 to buy 18 to carry

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Maybe where your at.

You can buy like shotguns and rifles at a younger age because of hunting but hand guns you have to be older.

OH and the insta check is 5 dollars not 2 I think

Have you looked at Ruger's? You can buy a brand new gun for like $400. They are great guns for the price. I got a Ruger P90 which is a .45 and its my first gun. I've shot a Ruger 9mm and the 45 doesnt kick much more then the 9 if at all.

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Yeah, Ruger's are alright.

Thing about the .45 is, it costs ALOT more than 9mm. Cost is a big factor for me, especially if it were my first gun.

Swarz is right on most stuff other then when you go and get a permit they mail it out. You don't get it the same day at least I didn't.

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What county are you in? Here in Allegheny County, you get it immediately. Each county has discretion as to how to handle the issuing of permits, I was just basing my statements on my own experience.

no actually the oppisite. 21 to buy 18 to carry

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Not in Pennsylvania.

OH and the insta check is 5 dollars not 2 I think

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I think it's still $2...places may jack up the price though...

bought mine 399.99. Total for the gun holster and 2 box's of ammo +tax was 478.02 Have the receipt in front of me lol.

I live in Chester county.

I just looked it up in my bank statement the insta check is $5. Pretty sure thats what walmart charges too. When was the last time you had one done?

It's not the gun I'm talking about being expensive...it's the ammo. .45 is on average TWICE the cost of 9mm!

Yeah, my last Insta-Check was $5...I had to look at a recent.

OH got ya.

Yeah I've only bought them 2 boxes so far and used most of them at the range the day I bought it lol. Made sure I had some left to load the clip though for when I carry.

They were 12.99 a box for Magtech's but I went cheap cause I knew I'd be using most of it for pratice

They were 12.99 a box for Magtech's but I went cheap cause I knew I'd be using most of it for pratice

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Holy ****, that illustrates my point perfectly...CHEAP .45 at 12.99 for 50 rounds? ****ing ****. You can buy 100 rounds of Winchester 9mm at Wal-Mart for 10.99.

that was at the place where I got the gun so walmart might be cheaper lol and yes it was for 50