Handguns?

[Bubba]

So Jim has got me thinking about maybe looking into a handgun for myself. The most gun i've ever owned was a Daisy, so needless to say I know nothing about them. :lol: I'm kinda thinking if I did get one, it would be a smaller type gun, something I could keep with me when I go fishing possibly, personal protection at home, etc. Not really sure though. What kind have you guys got?

 

[whj812]

Ive got a few.

My personal favorite is my Steyr M9 9mm. Probably the easiest shooting pistol Ive ever fired.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_M

 

[Quackrstackr]

If you are not familiar with handguns and are going to be prone to not keeping it really clean, I would suggest a small frame revolver of the stainless steel variety.

Something like a Ruger SP101.

No frills, always goes bang when you pull the trigger and you don't have to worry about rust (within reason).

 

[Jim]

So Jim has got me thinking about maybe looking into a handgun for myself.

:LOL2: Don't blame me for this. You are in TN, I am in MA...no arm twisting here.

 

[Bubba]

So Jim has got me thinking about maybe looking into a handgun for myself.

:LOL2: Don't blame me for this. You are in TN, I am in MA...no arm twisting here.

:mrgreen: [-X


Nah, Honestly I have kinda pondered on it for awhile now. Just not sure if its the right thing for me. I've never really messed with guns before, so don't know jack crap about them. My fear would be if I ever did have to pull one on someone, It would get turned around and used on me. :?

 

[Quackrstackr]

Hence the suggestion for a small frame, double action revolver. Just point, pull and pow (or, you can also cock the hammer then point, pull and pow if you like).

No safety to mess with, jams are virtually unheard of and they are as foolproof as you can get.

Statistically, most armed confrontations happen inside of 7 yards... 21 feet. Small frame snubbies are plenty accurate for that.

 

[Loggerhead Mike]

go take a CCW class. best 100 bucks you'll spend. you need to learn all of the laws, when you can and cant shoot somebody ect, plus they'll show you how to properly shoot/draw and maintain the gun. it was the best class ive ever taken

i'd also say go with a revolver for your 1st, easy to conceal and dummy proof

you got anything in particular in mind??

 

[Bubba]

go take a CCW class. best 100 bucks you'll spend. you need to learn all of the laws, when you can and cant shoot somebody ect, plus they'll show you how to properly shoot/draw and maintain the gun. it was the best class ive ever taken

i'd also say go with a revolver for your 1st, easy to conceal and dummy proof

you got anything in particular in mind??

I definitely plan on attending a safety class if I do get one. That will be the first thing I do.

Like I said, I don't really know anything about guns, so don't really have a clue what I would like. I'd say the best thing i'll have to do is just go and check some out to see what feels comfortable to me. I do have "girly hands syndrome", so something small will probably suit me best...lol. :lol:

 

[bcritch]

https://ruger.com/products/redhawk/index.html

I like the Ruger Revolvers. They are definitely a nice handgun. Light, accurate & easy to use and clean. (Also expensive) I would recommend starting with a Revolver as your first handgun.

If you have no experience with guns then I definitely recommend a Safety Course. You want to be safe, comfortable and confident when shooting a handgun.

 

[Monarkman]

Based on your admitted inexperiance (good thing to admit to) the first step would be any and all gun / hunter saftey classes you can attend. I am in Wisconsin and some gun dealers here will actually (rent) you a variety of guns to shoot at thier range so you have a better idea of what you would be comfortable with.

As my "handgun" is primarily for home defence, "Betsy" is a Mossberg 500 12GA, 9 shot, pistol grip, heat shield, shoulder strap, and mag-lite on the barrel....similar to the photo only with a few added goodies...

As far as your question....I do not subscribe to the notion "size does not matter"...If you have ever operated a boat with an under rated (small) outboard then was able to go with a larger outboad, the difference would be a very noticable positive... Same with boats themselves...I started with a 12 ft and have had up to a 30 Ft. Lake Michigan boats...(now back down to a 16 ft Smokercraft and 14ft Monark...bigger is better...My point is...opt for the largest caliber pistol you are comfortable shooting....357, 44 mag, 40 cal....If I were being attacked, I would rather be shooting a higher caliber pistol than a lower caliber....hence "Betsy"....

 

[Monarkman]

Oh yea...another reason for "Betsy"...I think Wisconsin is 1 of only 2 states that CCW in not legal....but the WI attorney general just recently ruled that open carry (not concealed) is legal...except in public places, close to schools, while driving, and a bunch more goofy reason...so CCW is not legal, but open carry is....sometimes....really screwed up....

 

[Quackrstackr]

...opt for the largest caliber pistol you are comfortable shooting....357, 44 mag, 40 cal....If I were being attacked, I would rather be shooting a higher caliber pistol than a lower caliber....hence "Betsy"....

You have to be somewhat careful with that line of thinking when speaking about home defense.

Unless you have Betsy loaded up with buckshot or slugs, she's not going to shoot through every wall in your house before it stops like any of the calibers you have mentioned will (depending on bullet).

Shotguns are definitely the ultimate home defense gun but they don't lend themselves well to carrying outside the home. :mrgreen:

 

[Henry Hefner]

What kind have you guys got?

Ruger Sp101 in .357, you can target shoot with the less expensive .38's. It's more accurate than I thought it would be, I can put all shots where they need to be in a profile target at 75 feet.

 

[FishingBuds]

I've been carrying for many years and still by far my favorite is a revolver!

So a good snubby 38 or 357 and you'll be happy.

 

[FloridaBassGirl]

So Jim has got me thinking about maybe looking into a handgun for myself. The most gun i've ever owned was a Daisy, so needless to say I know nothing about them. :lol: I'm kinda thinking if I did get one, it would be a smaller type gun, something I could keep with me when I go fishing possibly, personal protection at home, etc. Not really sure though. What kind have you guys got?

I carry a small .38 with me, even though I have a few firearms myself.. something for the water moccasins and my personal protection... I have small hands (girl hands) so I prefer the grip on a .38 as to the boxy-ness of say a .380 or a 9mm auto if I carry something other than my .38 it would be my bulldog 357 ( smaller than a reg size 357)
my advice is find what is comfortable to YOU and become familiar with your weapon before making a habit of carrying it with you regularly...... Just one Girl's opinion though good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[Hydrilla]

Lots of good advice here, including those recommending a revolver or a shotgun. Jim, myself and lots of other folks could write pages on why we think you'd like this or that. I think the best advice is to go to a shooting range and put a few guns in your hands, and then rent at least a few of them to try and see what you are most comfortable shooting. Many ranges will charge you a fee, say $10, to rent a handgun, and you can bring it back to them and switch it for another with no additional charge. If there is a charge, it won't be much. This type of experience is invaluable, what works for me might not work for you.

I will say IMHO don't get too wrapped up in the 'bigger is better' idea, as a newbie at least. I love larger caliber handguns and have a lot of experience with .40 and .45, but because of having neck fusion surgery a year ago and still not being up to full strength, the best caliber for me right now is 9mm. Why? Because after my first shot, I can return to point of aim faster on subsequent shots.

 

[KMixson]

For reliability I would pick a revolver. You can pull it out of the mud and depend on it to fire. Revolvers are easier to maintain and clean. For your first gun I would recommend a revolver. Some automatics will jam if you get one grain of sand in the action. They can jam sometimes if the casting ejects the wrong way also. As for size, a large caliber will have more stopping power. The problem with large calibers is that they are harder to conceal. After you get comfortable with the revolver then I would recommend trying an auto.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

Since you dont have a lot of experience with guns one of the best suggestions that I could make is to go to a gun range where they rent various guns for people to rent and shoot. This will give you an oppertunity to try a number of guns in various calibers and find a gun that fits your hands and one in a caliber suitable for the intended purpose for which you desire to use it for.

Once you have selected an appropriate pistol/revolver in a caliber which you feel comfortable shooting and can shot reasonable well for the task at hand go out and get yourself some training. You dont need to go to something like Gunsite, but if your using this gun for self defense it would behoove you to have some formal documented training from a certified trainer. You will be glad you did if you ever have to use it and justify yourself in court!

As for caliber in a pistol I would highly recommend .380 as the bare minimum for self defense. If you choose a revolver I recommend at least something in the power range of .38 Special or better. The .327 Federal might be the lone exception for revolvers to that rule. Do choose your ammo carefully and select ammo for the job at hand. A 240 gr HP out of a .44 Mag at 1200 fps might do a bang up job and punch through the shoulders of a 250 hog but its going to zip right through a human torso with little deformation. Load a .44 spl +P 180 HP in the same gun though and it will come out of there at about 1100 fps and perfrom well on a human torso. This is a much lighter HP in construction and its designed to expand quickly in flesh. Look to LEO types and see what sort of ammunition they are using and this will often times give you a good idea on what loads you need to be using. There are a number of reasons why they use the ammo they do although I will admit that politics sometimes factors into the choice to one degree or another.

Once you get your handgun, practice, practice and practice some more, until your silly. Dont be a typical "Harry Home Owner" go to the range the day you get your gun, burn up a half a box of ammo on a target and call it good. If thats your attitude you will likely disappoint yourself when it counts the most! Gun Control is all about being able to put all 8 rounds on target lickity split. Bullets that dont go where you want them to doesnt do you any good and they are actually a liability in todays litigation happy world. Dont practice at the range at high noon only cuase chances are if you ever have to use your hand gun it will likely be in a low light situation, so practice that too!!! Practice reloads under stress until its automatic. I often load a couple of rounds in two magazines shoot with one not knowing how many rounds it has and then doing a tactical reload and continue shooting my course of fire. Most self defense encounters wont require a reload but if it does or your facing multiple threats you need to be able to do it without thinking about it! Practice drawing your weapon too. A threat will likely already have the drop on you so you dont have time to be fumbling around drawing your gun from under your coat for 30 minutes. Even when you got a "vest" on getting shot hurts BIG TIME! There aint no runner up ribbons in a gun fight!

I have worked with Weapons in the military for 21 years. I have also been in combat in Iraq and 'Stan and wasnt lucky enough to be "in the rear with the gear" as a "Paper Pushing Pansy". I am currently retired and and a Lt. in a security firm doing Executive Protection. I have carried and used a number of weapons over the years. My hands down personal favorite when it comes to personal defense using a handgun, is a 1911 with a 5 inch barrel in 45 ACP using Bill Wilson SS 8 shot flush fit mags and loaded with 185gr Federal Hydra-Shok +P loads. It fits my hands like a well made leather glove! Although a full sized pistol, its flat sides and slim profile make concealment pretty easy in a number of modes of carry. Its not the most powerful combo out there but its about as reliable of a fight stopper as anything else out there. I shoot this combo much better than I do a number of other combos I own and as such it replaced my Berreta M9. Recoil is modest and muzzle flash/blast out of a 5 inch barrel is at a reasonable level. I wasnt always a "1911 Commando", but I tried it, liked it and the more I use it the more convinced I am that its not only a work of art but the true working profesionals best option more times than not. If you choose a quality 1911, use quality mags use, standard presure level loads and I seriously doubt it will let you down or leave you wanting when it comes to personal defense.

Just my buck 'O five....

 

[Bubba]

If you guys were gonna look into a gun, What are some good brands that don't cost an arm and a leg?

 

[G3_Guy]

Ruger