handgun purchase

[corwin]

I would suggest either a Rock Island 1911 or a Remington 1911 R1.

Thread about the best 45 for the money - http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/1911-...-45-money.html

I've been considering a RI 1911 TCM...comes in their brand new caliber .22 TCM and also has a 9mm barrel, doubt the .22 TCM will be used but it's a pretty cheap high cap 9mm 1911...
http://dev.rockislandarmory.com/index.php/pistols/22-tcm

 

[twinrider1]

What were you doing when you were shot?

Minding my own business.

I bet it got your attention. I would guess most people would stop what they were doing and focus on their wound. (And unless you've also been shot in the same place with a larger round, I don't what you can really conclude from your experience with the .22).
Granted, bigger is better. A bigger bullet has a better chance to hit something vital. But shot placement is overwhelmingly more important than caliber.
Ultimately, we spend a lot of time and energy splitting hairs over something that will probably never happen. The chances a person is going to face someone in their home is pretty small. And a portion of those will be thieves that will run at the sight of any gun, regardless of caliber.

 

[sigurros81]

This is an idiotic question to which there is no right answer. Go to a gun shop and hold a bunch of different guns. Like others in this thread, I hate the feel of a Glock in my hand. My M&P 9mm is the most comfortable handgun I've ever held. You'll find plenty of people that say the opposite.

Considering I'm a noob to hand guns, yeah it makes sense that I made a post to ask questions. of course I'll be handling several guns before settling on one that I'd purchase, but I figure asking on a forum wouldn't hurt to help help me get a good jumpstart on narrowing down a selection of handguns I'd be interested in handling. It's called doing research. Now don't you feel like a jackass?

Edit: with that said, thanks for the feedback everyone, I have a little list of firearms now that I can look into when I visit the gunshop.

 

[Pia]

The Glocks, Springfield XDs, S&W M&P9s etc already recommended are good all-around guns, reasonably light and have features appropriate for a carry gun.

That said, if you don't plan to carry, you would be better served by a larger, heavier gun with a lighter, smoother trigger. More accuracy, more comfort, no downside. For instance you could consider the CZ75. Tuned variants of it like SP-01 Shadow are very good out of the box. For a more economical choice you could get one of the cheaper variants and take it to a proficient gunsmith for trigger tuning.

If you want to learn to actually shoot well, you should not only get a gun with a good trigger, but take care to get one that has a .22LR conversion kit. .22LR cuts ammo costs hugely and a lot of the time is actually better for learning than higher calibers.

 

[Jeeebus]

Now don't you feel like a jackass?

Truthfully... nope.

 

[Texashiker]

I've been considering a RI 1911 TCM...comes in their brand new caliber .22 TCM and also has a 9mm barrel, doubt the .22 TCM will be used but it's a pretty cheap high cap 9mm 1911...

My next handgun purchase is probably going to be the Rock Island Tactical Model. I want something with a rail so a light can be mounted.

That 22 TCM looks interesting. A 9mm brass sized to a 223 neck? Would the bullet be able to reach a velocity to achieve reliable expansion? By using a 223, are the developers hoping the bullet tumbles, or expands?

 

[corwin]

My next handgun purchase is probably going to be the Rock Island Tactical Model. I want something with a rail so a light can be mounted.

That 22 TCM looks interesting. A 9mm brass sized to a 223 neck?

Would the bullet be able to reach a velocity to achieve reliable expansion?

You can bet it does, 2050fps:awe: slightly faster than the FN 5.7 I believe...I've only found it for sale on one site HERE for $529 but it's back ordered...they also sell the 22 TCM ammo for $20 a box, not bad considering I've paid more than that for .45 in the past few years, and that it comes with a 9mm barrel and extractor makes it a nice deal in my book, if it can be found that is

 

[x-alki]

Some good replies here. You might want to check out the Texas Gun Owners forums too.

http://texasgunowner.com/forum/forum.php

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

When we got pregnant she said she wouldn't want me to keep the gun in the house once the baby is born. She didn't force me to get rid of it; she would have been okay with me getting a lockbox or something, but I didn't care enough to want to spend even more money to hold onto the thing.

You lost all credibility as making the decisions when you said WE got pregnant. That there says it all. She has full control over you if you saw we instead of she.

The chances of my house burning down are also slim, but I still have a fire extinguisher.

The chances of getting a flat are slim, but I still have a spare tire.

The chances of a major injury in my home are slim but I still keep a trauma kit in the house.

Exactly. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Some good replies here. You might want to c
heck out the Texas Gun Owners forums too.

http://texasgunowner.com/forum/forum.php

Cool, I never knew about this site.

 

[boomhower]

Another vote for Glock 17. Dead nuts reliable and more accurate then 99% of it's owners. 22 conversion kits are also available for cheap plinking.

 

[sigurros81]

One thing I forget to mention is that I am left-handed. Do they sell handguns for lefties? I believe this is rather important considering magazine release and the slide lock needs to be workable for a lefty.

 

[corwin]

One thing I forget to mention is that I am left-handed. Do they sell handguns for lefties? I believe this is rather important considering magazine release and the slide lock needs to be workable for a lefty.

I don't believe I've ever seen one specifically for a lefty but there are a ton that are ambi-dexterous...I believe most of the suggestions given are, I know my Bersa is at least

 

[schneiderguy]

One thing I forget to mention is that I am left-handed. Do they sell handguns for lefties? I believe this is rather important considering magazine release and the slide lock needs to be workable for a lefty.

The M&P is fully ambidextrous.

 

[rudeguy]

for home and range use in that price range, you can't go wrong with a Glock 17.

If you want to carry, Glock 26.

XD's are a pile of crap. I had one and couldn't sell it fast enough. The coating they use on the receiver wears off and they rust very quickly.

I prefer 9's over 40 because they are very easy to control when firing multiple rounds. I can empty a whole mag with my 26 and shoot very tight groups with little effort. I had a Glock 23 and it took quite a bit of effort and I had to slow down a ton to keep the rounds even on paper.

Go to a decent range that lets you rent guns. Hands on is the best way. And not fondling them at the counter. Putting rounds down range is the only way you will find out what suits you.

 

[BladeVenom]

Another vote for Glock 17. Dead nuts reliable and more accurate then 99% of it's owners. 22 conversion kits are also available for cheap plinking.

Conversion kits cost about as much as buying a .22 pistol.

 

[rudeguy]

Conversion kits cost about as much as buying a .22 pistol.

huh??

http://www.22lrconversions.com/glk-pg.htm

 

[Brutus04]

Smith & Wesson M&P .40

 

[rudeguy]

Smith & Wesson M&P .40

M&P's are not bad guns at all. But you are in the same price as a Glock, which is far superior.

 

[gorcorps]

pretty much.


the XDM's are nice, but you cant get one new for under 600

They must have shot up in price then, because they were going for $530 when I got mine last year.

 

[boomhower]

Conversion kits cost about as much as buying a .22 pistol.

If you are just going to plink, then yeah get a dedicated 22. If you are going to carry or use the gun for HD get the conversion kit. Train like you fight.

 

[alkemyst]

OP, go to a gun range that let's you swap guns out (most will do this when they require you buy the ammo there), and find what's best for YOU.

Ask for guns in your price range +10-20% depending on B&M mark up...actually I have found many local shops in my area selling for 'online' prices.

I like the 1911 lately. I am a bigger guy so could still conceal it. Ammo is not as cheap as the 9mm or definitely 22. However, shooting a 22 gives me no enjoyment and I have played with some very expensive ones.

I used to like the 40, but think that was placebo effect with all the hype put in it.

In the end if you are just going to the range/collecting, pick budget. If your are looking to daily carry, get what is comfortable and in you budget.

I know some 120lb dudes that paid $3000+ for custom 1911's that can't carry them daily without causing issues.

 

[Zargon]

They must have shot up in price then, because they were going for $530 when I got mine last year.

I've never seen an XDM under 600 new around me

 

[sourceninja]

I say get a .22 first. You can get a lot of practice thanks to its cheap ammo. Ruger is the most popular.

This.

 

[Texashiker]

OP, check this gun forum out

http://www.shootersforum.com/

Starting out with a 22 is a good suggestion. Ammo is cheap, low recoil, good caliber to practice with. 500 rounds of 22 long rifle cost less then $20.

Walther makes a nice 22 pistol.

Ruger makes a ruger sr22 that even has a rail on it. The more I look at the Ruger sr22, the more I want one.

 

[gorcorps]

I've never seen an XDM under 600 new around me

Huh, guess I bought it at the right time then. Seems like price has gone up on those and stayed the same on the XDs.