Handguns - Suggestions or tips

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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,079
136
My Sig P238 is tiny and I never had any issues finding the release or safety or slide catch when I needed it. My biggest problem was having to carry it cocked with the safety on since its single action only. That just feels weird to me.
I actually prefer no safety with a heavy trigger and double action only.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
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Krav Maga?

why is it always said to be Krav Maga?

Almost any martial art I have been around says the same.

Up close and personal, knife > gun...even if you aren't even a black belt.

Pros can easily avoid a gun, yet they usually take a cut or two from a knife wielder.

I think most here think a bit too much of their guns.
 

HybridSquirrel

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2005
6,161
2
81
why is it always said to be Krav Maga?

Almost any martial art I have been around says the same.

Up close and personal, knife > gun...even if you aren't even a black belt.

Pros can easily avoid a gun,
yet they usually take a cut or two from a knife wielder.

I think most here think a bit too much of their guns.

not a black belt, but you have to be a pro. hmmm.
 

IGemini

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2010
2,472
2
81
why is it always said to be Krav Maga?

Because while martial arts are about self-defense, Krav Maga is the most common that actually addresses and practices unarmed combat against firearms. But I didn't assume it was, just asked.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
not a black belt, but you have to be a pro. hmmm.

no, you don't have to be a Pro. I said Pros can EASILY, that meant even against pros with a gun.

Beneath that most people trained should be able to stay out of harms way from the average mugger with a gun. Everyone gets unlucky.

to the other poster. Krav Maga is today's buzzword like MMA...I have grown tired of hearing it. At almost any dojo worth anything, basic gun and knife defense will be taught whether or not it falls into the 'art'.

In the past many dojos were MMA, that has become today = wrestling type arts.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
My Sig P238 is tiny and I never had any issues finding the release or safety or slide catch when I needed it. My biggest problem was having to carry it cocked with the safety on since its single action only. That just feels weird to me.
I actually prefer no safety with a heavy trigger and double action only.

carrying cocked and locked is common with 1911's.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Ever handled a new out of the box Sig 220 with the 8 round single stack Sig magazines? The slide release is not what I would call "smooth as silk." More like, "viagra stiff" or "gorilla strong." This is because the mags are extremely stiff and basically require a mag loader to load to capacity.

I have 2 220s don't know what you mean they are trivial to load. Hard is FNP 45 basically like you describe my friends cant even load it. Little bit hard is my 226 at about 13 but still better than most double stacks. I got kinda gorilla paws so loading mags is not something I complain about.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
My Sig P238 is tiny and I never had any issues finding the release or safety or slide catch when I needed it. My biggest problem was having to carry it cocked with the safety on since its single action only. That just feels weird to me.
I actually prefer no safety with a heavy trigger and double action only.
I don't care for SAO only either. Does sig even make 238 in SA/DA? 232 would have been your huckleberry. Finest 380 in the world IMO. Or a small S&W revolver for smooth DAO.
 

Demo24

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
8,356
9
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I have 2 220s don't know what you mean they are trivial to load. Hard is FNP 45 basically like you describe my friends cant even load it. Little bit hard is my 226 at about 13 but still better than most double stacks. I got kinda gorilla paws so loading mags is not something I complain about.


My 226 20 rd mags were pretty difficult at first. They've loosened up now that I've left a couple of them loaded for a few days. However I just picked up a 18rd mec gar that was easy as pie to load all of them in. I was really quite surprised with how easy it is to load(mostly flush fit too which is :awe:). Strange considering mec gar supposedly makes many oem sig mags, including the 226.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
why is it always said to be Krav Maga?

Almost any martial art I have been around says the same.

Up close and personal, knife > gun...even if you aren't even a black belt.

Pros can easily avoid a gun, yet they usually take a cut or two from a knife wielder.

I think most here think a bit too much of their guns.


Don't try this at home folks. Seriously alke, you mean unloaded right?

Like the videos on youtube? Okay. Don't believe everything you see. Notice they use unloaded guns. Smart since finger is about 100x faster than trying to grab something.

That said I'd rather "go for", assuming I had to take one for family or something, a pistol than revolver where there is no slide to grab.
 
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alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I have 2 220s don't know what you mean they are trivial to load. Hard is FNP 45 basically like you describe my friends cant even load it. Little bit hard is my 226 at about 13 but still better than most double stacks. I got kinda gorilla paws so loading mags is not something I complain about.

sounds like Nebor needs to eat his wheaties.
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
9mm semi would be my pick for a first handgun. I am a Glock guy but there are many solid options out there.
 
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
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why is it always said to be Krav Maga?

Almost any martial art I have been around says the same.

Up close and personal, knife > gun...even if you aren't even a black belt.

Pros can easily avoid a gun, yet they usually take a cut or two from a knife wielder.

I think most here think a bit too much of their guns.

This is quite a stupid debate we have gotten into. The "what if" situations are stupid.

If a person is in hand to hand range (i.e. <3 ft away) I would without question say knife>gun in just about every situation. I'm fairly sure that anybody here would agree.

In the medium ranges, say 3-12 ft away, it's going to depend on the situation (hence having proper situational awareness is important). It would be stupid to say to go for a gun every time, as there could be times where it is prudent to not go for it first thing. Being intelligent about the situation at hand and making smart choices is what will keep you alive.

In the longer ranges over 12 ft away, which is least likely to happen, a gun will win every time.

In an office/school type setting (if it were legal to do so), I would rather have a CCW firearm. No question about it. Take a look at the link that was posted earlier about the lawyer guy who was hanging out with friends. The criminal was within the medium range (granted with a gun and not a knife), and the guy with the CCW managed to deploy his weapon. It could be argued that they wouldn't have gotten harmed at all, but at the same time the criminal could have killed them all.

Point is, it always depends on the situation as to what the best weapon is. That said, I would prefer to have a gun with me hoping to never be in a situation where I have to use it.
 
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
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Scott You just don't get it all other pistols are commoditized and take short cuts to fire just fine. Sig does not. You ever heard expression you get what you pay for? You think it's an accident Sigs cost $1000+ and the big name plastic pistols are $500? I would not buy a $500 Sig either they make junk to compete in that range as well.

Sig's don't all cost $1000+.
My P228 cost me $550.
About about to pick up a SigPro 2022 for $400.
The Sig P250 line can be had for under $400 WITH night sites.
The only Sigs that go for over $1000+ are the custom ones. Even the Elite series guns are just under a $1000.
Sig and H&K handguns are similarly priced.
If you classify H&K as less than a Sig, then you've obviously never fired one. I've fired H&K's in 9mm, .40SW and .45 and they are all fine weapons. Personally, I like the paddle style mag release over the button style.
When it comes to firearms there is not a Top manufacturer that is quantifiably the best. It comes down to personal opinions of the features offered.
For me, my HK is slightly more accurate, and I prefer the mag release over the button type that Sig has. The Sig has better recoil characteristics because it is an all metal gun. And the DA/SA trigger on the Sig gives me 2nd strike capabilities, where as the LEM trigger on my HK does, the follow up trigger pull is extremely heavy.
 
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
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I don't care for SAO only either. Does sig even make 238 in SA/DA? 232 would have been your huckleberry. Finest 380 in the world IMO. Or a small S&W revolver for smooth DAO.

The P238 is based on the Colt Mustang, which is just a scalled down 1911. It is SAO.

The Sig 232 is much larger than the P238. If you are looking for a 380, Keltec P3AT, Ruger LCP, Kahr P380 or a Diamondback 380 are all good little pocket guns that are DAO
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Sig's don't all cost $1000+.
My P228 cost me $550.
About about to pick up a SigPro 2022 for $400.
The Sig P250 line can be had for under $400 WITH night sites.
The only Sigs that go for over $1000+ are the custom ones. Even the Elite series guns are just under a $1000.
Sig and H&K handguns are similarly priced.
If you classify H&K as less than a Sig, then you've obviously never fired one. I've fired H&K's in 9mm, .40SW and .45 and they are all fine weapons. Personally, I like the paddle style mag release over the button style.
When it comes to firearms there is not a Top manufacturer that is quantifiably the best. It comes down to personal opinions of the features offered.
For me, my HK is slightly more accurate, and I prefer the mag release over the button type that Sig has. The Sig has better recoil characteristics because it is an all metal gun. And the DA/SA trigger on the Sig gives me 2nd strike capabilities, where as the LEM trigger on my HK does, the follow up trigger pull is extremely heavy.

where are you finding Sigs that cheap? Are these new or used? Cheapest P250 i've seen is about $600.
 

Phanuel

Platinum Member
Apr 25, 2008
2,304
2
0
Most likely used or German police trade ins.

I know for a fact those $550 P228s were West German Police trade ins about 8 or 9 months ago. I really wanted one but they went so fast.

German made Sigs > US made Sigs. But overall Sig's quality lately has gone down a bit. So unless it's a German made year 2000 or so Sig, I'd probably go with a different platform.

I'm a bigger fan of combat tupperware (Glock, S&W M&P) than finicky 1911 platforms as a self defense firearm. And honestly, I don't get the whole DA/SA vs SAO debate. I have no problem carrying a firearm cocked and locked, since that's the only condition you can carry a Glock in with a chambered round (and I'm sure not practicing the Israeli draw).