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Need handgun advice - 9mm or .357

M

Mr N8

Diamond Member
I am looking for a gun that I will like, but my wife will also be comfortable with. I have fairly large hands (so I may just need a pistol grip for me) and she is a petite woman.

I've been thinking 9mm or sig .357. We both hunt, she has a nice Remington 30-30, and I have a browning BAR lightweight 30-06. I had a Colt .44 revolver that I sold a few years ago, and it was decent, but I'm looking for something new. The .44 was only marginally accurate, so I'd prefer to stay away from that.

I have ~$500 to spend, and I want a semi-auto, clip loading handgun. It will be used mostly for target shooting.

Recommend away.
 
I'm going to Gander Mountain and Bass Pro Shop this weekend. I just wanted some suggestions on some good models to check out.
 
Well, the one thing that will scare your wife away from shooting is going to be the recoil. The felt recoil of a .357 is greater than that of a 9mm, typically. Once she's used to firing a handgun you can graduate to more powerful ones, but I'd start with the nine first.

S.

PS: Sig Sauer is a favorite, as is H&K.
 
I didn't even know a .357 could come in a clip loading semi-auto. I always thought people got 9mm, .40, or .45 ACP in semiauto and .357 and .44 in revolver......i need to do more research.
 
Originally posted by: Staley8
I didn't even know a .357 could come in a clip loading semi-auto. I always thought people got 9mm, .40, or .45 ACP in semiauto and .357 and .44 in revolver......i need to do more research.
Click to expand...
.357 Sig
 
Originally posted by: MogulMonster
I am looking for a gun that I will like, but my wife will also be comfortable with. I have fairly large hands (so I may just need a pistol grip for me) and she is a petite woman.

I've been thinking 9mm or sig .357. We both hunt, she has a nice Remington 30-30, and I have a browning BAR lightweight 30-06. I had a Colt .44 revolver that I sold a few years ago, and it was decent, but I'm looking for something new. The .44 was only marginally accurate, so I'd prefer to stay away from that.

I have ~$500 to spend, and I want a semi-auto, clip loading handgun. It will be used mostly for target shooting.

Recommend away.
Click to expand...

DUDE!!!!!! get the Sig Sauer p228. Special forces give that to people with relatively small hands. But still big enough to be used by everyone. check that out. that should be a little over 500. but its a great gun. .45 caliber.
 
Do not get the 9mm....that is the worst round evar! My choices for pistol rounds are .357 and .45's i say get the sig .45 or .357 both are excellent pistols...the only problem is that sigs are hard to clean and maintain...but if you take care of the sig they work like swiss time pieces. I used work at a gun range so im quite biased on guns and ammunitions...
 
Originally posted by: scauffiel
Well, the one thing that will scare your wife away from shooting is going to be the recoil. The felt recoil of a .357 is greater than that of a 9mm, typically. Once she's used to firing a handgun you can graduate to more powerful ones, but I'd start with the nine first.

S.

PS: Sig Sauer is a favorite, as is H&K.
Click to expand...

My mom shot my 357 a few times after I got it first time damn near knocked her on her butt shes only 5'3". She has a 9mm, fits her hands nice and fits in her purse.

Remeber man size does not matter its how well you use it. Believe me I would not want to be on the other end of my mom shooting her piece standing or running.
 
The 9mm bullets are a hell of a lot cheaper than the .357sig. I assume you are talking .357sig and not .357? I have a glock .357sig and the neat thing about it is you can swap the barrel and clip from a .40 into it.


-MC
 
Originally posted by: nater
why don't you both just try out both types of guns and make an educated decision that way?
Click to expand...

A large number of gun ranges will let you rent guns. It's very handy to test calibers and models against each other without having to buy. When you make a decision, you can usually get new guns much cheaper at Gun shows.

-MC
 
Originally posted by: MattCo
The 9mm bullets are a hell of a lot cheaper than the .357sig. I assume you are talking .357sig and not .357? I have a glock .357sig and the neat thing about it is you can swap the barrel and clip from a .40 into it.


-MC
Click to expand...

Yeah, I meant .357 sig. Just switched them around.
 
Originally posted by: Staley8
I didn't even know a .357 could come in a clip loading semi-auto. I always thought people got 9mm, .40, or .45 ACP in semiauto and .357 and .44 in revolver......i need to do more research.
Click to expand...

I think he is talking about .357sig not .357 magnum.
 
I don't think for $500 budget, you have many choices for .357sig. I think .40 or .45 has a lot of cheaper selections. 9mm +P+ may have the same stopping power of .357sig. I am looking for a .40 pistol, but since I am in Los Angeles, a lot of brand has been banned last year and only few brand still available.
 
Dude, get a 357. 9mm doesn't have the stopping power. Heck, actually, get a 44mag. Now those suckers will stop just about anything!
 
hi,
you might try the hk usp40 compact. it's a nice compact size and the sw .40 is a good cartridge. if you really want a 9mm, hk makes the usp in 9mm, .40sw, and .45acp .
the sig p228 isnt available to non military/police new anymore it's been replaced by the p229 which is as good.
you could also try the walther p99, it comes with different grip pads for a more custom fit. also in 9mm and .40

good luck
 
Originally posted by: gregshin
Do not get the 9mm....that is the worst round evar! My choices for pistol rounds are .357 and .45's i say get the sig .45 or .357 both are excellent pistols...the only problem is that sigs are hard to clean and maintain...but if you take care of the sig they work like swiss time pieces. I used work at a gun range so im quite biased on guns and ammunitions...
Click to expand...

This is silly advice IMO. A hot 9mm can come close to the velocity and stopping power of a .357 Sig, without the prohibitive ammo cost. The only meaningful advantage the Sig enjoys is that its necked round feeds better than a 9mm, but this is really only a theoretical advantage, in that a decent modern pistol (i.e., Sig, Glock, H&K, etc.) will not suffer a statistically significant number of failures to feed. I have put at least 2,000 rounds through my Glock 17 without a single FTF.

Honestly I prefer .45 ACP to either of your choices, but if you only have one pistol, I think 9mm is clearly the best choice. You can buy 100 rounds of Winchester range ammo for $10.96 at Wal Mart, and with a high-quality FMJ (I like Speer Gold Dots), a 9mm is quite lethal as a self-defense round.

As for WHICH pistol, I personally like Glocks, and they have no equal for durability and reliability. I think the CZs are by far the best pistols available for under $400, and might be the nicest-shooting 9mms out there. I really like the Sig Professional series, but they are quite expensive and a little finicky in maintenance.
 
Originally posted by: MattCo
Originally posted by: nater
why don't you both just try out both types of guns and make an educated decision that way?
Click to expand...

A large number of gun ranges will let you rent guns. It's very handy to test calibers and models against each other without having to buy. When you make a decision, you can usually get new guns much cheaper at Gun shows.

-MC
Click to expand...

The range my dad goes to will let you use their guns for free. (except ammo, of course) I used one of their Steyr M40's, probably too big for a smaller woman- but a fun target shooter. I wish I could get a pro target 1911 though. now that is a fun shooter.

Second the walther p99 idea too. That should fit her hands I'd think.
 
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