Purchasing a handgun

[ric1287]

whatever you prefer, just don't call a magazine a "clip"

 

[Kelvrick]

Think of the hammer (that thing in the back that travels back and forward when you fire).

Double action = when you pull the trigger, you both pull the hammer back and release it. Usually heavier, 8lbs of pull weight on up in factory setting.

Single action = the hammer is already back and the trigger pull only releases it. Usually lighter, 3lbs of pull weight on up

Double action only = the gun always operates in double action mode A consistent pull around around 5-6 lbs. Some people prefer these because of the consistency and all the shots are always the same.

Single action only = the gun always operates in single action mode. In semi-autos, means you have to manually pull the hammer back and the movement of the slide will keep each subsequent shot single action. An example is the 1911 style.

Double action/single action semi-autos. These are more traditional semi-autos with that hammer in the back. It has that heavier first pull and each subsequent pull is the lighter sa. It kind of acts as a safety since it is harder to pull the trigger that first time. You can always move the hammer back yourself and turn it into a sa though.

Everyone I've talked to and read that has been in a shootout says that your heart is going a mile a minute and you don't notice the different trigger pulls. It is just instinct, so training plays a big part.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: nkgreen
.357 Mag, it can shoot .38 specials which are still cheap (relatively).

Would a .22 caliber be too small for home defense?

I have looked at a .357 magnum and they do look nice thats for sure. Don't know how much the ammo is though. I will have to look into it.

Everyone will say no, but a .22 and the .22 magnum in particular are very deadly rounds. All the .40 and .357 and .45 ACP guys will protest loudly but not a one of them will volunteer for testing😀
One option is to get a decent convertible revolver. I have a cheapie but someone must make a .22LR/.22WMR convertible revolver with interchangeable cylinders.
There is no doubt that a .22LR has more fun for your dollar if you want to put holes in things.

I understand in home defense, its all about puting your target down. Don't know if a .22 will do the job, but as I said its not my primary application. My primary is shooting at a range. Maybe I go for 2 guns. One 357 for home defense as I can shoot a couple different rounds from it, and another for .22 rounds for target practice.

in my experience, that wont really help your aim with the larger cal gun. i carry a 9mm and am fairly accurate with it. when i shoot a .45 or a .357 my aim is sporadic, the kick is much harder, position is very different and the aim process is much different. going from a .22 to a 357 would be a major difference in handling and performance

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Auggie
OP, this is what you want to get:

http://www.smartgunner.com/adv...del17222431343537.aspx

CANT go wrong with a Glock! "Glock perfection" baby!

Edit: Not necessarily from that reseller - but Advantage Arms are a reputable conversion kit manufacturer. Call around the bigger gun stores near you to see about getting put on the waitlist. In Houston, every store that carries them has had a "half-down, half-at-purchase" waiting list since last fall.

Since I have no idea how much a Glock costs, I decided to look them up. To be surprised, they aren't that bad. I will have to look at them a little more closely.

I am getting the impression the only way to do this is to do a lot of testing BEFORE I purchase. Which means multiple trips to the gun stores and shooting ranges.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: nkgreen
.357 Mag, it can shoot .38 specials which are still cheap (relatively).

Would a .22 caliber be too small for home defense?

I have looked at a .357 magnum and they do look nice thats for sure. Don't know how much the ammo is though. I will have to look into it.

Everyone will say no, but a .22 and the .22 magnum in particular are very deadly rounds. All the .40 and .357 and .45 ACP guys will protest loudly but not a one of them will volunteer for testing😀
One option is to get a decent convertible revolver. I have a cheapie but someone must make a .22LR/.22WMR convertible revolver with interchangeable cylinders.
There is no doubt that a .22LR has more fun for your dollar if you want to put holes in things.

I understand in home defense, its all about puting your target down. Don't know if a .22 will do the job, but as I said its not my primary application. My primary is shooting at a range. Maybe I go for 2 guns. One 357 for home defense as I can shoot a couple different rounds from it, and another for .22 rounds for target practice.

in my experience, that wont really help your aim with the larger cal gun. i carry a 9mm and am fairly accurate with it. when i shoot a .45 or a .357 my aim is sporadic, the kick is much harder, position is very different and the aim process is much different. going from a .22 to a 357 would be a major difference in handling and performance

Yeah, I agree. A .22 conversion kit or separate .22 pistol isn't so much for target practice as it is for target shooting (aka plinking). Practice implies you'll get better at shooting your larger gun by practicing with your smaller one, which you won't.

.22 really is the best plinking round you can get, though.

 

[BabaBooey]

go to a range and try a few and get what you like a .22 will kill you just as a .357 will ( might need a extra shot or two for the big tweaker meth heads but a zombie is zombie ) and the .22 is cheaper on ammo by a bunch.

I would try a .38 or the walther .22 is a sweet lil semi auto and then try a .40

Have fun !!

 

[BW86]

glock 17 or 19

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
I prefer auto because of the clip capacity, but revolvers dont leave shells behind. :evil:

Text

I was waiting for that, but I thought it would be zemnervolt who would do it a few hours from now. Whoever decided to call those "magazines" must have also invented the word "munchkin", another word I dislike. 🙁

While I will give my friends crap for the whole clip vs. magazine thing, I really don't care what other people call them. The idea is conveyed regardless. I've decided that, while it's all well and good for experienced firearms enthusiasts to insist on correct terminology with other experienced enthusiasts, being that pedantic with new shooters is really just going to leave a bad taste in their mouths. I'm much more worried about people who get the magazine/clip distinction "right" but can't practice basic muzzle discipline.

For the OP:

Yes, a .22 can definitely kill. Even a .17 air-powered pellet gun is potentially lethal if you hit a person in the wrong place. Still, a .22 would not be my first choice for primary home defense duty; it just doesn't do enough damage unless you hit something vital (heart, head, spinal cord). Even a .45 isn't guaranteed to stop someone, but in general a .22 isn't a great deterrent.

That said, you have clearly stated that home defense is a secondary concern. That being the case, I wholeheartedly recommend a .22. They are cheap to shoot and will allow you to learn a lot and practice a lot. If you develop good habits with the .22, those good habits will carry over to a larger firearm if you choose to buy something larger later on.

I personally like revolvers for home defense (though I have several semi-auto pistols as well) and my own "go-to" firearm for home defense is a Smith and Wesson Model 19; a .357 Magnum revolver with a 6" barrel. The Model 19 has been replaced with the Model 686, which is a fine .357 Magnum revolver and can be paired with the Model 617, which is a 10-shot .22 revolver that has identical feel to the 686. They make a fantastic pairing because the two firearms have effectively identical feels to them so it's very easy to pick up one right after the other with no adjustments necessary to grip style, etc.

If you go the used route (which is generally fine from any reputable dealer), a Model 19 like mine pairs nicely with the Model 17, which is the "father" of the newer 617 that I mentioned earlier. Like its newer counterpart, the Model 17 is "matched" to the Model 19 in feel and weighting.

Now, these are not inexpensive firearms (a Model 686 will run $900 or more, same for the 617), but they are very nice to shoot. I make no denials about being a fan of Smith and Wesson's revolvers, but there's good reason that I like them so much.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Yeah, I agree. A .22 conversion kit or separate .22 pistol isn't so much for target practice as it is for target shooting (aka plinking). Practice implies you'll get better at shooting your larger gun by practicing with your smaller one, which you won't.

.22 really is the best plinking round you can get, though.

If you're jerking the trigger, flinching, or have the wrong grip, a .22 absolutely will help a person get better with the larger firearm. I have gotten much better both with handguns and rifles by practicing with my .22s. This is especially true of conversion kits where the same frame is being used so the firearm's feel in the hand is identical.

ZV

 

[sutahz]

a big one!

 

[DivideBYZero]

One that goes "BANG!" and throws hot metal.

 

[eldorado99]

Home defense, not to sound cliche, a 12 guage really is the best. If you are going to make a commitment to shoot someone you might as well be serious about it. That said I'd rather keep a baseball bat nearby and not use a firearm unless it was absolutely necessary.

 

[Xecuter]

Glock .45

 

[Bacstar]

I ended up with a Glock 29SF (10mm) for carrying in the woods while I mtn bike. I know it may not be the best weapon to carry while in the woods of Alaska, but it was a compromise I had to make due to size and weight vs. not carrying anything.

However, in the process of practicing, shooting guns can be very addicting, so I ended up buying a Browning Buckmark .22LR, not to mention 10mm rounds are hard to find and expensive. I guess you can say that about all ammo right now though. By the way, I highly recommend the Browning. I am also now looking into buying a .45. I'm eyeballing a Kimber 1911 right now... hehehe fun stuff.

 

[OUCaptain]

Call me old school, but I really like Beretta 92FS. Reliability has never been an issue and the weight/balance fits me quite well. Very easy to break down as well. You can have the whole thing apart in under 5 seconds.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Glocks are very nice reliable pistols, but their grips feel like a block of wood to me. Definitely try several brands of pistol for fit.

Two alternates to the Glock that I think are worth consideration:
The Smith & Wesson M & P series has a nice ergonomic design with replaceable grip inserts to fit your hand. The Beretta PX4 Storm has similar replaceable grip insets, and features a rotating barrel lock instead of the more conventional "falling block" design; the barrel rotation reduces the felt recoil. Both are available in a variety of calibers and magazine capacities.

I should also mention Ruger revolvers and their P-series semiautomatics; Ruger revolvers are not as refined as the Smiths, but are every bit as solid and reliable. Ruger semiautomatics also have a great reputation for reliability; where some manufacturers warn against using +P ammunition (factory "hot" loads), Ruger warrants its pistols to fire any commercially loaded rounds.

 

[JDMnAR1]

I wouldn't trade my Browning Buckmark for anything. It is a wonderful shooting pistol, and I never worry about how much it is costing me to shoot it for hours on end. For a plinker, you can't beat it IMHO.

 

[FlashG]

The Walther Model 4

 

[Nightfall]

I went to the shooting range yesterday with a friend and I test fired a Glock 19 and a .357 Magnum. Both of these were very comfortable in my hands and I figured out I am a pretty decent shot. That being said, I really want to try a few more guns before I settle on a purchase. Its obvious a quality gun is going to run me between $500-$1000 so I am going to take my time and test many models out before I make a twitch decision.

 

[sourceninja]

Personally, if I wanted something for range and home defense I'd probably go with a S&W 686+ revolver. I love mine.

However, if I was going to go with a plastic pistol I'd choose the Walther P99QA. It comes in 9mm and 40 and I freaking love the thing. Seriously, try it out.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
Call me old school, but I really like Beretta 92FS. Reliability has never been an issue and the weight/balance fits me quite well. Very easy to break down as well. You can have the whole thing apart in under 5 seconds.

My dad has a 92FS. Great weapon. Looks good too.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1
I wouldn't trade my Browning Buckmark for anything. It is a wonderful shooting pistol, and I never worry about how much it is costing me to shoot it for hours on end. For a plinker, you can't beat it IMHO.

Even though I like revolvers more, I love my Buckmark too. 🙂 I have the Bullseye Target URX model and I can hit anything I aim at with it. Fantastic firearm.

Great for developing good habits. Still, I do want to buy a Model 17 with the nickel finish and 6" barrel to match my Model 19 someday. It just seems like the two would make a fine pair.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
.357 Mag, it can shoot .38 specials which are still cheap (relatively).

This

Edit-I would NOT recommend a .22 for home defense. That round is too small and will over penetrate walls very easily. Get a good medium frame .357 Magnum revolver, they are foolproof, reliable, and they have internal safeties that will prevent an accidental discharge if dropped. They also have a heavy double action trigger which will help prevent accident discharges as well.

Many people recommend a 12 gauge shotgun but I think they are too unwieldy for home defense. Ever try to keep a loaded shotgun in your nightstand drawer? Or bring it to bear quickly when suddenly confronted by a perp? Not to mention the myth that you don't have to aim a shotgun. A handgun is a much better choice IMO.