Sig P226 9mm as my first handgun? **purchase made**

[Jeeebus]

I shoot my 9mm at the range and put holes in home invaders with the 12ga.

Actually, both the 9mm and the shotgun are at the ready at home, with the M&P loaded with jhp and the 12gauge with 00 buck. If I had to put myself in the shoes of someone getting shot with either, it probably wouldn't be a good day either way.

 

[dust]

You guys still hunt for food or what?😛

 

[corwin]

You guys still hunt for food or what?

Some of us sure as hell do, you need some duck for Christmas?

 

[shortylickens]

You guys still hunt for food or what?😛

Wild pheasant is INFINITELY superior to anything you can buy in a store.

 

[dust]

Some of us sure as hell do, you need some duck for Christmas?

...since you mentioned it!

 

[SabaII]

I shoot my 9mm at the range and put holes in home invaders with the 12ga.

Actually, both the 9mm and the shotgun are at the ready at home, with the M&P loaded with jhp and the 12gauge with 00 buck. If I had to put myself in the shoes of someone getting shot with either, it probably wouldn't be a good day either way.

00buck is about the worst for home defense unless you live alone and don't share any walls. If your kids sleep in the next room I would seriously consider switching to something that wont go as far. I think its some sort of bird shot they recommend as home defense as it looses a lot of momentum once it goes through a couple pieces of sheet rock. The recipient will still get the point w/o the potential collateral damage.

 

[Nebor]

00buck is about the worst for home defense unless you live alone and don't share any walls. If your kids sleep in the next room I would seriously consider switching to something that wont go as far. I think its some sort of bird shot they recommend as home defense as it looses a lot of momentum once it goes through a couple pieces of sheet rock. The recipient will still get the point w/o the potential collateral damage.

I hate to break this to you, but projectiles that won't penetrate sheet rock won't penetrate bad guys.

 

[SabaII]

I hate to break this to you, but projectiles that won't penetrate sheet rock won't penetrate bad guys.

Over penetration. Plus I never said it wouldn't penetrate I said it looses most of its momentum. Check this vid out.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/video/home-defense-shotgun/

3:20 in will explain the shot used.

 

[shortylickens]

For home defense over penetration is definitely an issue. Thats why I use a 410 with buckshot. Got little kids on each side of my townhouse.

 

[Zargon]

For home defense over penetration is definitely an issue. Thats why I use a 410 with buckshot. Got little kids on each side of my townhouse.

yup, anyone NOT concerned with overpenetration for home defense IMO isnt being responsible

the main reason I didnt buy a .410 was ammo costs.

I ended up with the 12g because I found one at a great price, I was OK with 20g due to the similarly low ammo costs.

but a decent saiga 410 would be great at home with a large mag 😀

 

[Nebor]

I live alone, and in the freak situation in which I have to shoot someone in my home, the odds of an additional freak occurrence of tagging someone with a stray round that exits my home is the least of my concerns. Besides, the walls are brick, and I've seen the results of bullets hitting brick walls.

 

[clamum]

I have / carry a sig p229 (40s&w) on a daily basis. I love the gun, and got it for a pretty good deal ($700 shipped from buds gun shop for a dark elite model - which is well below what they generally are found for at your local fun shop). That being said, unless you get a "great" deal on a p226/p229/p220 I feel that they are a "tad" overpriced. Don't get me wrong, they are great guns - but they honestly don't do much that some of their cheaper polymer counterparts don't do as well (or better).

Some points to think of:
- The p226 is a heavy / large weapon. Remember that it is a full size service pistol... and a full metal one at that. This is great for soaking up recoil; however, it can make carry annoying. If this gun won't be carried on a daily basis, than weight is much less of an issue (more of an asset in many cases).
- Magazines are on the expensive side (not as bad as HK/Walther... but still pretty high for factory mags). The good news is that MecGar sells p226 mags under it's name at great prices (and they do / did make the factory sig mags too). I wouldn't use mags other than sig factory or mecgar.
- I was going to use this point to tell you to buy a buckmark or mark 3 22LR pistol... but honestly... for training purposes it would probably serve you better to just buy a conversion slide for the p226 so you can shoot 22lr and keep the same trigger mechanics.
- The p226 uses a DA/SA trigger system (also available in a DAO but most you'll see in the store are DA/SA). While this trigger system has some upsides, the major downside is that you will have to get used to the transition from DA to SA (if you plan to use it defensively... I suppose you could always shoot in SA at the range). It's not hard to do... but it does take a lot of dry firing and range time.

If you do want a centerfire semiautomatic pistol... other great options would include: glock (IE: glock 19... or whatever your desired flavor), walther PPQ, S&W M&P, Springfield XD/XDm, FNP, H&K P30/P30L/HK45... or you could go for a sub 1k 1911 (springer, kimber, smith, sig, colt....). There are lots of great choices... just pick your flavor (best thing to do is try to shoot as many as you can first)...

Great post. This dude sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

I think a 9mm P226 would be fine for a first handgun but I'd hold one at a gun shop first to make sure it fits my hand. I have smaller hands, and a P226 (.40 cal), and while it's comfortable, it's a little hard to reach all the way forward in DA mode for me. I also got it used, in great condition, at a decent price, which I recommend you do as well if you're set on a SIG.

 

[ViviTheMage]

That would be my choice as well. I already have 2 45s but have been eying a new Sig P220 to add to the collection. I have a 9mm Glock model 17 that is easy to shoot and reliable but I really want a Sig. No way would I buy another 9mm. I'll keep the Glock but it probably won't see much use.

I like the 45, drops right back in place after you shoot, but man it's pretty pricey.

 

[alkemyst]

I live alone, and in the freak situation in which I have to shoot someone in my home, the odds of an additional freak occurrence of tagging someone with a stray round that exits my home is the least of my concerns. Besides, the walls are brick, and I've seen the results of bullets hitting brick walls.

wow, this why so many are trying to grab guns from people.

 

[clamum]

00buck is about the worst for home defense unless you live alone and don't share any walls. If your kids sleep in the next room I would seriously consider switching to something that wont go as far. I think its some sort of bird shot they recommend as home defense as it looses a lot of momentum once it goes through a couple pieces of sheet rock. The recipient will still get the point w/o the potential collateral damage.

I wouldn't go as far as call it the "worst", but it penetrates MUCH more than people actually think it does.

 

[Zargon]

I wouldn't go as far as call it the "worst", but it penetrates MUCH more than people actually think it does.

yeah slugs are probably worse, but this is bad shit to be firing in urban areas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jApWNo3XE4M

 

[Nebor]

wow, this why so many are trying to grab guns from people.

Yeah, this is the reason. 🙄

My gun cred far exceeds yours. Worrying about over penetration by a shotgun or handgun inside a single family residence occupied by a single person is ridiculous.

 

[SabaII]

Yeah, this is the reason. 🙄

My gun cred far exceeds yours. Worrying about over penetration by a shotgun or handgun inside a single family residence occupied by a single person is ridiculous.

Uh oh. Didn't mean to start anything. I was just trying to give some useful info so everybody didn't all go load up 00buckshot for home defense.

 

[alkemyst]

Yeah, this is the reason. 🙄

My gun cred far exceeds yours. Worrying about over penetration by a shotgun or handgun inside a single family residence occupied by a single person is ridiculous.

In a place like arizona I bet I could penetrate one house and into another.

You act like 'ahh it will never happen' which is about the same logic as ending up invaded to begin with. Most are not living alone, you are acting as if you situation applies to all.

Based on your sig i am betting is entirely to get a reaction here by stating something so ignorant.

 

[Specop 007]

Over penetration. Plus I never said it wouldn't penetrate I said it looses most of its momentum. Check this vid out.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/video/home-defense-shotgun/

3:20 in will explain the shot used.

Well, then they are fucking stupid. I havent watched the video but as said above if it wont penetrate a wall it wont penetrate a bad guy.

Look up FBI ballistics tests and recommendations.

You need 12" of penetration minimum to meet FBI standards. Anything less is a gamble with your life and the lives of your loved ones.

It is what it is. If it wont go through a wall it wont go through a bad guy.

 

[etrigan420]

Well, then they are fucking stupid. I havent watched the video but as said above if it wont penetrate a wall it wont penetrate a bad guy.

Look up FBI ballistics tests and recommendations.

You need 12" of penetration minimum to meet FBI standards. Anything less is a gamble with your life and the lives of your loved ones.

It is what it is. If it wont go through a wall it wont go through a bad guy.

Dude...he's talking about "*OVER*" penetration.

This isn't a question of "will the projectile penetrate a wall"

It's a question of "will the projectile penetrate a wall *AFTER* it's penetrated the bad guy."

I have 4 kids that all have their bedrooms on the same level as the master. Should over penetration be a concern for me? Only a fool thinks it wouldn't...

 

[gorobei]

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

bird shot is questionable, it may or may not incapacitate. the main thing it does is make the target spend several hours in the hospital getting what pellets they can out. with the number of pellets in birdshot, the ER docs may just leave them in the body as it isnt worth the time/effort to dig all of them out.

the guns and ammo video is a little misleading, custom shotguns with tighter choke pattern shot at steel targets. birdshot only going thru 2 layers of dryboard is nice if you have loved ones on the other side of a wall but it may only result in the equivalent of a moderately swung baseball bat to the chest on your target(which may be good enough for some people, though others may prefer a more definitive effect).

 

[SabaII]

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

bird shot is questionable, it may or may not incapacitate. the main thing it does is make the target spend several hours in the hospital getting what pellets they can out. with the number of pellets in birdshot, the ER docs may just leave them in the body as it isnt worth the time/effort to dig all of them out.

the guns and ammo video is a little misleading, custom shotguns with tighter choke pattern shot at steel targets. birdshot only going thru 2 layers of dryboard is nice if you have loved ones on the other side of a wall but it may only result in the equivalent of a moderately swung baseball bat to the chest on your target(which may be good enough for some people, though others may prefer a more definitive effect).

I see your point. I would just be worried with who may also be in the bullets path.

And specop007 if you didn't watch the vid how do you know? I don't care what FBI ballistics says. Since your so confident why don't you stand on the receiving end of a 12ga loaded up with some bird shot. Then after the first shot if you still have enough in you to come after me I will say you win. But if your not willing to do so then show a little more respect in the way you reply. I said I wasn't trying to start anything. Just trying to show what I have been taught from people who are very gun savvy.

 

[schneiderguy]

I don't care what FBI ballistics says.

You don't care what an organization that has probably spent tens of millions of dollars analyzing terminal ballistics has found? :|

Birdshot is not acceptable for defending your life.

If you're concerned about shooting someone in the next room a carbine in .223 is your best choice, because it will incapacitate a bad guy and do the least amount of damage to a person on the other side of the wall.

 

[SabaII]

You don't care what an organization that has probably spent tens of millions of dollars analyzing terminal ballistics has found? :|

Birdshot is not acceptable for defending your life.

If you're concerned about shooting someone in the next room a carbine in .223 is your best choice, because it will incapacitate a bad guy and do the least amount of damage to a person on the other side of the wall.

All I am saying is that I know I would not want to be on the receiving end of a blast of bird shot. To each his own I guess.