But, one of my best friends is an expert. He is an accomplished marksman, re-loader, range safety officer and owner of many firearms. I am still debating the same question myself and he always tells me that for self defense you can't beat the reliability of a revolver, whereas a semi-auto can jam, and often at the worst possible moment. So, at least give some thought to a classic S&W 357 or the likes. Just my two cents, and borrowed at that.
When I read your reply, I instantly started second guessing my choice for semi-auto handguns, but I know if I ever had to shoot in any situation dealing with life or death, I'm pretty sure I will be missing my target and the extra ammo in a semi-auto handgun would be much needed. So, a revolver is probably not the ideal weapon for me. Thanks for the info though!
Glock 19
SW M&P 9
SIG 239
in that order....
I would roll the dice on a glock jamming and have 15 +1 over a 5 round revolver any day. Besides with the proper training and practice clearing a "jam" is easy and can be done faster that a revolver reload.
I'll definately ask my instructor about clearing a jam, thank you!
Last year i went through the same thing you are, never even held a handgun untill spring of last year
Goto your range and try many guns to see what you like
i ended up with a gen4 g19 and recently bought a gen4 g34, if you join GSSF you get $100 off a glock per year, and there are competitions for fun which you can learn all kinds of stuff
whatever you end up with, respect it, and get lots of trigger time
dont let a price tag ruin something you want, you will end up spending x2 in ammo within a few months
Been thinking about the gen4 also, good thing about that one is the adjustable grip. I'm assuming from researching, a good grip makes a big difference, which makes sense.
Part of the reason why I want to go with a 9mm is because it's cheaper to practice with. I know I'll need a lot of practice at the range.
If you can, take the time and try out all of your possible candidates. I say this because there are countless weapons out there, all with different layouts, ergonomics, feels, etc. I think all multiple gun owners out there should own a glock, just for the track record and aftermarket for them, but if this is going to be your only weapon, I do some extensive "test driving" and research as the flocks ergonomics are not for everyone (myself included). I own two currently, and I keep the. For friends to shoot and as a SHTF sort of go to. My primary carries are s&w m&p and sig. IMO, though a bit more expensive, you can't beat the ergo of a sig
We have 1 gun shop in town, and a Scheels (sporting goods store). Not too many selections at the local shop, and Scheels have some major brands, but not many to hold and get a feel for. Probably a stupid question, but would it be hard/stupid to make a custom grip to improve the ergonomics? Like wrapping it with something, like string/paracord to "dial" in a good grip? I mean, if the gun shoots well, but the grip sucks, would that be something do-able?
Another reason why I was leaning towards a glock, when SHTF, many law enforcement uses the glock, plus 9mm is very common so finding ammo wouldn't be too hard, I hope. And I read the glock is a very good go-to handgun, even in less than desirable shooting circumstances.
As mcfly said, go to the local store with a range and try them out. Different guns work better for different people based on their ergonomics. I would stay away from full size frame guns for concealed carry unless you are a big guy. You may want to look into the glock 26 if you are looking for a 9mm. You can always get another 9mm in a full size for your night stand gun.
A smaller frame gun may also work better for your spous . I would recommend you take the class together so she is comfortable with the weapon as well.
Stay safe and practice regularly!
Okki
Sometimes I wish I was still in TX, they have plenty of ranges where I could rent out different handguns to shoot with. But nothing like that here in Sioux City, IA. I'm probably considered average sized, so no full-size frames for me, maybe in the future, but I agree, not as a conceal. My wife is thinking of getting something small like the baby glock 26, but right now she's pregnant and they don't recommend her to be at a shooting range.
No firearm is going to be good for every job. But the best pistol is one you can shoot comfortably an reliably. Doesn't matter what kind of firearm you have if you can't get off good shot placement or you aren't comfortable handling it.
I carry a Ruger LCP as an EDC, but I also have a Ruger P89 and Sig P229 for situations when the baby .380 won't suffice or if I am wearing layers of clothing that warrant a larger frame.
I agree with the "can shoot comfortably and reliably", I guess I won't know till I actually pull the trigger, literally
I've probably bought/sold 25ish handguns over the years trying to find the "one" that works best for me. For now I've settled on three... H&K USP Compact in 9mm is my every day carry, Sig P220 SAO in .45 is a close second. In the summer in tend to go lighter weight and switch over to a .380. After 20 some years of carrying the M9 as my duty weapon I was pretty comfortable with SA/DA semi-automatic. Take your class, borrow some of your friends weapons or hit the local range and see what they have in the way of rentals. Once you've found the one, don't forget to check prices for second hand versions.
:gun6:
I looked at the H&Ks, and I didn't read anywhere that anyone was disappointed in them. I mean for the price, they shouldn't be. I think if I were to get one, I would definitely have to shoot with it before I would commit to that price.
If I were to look for used guns, what should I look out for?
I have a few Glocks, love them and am even a Glock Armorer. But since you are so new in handguns I would respectfully suggest something like a XD or Beretta with a additional safety.
So, you would steer newbies away from Glocks because the safety on the Glocks are not made well? Or because it's not beginner friendly versus a XD or Beretta? I've read about some people stating Glocks are less forgiving than other guns, in terms of the trigger? As long as I'm always pointing the gun in a safe direction (away from people, explosives, etc), keep my finger off the trigger, and have the safety on, I should be primarily ok, yes? And philly, it's weird not seeing you post a sarcastic response
Thanks for the info and suggestions so far guys
