Help me choose the right gun...

[Trevloc]

I have read all the threads on here about guns, gun locks, holsters, and racks. I recently turned 21, and since i can remember, i have wanted to join law enforcement. I currently own a 12 guage 18" charles daly. but now that i can, i plan on getting a ccw and i am leaning twards a .40. i went out with a friend of mine who has a .9, .40, and a .45 (army vet.) of course i really liked the 9 for the control factor. there was barely any recoil. and i was much more accurate. and the .45 seemed to be too crazy for me (maybe cause i need to practice?)

well when talking to officers about liking the 9 better, they asked me this question "when you are trying to defend yourself, would you rather throw one big rock and have them go down faster, or have to throw a bunch of little pebbles and them still be movable?"

so im thinking i want a .40... but i know nothing of what brand is best, and so forth.

theres a place here in town that has pretty much every gun for rent and you can test them on their range. im pretty sure i will be doing that. but i dont want to go and pay to fire 50 guns. gets pricey haha.

so i was hoping you all will help me narrow it down. i would like something smooth with a
good grip (i have small hands... :So Gay:..... ) with minimal recoil. thanks a ton.

 

[Opi]

im on the other end of the caliber arguing nonsense. when those guys argue about it, all i think is ok seriously, if you were shot in the head with a .22, a .9mm a .40 and a .45 which would you laugh at?.... does it really matter? haha. i bought my g/f a ruger lcp which is the 6 shot .380. neat little gun you said you have small hands maybe check one out? if youre that worried about how much oomph the thing has buy a desert eagle .50 and call it a day.

 

[Jake17]

The sig sauer P229 is by far the best hand gun i have ever owned. It is close to compact size and can be chambered in .40. It is amazingly reliable and terribly fun to shoot. I have had mine for 2 years now and put about 2500 rounds through it flawlessly. Highly recommended for sure.. hope that helps.

oh and you definitely want to get a .40 not a 9mm.

 

[Mellow77]

I would say if it's truly going to be a CCW gun then let the overall gun package size be the major factor in determining which platform you invest in. If you can wear it comfortably and keep it concealed without it being awkward or requiring a special wardrobe then that should be a major factor.

I personally would not want something smaller than a .40 but I also have big hands and no problem concealing a .40 or .45 but prefer the .40 as a carry gun.

 

[Opi]

I never leave the house without this, wouldn't want something smaller.

 

[downpour11]

you know we don't need ccw's anymore in AZ right?....

 

[Trevloc]

you know we don't need ccw's anymore in AZ right?....

haha indeed i do. but i plan to get one in NV, or where ever i decide to move to get away from this hell hole. when are we grabbing a beer?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Kimber Pro Carry 1911?

 

[Supra725]

I was in your same shoes a few years ago..

I was like, which gun should I purchase? I shot CZ's, Glock's, Xd's, 1911's , M&P's, Sig's and others..

out of all of them, I went with a p226 9mm. why not a .40 or .45? cause, is not always about the biggest bullet.. if you have a .45 but can't hit anything with it, what's the point of buying it? I seen guys at the range with the big s&w 500 but he can't hit anything at all.. I cruised through other forums and there is always the caliber debate.. some say this is better but some don't. Shot placement is where it matters..

My opinion, go out and try different guns and see which fits your hand better. get something you are comfortable and will be able to control. Have you practice with your 12 gauge in case of an emergency?

 

[brian2sun]

If I carried concealed (which I don't), I think I'd go for the S&W M&P .40. A friend of mine has one and I really like shooting it. I've also shot the Springfield XD .40 a few times. Both are very nice and IMO they are very similar, but I was more accurate with the M&P. I prefer .40 over 9 but I don't think it matters very much with those 2 sizes.

Since I don't carry concealed though, I'll take my Yankee fist over either one in a heartbeat..
(US Navy Colt 1911 - manuf. in 1912, rebuilt and converted to a 1911/A1 in 1944 for WWII). This gun was carried in 2 world wars, and then another 40 years by a bail bondsman before his son sold it to me a few years ago. It came with the handcuffs he was issued in WWII (as an MP officer) and the wooden case he made that still has his drawings from the 1940s glued inside of it. Sorry for getting off topic, but I thought maybe some of you are interested in this stuff like me..

It's actually one of the most accurate 1911s I've shot too. Even after 99 years! Colt FTW!

 

[Thai]

For me, i like 9mm. Cheap ammo so that i can practice often without having a big hole in my wallet. If you choose the right type of ammo, then a 9mm should be strong enough to stop the attacker. And as you found out, a 9mm kicks less and thus allows you to be more accurate.

I use Winchester 9mm ammo from Walmart for practice. For CC, i use Gold Dot +P.

With a 45, the problem is that most small guns in 45 caliber is almost uncontrollable due to massive recoil and lack of real estate for you to grip the gun well.

40 is probably the best overall...but have you check the prices on ammo? It ain't cheap! For me, the more i practice, the more accurate and proficient i become with my CC handgun. The cheaper ammo allows me to do this.

Personally, for CC, i would stay away from 1911 design. And i am also against having a safety on a gun. Instead, i prefer either a DAO (double action only) or DA/SA (double action/single action) trigger...for safety reasons. In a panic situation, i do not want a light trigger (aka accidental discharge) nor do i want to mess around with remembering to turn off the safety! (Glock trigger is too light for CC in my opinion.) Double action trigger allows you to be safe...you have to want to fire for it to fire.

My conceal carry at this time is a Sig P239 9mm. Flawless, but it is on the big side for CC. This is why i recently invested in the Sig P290. Of course, as noted in the previous thread, it is now at Sig to fix a failure. From what i hear, once Sig fixes it, it should be flawless. Anyway, once the P290 is up to speed, it will be my CC.

Good luck with your selection.

 

[Trevloc]

Supra: i never even thought of it that way. i dont see myself with a .45 anytime soon. that will take alot of practice. and for the .40, i wasnt very accurate. granted it was my first time firing one, but still. and as for my shotgun... i shoot clays everytime i am out and am usually around the 80 - 90% hit rate. im pretty good with it. and i love it.

Brian: that is awesome. something too good to let go.

thai: that is an exellent point. i see my self target shooting, practicing and so forth more than actually shooting someone for some odd reason... i am definitely starting to consider a 9mm again. and im definitly going to be looking into these sigs.

and steve: good point as well... i guess now i am just going to try and decide on a brand/model. i will probably try out both the 9mm and a .40 just to make sure. but it seems like 9 is the way to go now. hmmmmm.

thanks everyone for the thoughts. but by all means, dont refrain from adding more haha.

 

[Supra725]

Try a glock 19 out , they are fun to shoot. Some of these guns even have conversion kit you can buy aftermarket and shoot .22lr. It will retain the same frame size and you can practice even more.

For me, I run either federal or umc for practice and federal hydra-shok or hst for home defense. What ammo do you have for your 12 gauge?

Another thing to look for when purchasing defense is run at least a box for it to see if it functions.

Good luck on your purchase.

If glock isn't in stock, I would purchase an p229.

 

[jwyshrek]

My opinion, go out and try different guns and see which fits your hand better. get something you are comfortable and will be able to control.

X2...if you can find a gun range that rents guns, that is a good place to start.

Ultimately, you have to decide which gun is best for you for your needs. Also..."a hamburger wrapped in gold is still a hamburger". Don't think that the most expensive gun is going to compensate for the lack of skill and practice. Shot placement, in my opinion, is more important than caliber size. Don't get me wrong, in some instances, size does matter...'knock down' power. But, a shot in the head with a .22 can be more effective than a shot in the stomach with a .45.

Oh, one more thing...once you pick your gun, you'll need to pick your type of ammo...Make sure they like each other. Some guns don't like certain types of ammo...name brand or not. For example, my Kimber hates the Corbons 'flying ashtrays', but is okay with the Federal Hydra shoks. Don't run just a few rounds through it...if possible, run several boxes and make sure it works. Your life may depend on it someday.

 

[Trevloc]

for my 12g i have 3 inch buck shots in the house for the protection (does most damage imo) but when i go out in the desert i usually just use whatever 2.5 or 3 inch standard walmart has for cheap. usually like $12 for 100 shells.

im currently reading up on the glocks and sigs. theres just soooo many designs and models. its hard to understand what the difference is completely without having it in my hand, talking to someone.

there is a store here in town called Diamondback Police Supply, and ive been in there a few times and have TONS of weapons. and they were always willing to answer questions. maybe ill go in there and feel them all out this weekend.

btw, what are your opinions on buying from a pawn shop? my friend purchased a 38cal there a while ago, and its still nice, but it does jam up a little here and there. for my first handgun, i definitely want to go new. but i was just wondering.

 

[Thai]

Remember this article: pistol-training.com » Trust No One: an insider’s perspective
Even with big name guns, nothing is a sure thing. You need to fire the hell out of one before you can carry it.

 

[downpour11]

haha indeed i do. but i plan to get one in NV, or where ever i decide to move to get away from this hell hole. when are we grabbing a beer?

lol dude i told you anytime man - i'm usually at skybox on fridays and saturdays at river and craycroft i'll pm you my number

 

[ant-ny]

Trevloc
a couple of things: what are your reasons for wanting to carry concealed? Some people just want to carry a firearm because they think it is "cool". I am not at all opposed to carrying concealed (I am a police officer/SWAT officer and firearms instructor), but a gun in the hands of anyone who does not have proper training and the ability to make solid, quick decisions can be very problematic. That being said, I believe everyone has the right to adequately protect themselves and loved ones. Going to the range and trying various weapons is a good idea, although could be a little expensive. In the end, you want a weapon that you are comfortable with. As far as caliber, it doesn't matter much to me. I prefer .40, but shot placement is what really matters. I don't know what the laws are in AZ, but please go to a reputable CCW training firm and continue to practice, practice, practice. Shooting is a very perishable skill and even I can tell if I don't get to the range at least twice a month. I am not a gun enthusiast, and I only carry one firearm off duty, a Glock 27. In my opinion, and after seeing many different types of firearms, Glocks are the most dependable and reliable pistols out there. But everyone has their own preference. Please do yourself and everyone else a favor and research the hell out of this before making a decision. And again, I cannot stress the importance of training. Good luck in making your decision and eventual move into law enforcement!

If anyone is looking for a REALLY GOOD concealed carry holster, check out Crossbreed Holsters > Home. I have found no better off-duty/concealed carry holster on the market. (I have no financial interest in this company, but just think they make a great product).

 

[Trevloc]

my reason for wanting to carry is because i travel all around southern az for my job. and sometimes they send me to places that even "thugs" dont want to go to. and i have found my self in situations that i would really prefer to have protection (i dont know spanish either, cant talk my way out of it). i currently carry a taser, but if there is more than one threat...

as for the courses/laws az currently removed the permit law and now anyone can carry without a permit of any kind. but before i purchase a firearm i do plan on taking the 12 hour ccw permit class they have here, just for the benifit of the doubt. couldnt hurt right? when i first purchased my shotgun, i took a 2 hour course on shotguns. i am in no way purchasing a gun to look "cool." i personally would like to live in a place where i dont need firearms... but when you live 1 hour from the border, it feels like its a requirement.

as for practice... shooting is a sport to my friends and i. its an every weekend kind of thing. we shoot as much as possible, all day. camp out, and do it all over again. but it is usually a few .38s, a few shotguns and some 22s and my dads old ww2 308. so the furture carry firearm will have plenty of use.

as for an update. i have really been looking into the glock 19 gen 4 9mm. i have read too many reviews, and watched almost every youtube video on peoples opinions and its starting to grow on me. i am aware of the spring issue, but i am led to believe that has been resolved. i went to 4 local shops, looking to test the grip and so forth. i did try the sig 229, but it was a tad too heavy for my liking in order to carry. the glock was lighter, and i felt i had a better grip on it. i did try out the gen 3 glock 19, but i didnt like the grip. it was too big for my hands to be comfortable. as they made the gen 4 smaller, due to the new backstrap add ons.

what do you all think of the glock 19 gen 4?

 

[Thai]

I don't know too much about glocks...but, just today, my brother and i were talking about today's handguns. Apparently, Oakland PD just recalled all their Gen4 Glocks back in May...maybe for the spring issue?? Whatever the case, i think that Glocks are fine guns. Their trigger is too light for conceal carry IMO, but that is just me. If you like Glocks, then have you tried Glock 26 which is smaller and thus easier to carry. And since there is no Gen4 Glock 26 (Note: i am outdated w/ Glocks), then i would trust G26 over the newer Gen4 Glocks. Otherwise, if you are sure that Gen4 has no other issues, then go for it. Glock customer service have a good reputation...at least when i had my G26 several years ago.