As the subject implies, I will be 21 soon (in a month) and for a while I have been thinking about taking a CCW class with my dad, and also thinking about picking up a new pistol or revolver for carry.
At first I thought about a Ruger SP-101. Now I like revolvers. My favorite gun out of my 12 piece collection is a Ruger Single-Six, and I hope to own a GP-100 one day. But after thinking long about it, I decided that I would be more comfortable with something more than five rounds. And I don't like S&W nor Taurus, so a snubby is out.
So I thought about an automatic, but I don't have alot of experience with them because I haven't been paying attention to the industry lately. But here are the three initial ideas I have:
1) Compact Glock .45 (G30 or G36)
Pros: Super reliable and I like the safety system alot.
Cons: Unfortunately may be out of my price range. I'm a college student and I really don't want to spend more than $450, and all the Glocks around here are around $550-600. A Glock, unless I can't find it used, is out of the question therefore.
2) Ruger P345
Pros: I'm a big fan of Ruger. I have three Ruger pistols and they're all great. I have a P95 and it's the only automatic pistol I own that has never failed once. It's apparently very slim.
Cons: Is it too long for carry? I don't know, what do you think?
3) Springfield XD
Pros: I no next to nothing about these pistols.
Cons: I know next to nothing about these pistols. I've never even priced them because up until now I haven't thought about them at all. Edit: I forgot to mention, I have owned a Springfield pistol before (A GI 1911) which I did not like, as it was surprisingly unreliable.
So, if you can provide me with any opinion on either the P345 or XD, that would be great. Also, if you can think of any good, concealable pistols for around $400-450, that would help too.
At first I thought about a Ruger SP-101. Now I like revolvers. My favorite gun out of my 12 piece collection is a Ruger Single-Six, and I hope to own a GP-100 one day. But after thinking long about it, I decided that I would be more comfortable with something more than five rounds. And I don't like S&W nor Taurus, so a snubby is out.
So I thought about an automatic, but I don't have alot of experience with them because I haven't been paying attention to the industry lately. But here are the three initial ideas I have:
1) Compact Glock .45 (G30 or G36)
Pros: Super reliable and I like the safety system alot.
Cons: Unfortunately may be out of my price range. I'm a college student and I really don't want to spend more than $450, and all the Glocks around here are around $550-600. A Glock, unless I can't find it used, is out of the question therefore.
2) Ruger P345
Pros: I'm a big fan of Ruger. I have three Ruger pistols and they're all great. I have a P95 and it's the only automatic pistol I own that has never failed once. It's apparently very slim.
Cons: Is it too long for carry? I don't know, what do you think?
3) Springfield XD
Pros: I no next to nothing about these pistols.
Cons: I know next to nothing about these pistols. I've never even priced them because up until now I haven't thought about them at all. Edit: I forgot to mention, I have owned a Springfield pistol before (A GI 1911) which I did not like, as it was surprisingly unreliable.
So, if you can provide me with any opinion on either the P345 or XD, that would be great. Also, if you can think of any good, concealable pistols for around $400-450, that would help too.