I need to purchase a semi-automatic handgun to use for home protection. Since I have just completed my first NRA basic pistol shooting course, I have no expertise in this area. I have found that each salesman in various gun stores all have their opinions but I would like advice from someone not driven by making a sale.
Advice
- Thread starter Marcellyn
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Charles Martel
Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2007
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You will get nearly as many varying opinions on this forum as there are guns.
IMO, I would purchase the 9mm as your first gun. Then go to the range (if one is available) and shoot as many major brands as possible. Find the one that fits you most comfortably and that points most naturally for you. Beyond that you can not go wrong with any of the major manufacturers:
IMO, I would purchase the 9mm as your first gun. Then go to the range (if one is available) and shoot as many major brands as possible. Find the one that fits you most comfortably and that points most naturally for you. Beyond that you can not go wrong with any of the major manufacturers:
Beretta
H&K
Sig Sauer
Browning
Glock
Smith & Wesson
CZ
H&K
Sig Sauer
Browning
Glock
Smith & Wesson
CZ
Definitely try to rent what you can, and familiarize yourself to the many different trigger and safety options.
Once person may like the Beretta DA/SA w/ safety while another prefers the Glock trigger w/ no safety. You'll end up getting a million different answers to this question without some parameters established.
Once person may like the Beretta DA/SA w/ safety while another prefers the Glock trigger w/ no safety. You'll end up getting a million different answers to this question without some parameters established.
possum
Member
welocme to THR and a great question, you came to the right place for a good unbiased opinion. and it is good to see that you have taken a course. good on you bro. i suggest that you go some where where you can try out as many different guns as possible and see which fits you best. and if there is no way to do that, then at least go to a few shops and the get the feel for them in your hand at least.
i suggest the following in addition to the ones stated above! which he pretty much nailed it.
Springfield xd
walther
kimber
taurus
i suggest the following in addition to the ones stated above! which he pretty much nailed it.
Springfield xd
walther
kimber
taurus
mljdeckard
Member
The two posts above are absolutely correct. You are about to be bombarded with opinions.
The guy behind the counter at the gun shop, the editor of G&A or American Handgunner, or your friend who has an uncle who was a cop are not the ones who will be putting their life behind the gun you buy. YOU are.
I have carried many guns, some were flagrant mistakes. I bought a 1st gen S&W Sigma .40 because I was 22 and it was on the cover of all the gun mags, and a local department was issuing them. It turned out to be junk. I carried a Beretta in the army, and while I do think that most of the problems associated with issue Berettas are exaggerated and come from meddling operators, it never fit me. I carried a Glock for several years because I figured 80% of America's police couldn't be wrong. But I could never get used to the gooey trigger. I always loved the feel and function of a 1911, but prevailing conventional wisdom says that SA-only autos are obsolete and can't be trusted. But I switched back because I knew, in my gut, that this was the weapon that fits me best. I don't see myself switching again.
Having said that, whenever someone asks me about a first gun, sight unseen, new or used, to train with from the ground up, I tell them to get a Glock. Whatever you get, get night sights.
The guy behind the counter at the gun shop, the editor of G&A or American Handgunner, or your friend who has an uncle who was a cop are not the ones who will be putting their life behind the gun you buy. YOU are.
I have carried many guns, some were flagrant mistakes. I bought a 1st gen S&W Sigma .40 because I was 22 and it was on the cover of all the gun mags, and a local department was issuing them. It turned out to be junk. I carried a Beretta in the army, and while I do think that most of the problems associated with issue Berettas are exaggerated and come from meddling operators, it never fit me. I carried a Glock for several years because I figured 80% of America's police couldn't be wrong. But I could never get used to the gooey trigger. I always loved the feel and function of a 1911, but prevailing conventional wisdom says that SA-only autos are obsolete and can't be trusted. But I switched back because I knew, in my gut, that this was the weapon that fits me best. I don't see myself switching again.
Having said that, whenever someone asks me about a first gun, sight unseen, new or used, to train with from the ground up, I tell them to get a Glock. Whatever you get, get night sights.
If I were buying .45acp, .40 S&W or 9mm I would take my time about it, sooo many choices 
For myself I would give this one a good look, http://www.fnhusa.com/products/firearms/model.asp?mid=FNM0062&cid=FNC01&fid=FNF020&gid=FNG001
For myself I would give this one a good look, http://www.fnhusa.com/products/firearms/model.asp?mid=FNM0062&cid=FNC01&fid=FNF020&gid=FNG001 
CountGlockula
Member
Welcome! The best thing you can do is search and study out the different types of semi-autos on the net. Berreta, Glock, HK, etc. When you find the one you like, contact your local range that offers gun rentals so you can test it out.
Look for balance, comfort and accuracy. It takes some time getting used to a gun you like. Make sure you make the extra effort to invest in it. Good luck.
I recommend a Glock 9mm: Model 19. It's famous.
Look for balance, comfort and accuracy. It takes some time getting used to a gun you like. Make sure you make the extra effort to invest in it. Good luck.
I recommend a Glock 9mm: Model 19. It's famous.
HorseSoldier
Member
Like other people have suggested, get out and try as many different range rentals as you can to get a feel for what fits your hand best. Some people like Brand XYZ, some hate them (sometimes for the exact same reasons other people like them), etc. At the end of the day, it comes down to what works best for you, feels best in your hand and points most naturally, etc.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's Marcellyn and Welcome To The High Road-
I'm not driven by try'in too make a sale; rather I will tell you what has worked
best for me. In 20+ years as a LEO, I found out early in my career that I had
to "fight fire with fire"-literally; as the gansta types simply were out gunning
us on the streets. With that in mind, I sat out to find the most dependable
or reliable, the most accurate, well crafted double-action (first shot) semi-
auto on the planet earth. I wanted the largest caliber that I could control
and felt comfortable with, so my choices were somewhat limited. I went
out and tried an H&K USP-F .45 ACP, and a West German SIG-SAUER .45
caliber P220A.
Guess which one came home with me? Surperb, out of the box accuracy
of the SIG was NEVER equalled with the H&K. Both firearms shot really
well; but the SIG felt more like an extension of my shooting hand. The
SIG P220A had met all the criteria that I had set forth. So armed with
this weapon, and four extra magazines I hit the streets "to protect and
serve". Over a period of years, this firearm simply became known as my
"BACON SAVER"; due to the number of times it bailed me out of a very
close encounter with a BG~! Hope this is what you are look'in for?
I'm not driven by try'in too make a sale; rather I will tell you what has worked
best for me. In 20+ years as a LEO, I found out early in my career that I had
to "fight fire with fire"-literally; as the gansta types simply were out gunning
us on the streets. With that in mind, I sat out to find the most dependable
or reliable, the most accurate, well crafted double-action (first shot) semi-
auto on the planet earth. I wanted the largest caliber that I could control
and felt comfortable with, so my choices were somewhat limited. I went
out and tried an H&K USP-F .45 ACP, and a West German SIG-SAUER .45
caliber P220A.
Guess which one came home with me? Surperb, out of the box accuracy
of the SIG was NEVER equalled with the H&K. Both firearms shot really
well; but the SIG felt more like an extension of my shooting hand. The
SIG P220A had met all the criteria that I had set forth. So armed with
this weapon, and four extra magazines I hit the streets "to protect and
serve". Over a period of years, this firearm simply became known as my
"BACON SAVER"; due to the number of times it bailed me out of a very
close encounter with a BG~!
Hope this is what you are look'in for?Whatever you get, make sure it fits your hand.
http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/TryOnGun.htm -- info about how to do that.
pax
http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/TryOnGun.htm -- info about how to do that.
pax
Ken Rainey
Member
Welcome to The High Road.....
My suggestion, speaking from my experience as a Police Firearms Instructor, the easiest semi-auto pistol to learn is the Glock. I recommend the 9mm Glocks....try all the different models; 17-full size, 19-mid size, 26 small as each one sits in the hand differently due to the shape of the backstrap. For a less expensive but still excellent firearm (and like Glock, with excellent company support no matter how old it is), check out the Ruger pistols.
A S&W or Ruger revolver in .38 caliber would be an excellent choice as well. You can find very good used ones at good prices - I like the "older" S&Ws the best but any Ruger will work. The grips are easily changed to fit different hand sizes.
Like others have said, make sure it fits your hand. The 9mm and .38 calibers are the most economical to shoot and are as effective as you are accurate!
Good luck and let us know what you find.
Ken
My suggestion, speaking from my experience as a Police Firearms Instructor, the easiest semi-auto pistol to learn is the Glock. I recommend the 9mm Glocks....try all the different models; 17-full size, 19-mid size, 26 small as each one sits in the hand differently due to the shape of the backstrap. For a less expensive but still excellent firearm (and like Glock, with excellent company support no matter how old it is), check out the Ruger pistols.
A S&W or Ruger revolver in .38 caliber would be an excellent choice as well. You can find very good used ones at good prices - I like the "older" S&Ws the best but any Ruger will work. The grips are easily changed to fit different hand sizes.
Like others have said, make sure it fits your hand. The 9mm and .38 calibers are the most economical to shoot and are as effective as you are accurate!
Good luck and let us know what you find.
Ken
Shoney
Member
WELCOME!!
Lots of excellent comments above. As a novice, in a potentially life threatening situation, you need a weapon that you can point, pull the trigger and have it go bang. Only 2 pistols meet this criteria: a double action semi-auto or a double action revolver.
If you choose the double action revolver, then weapon can be fired either by simply pulling the trigger or by manually pulling the hammer back, then pull the trigger. There is no safety to take off in order to fire the weapon.
The double action semi-auto pistol fires much the same as the double action revolver. It can be fired either by simply pulling the trigger or by manually pulling the hammer back, then pull the trigger. The semi-auto will have a safety, which can be used in one of three ways: - safety off; - safety on with hammer down; - safety on with hammer cocked (cocked n' locked). For a novice, the danger with engaging the safety is that in life threatening situations, you will probably not remove the safety in a first attempt to fire; moreover, you will pull on the trigger harder and harder, then look at the pistol and then maybe remember to remove the safety (could be deadly to you). The mind does strange things under duress.
Unless you practice, practice, practice taking the safety off each time the pistol comes into shooting position, and I mean practice enough that it becomes auto-ingrained in your body, you are better served to keep the safety off.
As has been suggested above, try shooting as many weapons as possible before buying. What feels good may not shoot well, and vice versa. My 5’2” petite daughter, with small hands, prefers a full size 45ACP, but threatens to take my compact 40 home with her every time she visits.
Lots of excellent comments above. As a novice, in a potentially life threatening situation, you need a weapon that you can point, pull the trigger and have it go bang. Only 2 pistols meet this criteria: a double action semi-auto or a double action revolver.
If you choose the double action revolver, then weapon can be fired either by simply pulling the trigger or by manually pulling the hammer back, then pull the trigger. There is no safety to take off in order to fire the weapon.
The double action semi-auto pistol fires much the same as the double action revolver. It can be fired either by simply pulling the trigger or by manually pulling the hammer back, then pull the trigger. The semi-auto will have a safety, which can be used in one of three ways: - safety off; - safety on with hammer down; - safety on with hammer cocked (cocked n' locked). For a novice, the danger with engaging the safety is that in life threatening situations, you will probably not remove the safety in a first attempt to fire; moreover, you will pull on the trigger harder and harder, then look at the pistol and then maybe remember to remove the safety (could be deadly to you). The mind does strange things under duress.
Unless you practice, practice, practice taking the safety off each time the pistol comes into shooting position, and I mean practice enough that it becomes auto-ingrained in your body, you are better served to keep the safety off.
As has been suggested above, try shooting as many weapons as possible before buying. What feels good may not shoot well, and vice versa. My 5’2” petite daughter, with small hands, prefers a full size 45ACP, but threatens to take my compact 40 home with her every time she visits.
As a first gun, my strong recommendation would be a good double action revolver in .357 magnum with a 4" barrel. S&W, Ruger, or Taurus (ranked most to least expensive depending on your budget).
It's versatile as you can shoot anything from mild .38 special target loads up to beastly, heavy bullet hunting loads in .357 magnum. It's easy to learn to shoot well, reliable and requires no thinking - pull the trigger and it goes bang. Sure it does not have the capacity in rounds of many semi-autos, but if you can't handle whatever with 6 shots of .357 magnum, you need more than a handgun anyhow. Also some 7 and even 8 shot versions are available.
It's versatile as you can shoot anything from mild .38 special target loads up to beastly, heavy bullet hunting loads in .357 magnum. It's easy to learn to shoot well, reliable and requires no thinking - pull the trigger and it goes bang. Sure it does not have the capacity in rounds of many semi-autos, but if you can't handle whatever with 6 shots of .357 magnum, you need more than a handgun anyhow. Also some 7 and even 8 shot versions are available.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I think in all honesty, jibjab friends reported problem with his SIG
P220 is a RARE occurrence and a exception too the rule; rather than an
everyday problem. My West German SIG-SAUER P220A has well over a
documented 30,000 rounds and still runs like a champ~! Also, only some
minor holster wear is visible; and its just a standard blued model. It has
served me well, both as a duty weapon and a every day CCW piece.
P220 is a RARE occurrence and a exception too the rule; rather than an
everyday problem. My West German SIG-SAUER P220A has well over a
documented 30,000 rounds and still runs like a champ~! Also, only some
minor holster wear is visible; and its just a standard blued model. It has
served me well, both as a duty weapon and a every day CCW piece.
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