Another Stupid "Which Pistol" question...
- Thread starter grace2u
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stchman
Member
Have you taken a look at the Ruger SR9 or SR40?
They are slim, sexy, and well built.
An SR9 or 40 can be had for ~$400. For the money the SR series is VERY hard to beat.
They are slim, sexy, and well built.
An SR9 or 40 can be had for ~$400. For the money the SR series is VERY hard to beat.
easyg
Member
True, but one good thing about a Glock is that just about anyone can work on them.
They are extremely easy to break down to the very smallest part, and replacement parts are super easy to obtain, and usually not too expensive either.
Some handguns are much more difficult to break down and parts are often hard to find and/or very expensive.
But since the OP doesn't like Glocks, I recommend the next best thing:
The S&W M&P.
Since you need to conceal in slacks and a tucked shirt and on sundays a suit, it would help if you described your body's build. I have a thinner frame and build. If you have the same and for slacks and a tucked in shirt you could go with a pocket 380 or maybe even a CW/PM9 by kahr. The Kahr's are single stack so you shed the bulk of all double stacked competition.
Go handle a CW-9 or a PM-9.
Go handle a CW-9 or a PM-9.
did some thinking about this and, even though you didnt mention it, i would suggest a ruger sp101. in your first post you specified:
you did mention snakes. load your first shot as a .38 special shotshell and your set. the sp101 is on the heavy side compared to some other sidearms but it is still no where near too heavy. its a small .357 that you can actually shoot magnum rounds out of and it wont kill your hands, and .38's are very easy to handle.
if you do want to go with a semi auto, i would go with the xd since that is what you have experience with. i dont have any experience with kahr pistols but have heard very good things about them and eventually plan to get one myself.
all of the guns i mentioned can easily be had for $500 or less, and none of them should let you down!
to fulfill your first two requirements, almost any well made pistol in a major caliber (.380 and up) would be just fine. what gets me is #3; a hunting backup. to me there is no better fit to ALL of these requirements than the sp101 with a 3" barrel. load it up with .38+p or .357mag (your choice) and you are good to go for ccw or home defense. while hunting i would go for the .357 for sure (just IMO).
you did mention snakes. load your first shot as a .38 special shotshell and your set. the sp101 is on the heavy side compared to some other sidearms but it is still no where near too heavy. its a small .357 that you can actually shoot magnum rounds out of and it wont kill your hands, and .38's are very easy to handle.
if you do want to go with a semi auto, i would go with the xd since that is what you have experience with. i dont have any experience with kahr pistols but have heard very good things about them and eventually plan to get one myself.
all of the guns i mentioned can easily be had for $500 or less, and none of them should let you down!
Get a reliable pistol that points naturally for you. The field is expanded by all the pistols that have exchangeable back straps on the grip. Don't worry about how it looks, focus on how it points and how it feels and how it runs.
KodiakBeer
member
If you like 1911's get a 1911. The "unreliability" of 1911's with hollowpoints is mostly a myth. If your 1911 doesn't like a particular hollowpoint, then use another hollowpoint. It boggles my mind that people will spend so much money and effort to make a 1911 feed a hollowpoint with a poor feed profile (usually gold dots) when there are other hollowpoints that feed effortlessly.
Get a 1911. Get some boxes of Federal hydra-shoks. Sleep easy.
greyling22
Member
if you're looking at kahr I'd get the cw over the pm and save 100 bucks. the difference is mostly cosmetic. beyond that, I guess I just don't get the smith M&P guns. the ones I've handles just have the the worst triggers. beyond that it's just another plastic gun. But people seem to love them, so maybe I'm just missing something.
you could get a keltec pf9 for carry and a used smith from J&G for the house for less than 500.
you could get a keltec pf9 for carry and a used smith from J&G for the house for less than 500.
Quoheleth
Member
Grace2u,
First, love the screen name.
Second, as a pastor I'll give you my 2 cents. (I think I may have PMed you with this a few weeks ago, but I dumped my PMs and can't remember for sure. If this is a repeat, please pardon my forgetfulness!)
I have a Rock Island officer-size (their "Compact") 1911. It has been 100% with FMJ, Winchester HPs (PDX), and various cast lead bullet profiles and weights including SWCs. It has never, never misfed, jammed, failed to fire, etc. I trust it completely. Price: ~$450
However, it is very heavy. I don't have a scale but from what I remember fro the specs on-line, it's almost 3 pounds loaded. I don't care how good of a belt you have, and whether IWB or OWB, it weighs and wears on you. I do occassionally carry it on my day off and Saturday. Every now and then I carry it to church (being a pastor is my full-time job) but that's rare.
My EDC is now the Ruger SR9c. Frankly, I love this gun and for me it's spooky accurate. It's thin, 10+1 capacity, and has a very concealable short grip. Small enough to conceal easily, it's big enough to shoot well. I paid just a little bit over $400 slightly used with an extra mag. I saw them at a recent gunshow for $400 new with one mag --- well below your budget even allowing cash for a good holster.
Likewise, it's been 100% with a variety of FMJ, two different HPs, standard and +P velocity stuff, and cast lead. I have stashed it in my pocket for a late-night run to the grocery store, but it's really too big for that. I have two holsters for it - a High Noon Split Decision and a Durham Concealed Technology (similar to a CompTac). Wearing slacks and a variety of shirts, including polo & button down, I have no problem concealing it. I wear the rig just behind my hip so that if someone is facing me head-on, they don't see a bulge on the side of my waist. For hospital visits, I untuck the shirt, disarm (usually holster & gun), and retuck the shirt. Usually I do this in the parking lot and then make a pit stop in the restroom as soon as I enter the hospital to make sure I'm squared away.
On Sundays I frequently use a Tarus 738 for pocket carry, but you're asking about a one-gun set-up. If I were a suit-wearing man, I would go with the Ruger every day, but on Sundays I wear an alb and being able to access the Taurus through the slash pockets of my alb is a comforting thought should the need arise.
Q
First, love the screen name.
Second, as a pastor I'll give you my 2 cents. (I think I may have PMed you with this a few weeks ago, but I dumped my PMs and can't remember for sure. If this is a repeat, please pardon my forgetfulness!)
I have a Rock Island officer-size (their "Compact") 1911. It has been 100% with FMJ, Winchester HPs (PDX), and various cast lead bullet profiles and weights including SWCs. It has never, never misfed, jammed, failed to fire, etc. I trust it completely. Price: ~$450
However, it is very heavy. I don't have a scale but from what I remember fro the specs on-line, it's almost 3 pounds loaded. I don't care how good of a belt you have, and whether IWB or OWB, it weighs and wears on you. I do occassionally carry it on my day off and Saturday. Every now and then I carry it to church (being a pastor is my full-time job) but that's rare.
My EDC is now the Ruger SR9c. Frankly, I love this gun and for me it's spooky accurate. It's thin, 10+1 capacity, and has a very concealable short grip. Small enough to conceal easily, it's big enough to shoot well. I paid just a little bit over $400 slightly used with an extra mag. I saw them at a recent gunshow for $400 new with one mag --- well below your budget even allowing cash for a good holster.
Likewise, it's been 100% with a variety of FMJ, two different HPs, standard and +P velocity stuff, and cast lead. I have stashed it in my pocket for a late-night run to the grocery store, but it's really too big for that. I have two holsters for it - a High Noon Split Decision and a Durham Concealed Technology (similar to a CompTac). Wearing slacks and a variety of shirts, including polo & button down, I have no problem concealing it. I wear the rig just behind my hip so that if someone is facing me head-on, they don't see a bulge on the side of my waist. For hospital visits, I untuck the shirt, disarm (usually holster & gun), and retuck the shirt. Usually I do this in the parking lot and then make a pit stop in the restroom as soon as I enter the hospital to make sure I'm squared away.
On Sundays I frequently use a Tarus 738 for pocket carry, but you're asking about a one-gun set-up. If I were a suit-wearing man, I would go with the Ruger every day, but on Sundays I wear an alb and being able to access the Taurus through the slash pockets of my alb is a comforting thought should the need arise.
Q
10-96
Member
Can a sticky be made that somehow says, "No honest question is a stupid question"?
... well, unless it contains anything about zombies, extratestical aliens, or invading hoards of really angry Aboriginies.
... well, unless it contains anything about zombies, extratestical aliens, or invading hoards of really angry Aboriginies.
I've got a lot of nice guns and I'm a 1911 fan, but if my county would let me, my CCW would be the Taurus PT 111 Millenium Pro (9mm or pt-145 45cal). I too love 1911's and the Millenium Pro (3rd generation) is as close to a 1911 as a plastic gun gets. It's got the same 1911 grip angle, a narrow width, and a 1911 style safety. I can train for my 1911 safety with my pt-111... you should train to ride that safety with your thumb, and that works great with the pt-111. Also the trigger... which was very heavy for the first 1000 rounds has turned into something really special. It has something of a long pull back, which is actually good for CCW, but the final trigger pull is almost like a glass rod and very light for a unmodified weapon. Don't be surprised if you have a hard time with the trigger pull at first, mine smoothed out real nice. It gets my vote for the polymer pistol most like the 1911. Glocks and SD's triggers are just moosh... not that they are bad... but they aren't very 1911.
Mine has been very very reliable, and I don't hesitate to recommend it, but the glock is hard to beat in that dept. Also the finish on the Taurus is normal and susceptible to wear and rust... the glock's tennifer finish is almost rust proof. That said, I much prefer the ergonomics of the pt-111 mil pro (don't buy the non pro model).
Taurus has a lifetime warranty, which is nice, but their customer service isn't that great. I think they will treat you OK in the long run, just don't expect to get your gun back for a few months if you need to use the warranty.
Other than that I'd say the PT-111 Mil Pro is a great underrated CCW.
Mine has been very very reliable, and I don't hesitate to recommend it, but the glock is hard to beat in that dept. Also the finish on the Taurus is normal and susceptible to wear and rust... the glock's tennifer finish is almost rust proof. That said, I much prefer the ergonomics of the pt-111 mil pro (don't buy the non pro model).
Taurus has a lifetime warranty, which is nice, but their customer service isn't that great. I think they will treat you OK in the long run, just don't expect to get your gun back for a few months if you need to use the warranty.
Other than that I'd say the PT-111 Mil Pro is a great underrated CCW.
Last edited:
10-96
Member
... absolutely terrifying little boogers.
TheWorstKind
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- Aug 25, 2010
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I just ordered another handgun, agonizing for almost two months to pick THE PERFECT GUN! 
Maybe some of my thoughts might give you an idea.
Shooting snakes was mentioned. I am not comfortable with a "trail-mix" of ammo (JHP for two-legged predators, FMJ for the four legged kind, and snake shot for snakes) in a semi-automatic, so a revolver would seem to be in order. Revolvers will eat just about anything.
Having said that, after two months of reasoning it out, the gun I picked to supplement my Sig P220 in .45 ACP is another .45 ACP, the Bersa Thunder 45 Ultra Compact.
I like the way 45s shoot. Also, take a look at this video: This is how I want my ammo to look like after being fired! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx7lpdB9Xao And there is no danger of the 45 bullets shrinking.....
My Sig is a DA/SA gun. For me, this is the safest way to carry. So my new gun would have to be DA/SA.
I am not a 1911 fan, so I simply did not want one.
The DA/SA requirement cut out a lot of guns. HK and Sig make compact models that were squarely in the hunt. So was the Bersa. What tipped me to pick the Bersa was its price, $350.00. That leaves enough money left over to also get a J-frame, a 638 snubby (I like the option of SA to make myself feel better when target shooting!)
Maybe some of my thoughts might give you an idea.Shooting snakes was mentioned. I am not comfortable with a "trail-mix" of ammo (JHP for two-legged predators, FMJ for the four legged kind, and snake shot for snakes) in a semi-automatic, so a revolver would seem to be in order. Revolvers will eat just about anything.
Having said that, after two months of reasoning it out, the gun I picked to supplement my Sig P220 in .45 ACP is another .45 ACP, the Bersa Thunder 45 Ultra Compact.
I like the way 45s shoot. Also, take a look at this video: This is how I want my ammo to look like after being fired! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx7lpdB9Xao And there is no danger of the 45 bullets shrinking.....
My Sig is a DA/SA gun. For me, this is the safest way to carry. So my new gun would have to be DA/SA.
I am not a 1911 fan, so I simply did not want one.
The DA/SA requirement cut out a lot of guns. HK and Sig make compact models that were squarely in the hunt. So was the Bersa. What tipped me to pick the Bersa was its price, $350.00. That leaves enough money left over to also get a J-frame, a 638 snubby (I like the option of SA to make myself feel better when target shooting!
)grace2u
Member
After piddling and playing with several guns, I picked up the Sig P250 to begin with. It feels better than the XD's, I like the trigger better than the MP, and I just liked it. I have also decided a small pocket pistol is in my future as well as a .357. Unfortunately for my wife, it appears I have a new hobby.
I forgot to mention that I have also owned Tarus pt745 and 24/7, which were both very good pistols. I've owned alot, but I'm still not as comfortable as with my rifles. I really need to practice more and possibly get in some more classes.
Oh, and the Ruger SR9 looked good, but just felt wrong in my hand.
Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I really appreciate it.
I forgot to mention that I have also owned Tarus pt745 and 24/7, which were both very good pistols. I've owned alot, but I'm still not as comfortable as with my rifles. I really need to practice more and possibly get in some more classes.
Oh, and the Ruger SR9 looked good, but just felt wrong in my hand.
Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I really appreciate it.
DoctorOfLight
Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2010
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- 39
Now get to the range and give us a full report! Welcome to the "hobby".
Welcome to the "hobby".
smallbore
Member
Will you be the only person to access/utilize the firearm when it is in your home? Will your wife and/or possibly one of your children (not sure of their age/level of experience) also have access to it in the event it becomes neccessary to do so? If so, will they be able to operate it?
MikeNice
Member
It is neccesary to own multiple guns. The bare minimum is one small enough for CC and one for home defense. Then you need one so your wife can back you up if there is a break in. If you hunt that is another gun.
Three or four guns are required just to get a good start.
Three or four guns are required just to get a good start.
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