Best First Handgun

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So this is why I really appreciate the help but don't go around spreading this story. I told you guys only because you are all a big help.
 
Soldier0117

Welcome to THR! First off, do not let anyone talk you out of a semi-auto as a first handgun. They are easy to learn and provide a lot of mag capacity. I own .45's, 40's and 9mm's. There is nothing wrong with a 9mm for defensive use. With the correct ammo, it is very deadly and you can get shots on target very quickly. With all that said. I have owned a number of semi-auto's and nothing out there beats the MP right now. I own a SW-MP .40 and 9mm. As soon as they change the mag capacity on their .45, I will own that one too. The MP is the most ergonomically balanced gun I have ever shot. Excellent accuracy and the least recoil of all the polymer guns I have ever shot. I put the Hogue slip on grips on mine and I can shoot a flea out of mid air at 100 feet:eek: [OK that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point;)] Hell, the MP is also the easiest to take down and clean too. I still own Two Springfield XD's [Great Guns] Two Taurus 24/7's [The .45 Taurus is really a Nice Gun] A couple of Ruger's and one Glock, that was a gift. I would trade ANY of them for an MP, thats how much I like the MP.:D I hope you find what your looking for.:) The Best Ammo for self defense in a 9mm is the Winchester Ranger T 124gr +P or the Federal HST 124gr +P. You can order this ammo on line at a great price from from MAH supplies.--

http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/storefront.pl?ref=hotpig27&pg=26854

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank

http://www.gunblast.com/SW_MP9.htm

http://www.gunblast.com/SW_MP.htm
 
Hey guys I want to throw one more in here. What about the Baby Eagle 9. The Best Nines website said it was excellent.
 
my advice is to any new shooter is to find a gun that is easy to disassemble and reassemble, and requires minimum maintainence. also, reliability is key. that said, i'd recommend:

1. a S&W sigma. it was my first gun, and is still my primary.
2. any glock. they're #1 for a reason.
3. a revolver. they are a cinch to take care of, and they as reliable as the person holding.

i'd avoid 1911's, beretta 92s, and other high end guns. good luck.
 
MP is the One!

Give credit to the Gentleman [DWARREN123] that recommended the CZ, they are Totally reliable guns and I will probably get myself one someday.[My favorite is the CZ 75 SP-01] The Baby Eagle has a reputation for a less then desirable finish. The SW-MP would be number one on that Best nines list if it had been around longer. It is extremely reliable! I still recommend the MP over the CZ because of its simplicity and the ergonomics are the BEST:) Take Care Buddy!

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank
 
I am leaning toward the M&P alot. I just wish it had a manuel safety but an internal lock would be ok if the key was always near.
 
Do not worry.

Once you get around semi-auto's you will learn the best safety is in your head. Some of my guns have external safeties and I never use them. Keep your gun fastened in a nylon holster, even when it is on your night stand fully loaded with one in the chamber. Then you know once you get it out of the holster it is ready the moment you pull the trigger. You will practice not to put your finger inside the trigger guard, until you are putting your sight on a target [practice or a real bad guy] God gave us the best safety possible-our brain.:) I recommend nylon holsters because they will never cause a gun to rust. It is rare, but a gun can rust in a leather holster, because they retain moisture. Take Care!:)

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank
 
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Soldier,

The Baby Eagles are nice, but I don't like the safety/decocker/whatever mounted up on the slide. Frame mounted controls seem easier to manipulate to me. Having said that, I'd look at a true CZ, or an EAA Witness, if you like that style of pistol. If money is an object, you can find used Sig Sauer P225 (P6) pistols on the internet for around $300. They're not high capacity, but they'll fit anyone's hand, and are first rate weapons.

http://www.militarygunsupply.com/shop2/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_19&products_id=141

If you have limited experience with shooting handguns, I still say to go hold as many styles as possible, and see what works best for you .
 
This is what I use / carry most of the time. trigger pull is terrible but in a way thats what makes it safe to carry . I have never in hundreds of rounds had a misfire or failure to load or eject. I have better bigger pistols , but this fits in my pocket so well and runs so good its my main defense weapon.

Pic wont come up. oh well its a Kel-Tec P-11 9mm
 
I would go with the beretta. I have a glock 17, and the beretta is a better gun hands down. it is very simple to operate and clean. It also has a safty switch unlike te glock. XDs are better than glocks, but i am not a big fan of poly framed guns.
 
Soldier... my best wishes to you in your trying situation. You seem to have your head on your shoulders, so I'd like to offer a little bit of advice.

Handguns are relatively simple, but learning to use them is actually very challenging and complex. Being relatively new to handguns, I was really surprised at just how much there is to know and master. That's one reason why you should really just get a shotgun (see tip #5). You are in a disturbingly dangerous situation, and that is why you and your dad should PLEASE take a introductory AND a tactical handgun course with a good instructor. I may have skipped this, but I don't seriously expect to ever have to use a gun for self defense (knock on wood). I don't ever want to shoot anybody, and it sounds like you don't either... good start.

That said, there is a lot of info you can glean from these boards, maybe other THR folks will give you some good links.

First, Jeff Coopers Four Rules of Gun Safety!
1. All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. (For those who insist that this particular gun is unloaded, see Rule 1.)
3. Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. This is the Golden Rule. Its violation is directly responsible for about 60 percent of inadvertent discharges.
4. Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you have not positively identified.

Let me just say that I am no expert and my advice is well informed but lacking experience... that said here are my tips:

1. Practice... A LOT. Shoot 50 rounds a week if you can. Take slow careful shots and make that 50 rounds as educational as possible. While you're practicing, try different types of ammo. Some ammo doesn't feed well in some guns... especially Hollow Points. That means your gun could JAM in the heat of battle. Don't just buy a box of hollow points to keep at home without trying at least 100 at the range.

2. Be aware of penetration! Even 9mm bullets can go through lots of walls and hurt your family or neighbors. In fact, a Hollow Point 9mm bullet shot out of a handgun can penetrate 8 Pieces of drywall. That's no joke. It's also very possible that the bullet can pass through an attacker and zing into your neighbors house. Another reason to seriously consider pepper spray. Please look at www.theboxotruth.com to learn about penetration.

3. Learn the Law about home defense with a firearm in your area. Find out exactly when lethal force is acceptable. Even if you shoot him in the knee cap, its still lethal force. Also, be aware that if you do have to use your gun for self defense, the police are probably going to confiscate it as evidence for a very long time... so you don't necessarily need the most expensive gun around.

4. Learn some basic first aid and get a good kit together. If someone does get hurt, you may only have seconds or minutes to respond. Do you know how to slow down massive bleeding or treat shock? This is a good thing to know about anyways, even if you never hear from your terrible family member again.

5. Consider getting a shotgun with 00 Buck Shot (NOT BIRD SHOT!) Handguns are less than ideal for home defense. They are more useful for concealing or for fighting your way to your long gun.

6. Study the layout of your house and figure out what the most defensible position is and where the safest backdrops to shoot at are (god forbid). If said attacker does invade your house, the best thing to do is probably hole up in the safest room with your gun pointed at the locked door while your cell phone is dialing the police. You DO have a cell phone, right?

7. Like another poster said, get a big dog! Also, you could get an alarm system.

As for other tips, I think they should be specific to your tactical situation. What kind of neighborhood are you living in? Is it urban, suburban, rural? How far are you from your neighbors? What is your house constructed of?
How long does it take for the cops to arrive? What kind of pepper spray do you have? Can you set up this GPS tracker thingy to set off an alarm if he gets close?

Thats it for now....
 
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