I know this is a comparison between an apple and a zucchini, but I was wondering if people could weigh in. I'm a shotgun owner (shoot trap and skeet) looking for a first handgun. Both of these attracted me because they're both relatively small (I'm a small-framed guy with smaller hands), relatively inexpensive (under $700), have impeccable reputations for reliability, don't use any unusual/expensive ammo sizes, and don't have any complex manual safeties.
Intended uses are practice at the range (lots), taking it with me camping, and home defense. I'm not intending it primarily for concealed carry (I might buy something specialized for that down the line later) but it might do occasional duty as such.
Some questions I had would be:
(1) Which would be easier to clean? The Glock has more moving parts, but the SP101 has more barrels and I've heard .357s can build up lead deposits if you routinely shoot .38 Special out of them.
(2) Price and availability of ammo--which is worse (I'm not sure anything is "better" in this market)...9mm or .38 Special?
(3) Theoretically, if a bear or mountain lion were to take umbrage with something I'd said or done, would 9mm have any effect on them? (I know .357 would).
I don't have any friends who own either (my main firearms-enthusiast friend is a head taller than me and a fan of 1911s, and they're a bit bigger, heavier, more complex, and more expensive than I'm looking for). I'd be interested in arguments in favor of either the Glock 19 or the SP101, from either a specs-based perspective, first-hand-experienced-based, or even plain old subjective bias
Intended uses are practice at the range (lots), taking it with me camping, and home defense. I'm not intending it primarily for concealed carry (I might buy something specialized for that down the line later) but it might do occasional duty as such.
Some questions I had would be:
(1) Which would be easier to clean? The Glock has more moving parts, but the SP101 has more barrels and I've heard .357s can build up lead deposits if you routinely shoot .38 Special out of them.
(2) Price and availability of ammo--which is worse (I'm not sure anything is "better" in this market)...9mm or .38 Special?
(3) Theoretically, if a bear or mountain lion were to take umbrage with something I'd said or done, would 9mm have any effect on them? (I know .357 would).
I don't have any friends who own either (my main firearms-enthusiast friend is a head taller than me and a fan of 1911s, and they're a bit bigger, heavier, more complex, and more expensive than I'm looking for). I'd be interested in arguments in favor of either the Glock 19 or the SP101, from either a specs-based perspective, first-hand-experienced-based, or even plain old subjective bias