Help me choose a gun, please!!

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ndw

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I'm looking to buy my first handgun and would like some of your opinions.

I'll be using it for concealed carry. I'm interested in a semi-auto that's around $400. Nothing fancy, just something reliable, accurate, concealable, fairly light, and quality.


Handguns i've shot before and my opinions on them:
- Glock 19 - gun felt ok but i hated the trigger. definitely dont want that kind of trigger.
- Kimber Custom II .45 - felt great. loved the feel and weight, but definitely too big and heavy to carry. but will most likely buy one in the future.
- Keltec - too small for my hands, felt weird and awkward in my hand, wouldnt feel comfortable relying on it, wasnt too accurate.
- XD45 - felt great, didnt like as much as the Kimber, also seemed too big for carrying (i'm not very big - 5'9", 165lbs)


Where do you recommend buying a handgun? Is a gun show a good place? My friend bought his revolver at one and got a great deal, but i'm curious as to if that's a good place to get one?

Any advice, pics, links would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
If you're thinking of a polymer pistol, Bud's Gun Shop (www.budsgunshop.com) has the Smith & Wesson M&P Compacts on sale for $399. It has interchangeable backstraps so you can fit the gun to your hand. They've gotten a lot of positive reviews on all of the forums that I frequent (about 7). In fact, I ordered one last night myself. Smith & Wesson is running a promotion where you can get 2 free magazines with the purchase of an M&P pistol. There's also a free range bag promotion as well. That's roughly $100 worth of free stuff.
 
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Taurus PT145 Millenium Pro ( latest version). You can get them for probably $350 depending where you live and that will leave you money for some Golden Sabres and a nice Don Hume holster. There you go, your $400 is spent.
 
Don't write off the glock too quickly. The great thing about glock is that they too are customizable, and it's much cheaper/easier to do than some other types of handguns. For instance, if your biggest beef with the 19 was the trigger (which probably is the soft travel until you get to the striker release), one can replace the trigger bar with a 3.5 lb. conector and install a NY1 trigger spring (which is an 8 lb. spring). This will roughly keep the trigger weight to the stock setting of 4.5 to 5.5 lbs and also even out the pull so it's closer to the same poundage throughout the travel. The greatest thing about this mod is that a decently instructed novice can do this themselves saving the cost of the gunsmith. The NY1 spring costs 5.00 and the 3.5 lb conector costs $25.00. Prices stated here are found at glockmeister.com
 
Forget the glock by the time you buy one, customize (read void warranty) it and learn how to handle the oddball trigger you will be spending twice what you want to spend. +1 on the Taurus PT145. Inexpensive, Reliable, Small, Lightweight and a decent trigger with eleven rounds of .45acp in a grip nearly as small as most 9 millimeters.
 
If you're budget is $400 out-the-door, I'd +1 the recommendation of Taurus. I owned a .45 cal 24/7 for a while, found it reliable but did not care for the DAO trigger -- get the Pro versions for a DA/SA trigger and you should have a good performer for under $400.

If you're looking at around $400 before taxes or FFL transfer fees, look at the CZ-75 Compact and its offshoots (PCR and P-01). Bud's Gun Shop has them for anywhere from $415 or so to $450. You can probably find them in your local area for something similar if FFL transfers are not the route you want to go.
 
Forget the glock by the time you buy one, customize (read void warranty)
Click to expand...
um... actually the parts that I listed are ALL glock stock parts. (read not voided warranty). How does spending thirty dollars double the price....not getting the math here i guess. Glocks are not for everyone, but that also means that they are for some people. If you don't like it don't buy it. I was just trying to provide usefull info on the things that can easily be done.
 
i appreciate the responses.
the glock trigger is just far too awkward for me. i doubt i will ever buy one. i hated the 2 trigger thing (forgive my lack of terminology). it just made me shoot inaccurately, i lost confidence and just isnt for me.

that being said, i'm really looking for a trigger similar to the Kimber's. i LOVE the 1911 feel.

and $400 is just a number, might spend less, might spend more, but i definitely don't have $800+ right now to get one of the compact Kimbers that i'm lusting over.
 
I'd say glock, but I if you hate them that much (but strangly enough you liked the XD) I'd say get a short 1911. Springfield sells a 3" 1911 for pretty cheap.
 
I'll second the recommendation for the Smith & Wesson M&P. You can buy one without an internal lock and without a magazine drop safety. If you prefer Smith & Wesson sells M&Ps with internal lock and drop safeties.

I own the M&P Compact .40 and it's quite concealable on my frame. I'm more thin than you are at around 145 lbs.

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I'd recomend a Kimber 4" with Al frame as that would solve all your problems, but then their's $.

You ruled out the Glock.

I'll rule out the Hi Power for $ reasons...

I'd go Some type of CZ (75 or P-01)
The 75B variant you can carry cocked and locked like a 1911 (and it should be around $350.)

I buy from: Gun stores, gun shows, individuals, and the internet. Just know what you are looking for/at... and what you should pay and you'll be fine.

DO NOT buy a 1911 with a less than 4" barrel. It is not designed for that and it is PROBABLE you will experence reliability issues.
 
If you decide that you're interested in a S&W M&P (one of the suggestions above by Scorpiusdeus), I just bought the 9mm flavor at BudsGunShop.com. I was basically pressured (ok, it wasn't that hard) to buy it as the result of a thread I started trying to choose between it and the Springfield XD.

Bud's has them for $399 (which is great) + $25 shipping to your FFL. Of course your FFL is going to stick you with another $20 or so (shop around). The .40 S&W and 9mm versions are available in both full-size and compact for that price.

Right now, S&W is offering 2 free mags (in addition to the 2 that come with it) and a free range bag. If you can't find the thread with the link on the range bag, send me a PM and I'll track it down for you. The free mag offer is prominent on S&W's site.

I've read mostly positive things about the M&P and with all of the incentives, I just couldn't pass it up!

I don't have it in hand yet, so I can't speak to the quality or performance but from what I've read, their customer service is top notch if there is a problem.
 
Kahr K40, by no means a range gun but great for SD. Or the 9mm or the 45 all about the same size as a Walther PPK
 
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