Homicide close to house - Need concealed carry.
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There are a lot of things to consider
when buying a handgun for carry. I will list a few of these in order of importance, at least to me.
1) Reliability-Your first choice was a Glock, so you are on the right track.
2) Size-small guns are easy to carry, but hard to shoot well. Large guns are hard to conceal but generally are easier to shoot well.
3) How do you dress-This may sound odd but has a lot of bearing on how you carry and therefore what size gun you can carry. If you are a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy who can wear a cover shirt un-tucked you can carry just about anything in either inside the waist band,AKA IWB, or outside the Waist band, OWB. If you wear a suit jacket all day then the same applies. If you work in an office and wear a shirt and tie but no jacket, you may be restricted to one of the smaller guns such as the LCP.
4) Holster choice- This is where a lot of people make a big mistake. They pick out an appropriate sized gun that is reliable and they get a cheap holster. Cheap holsters don't distribute the weight very well and make carrying uncomfortable. Often, they quickly decide that carrying is too much of a Pain in the buttocks, and quit. Do your research and get a good one the first time. It may not work out the first time but keep on trying till you find the right kind combination of gun /holster. Remember Good leather and good guns command good resale prices so, even if you change your mind, you can get a lot of your money back.
5) Belt-A good belt will go a long way to distributing the weight of a gun properly so you can carry comfortably.
6) Training and practice- I put these together because good training and good practice go well together but some can't find or afford good training while others can't dedicate a lot of time or money to practice. I believe that a lot of practice including dry fire and drawing your weapon from concealment can make you proficient in shooting and weapons handling. It will not train you to be a gunfighter.
7) Caliber-notice that this is far from the top of the list but I am still a bigger is better kind of guy. A 380 is better than nothing, a 9mm is better than a 380, a 40 is better than a 9mm and the 45 reigns supreme. Actually, I don't think there is anything wrong with a 9mm and I think that the Glock 23 in 40 S&W might possibly be the perfect combination of size, capacity and power. Still, I carry a commander sized 1911 all day for a few reasons but the biggest is that I have a great holster for it, a Milt Sparks VMII and I don't have one for the Glock yet.
Let me finish by saying this, I am only two inches taller than you and a little on the heavy side. I carry a Kimber Eclipse Pro in a Milt Sparks VMII all day every day for 8-12 hours. I wear an untucked shirt, open in the front, over another shirt even in the summer with shirts. The IWB holster helps break up the outline of the gun and no one knows I am carrying till I want them to. I won't tell you which gun to buy but if you decide on the glock look hard at the 19/23. I firmly believe that if you can conceal a 26/27 you can conceall a 19/23.
when buying a handgun for carry. I will list a few of these in order of importance, at least to me.
1) Reliability-Your first choice was a Glock, so you are on the right track.
2) Size-small guns are easy to carry, but hard to shoot well. Large guns are hard to conceal but generally are easier to shoot well.
3) How do you dress-This may sound odd but has a lot of bearing on how you carry and therefore what size gun you can carry. If you are a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy who can wear a cover shirt un-tucked you can carry just about anything in either inside the waist band,AKA IWB, or outside the Waist band, OWB. If you wear a suit jacket all day then the same applies. If you work in an office and wear a shirt and tie but no jacket, you may be restricted to one of the smaller guns such as the LCP.
4) Holster choice- This is where a lot of people make a big mistake. They pick out an appropriate sized gun that is reliable and they get a cheap holster. Cheap holsters don't distribute the weight very well and make carrying uncomfortable. Often, they quickly decide that carrying is too much of a Pain in the buttocks, and quit. Do your research and get a good one the first time. It may not work out the first time but keep on trying till you find the right kind combination of gun /holster. Remember Good leather and good guns command good resale prices so, even if you change your mind, you can get a lot of your money back.
5) Belt-A good belt will go a long way to distributing the weight of a gun properly so you can carry comfortably.
6) Training and practice- I put these together because good training and good practice go well together but some can't find or afford good training while others can't dedicate a lot of time or money to practice. I believe that a lot of practice including dry fire and drawing your weapon from concealment can make you proficient in shooting and weapons handling. It will not train you to be a gunfighter.
7) Caliber-notice that this is far from the top of the list but I am still a bigger is better kind of guy. A 380 is better than nothing, a 9mm is better than a 380, a 40 is better than a 9mm and the 45 reigns supreme. Actually, I don't think there is anything wrong with a 9mm and I think that the Glock 23 in 40 S&W might possibly be the perfect combination of size, capacity and power. Still, I carry a commander sized 1911 all day for a few reasons but the biggest is that I have a great holster for it, a Milt Sparks VMII and I don't have one for the Glock yet.
Let me finish by saying this, I am only two inches taller than you and a little on the heavy side. I carry a Kimber Eclipse Pro in a Milt Sparks VMII all day every day for 8-12 hours. I wear an untucked shirt, open in the front, over another shirt even in the summer with shirts. The IWB holster helps break up the outline of the gun and no one knows I am carrying till I want them to. I won't tell you which gun to buy but if you decide on the glock look hard at the 19/23. I firmly believe that if you can conceal a 26/27 you can conceall a 19/23.
peacemaker45
Member
My basic advice for newbies: forget about trying to find the perfect gun, the one that speaks to you, for a while. Until you've got a good foundation under you, you're just not going to be making informed decisions, no matter how much you read about it.
So, since you aren't looking for the holy grail anymore, your life just got a lot easier. Go to the gun store and get yourself a Glock 19. That's a little smaller than the full sized 17, but still big enough to be easy to shoot. They're cheap, common, light, and can be reasonably expected to run out of the box. Get a few extra mags, a belt, a good holster, and about a thousand rounds of ammo. With your local range's resident instructor, put about 250 rounds through it, making sure it runs, and that you've at least got a general idea of the fundamentals.
Now go take a real class with it, a la Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, Louis Awerbuck or the like. Learn to fight with it.
Then carry it for six months or so. By this time, you'll have a much better idea of what you want in a gun for the long haul. The G19 might do it for you, or you might have a list of complaints. Either way, you'll be ready to start splitting hairs to find the perfect one.
So, since you aren't looking for the holy grail anymore, your life just got a lot easier. Go to the gun store and get yourself a Glock 19. That's a little smaller than the full sized 17, but still big enough to be easy to shoot. They're cheap, common, light, and can be reasonably expected to run out of the box. Get a few extra mags, a belt, a good holster, and about a thousand rounds of ammo. With your local range's resident instructor, put about 250 rounds through it, making sure it runs, and that you've at least got a general idea of the fundamentals.
Now go take a real class with it, a la Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, Louis Awerbuck or the like. Learn to fight with it.
Then carry it for six months or so. By this time, you'll have a much better idea of what you want in a gun for the long haul. The G19 might do it for you, or you might have a list of complaints. Either way, you'll be ready to start splitting hairs to find the perfect one.
chris in va
Member
What? A little humor?
If the victim was armed the outcome would most likely be the same.
Buy something small in biggest caliber you can handle well. Large stuff is next to worthless because it limits choice of carry mode.
guyfromohio
Member
Look at the Walther PPS....very slim and light.
carbuncle
Member
I would add to the chorus encouraging checking out several guns at a range, and suggest the list should include the Walther PPS and PPQ, Smith & Wesson Shield and M&P Compact, Ruger LC9, and Glock 26 and 19. All are 9mm guns, and I suggest exploring both the compact and subcompact models as everyone is different in the perceived value proposition for carry guns: I love the PPS for it's thin frame, which is an issue for me based on my body type, but many swear by the Glock 19 and find it no problem to carry and conceal. Ultimately, choose the gun you will want to carry and enjoy practicing with.
I'm always curious when a newbie posts a thread like this and gets eleventy-zillion different recommendations. What does he know when the thread finally peters out that he didn't know before he started the thread?
Best advice I could give to any newbie seeking advice on a forum like this: Don't take advice from a guy who uses 1000 words to say what could be said in 100!
Having said those pearls of wisdom, I'd just add that I carry a G26 daily and bought one for my daughter and one of my sons. If I thought we'd be better served with something else, I'd buy something else.
Best advice I could give to any newbie seeking advice on a forum like this: Don't take advice from a guy who uses 1000 words to say what could be said in 100!
Having said those pearls of wisdom, I'd just add that I carry a G26 daily and bought one for my daughter and one of my sons. If I thought we'd be better served with something else, I'd buy something else.
sauer1911
Member
It is my humble opinion that if you have a gun for self defense/home protection, you should spend ALOT of time learning to use it.
I go to IDPA matches as often as I can. This is the closest to actual real life shooting situations you can get. They are well organized, well run, and very safe.
If you keep a gun, you must get as good and as safe as you possibly can be. I hope to god you never have to use it, but if you do, be as good as you can be.
be safe.
I go to IDPA matches as often as I can. This is the closest to actual real life shooting situations you can get. They are well organized, well run, and very safe.
If you keep a gun, you must get as good and as safe as you possibly can be. I hope to god you never have to use it, but if you do, be as good as you can be.
be safe.
Deaf Smith
Member
What ever you get.. get it now and get that CCW.
And then get some training and lots of practice. I mean lots!
Deaf
peacemaker45
Member
Best advice I could give to any newbie seeking advice on a forum like this: Don't take advice from a guy who uses 1000 words to say what could be said in 100!
.
Hey! I resemble that remark!
Hometeached1
Member
The SIG 239 is a very good pistol for someone with smaller hands.
easyg
Member
Here's my 2 cent's worth...
Finding the right weapon for you is going to take both time and money.
You're going to buy revolvers and auto-loaders, and you're going to sell or trade revolvers and auto-loaders.
You're going to buy many different holsters, and you're going to sell or trade many different holsters.
You're going to buy all kinds of belts and articles of clothing and accessories, and you're going to sell or trade all kinds of belts and articles of clothing and accessories.
You're going to discover certain "truths", and you're going to learn that certain "truths" are not necessarily so "true".
Enjoy the journey.
But just know that once you start carrying a firearm, you will never be happy not carrying a firearm.
Finding the right weapon for you is going to take both time and money.
You're going to buy revolvers and auto-loaders, and you're going to sell or trade revolvers and auto-loaders.
You're going to buy many different holsters, and you're going to sell or trade many different holsters.
You're going to buy all kinds of belts and articles of clothing and accessories, and you're going to sell or trade all kinds of belts and articles of clothing and accessories.
You're going to discover certain "truths", and you're going to learn that certain "truths" are not necessarily so "true".
Enjoy the journey.
But just know that once you start carrying a firearm, you will never be happy not carrying a firearm.
Torian
Member
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Well, I can tell you what I went with:
A Browning Hi Power is a great medium sized carry gun, with a slim profile that may be more comfortable in your hands if the glock was too thick. They come standard in 9mm, which is a great caliber to start with...manageable recoil..and high capacity. There are many guns to choose from...but for CCW I often come back to the Hi power.
Regarding the fact that you are NEW to the gun owners club: no...you do NOT need to get a revolver just because you are new to the gun world...nor do you need LOTS of training/practice...but some is recommended. You are not looking to be an professional shooter, instructor, or law enforcement professional. A little common sense can go a long way...and I'm sure you've been applying it in various aspects of your life up until now anyways. Here are a couple examples of that common sense:
1. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you intend to fire it
2. Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction at all times
3. Don't point the gun at something unless you intend to shoot it
4. Always treat a gun as if it is loaded
5. If someone hands you a firearm, check / clear it yourself, don't assume they have
Find a friend who is familiar with firearms, and have them take you out to the range for some familiarization. It's not complicated...point..aim...shoot. Some people on the first day of shooting are better than some of us who have been shooting for years...no bad habits! If your CCW process doesn't include it already, get familiar with the laws concerning it...where you can or can't carry, whether your state has the "Castle Doctrine" etc.
Don't forget about a good holster either. The right rig and a comfortable draw can be as important as the weapon itself. Once you pick the gun, we can help you along there as well.
If you have kids in the house, you may want to consider a method for locking / securing the firearm. Gunsafes can be an expensive option, and most of us don't invest in one right off the bat. Let us know if you need advice here as well.
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If this will be your first venture into putting loaded pistols into holsters, please be aware that the holstering process is one of the most high-risk activities that one can do with a pistol without breaking safety rules. People with lots of experience and training get AD/ND's during the holstering process. Here's a story I read this morning in my local paper about a police chief doing it to himself. http://www.ajc.com/news/ap/indiana/e-indiana-police-chief-accidentally-shoots-self/nct2d/
I carry a Glock 26 most every day. I shoot it as well as a Glock 19, and far better than a Ruger LC9. I carried full-size 1911s for three decades. And the thinest gun I own for cattying is a S&W Shield in 9mm.
All of that has very little to do with you and your choice. You will have to find what you are comfortable with. My wife wanted a Ruger LC9 very much - "It's PERFECT" she gushed - right up until she shot it. Fired three rounds, set it down, and was done with it. Holding it isn't the same as shooting it - so, if at all possible, shoot some before you choose.
If that's not possible, buy a Shield 9mm. It's slim enough to carry, fat enough to hold and shoot well, and easy to sell if'n you hate it.
All of that has very little to do with you and your choice. You will have to find what you are comfortable with. My wife wanted a Ruger LC9 very much - "It's PERFECT" she gushed - right up until she shot it. Fired three rounds, set it down, and was done with it. Holding it isn't the same as shooting it - so, if at all possible, shoot some before you choose.
If that's not possible, buy a Shield 9mm. It's slim enough to carry, fat enough to hold and shoot well, and easy to sell if'n you hate it.
Mike1234567
member
RE Ruger LC9... I'm an average man with average hands and not in the best of health. An LC9 is very easy for me to shoot and control. A large pistol is certainly more comfortable and I love my SR9c but I won't carry it on my person all the time like I will something like an LC9. If it's not with me it does no good at all.
tomrkba
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The absolute best action you can take right now is to attend a two day defensive handgun class. You do not need to own a gun; gun schools have them available for rent. The reason is if you are not a dedicated handgunner, you likely do not know what you need in a defensive gun. A defensive course will show you what is necessary and what is not.
I do not know your skill level with handguns. It sounds like you are rather new (meaning you haven't fired 10,000 rounds in the past year or two). On demand, can you quickly shoot two ten round groups at two different targets 15 yards away and and keep all shots within three to four inches? Can you hit a 3x5 note card, slow fire, at 25 yards on demand? If you do a double tap, do both rounds consistently hit within one and a half inches of each other at seven yards? If not, then a small handgun is not what you need because they're not good learning guns. Purchase a mid to full sized gun. You can buy a small gun later.
That said, if you have to have a gun NOW, then the default choice is a Glock 19 with night sights. The gun is a great balance between sight radius, weight, capacity, size and so forth. It is easy on the hands and the magazines are durable. The guns are reliable and shoot well. They need not be modified other than to change the sights.
Do not fool around with 1911's or revolvers. Do not purchase a snubby revolver under any circumstances. Revolvers require quite a bit of dedication to master shooting and reloading. Revolver instructors are difficult to find and do not attend a class with an instructor who doesn't know them. If you must have a revolver, buy one with a four inch barrel (I like the Ruger GP100 over the S&W revolvers for a variety of reasons). 1911's are another level dedication that requires you know what you are doing (google 10-8 Performance and read the duty 1911 articles for a glimpse of the "fun" 1911 guys have). Stick with service guns from Beretta, SIG Classic P-Series (P220, P225, P226, P228, P229, P239, P2022. Avoid P250, P224, P290, P227 (too new)), HK, Glock, Springfield, S&W and Kahr. There are other brands that are good, but these stick out as the top brands.
You should have no trouble concealing a Glock 19. Get a holster with good forward cant to mitigate printing out back. Buy a gun belt and two single magazine belt holders (DeSantis FTU holders work well). If you insist upon a small gun, then the Glock 26 is an excellent choice. I find mine to be very accurate and you can use Glock 19 mags with them.
Glock 26 with Glock 19 magazine and A&G Grip Adaptor
RE: Remington R-51
It is a new gun and there are bound to be bugs. Do not be a beta tester. Wait two years before purchasing one. For defense, buy something with an established track record. I have jumped on the bandwagon too many times only to wish I had that $500-600 back.
I do not know your skill level with handguns. It sounds like you are rather new (meaning you haven't fired 10,000 rounds in the past year or two). On demand, can you quickly shoot two ten round groups at two different targets 15 yards away and and keep all shots within three to four inches? Can you hit a 3x5 note card, slow fire, at 25 yards on demand? If you do a double tap, do both rounds consistently hit within one and a half inches of each other at seven yards? If not, then a small handgun is not what you need because they're not good learning guns. Purchase a mid to full sized gun. You can buy a small gun later.
That said, if you have to have a gun NOW, then the default choice is a Glock 19 with night sights. The gun is a great balance between sight radius, weight, capacity, size and so forth. It is easy on the hands and the magazines are durable. The guns are reliable and shoot well. They need not be modified other than to change the sights.
Do not fool around with 1911's or revolvers. Do not purchase a snubby revolver under any circumstances. Revolvers require quite a bit of dedication to master shooting and reloading. Revolver instructors are difficult to find and do not attend a class with an instructor who doesn't know them. If you must have a revolver, buy one with a four inch barrel (I like the Ruger GP100 over the S&W revolvers for a variety of reasons). 1911's are another level dedication that requires you know what you are doing (google 10-8 Performance and read the duty 1911 articles for a glimpse of the "fun" 1911 guys have). Stick with service guns from Beretta, SIG Classic P-Series (P220, P225, P226, P228, P229, P239, P2022. Avoid P250, P224, P290, P227 (too new)), HK, Glock, Springfield, S&W and Kahr. There are other brands that are good, but these stick out as the top brands.
You should have no trouble concealing a Glock 19. Get a holster with good forward cant to mitigate printing out back. Buy a gun belt and two single magazine belt holders (DeSantis FTU holders work well). If you insist upon a small gun, then the Glock 26 is an excellent choice. I find mine to be very accurate and you can use Glock 19 mags with them.
Glock 26 with Glock 19 magazine and A&G Grip Adaptor
RE: Remington R-51
It is a new gun and there are bound to be bugs. Do not be a beta tester. Wait two years before purchasing one. For defense, buy something with an established track record. I have jumped on the bandwagon too many times only to wish I had that $500-600 back.
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peacemaker45
Member
TomRKBA nailed it, said what I was trying to. Take heed!
fanchisimo
Member
I have to agree with Torian, a self defense class is not a bad idea, but hardly necessary. I have never had one, and am pretty much self taught. I spent a lot of time watching videos about proper stance, grip, and other various shooting techniques. Be sure to practice when you're at home with a cleared pistol. While I would love to have the time and be able to afford to shoot 10k rounds, that's not realistic at $.30-.40 a round and school/work. So in summation, be sure to practice as best as you can.
Some slimmer grip pistols that I would recommend:
Ruger SR9c or SR40c (what I currently carry)
CZ75 P07 (has a really comfortable grip)
M&Pc
I would also recommend an Alien Gear holster. Mine has been great and costs far less than other similar holsters.
www.aliengearholsters.com
Happy shooting.
Some slimmer grip pistols that I would recommend:
Ruger SR9c or SR40c (what I currently carry)
CZ75 P07 (has a really comfortable grip)
M&Pc
I would also recommend an Alien Gear holster. Mine has been great and costs far less than other similar holsters.
www.aliengearholsters.com
Happy shooting.
Torian
Member
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If you feel in danger, the absolute best action you can take right now is buy a gun...RIGHT NOW. Go to the gun store, and see what feels good in your hands. Want to learn how to drive? Get in the car and start driving. Worry about "training" at a later date.
Tomrkba: 10,000 rounds in a year or so? I don't think I've shot 10,000 rounds of handgun ammo in the last 10 years. Where do you come up with these numbers?
Tomrkba: 10,000 rounds in a year or so? I don't think I've shot 10,000 rounds of handgun ammo in the last 10 years. Where do you come up with these numbers?
Mastrogiacomo
Member
I've always felt that if you can't conceal a Glock 26, you have no business carrying. I say that at 5'2" and 125. What's most important is how the gun feels to shoot and whether you can practice comfortably. Glock 26, S&W 36, SP101, Sig 239, used S&W 3913, S&W 908, are all great choices...and it's all in how you carry it. Don't limit yourself.
Laura
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