Just 2 handgun permits that expire in 90 days, which are most versatile?

[crazygeorge]

I have been a lurker here for a long time and finally have registered. I have the misfortune of being located in New Jersey and have no plans to relocate due to jobs that I can't walk away from, especially considering the economic situation in the country right now. In NJ you must go to your local police and be fingerprinted and give your references and they do their mental health and background checks on you and then you are given a firearms ID card (which is required to purchase any firearms and now i believe ammunition) and handgun permits you have applied for. Most places take way longer than the 30 days it should take according to state law. I've been waiting for almost 3 months so far. The handgun permits expire 90 days after they are issued. I have been waiting more than 3 months since i applied for my firearms ID card and 2 handgun permits. Last time i called my police station i was told that they are just waiting for the chief to sign it and to expect them within the week (but i'll believe it when i have them in my hand)

Given the above, and the fact that there is no concealed carry possible for mere mortals in NJ (so i have no interest in anything small/lightweight), what guns would people recommend that would give the most versatility? If i was not encumbered by the hard to get pistol permits i would probably be purchasing something like a smith and wesson 617 or a ruger mk 3 to use as a cheap to feed gun that i can practice with and develop skills (I was recommended to start with a 22 so as to not develop any bad habits or flinches), and a 9mm semiautomatic that would have some use in the unlikely case of needing to use it in the house for protection, and then from there see where my skills/desires bring me. But with the limit of 2 pistol permits and fear of what may happen with the new government restrictions, I hate to use up one of my 2 pistol permits on a gun that is a 22 and only a 22. I also have concerns from hearing the owner of a local gun shop talking to his co-workers telling me that he's been told 8 months lead time to get anything from some manufacturers now since i have just 90 days before expiration of both of my pistol permits.

So my question is what 2 guns would people recommend for someone in this situation? I really prefer the look/feel of an all stainless weapon, I know the polymer guns are well respected and have a lot going for them, but since this is not to be for carry and is mostly for recreation, i would like to get something that i am excited to own. Unfortunately my local gun store has mostly polymer guns in 40sw. My plan is to come up with a list of possible guns that i could bring to them and see what they think they can order and get in in less than 90 days and from that list of what they could get rent them and try them all out and pick the one that feels best. I am attracted to the idea of buying one gun and using conversion kits on them to use different calibers.

From what i have been seeing on the internet, here is what i am looking at right now. I am open to all opinions.

*Beretta 92FS inox 9mm, i have read there are 22 conversions available
*CZ 75 9mm stainless, i know there is a CZ kadet 22 conversion slide available, i have read some reports of problems with them once they have tens of thousands of rounds through them (slide stop i believe), i dont know how serious that is.
*Sig 250. My local gun shop has one in stock in 40sw, but from what i have read the whole gun is modular and somehow it can be converted to use 9mm and 357sig and i believe 45acp. From what i read no 22 conversion is available. This gun i believe is polymer with a metal slide. I would prefer only stainless, but if my choice is have my permit expire or get a polymer weapon, i will go with the polymer.
*Glock. From what i have heard some glocks can be converted pretty easily to different calibers. Aside from my preference for stainless guns, i am a little worried about what i have read about the glocks having no safety other than the triggers.
*1911. I have seen 22 conversions for 1911's, but honestly i have only shot 9mm and 22 and would hate to get a 45acp that is going to cost more to use and possibly be too much gun for a beginner. I would love to have something like a 1911 that could be either a 22, a 9mm or a 45acp, but from what i have read the 22 conversions are for the standard 1911's only, not the 9mm versions (please correct me if i am wrong)

Are there any other weapons that i am missing that anyone would like to recommend that have readily available conversions? Am I being foolish about wanting stainless? I had one co worker recommend getting a 357 revolver with the idea of using 38 special in it all the time, but then i have read that shooting 38 special frequently out of a 357 will leave deposits in the cylinder that will make possible problems with a 357. Again i don't know how big of an issue that is, but i would really like to have the ability to shoot .22's from one gun that i buy for cheap shooting.

Cost is not too much of an issue, as i have had a lot of time waiting for my permits to save up my money, and i would rather buy high quality once as if i buy a gun and later 'trade up' i need to apply and wait for another permit.

 

[hairless_ape]

You can apply to have those permits extended out an additional 90 days if you can't get what you want in that time frame, so don't settle. Yu can always buy from an out of state shop and do an FFL transfer which is often cheaper anyway.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Are you allowed to use hollowoints i New Jersey? If not, I'd get at least one of my guns in .45 or .40, and the other in 9mm, with conversion kits for both. Remember that a lightweight gun, like a glock or XD, will have more recoil than a heavier gun in the same caliber, like a beretta 92.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I would buy a 1911 and either a Walther GSP or a Hammerli SP20.

A 1911 gives you a .45 for home defense, IPSC, and bullseye. But you can also get a Marvel conversion unit in .22LR, and those are extremely accurate.

The real question is your second gun. I personally would favor a high-end target pistol, but it's a matter of personal preference. Some of the top-flight target pistols are convertible between .22LR and .32 S&W Long, and you might want one of those.

And I would not worry about stainless. Blued steel will do quite nicely, particularly for a range gun.

 

[pogo2]

Suggestions

The Beretta 92 Inox 9mm with a .22 conversion kit comes very close to what you want in a stainless gun. You do realize that the frame on the Inox is aluminum while the slide is stainless steel, I presume?

Two other brands of stainless 9mm guns that come to mind are Sig and Smith & Wesson. The Sig P229 and P226 both come with stainless slides and frames of either stainless or aluminum. I believe that .22 conversion units are available for Sigs, which are excellent guns in general although expensive.

Smith & Wesson has made the third generation guns in both all stainless and stainless slide/aluminum frame, with many used ones on the market at reasonable prices.

Here is a picture from the Sig website of the P226 Elite Stainless, which is all stainless steel (no aluminum) and weighs in at 42 ounces.

 

[FoMoGo]

The 1911 in .45 is a pistol almost anyone can shoot... and shoot well.
My children handle mine with no problem.
Not being able to use hollowpoints, I would go with the biggest hole I could make in someone.


Jim

 

[OregonJohnny]

So any kind of carry outside of your dwelling is out, and you want something along the lines of a .22 to practice with and for economic reasons. Well, luckily, good quality .22 handguns are plentiful and inexpensive. I'd recommend a Ruger MK III for fun plinking and target practice, or a Ruger Single Six Convertible, as it comes with 2 cylinders; one in .22LR and one in .22 WMR. Plus, the Single Six is about as rugged as handguns come, it's a sturdy single-action cowboy-looking revolver.

Are you ever out in the woods? Go camping, hiking, fishing in black bear country? If so, a .357 Magnum revolver would be a great choice. A Ruger GP100 can be loaded with the most powerful .357 hardcast ammo available to pack around while in the great outdoors, light and inexpensive .38 Special ammo for plinking/practice, and good quality .357 hollow point or semi-wadcutter ammo for home defense.

I shoot mostly .38 Special out of my Ruger GP100, and the lead fouling always goes away with a simple brushing of the cylinders after each use. I wouldn't worry too much about it if you plan on always cleaning your guns after shooting.

All 3 of the Ruger handguns I mentioned can be had in stainless, and all will outlast your grandchildren. I love my semi-auto pistols, but I always recommend a revolver to a first-timer, as the mechanics of operation are a little simpler and easy to master. You'll find a lot of good info and advice here. Take your time, continue to do your research. Good luck!

 

[clang]

I was in the similar predicament several years ago when I lived in NJ and bought my first 2 handguns. I wound up buying a Browning Hi-Power and a SS 4" Ruger GP100 (I already had a Ruger Mark II that I picked up while in the Army).

I felt pretty well covered with those 3 guns. I think you should put in another permit application for 1-2 more, but if you had to get just 2:

S&W 686 with a 4" barrel in .357 Mag (the Ruger would also work here, but I've become more a S&W guy). Great for home defence and a great gun to shoot (learn to shoot it double action - it takes time, but it's worth it). Use .38 Special in it for target practice.

An all steel (or Stainless Steel) 9mm. It sounds like you are not a reloader, so these are the most affordable centerfire autos to shoot. The Browning Hi-Power is a classic, but you have to be OK with a single action gun and no stainless steel. If you want Stainless, I would find a S&W 5906TSW. Might have to settle on a used one, but these guns are tough and will outlast you. Any other quality 9 would also probably do.

You are going to also need a .22. I like the S&W 17 or 18 or 617 - the K frame .22 is just a great gun. A Ruger Mark II is a great autoloader, you just have to get used to fiddling around with the damn thing trying to put it back together after you clean it. Fortunately, they can go a very long time between cleanings...

There are some great .45s out there too....

I heard Rays on Rt 22 is closing. If they are still open, they usually have just about everything in stock. Might pay a little more, but why screw around with the local clown who may or may not get what you want. Meltzers in Garfield also used to have a large handgun inventory. Navy Arms too, but I think they are long gone.

 

[crazygeorge]

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful responses. I finally have my id card and handgun permits and have been looking for local places that have anything in stock. So far the closest thing i have found locally has been a beretta 96 inox. From what i read the 40sw ammunition is a little bit more costly than 9mm and kicks a little more... I have also read on beretta's site that you cannot swap slides between a 96 and a 92 to change from 40 to 9mm, but then i have read on other forums of some people doing it without issues so who knows about that, but the 22 conversions seem to be available (but of course back ordered) for both 92 and 96.. I believe the 96 i saw was not the 'brigadier' model with the heavier slide. Is that something to worry about with the more powerful 40sw ammunition in what i assume is a gun built originally to be 9mm?

Is it possible to get a 9mm 1911 and use a 22 conversion on one of those? or are they only for the full blast standard 1911's? I notice that the 22 conversions for 1911s are much easier to find in stock and even 9mm versions of the 1911 seem to be made by a few manufacturers in stainless... but since the 9mm is not a regular 1911 it is unclear if the 22 slides will work on them or not...

I really appreciate all of the suggestions people have posted. After reading everything i keep thinking i would like a nice revolver, and a 9mm that can do a 22 conversion, and maybe a 1911, and a ruger mk3 ... I'm sure my wallet is happy about NJ's slow permit process, but i am not... It really looks like at some point in the future i will be back at the police department with my application for more handgun permits and begin the whole process again.:banghead:

by the way, i am probably wrong, but from the nj state police page it looks like they don't like hollow points in nj, but you can have them at your house ( http://www.njsp.org/about/fire_hollow.html ) I am no lawyer so i am not sure, but i almost get the idea that they really don't want you to have hollowpoints at all (but for some reason couldn't get them completely outlawed) and I would imagine if you were unfortunate enough to ever need use one in your house it could be turned against you by some creative person somehow...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A nice .22 is a good idea just like you said. The M617 and Mark III you mentioned are both good choices. Pick a format and buy one of those. I like revolvers best but I also own a Mark II. As for your second gun which will be a HD gun I would also suggest a .357 Magnum revolver. A 4" S&W M686 or Ruger GP100 will serve you very well in the home. There is very little to do with a revolver except to point it and pull the trigger. The less complicated the better when half asleep at 4 AM. You can load .38 Special +P ammo for use at home. That's a better choice than .357 Magnum rounds in a dark enclosed room.

Good luck finding something you will like and welcome to the forum...

 

[MachIVshooter]

Since the CZ-75 is on your list, you might have a look at the Tanfoglio (EAA) Witness series. Reason being, since you only have 2 permits, you can use one of them to buy what is essentially six guns in one with the Witness. Once you own the platform, you can get slide & barrel kits in .22 LR, 9x19mm, .38 Super, .40 S&W, 10mm and .45 ACP for $230 ea.

In your situation, the Witness would be one of my choices. The other would likely be S&W 686 pre-lock.

 

[RichieV]

If you're not going to carry concealed, then your decision to get a .22 and a combat gun as your first two handguns is not a bad one at all.

I like to accessorize my guns so if it were me, I'd get a Ruger Mk II for the .22 and either a 1911 or Glock for the combat handgun. Tons of aftermarket goodies are available for these guns so you can personalize them readily. Also, you can benefit from all the information that's out there due to the sheer number of owners.

As for your concerns about the "safety-less" Glock, those concerns should be alleviated with training and practice (and you should definitely get training and follow it up with practice!) because once you train and get familiarized with your weapon, you will know how to use it safely. In the case of a Glock, safe useage is pretty much covered by practicing the four basic rules of gun safety and housing it in a decent holster.

--Richard

 

[tbtrout]

Where in NJ are you located?