New Handgun Advice Sought

[Cavell]

Howdy folks.

So I've finally decided to pull the trigger, so to speak, on a gun purchase, after thinking about it for several years. Primarily buying for home defense and range fun, as well as the occasional carry. I have quite small hands, so finding a good fit's been quite an issue, and I've spent the last two months shooting everything I can get my hands on - Sigs, Glocks, Smith & Wessons, CZs, Springfields, HKs, etc. Nothing was as comfortable or as shootable for me as the Walther PPQ. I'd decided on it the second I shot it.

Then a funny thing happened. The range I'd been renting most of these from got in an HK45C as a new range gun, and one of the guys suggested I try it. I'd largely ignored .45s since being told that 1911s are tinkerer's guns that require a lot of time and modification to make good, despite them shooting just fine for me.

Now I've got an internal caliber war on my hands. They're both equal in comfort. They're both equal in shootability. The HK's easier to carry, by all accounts. I could get the Walther and 2,000 rounds of practice ammo for the price of the HK. But what if I get charged by a zombie elephant or Hulk Hogan on meth?

I honestly can't decide between the two, and I've been trying for about five days now. Any advice?

 

[777TRUTH]

I don't think you would go wrong with either gun.

FWIW I would go with the HK45C for home defense/ range/fun and occasional carry and P99 Compact for CCW.

Unless you reload, the 9mm will be cheaper to practice with. Go with something like the 147 gr Federal HST or 124gr Gold Dot in 9mm and you will be in great shape in the unfortunate event you have to use it to defend yourself or family.

 

[tuj]

I'd largely ignored .45s since being told that 1911s are tinkerer's guns that require a lot of time and modification to make good

You need to stop listening to that person. Not all 1911's need work to make them run right, some are just fine out of the box.

 

[glock36]

Plus 100 on what dpadula had to say

Good luck
God bless

 

[Cavell]

Well, if 1911s don't need to be modified considerably to make them decent, any recommendations within the Walther/HK price range? They also seem like they'd be a bit unwieldy for concealed carry.

As far as Glocks go...I'm just not a fan of the ergonomics. The grip angle feels very weird to me, and I actually didn't shoot them all that well.

 

[tmoore912]

It completely depends on how much you plan on shooting this year. Are you only going to be putting several hundred rounds through it, or are you going to be shooting every week and putting thousands of bullets through the gun. There is a big difference in bullet cost between the two calibers. I like higher capacity, lower felt recoil and lower cost. Either caliber is equally deadly if put in the right places. Good luck with your choice, both are really nice guns.

 

[superscribe]

there are a couple of important things here.

i have a few guns in combinations of plastic, steel, 9mm and .45. I carry a 1911 commander BECAUSE it's easy to tote around.

The PPQ feels nice, but the trigger is ridiculously sensitive. If you've heard of people accidentally cooking off a round with a glock, it'll be so much easier with a PPQ.

An HK is not what you'd call a "fun" gun. Even the compact is big, boring, but it works.

For self defense, i think either 9mm or .45 is fine.

 

[Jed Carter]

I went from a Glock G19 and CZ PCR both 9mm to a SIG RCS 1911 .45. the SIG has performed flawlessly, has tritium night sights a 4.2" barrel with an officers/compact alloy frame. The trigger had more to do with my change than caliber. I recently saw a C3 SIG 1911 with CT lasergrips NIB for under $700 at Budsgunshop.com. I can draw aim and hit a lot better with the SIG RCS than either of the other 2 pistols. I do compete in USPSA matches with both a G34 9mm and a G35 ,40S&W so I am very partial to Glocks. If i could only own one pistol (sob) I would have to seriously consider the G19 as one of the best do it all pistols. Have you considered taking some form of training? i have seen many small women using large framed pistols like the G34. Here is a link to a Youtube video that may help you grip a larger pistol, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48