What should I get?

[chupacabrah]

My soon-to-be wife is wanting to buy me a wedding gift...of a firearm.

Budget of $500 MAX. trying to keep it as low as possible, while still coming out with something cool

right now I have a full size M&p 9mm. getting my CHL in a few months.
I would LIKE to stay in the same ammo, but something different would be nice, too. I would like to get a .45, but would rather it be something nice (ie. metal)

if you say "other" let me know what, and or why.

 

[Keegan]

I chose the 357 because you're going to want something more compact than the M&P that you can carry during the summer. Plus it takes 38spc ammo, so you're getting two of the guns you want in one.

 

[jakemccoy]

You’ll have to get a shotgun at some point. It might as well be now. Get a Rem 870 or Moss 500. It'll serve double duty as a sporting clays gun and as a powerful fight stopper. Yeehaw.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

AK...I voted other, thinking about an AR15, but I must have looked past your $500 budget. Getting an AR would be cutting it close.

 

[harbingerm]

AK because that's one of 'dem evil guns and it, quite possibly, could get banned if/when there's another AWB.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Get the .22 and shoot the devil out of it. Twenty-twos are more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and you can actually afford to shoot them.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Get the AK aint much to know about them...they aint the most accurate weapon out there but they sure do send lead down range reliabely

 

[Neo-Luddite]

.357 revolver.

500 buys a pretty nice one. Have it engraved for the occasion. Are you planning on kids? Could be a nice shootable heirloom to pass down.

You could get a .38 spl--but the .357 will shoot both so why not--it's adaptable from very light to VERY heavy loads. Get a 4" Barrel or longer and you can hunt deer with it in some states if you like.

Congrats!

 

[harbingerm]

I have an AK (74) in 5.45 and it's plenty accurate for what it is. I can easily keep a full mag on a medium sized paper plate at 100 yds with the standard iron sights. More than good enough for COM hits.

 

[MrPeter]

Are you looking for something fun? Something practical? Something for HD? Something else to carry? Give us a little context here: what are you in the mood for, so to speak?

Personally, if it were a gift, I would want to get something that I wouldn't be so quick to buy for myself, ie something fun but less practical. Maybe I would go with the 9mm Carbine, but I wouldn't get a Hi-Point, mainly because my heart is already set on a Kel-Tec Sub2000. One of those plus a bunch of hi-cap mags would make an awesome gift (it's also available in 40 S&W). I would also definately think about a lever-action in .44mag, but again, those are my tastes in the impractical but fun.

The AK-style rifle would be a great choice. I love my GPWASR and actually just got done refinishing the wood on it. It is semi-practical, considering who is next in line for office, and extra practical if you're one who prepares for TEOTWAWKI scenarios. To top it off they're fun as all get out, and cheap to boot, but they can get expensive to feed.

That .45 can be satisfied with an XD .45 that you may like for just about $500.

Those are my suggestions. I'm voting other because of context.

EDIT: Oh, since it's YOUR wedding gift I think I really like the idea of the engraved .357. If it were me though I'd get a .44

 

[NG VI]

.357s are great, and yesterday I found a new appreciation for the .38 special because of my Glock 27. it hurts, I need to go to the gym, but the Model 28 was great and by far the most accurate for me.

I voted AK though because everyone needs an EBR. Especially now. and ammo is really cheap even now for them, and magazines are cheap and plentiful, load up on magazines while you can.

 

[pbhome71]

Keltec SUB-2000?

How about a Keltec sub-2000 in 9mm? Too bad they don't come with M&P magazine.

However, I think you can get 33-rounder Glock mag.

 

[chupacabrah]

Ok, I'll give some context... I was writing the post quickly and then had to leave.

I want something that is mainly just for fun, that I could get the wife to shoot too (she doesn't like shotguns, that's why they're not on the list...but they are on the "soon" list).

also of note, whatever she gets me, I'll probably spend the equal amount of money on her...probably jewelry or something. you know how that goes.

we already have a daughter (9 weeks old)



.22LR Autoloader -- cheap to shoot, lots of fun. cheap to buy, also.

.357 Magnum Revolver -- full size about 4" barrel. fun to shoot. maybe a ruger?


9mm Carbine (Hi-Point or Keltec--didn't realize they were that cheap) -- cheap, shoots 9mm, and i've heard they're acurate.

AK? I would love to have one, but don't know much about them /where to get them. also i dont know if any good ones are <=$500

.38 Special revolver -- snubbie or something that can take +p


a lever gun in .44 mag would be awesome too i think...i didnt even think about those. how much do they go for?


.45
XD isn't bad. what about a 1911? How are the Taurus or Charles Daly ones?


but to sum it all up, I'm just wanting something fun to shoot, that Susan will shoot with me.

thanks for the input so far, everyone

 

[moe.ron]

Stick with the M&P for sure

 

[harbingerm]

As much as I like my AK's, I have to give a hearty +1 for the sub-2000 recommendations. I don't have one yet, but for the price, I need one. No brainer for all the standard Glock 19 and 33 round mags I already have.

 

[chris in va]

You'd love the AK. Heck, even a Saiga for ~$300 and $200 for a case of ammo.

Bet she'd like it too. My lady friend adored the SKS I had, also likes my HiPoint carbine...when it works...

 

[NG VI]

Changing my vote to Sub-2000 cause I want one too and the 33 round magazines are great!

 

[alaskanativeson]

You said she doesn't like shotguns, is that because of their kick? If so I'd recommend thinking about a 20 gauge. Much less kick but still a damned effective gun.

On the list you have I'd say a .357 is my first choice. If you think you may ever want to hunt with it I'd go with the 6" barrel, many states have that as their minimum barrel length for hunting. A .357 is one of the most versatile weapons made. Shooting .38s is not punishing at all, it barely registers as a kick to me. If you need to use it for self defense the full power .357 defense rounds are about as effective as you can get.

I'd definitely say a lever .44 like the 1894Marlin would also rate very high on my "fun to have" list. Marlin makes some of the best lever guns out there and the .44 would be a blast. Should be within your budget too.

 

[azredhawk44]

I think this should be something conservative, classy, tasteful and lasting. A plastic-fantastic or beat-up AK doesn't do any honor as a wedding gift, IMO.

A single-action sixgun of reputable quality though is another matter.

I think a Blackhawk or Vaquero engraved for the occasion would be an heirloom that all your children (may you have many!) would be honored to keep in your memory.

 

[jkingrph]

Let her get you a good 22 rifle, autoloader does not matter although ruger 10/22 is good. You might find a nice little Marlin 39a lever action at about that price. With one of these if she is not into shooting heavier calibers you both could shoot together and get her more interested.

 

[Sharps-shooter]

You should get (not knowing you or her, of course) either--

a ruger 10/22
or
a Benelli nova shotgun. The nice thing about the shotgun is that it can be loaded with lots of different kinds of shells. Some of them are fine for hunting trucks and other large game, but there are some bird hunting loads that don't kick real hard or boom quite so loud. So there's real versatility there.

A .22 rifle is great fun to mess around with, easy to handle at even the most powerful loads, and really cheap to shoot

 

[welldoya]

Get a Ruger 10/22 for less than $200 and a used .22 Ruger MKll for less than$300.
You did say you wanted something fun didn't you ? (and you can afford to actually shoot them)

 

[The Unknown User]

1. Congratulations on getting married.

2. Congratulations on finding a woman who overtly supports your hobby.

3. Does she have a sister?

 

[hso]

A handgun should fit your hand and not some internet crowd's opinion so you'll have to decide what handgun would be the thing for her to give to you.

OTOH, an AK is always a good deal and there are plenty of good AKs available for $500.

9mm carbine? Naw (at least not until you figure out what handgun you fit).

Revolver? If you fit a revolver, I'm a fan of .357s.

 

[jungleroy]

I would say ask for what ever type of firearm she would be willing to shoot, and then take her shooting with it.
Getting married, joining resources, well it would be a family expenditure.
If you can make her happy in more than one way with her wanting to buy you a gun, then I would say do it.
My thoughts on what you should ask for from your wife is her love and company first and firearms second.
Also congratulations on finding a woman who likes you having firearms.