what should I try at the range?

[357Swag]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking to purchase a handgun for home defense and possibly another down the road for carry. My wife is taking me to the range for my birthday followed by a nice steak dinner. I have already had the opportunity to fire an AR prepared Modern Warfare Style, a big shiny S&W 686, Mustang 380, HK P2000 and a pricey Kimber TLE II. The only ones I could hit stuff with was the S&W and a scoped assault rifle. I need a list to try. I fell in love with Springfield Armory custom shop TLP compact so, it makes the list, Sig P229, Walther P99 and likely 4" ,barrel 686+7. Not looking into guns with no safeties and my wife will have lot be comfortable for me to bring it home. Anything I should add?

Thanks

 

[Plan2Live]

I would suggest you both take a Basic Pistol class through a NRA certified instructor. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of handgun actions, learn the proper shooting techniques, then resume your search.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of choices out there.

If a safety is a must, Beretta 92 series guns are nice. HK P30 and HK45 can both be had with a safety. You could look into a S&W 29 or 629, and keep it loaded with 44 specials. The FNX guns have a safety. CZ's.

If this is your first handgun, my first reaction is to suggest a full size revolver like the Smith you mentioned. A good solid Smith 686+or Ruger GP100 would serve you well. But is a revolver really an option without a safety other than the double action trigger pull?

 

[Tom Fury]

What can you hit with consistently?

Is the first criteria: if you can shoot the S&W, you're probably good with anything recoil wise, but did you hit anything with it? If 9 lets you do that, or .32 then that's what you should be looking at. Early Range trips should answer the questions of What can I consistently get hits with (control) calibre-wise and then What is comfortable in my hand? Then, What features do I like or not like (in my experience there are trade offs in features to consider and compromises to be made feature and shape wise) and realize you may not find "the one" in your first outings and may trade into it until you find it. (Can you modify it to suit)?
When I say control I mean can you consistently (every time) put them where you want them to go with boring repetition. Shot placement is what matters in a gunfight.
Carry Criteria: Control, Reliability, Accuracy, with Aesthetics and Price a distant last; others may differ.
As your experience and confidence increases, what you think is important will change; you will pay more for what you want;
This is one place where economy is not necessarily the guide to anything...
I wouldn't recommend what is "fashionable" unless I knew why it was; then, it has to work for me. Glocks are not my favorites, but there is a reason they are so popular...
In your seeking for "the one" do not dismiss everything else out of hand; this is about finding what works for you, not "the best" or "the one."
J

 

[GRIZ22]

I would just go for the 686 for a couple of reasons. First, you said you could already hit something with it. Secondly, no safety but a 686 is not going off unless you pull the trigger. Thirdly, a 4" 357 is about the best all around handgun there is. Big enough to shoot well but small enough to carry concealed with the right holster. You can start out with lower powered wadcutters and work your way up through the power levels ( std 38s, +P, +P+, and full power magnums). Also, if you learn to shoot a DA revolver well everything else is easy.

 

[Ed Ames]

You should try an FN 5.7, a Glock (17, 19, whatever), a S&W M&P or the like, and a small revolver (LCR or the like).

The 5.7 will show you two things: a larger pistol, and a loud but low recoil shooting experience. The Glock will show you a different grip angle. The M&P will show a very well thought out modern pistol, and the revolver will show you the frustrations of small concealed carry guns.

Then you should buy a Ruger 22/45 or Browning Buckmark.

 

[Tallball]

4" 357 is your best bet for HD, imho.

Do yourself a huge favor and try a 45acp 1911. They are fun to shoot and hugely popular for many good reasons. The recoil is more modest than you would expect.

Ditto for a Ruger Blackhawk or other full-sized single-action pistol. Just about any caliber will do. They are super fun to shoot.

The CZ75 family is another great gun to shoot.

So are Browning High Powers.

Shoot some fabulously fun guns like these, and you will soon be addicted.

 

[Bobson]

The pistols aren't your problem, it's your lack of understanding and applying the fundamentals. That's not intended as an insult, but as a point toward correcting the problem.

Ordinarily, people are told to buy and use what they shoot best. But that's assuming the individual looking for advice has a foundation and shoots well in the first place. Since you're starting out without that foundation, you'd be wise to select something known to offer reliability, accuracy, and low recoil & controllability. Then learn to shoot that well by taking it to a course and getting a proper foundation and fundamentals to build on.

A S&W M&P9 with manual safety fits the bill about as perfectly as one could hope for. No need to look any further. Don't handicap yourself with a revolver just because you shot it better than the other stuff on your first time out. Get an M&P9 (standard full size) and take it to a basic pistol course. You'll be shooting it well in no time.

A CZ75B may also be a fine choice, just be aware that you'll need to learn and adjust to the SA/DA transition. It isn't rocket science, but it is one extra obstacle you'll need to overcome. I'd sooner recommend the consistency of the striker-fired trigger in the M&P.

 

[jakk280rem]

A handgun for home defense opens up a lot of territory. A couple things to keep in mind; size and weight are not detriments. They can help tame recoil, making follow up shots quicker and more accurate. Also consider the addition of a light and or laser, which would preclude the firearm of choice be equipped with an accessory rail.

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Cant go wrong with cz, and if you want to get spendy their custom shop is where you wanna be.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I agree with taking a basic handgun course from an NRA certified instructor, both you and your wife.

That will give her a lot of the knowledge she needs to feel better about bringing a gun into her home.

There are a ton of different handguns to try, but all in due time. You said you were comfortable and able to score hits with the S&W 686. It's a fine gun, and will serve you well for HD. If your wife still has trepidation about the lack of a manual safety, new manufacture S&W's include the Hillary Hole (aka internal lock out). You need a key (included with the gun) to unlock it and allow it to fire. Personally, I don't care for the internal lock out, but to each their own. You can use it or not.

By your screen name, it seems you are kinda heart set on a .357, so I say buy the S&W for HD. The 4" barrel can be carried, as mentioned, so you have that option available as you continue your search for your next gun.

Oh, and have a happy birthday and welcome to THR.

 

[Tallball]

LoL at the thought of "handicapping myself with a revolver". Apparently my targets were confused last weekend.

 

[drband]

Shooting various pistols has a learning curve... They all feel different in terms of grip, recoil, sights, trigger-pull, etc. you would do well to take the Basic Pistol class as suggested. You will make a better choice and be happier with your chosen firearm. If a class is not an option, at least get an instruction session with a seasoned pistol shooter/instructor. An hour with an experienced shooter would help your accuracy with any pistol. That knowledge would open up many, many types of pistols to you!
Hope you find what you're looking for!

 

[bannockburn]

Lots of good advice here, especially about taking a basic handgun course from a certified NRA instructor (many states also require similar training if you are thinking about getting a concealed carry license). If you like a .357 revolver I think a S&W Model 686 or Ruger GP100 would make for an excellent choice for home defense and target shooting. Later on, if you do decide to go the CCW route, you could try some of the small .38 Special revolvers out there, like a S&W Model 442 or a Ruger LCR or SP101.

Semi-autos are a whole different story with several different operating systems at work (DA/SA, SAO, or DAO triggers for example), that you'll want to familiarize yourself with them first, possibly by renting some at a nearby range or seeing if any of you family or friends have some that you can try. There is also the matter of caliber (.380, 9mm., .40 S&W, and .45ACP being some of the most common ones on the market), and whether you want it primarily for home defense or concealed carry.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

4" 357 is your best bet for HD, imho.

Do yourself a huge favor and try a 45acp 1911. They are fun to shoot and hugely popular for many good reasons. The recoil is more modest than you would expect.

If you can hit with a .357, and not so well with other guns, the .357 is indeed your best bet among the guns you mentioned. Remember, if you have to use the gun in self-defense, it won't do you a bit of good to miss your target.

The M1911 .45 ACP is actually my choice:

It's reliable.
It's very easy to shoot well.
It will do the job if you get a hit.
And it's flat and easy to conceal.
With modern magazines, you have 8+1 rounds on tap -- 50% more than a revolver, and it's quicker to reload with a spare magazine.

 

[sikiguya]

Try a FN FNS with a safety. I would recommend the Walther PPQ or the H&K VP9..

 

[Spats McGee]

Welcome to THR, 357Swag!

Hi everyone,
I'm looking to purchase a handgun for home defense and possibly another down the road for carry. My wife is taking me to the range for my birthday followed by a nice steak dinner.

And happy birthday!

. . . .Not looking into guns with no safeties . . . .

Let's start here. What do you mean by "no safeties?" I'm guessing that you mean "no external safety levers/switches/etc." Most all modern firearms are drop safe to some degree. Many semi-autos come with what looks like a little lever in the middle of the trigger. I think it's called a "safety dingus." (Believe it or not . . . ). Are you comfortable with a pistol with just that as an external safety? Do you want some kind of thumb lever, like the Ruger SR series have? What about a grip safety, like 1911s and the XD series have?

Also bear in mind that if some external thumb or grip safety is a requirement for you, that's going to rule out revolvers. There may be some out there with safeties of that sort, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

I'll take the ones you fired one at a time.

• AR prepared Modern Warfare Style -- Presumably not a handgun. Fun, but not a handgun.
• a big shiny S&W 686 -- Chambered in .357? Definitely a suitable round for HD, but may be more gun than you want to conceal later. Maybe not, though. It depends on your wardrobe and how much you want to dress around the gun.
• Mustang 380 -- .380 is OK for carry, but I can't recommend it for HD. It's at the bottom of the "window of acceptable performance" for SD calibers, IMHO. That said, I've never shot a Mustang 380, so take my opinion for what it's worth.
• HK P2000 -- It's an HK, so it comes with a good rep in my book, but I don't know enough about that model to give you an informed opinion.
• a pricey Kimber TLE II -- I don't have any experience with Kimbers, but as far as I can tell, folks either swear by Kimbers or at them.
• Springfield Armory custom shop TLP compact -- Presuming that you mean a TRP Custom Shop compact, aw, hell . . . Who wouldn't fall in love with it? I've never shot one of these either, but given the price tag on these, I'm going to suggest that you should probably spend less on the gun, initially, and put some of those funds towards training and ammo.
• Sig P229 -- See the HK above.
• Walther P99 -- I don't know enough to tell you one way or the other.

I'm also going to join the chorus and suggest a basic handgun course. A $1500 handgun is all fine and dandy, but you'll be better served with a $600 handgun, $500 in training, and $400 in practice ammo, IMHO.

Finally, let's go back to this:

I'm looking to purchase a handgun for home defense and possibly another down the road for carry.

Were it my $$$, I'd be looking for one gun that can fill both roles. For me, there's a "sweet spot" that will do both. Large enough to shoot well, small & light enough to conceal and carry. That sweet spot usually has about a 4" barrel, give or take. Here are some of the things I'd add to my list, were I in your shoes:

• Commander length 1911 (.45 acp)
• Glock 19 (9mm)
• XDm 3.8" compact (comes in a variety of calibers, IIRC)
• A CZ or two (Don't have one, but they get good reviews)
• Browning Hi-Power (a little bigger than my sweet spot, but owners swear by them)
• Ruger SR (This is a line of guns, SR9, SR40, SR45. Take your pick.)

The list above has a pretty wide range of features and price, but I think it's a good start for educational purposes.

Good luck on the search!

 

[cdk8]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking to purchase a handgun for home defense and possibly another down the road for carry. My wife is taking me to the range for my birthday followed by a nice steak dinner. I have already had the opportunity to fire an AR prepared Modern Warfare Style, a big shiny S&W 686, Mustang 380, HK P2000 and a pricey Kimber TLE II. The only ones I could hit stuff with was the S&W and a scoped assault rifle. I need a list to try. I fell in love with Springfield Armory custom shop TLP compact so, it makes the list, Sig P229, Walther P99 and likely 4" ,barrel 686+7. Not looking into guns with no safeties and my wife will have lot be comfortable for me to bring it home. Anything I should add?

Thanks

I agree with others regarding taking a NRA course. If you are not able to hit a target with a variety of firearms, it is worth investing time developing marksmanship fundamentals. Simultaneously, you will develop safe practices, and you will likely have the chance to learn about stress shooting, which is VERY important in regards to using a firearm for self defense. For example, a class I took a few years ago dedicated to using a handgun for self defense showed me just how different shooting a stationary paper target at a range is compared to shooting at a moving person who may be shooting back at you...it is night and day! This class also extensively covered laws relating to the use of a firearm for self defense.

Taking a class may also save you money. Quite often these courses come with the opportunity to shoot different firearms, where as standard range rental fees can be $5-15 per EACH firearm rented. It is also common for ranges to discount ammo for people in NRA sanctioned classes, and quite a few ranges even give sales discounts to those who have completed a sanctioned course at their facility. I got 10% off my first gun this way.

The firearm I learned on was an old Smith and Wesson Model 64 revolver shooting light .38 spl loads. IMHO, a 4+ inch revolver with regular .38 loads is golden when it comes to developing skill, refining skill, and just shooting for enjoyment (and that same revolver can double as one of the finest & most reliable home defense weapons around...in the case of a 686 or a GP100 for example, these guns can also shoot the venerable .357 magnum.)

The course will also go into the discussion of "safeties", which I think is important for your wife to experience. Virtually all modern autoloaders have "safeties" (kind of a lumped term), and it is practically impossible to make a modern firearm discharge a round without the trigger being pulled. Whether it is dropped, thrown, kicked, frozen, heated, boiled, etc., it will not "accidentally discharge". Most of the videos that use the term "accidental discharge" are not correct...these instances are called "negligent discharges" because the operator physically pulled the trigger, causing the gun to fire. With most of the modern LE-grade firearms, the safety mechanisms are internal. For example, Glock pistols have three "automatic safety mechanisms", none of which are external. It can also be argued that regardless of whether the firearm has an external safety or not, the degree of 'safe' depends 100% on the operator.

 

[Wanderling]

You can still get a Siderlock safety on Glock, it's $50 and installs in minutes. I have it on both of mine. And if you decide you've outgrown it it will never get in the way / snag on things / activate on it's own.

I would very much suggest you try G26, if I had only one gun it would be it. It's very accurate at a decent range for it's size, powerful, with good capacity, yet very concealable. Equally important, it's extremely reliable out of the box, requires no "break in", requires little maintenance or cleaning, and is very forgiving for a novice. I think it's the best gun Glock made. If I went with G26 as my first gun I would be all set, now I have it and the G17 - not that I am complaining About the only complement I'd suggest for it is the GAP floor plate, makes lots of difference in grip and draw without making it print any more.

 

[TimSr]

LoL at the thought of "handicapping myself with a revolver". Apparently my targets were confused last weekend.

LOL! Dittos!

 

[Zendude]

For home defense, the Judge/Governor is a popular option. You get the reliability of a revolver and the option of using 45 long colt and 410 at the same time.