What to get for a $1000

[magnumtc]

What t?o get for a $1000

Hello
I will be getting a $1000 bonus this May and have decided to buy a new handgun with it. I have also just received my CCW, so this may be factor. I already own a custom 1911 45acp, as well as a Beretta 92 and a S &W 60 with 3"bbl. I am strongly considering the HK compact series in 40 as well as the Sig 229. I have fired Glocks, but did not really care for them. A friend has the Sig 229 and I really liked it. I have not shot the HK. I have also considered the Sig 239. How much smaller is it than the 229? I would probably not carry a spare magazine with the 229. Thanks in advance for any advice.

tim

 

[doctorhumbert]

How about HK P7M8 or PSP?

 

[Paul D]

Get the Sig 229. About the same size and has a much better trigger pull than the HK USP40c. I think it is a little more pleasant to shoot. However, if you favor your 1911, the USP does allow for cocked&locked carry. But if this is not an overriding issue, get the 229. Good Luck!

 

[dsgrntldPW]

May I suggest you look at the new S&W 4040PD? While I have not shot one I have handled one and think it may be a very good package in terms of size, weight and performance.

 

[arinvolvo]

I just purchased a 239, and I love it. Nice gun...and with the price, you will have some dough left over.

 

[sm]

Welcome to THR.

Humm...
You seem to have some guns that will work, especially the Mod 60. What about good belt, holster and taking a training class in lieu of another gun?

Class might bring out some good ideas as to what works best for you and your needs as far as another CCW gun. Training now, new gun next bonus.

Just a thought.

 

[JShirley]

Good advice. You already seem to have 3 excellent defensive pieces.

 

[magnumtc]

The 1911 is my favorite and conceals well, but is so darn heavy. The Beretta is just too big. The Smith is nice but, I don't get many excuses to buy new handguns anymore! If and when the hi-cap ban is relaxed, I would love to have something small, yet at least 12rds. The Sig 229 seems to be my best option, but I just wanted to see if there was something else I was missing.

 

[magnumtc]

Oh, and thanks again for the replies. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Zonamo]

magnumtc said:

The 1911 is my favorite and conceals well, but is so darn heavy.

If the 1911 platform is your favorite, but weight is your concern, you might want to look at one of the aluminum frame compact 1911s out there.

The aluminum frame will shave almost half a pound on the weight, and an officer sized grip is a bit easier to conceal.

 

[rauchman]

As you mentioned you like the 1911, my shooting buddy recenlty picked up a Wilson KZ-45. What a fantastic pistol. It is considerably lighter than a steel 1911, and also uses 10 round mags, with a grip width that is actually a tad thinner than a standard 1911. Very accurate and a nice trigger as well.

 

[Brad Johnson]

How about TWO Springfield Xd's - one each in your favorite calibers and/or sizes.

Brad

 

[Rich357]

The grip on the P239 is quite a bit sllimmer than the grip on the P229. The P229 is fine if it isn't too wide for the way you carry.

If you get a P229 in .40S&W it is easy to shoot .357SIG with just a barrel change. Companies like Cheaper Than Dirt sell SIG brand drop in barrels for the P229. You can can do the same with the P239 but it is recommended that you also change the magazine. The P229 doesn't require a different magazine to shoot either .40S&W or .357SIG. You might also consider the P220.

Have you tried the Glock 36? I find it fast to get back on target and surprisingly accurate. To me the G36 feels quite different from the other Glocks.

S&W just came out with a light weight 4 1/4" 1911. It has a frame made of Scandium/aluminum alloy.

Rich

 

[Drjones]

Unless you need/want more practical guns, though it seems you are already fairly well covered in that department, I'm going to suggest a "fun" gun.

1) Desert Eagle

2) S&W .500


Just a suggestion.

 

[Marshall]

Buy a Browning High Power in .40 S&W and a Bersa Thunder in .380 ACP. You'll have filled two holes in your arsenal of handguns and have $150.00 left for ammo or holsters.

 

[Greg Bell]

P7M8! Your going to get one eventually, why wait?

 

[BerettaNut92]

You seem to have a well balanced set of both compact revolver and high quality full-size pistols. I agree with going to a training course. They are even more fun than buying new toys

What is your location?

 

[magnumtc]

Thanks again for the great replies. I am mainly looking for a dedicated CCW gun. I was not aware of the S@W scandium commander. That is an interesting option. As for caliber, I love the 45acp, but would consider .40S&W, especially with the .357Sig option. So here are the options again.

1: Commander style with lightweight frame
2: Sig 229
3: Sig 239
4: HK Compact .40USP
5: Glock 23/30

Which of these options would you recommend? Thanks in advance.
tim

 

[cratz2]

Welcome!

If I personally had $1,000 burning a hole in my pocket, I'd get a Kahr TP9, the CZ52 in the local shop and a P3AT. If it could only go towards one gun, I'd get a P7 variant of some sort... probably an M8.

Short of the P7M8, I might look into either a Colt CCO or a Springfield Compact. Both have a Commander-length slide on the shorter Officer-sized frame... great concealability with the reliability and velocity potential of the Commander. Either of these is going to leave you a fair chunk of change to play with.

I don't like the HKs... their grip seems larger than ideal. Might look into the 229 but I'm not generally a SIG fan... HKs and SIGs are perfectly good guns, but I just don't count myself among their biggest fans.

 

[Greg Bell]

"Thanks again for the great replies. I am mainly looking for a dedicated CCW gun. I was not aware of the S@W scandium commander. That is an interesting option. As for caliber, I love the 45acp, but would consider .40S&W, especially with the .357Sig option. So here are the options again.

1: Commander style with lightweight frame
2: Sig 229
3: Sig 239
4: HK Compact .40USP
5: Glock 23/30"



Either get the HK compact or the 239 in 357 SIG.

 

[Majic]

You first posted:

I have fired Glocks, but did not really care for them.

Then you came back with:

5: Glock 23/30

So which is it?
Since you said the 1911 is your favorite then go with the light weight 1911.

 

[magnumtc]

Majic,

True enough, I fired a Glock 17 about 10 years ago I rented at a gunrange. It went bang everytime, but did not make me immediately purchase one. As you can see, I have the Glock 23/30 as last on my list. There are too many knowledgeable people who recommend them for me not to at least give them a second look. They have a lot going for them that I cannot ignore. I would love to go the lightweight commander route, but I don't know what I can get, reliability wise. I had a Springfield Armory 1911 before I got my Wilson Combat and it was like night and day! No more jams and terrible trigger pull with the Wilson, but at a hefty price!

 

[greygun]

You've already got the best handgun in the 1911 , why not try an AR or maybe a Garand? After all, you would really rather have a rifle in a gunfight, anyway, right?

 

[Majic]

Even though many may recommend something, if it first didn't appeal to you for some reason then it most likely hasn't changed. What's good for some, may not be good for others.
As to a 1911, you don't have to get the highest priced model on the market for reliability or finess. Just purchase a good quality basic model, replace what parts that are deemed necessary, and have it tuned. Surprisngly it will run as well as any Wilson for a lot less money.