Handgun.. any recommendations?

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Originally Posted by kbs_74

I agree with a lot of what is being said here. I don't think that you shouldlimit yourself to a .45. I think if it's your first gun and you want the most effective for you without having to train a lot and without a lot of colateral damage than I would go with the 12 gauge. The reason I say this is simple the most feared sound on earth and the sound that causes the highest involuntary bowel and bladder release is the sound of a pump action shot gun being racked. If you really don't want to have to shoot someone, but on the other hand want them to go down and stay down. the shotgun is easily the best choice. I say this because of the following reasons.
1. When under stress, you are going to shake I don't care if you are John Wayne if you hear someone try to break in to your house and you perceive a serious threat to your life you are going to shake. I have been working as an armed security officer for 10 years I go through the training yearly, they go over it every time. When under stress you ware going to have to rely on your training, and your ability to function under stress. I have seen people shoot inside the 10 ring everytime they shoot but when under stress you almost always are going to shoot worse.
If you are shaking and shooting a .45 you will probably miss and your one of your neighbors could suffer lead poisening.
2. Shotgun ammo is cheap, and realatively easy to use with a maximum accurate range of 100 yards shooting pellets.
3. If you miss the pellets probably wont go too much further than your walls where as others could go much further and penetrate many other objects.
If you do decide or laws prohibit a shotgun, I personally would go for a 9mm, that's what I carry. for close quarters accuracy matters but not as much as going to a 100 yard shooting competition. SO that leaves the field open. I have had a ruger p-89 loved the reliability but I could keep a consitent group. I then switched to a magnum research baby eagle. I love it it fits my hand and is very accurate. It does have one quirk and that is if you have the 15 round mag, only carry 14 in the mag in the gun. if you carry 15 and one in the pipe, the 15th round will come out of the mag if you carry in a holster and it gets bumped around. This leads to a stovepipe and isn't fun. If you only put 14 in there isn't a problem though so it was an easy fix.
Get some training NRA gun safety class, better yet join and your gun is then insured.
Okay that's all I have. Happy shopping

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Great advice. I have a short barrel shotgun for home defense, a Springfield XD .40 cal that I intended to carry, a Kel-Tec .32 that I DO carry and an AK-74 for when all hell breaks loose :w
For home defense, the short barrel shotgun is the best choice (though maybe not as exciting as other choices).
Good luck!

The 1911 is the best designed handgun there ever was. The recoil is nothing once you are used to it used to it. 100 yrs of proven reliability, and will knock someone back 15feet and hold them down. :y For home use a pump shotgun is also great. The intruder hears you jack the slide and will crap their pants at the sound while trying to slide out whatever hole the crawled in from. For those of youwho have not figured it out, I may be somewhat biased towards the .45, but only a little.:nj

+1 on the 1911 and the shotgun! Nothing else compares IMHO.

Fred

there's a .45 1911 on my bedstand and a 12ga pumpgun not far away every night when I go to sleep.

you really just can't beat an all steel government-sized 1911 in .45 acp. (some of the alloy framed ones have serious reliability issues, I can't recommend them) my personal advice is don't waste your money on combat tupperware, go get some American steel!

(yeah, I'm hugely biased. but in all the years I've shot ipsc, idpa, idsa, 3-gun, etc. the winner is almost always carrying a 1911 of some sort.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSYhbdqPoS0




^just stick one of those T-Rex's in your pants...no one's going to mess with you

I have both of these handguns...and I would recommend them both

http://www.sigsauer.com/images/catal...liteSTLeft.jpg
Sigarms P220 .45 (not my picture)

http://www.lasermax.com/products/images/lms-3xd.jpg
Springfield XD Sub-compact (not my picture)

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Originally Posted by jockeys

... combat tupperware ...

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Every time I hear this phrase it reminds me of an old Robin Williams routine:

"So remember, before going into battle, burp your shield!":roflmao

I would say there are two options:

1. Go for the shotgun. Like someone said, there's nothing like the sound of a shotgun being pumped. It announces to whomever is uninvited that you're ready with a no shit beat down. They're easy to operate and you're more or less guaranteed to hit the guy in the event you have to shoot. This is a great option because you don't have to say anything to let the guy know you mean business. They're cheap and don't really take any practice. Just point and click.

2. Hit the range and rent a variety of guns. Gun rentals are usually pretty cheap and you'll be able to sample a good range of weapons. You'll find that certain models or calibers will suit you better (I'll take a 44 magnum revolver over a 45 auto any day), letting you decide which gun is truly right for you.


I guess it all depends on how much of an investment you want to make. If you get a pistol, you MUST go to the range and practice regularly. It involves buying lots of ammo and renting the lanes, which adds up pretty quick. If that doesn't bother you, go for it! Personally, I love going to the range. There's nothing like pulling out your weapon and putting a box of ammo center mass.

If you were to get a shotgun, check out Mossberg's 500 Cruiser with pistol grip. It's a meanie!

http://www.autoburst.net/graphics/Rifles/Moss500.jpg

Better yet the Mossberg 590!!!:tu

For home defense, a 12 gauge pump with the shortest barrel local and federal law will allow. Pull the plug and load it full of 000 buckshot. Under $500 or so and you don't even need to shoot well. If you cannot handle whatever trouble visits your house with a 12 gauge, move.

Should you require something a little more portable, you cannot do better than a .45. Like everyone has said before me, you need to go shooting. I love my H&K USP compact, but only settle on it after shooting Glocks, Sigs, Kimbers and numerous others.

Also, beware that automatics can jam and if one is likely to do so, it is going to be at the worst possible time. So I would encourage you to look at revolvers too. A .357 may not have the capacity or stopping power of a .45 auto but it makes a whole lot of bang Sometimes that is all it takes.

having worked in law Enforcement for many years I will tell you it doesn't matter what round does what it only matters what weapon and round you can handle. You can go to a range a million times however when you are in a crisis situation shooting at a moving target all that practice is basically worthless.

If you want a hone defense weapon buy a 12 guage. There is none better. For a handgun go to a range where you can use em all and get what you are most comfortable with. The sig .357 is about the best pistol round right now.