Thread: Handgun.. any recommendations?

Well since there seem to be so many guys into guns here I thought I'd see if I could get some pointers on buying a handgun. I've been thinking about it for a while and was considering getting something in .45 caliber. Just thought I'd see if any of you guys could provide any recommendations for a gun, maybe good place to buy it. It'd be mainly for home defense type of thing I don't do much shooting usually.

I love my Encore in .450 Marlin Oh wait.... Well it is a .45 cal

Nothing beats a good 'ole Model 1911.....I own a Kimber (which isn't cheap) but much less expensive ones can be had from a variety of other manufacturers.

First check your local gun laws. Hawaii is one of the most restrictive states so you might have a limited selection.

Most ly the best suggestion is to go out shooting. I personally hate some guns that other people love, and others hate my favorites. So it really comes down to the personal feel of the weapon.

How I pick a gun is by feel. I first off want one the feels like a part of my hand, it just has to fit right. then it has to have the controls in an easily reachable position, I don't expect their use to be instinctual (I train for that) but I need to be able to reach and manipulate all of them. Then it comes down to balance. In a safe direction I actually close my eyes and then bring the gun to where I think I'm on target, then I open my eyes, all my favorites are on target when I do this. In other words they balance right for me and naturally come into line with my eye. Its been down to this test for several picks both for me and my wife, and we alway have picked the gun we shoot the best by doing this. After we buy the gun it gets about five hundred rounds run through it at the range, and must shoot all of them without mechanical hick-up before the gun is considered suitable to defend me and mine.

As an example I can't hit much with a Glock, or a 1911 style, they just don't work well for me though they are the ideal for many . The Sig line and the Browning 9mm both seem to be winners every time in my hands and despite feeling quite different both feel good to me. In the revolver class I find that I like old fashioned steel over newer lighter alloys, just because of the way they balance and shoot.

To me caliber doesn't matter as much as you ability to use the gun, within reason, so I wouldn't limit your choices unless there is a very good reason.

I agree with Eric, you simply can't go wrong with a 1911. I do prefer my Smith & Wesson 686, but I'm a wheel gun kind of guy. IMHO a .45 is unnecessary, you'll get more stopping power from a .22 magnum.

Originally Posted by Ookla

you'll get more stopping power from a .22 magnum.

There will be a lot of suggestions here, and they will all probably be good ones.
I am partial to Smith and Wesson, but don't let that sway you.
There are several things to consider.

First is you get what you pay for.
If you spend $2000 for a nice Kimber, you will have a good reliable firearm that will not fail you. The same goes for H&K, S&W, Colt, Taurus, etc...

Ask questions If someone tells you a certain brand is beter, ask them why.
reliability, accuracy... etc.
I like Smith & Wesson, because mine have never failed to chamber a round, including questionable hand loads, they have never misfired. They fit my hand well, and feel right. I also have an old off brand 1911, a Taurus, and a Walther that fit that description.

Know your round, and what your intended use is. You wouldn't want to hunt Elephants with a 22, and you aren't going to want to buy a 500 magnum for concealed carry.

If you want a weapon for home security, you should also consider your neighbors. a 357 or 44 magnum have too much penetration and can travel through several houses before stopping.
If you have no intention of carrying and don't have a lot of interest in going to the range, a short barreled pump action 12 gauge shotgun is effective, and can intimidate the most battle hardened criminal.

If you want concealed carry, oso you walk out in front of your house without shouting to the world that you are armed, you may want to consider something smaller like a .32 Beretta, or something in .380 or .40

Do not try to make the gun fit you. As a novice you should look long and hard to find a firearm that feels natural in your hand. If you find such a gun, even if it's not a 45, give it careful consideration.


My suggestion for you for an all around most bang for your buck firearm would be the Springfield XD. It comes in several calibers up to 45, I found it to be very comfortable, it has some good features including an indicator to let you know if you have a round in the chamber without looking.

You can get similar features from almost any firearm manufacturer. so you'll have to shop around.

Originally Posted by Ookla

IMHO a .45 is unnecessary, you'll get more stopping power from a .22 magnum.

Sorry I have to comment on this one...
Although both are lethal at close range, this is so very wrong.

If you double the weight of a bullet you double the Kinetic energy, if you double the velocity you increase the energy by a factor of 4.

Ao a faster bullet is often better than a bigger bullet, but a 22 mag is nowhere near a 45.

The smallest round I would consider for defense is a 32. and that is small for my tastes. I carry a Walther PPKs in 380. ($800)

This IMHO is the least amount of force necessary to get the job done.

I recommended the XD because it is good, and carries about a $500 price tag. Kimber is better, but they run $1500? and up

The least I have spent on a gun I intended to trust my life with was $600

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

First is you get what you pay for.
If you spend $2000 for a nice Kimber, you will have a good reliable firearm that will not fail you. The same goes for H&K, S&W, Colt, Taurus, etc...

Unless its a race gun designed for speed not reliability or a pretty boy toy.

There are some really nice reasonable choices out there. Price isn't, to me always the best indicator of quality. S&W is cheaper than Sig for the most part but I wouldn't put S&W quality at a lower level and Taurus is a bargain for the level of quality you usually get. At the same time for a first gun I wouldn't recommend used either, until you are able to tell if you are buying someone else's' problem that is.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Having the bullet stay in there and rattle around is a hell of a lot better than spray painting your entire house. I believe it was stated that it would be primarily for home defense. Unless you live in a much different type of house than I do, I would imagine we're not talking about 50 yard shots.

At the end of the day, what you should really do is go to a local range and shoot different guns. As with most of the things we discuss here, it's a very YMMV thing. After you decide to purchase one, I would also go shooting frequently. It doesn't matter if you have a gun if you can't shoot it accurately.