For those into guns... have a question

[digitard]

Hey,
Both myself and my wife are interested in learning to shoot and picking up a handgun for the home (obviously put in a safe in a different location than the clip for the upcoming kid... but still) and as a hobby.

What would you recommend for a good solid handgun that wont break the bank? I want to learn to shoot so I will be looking into that locally, but I want a general idea of what to look into to start. Something reliable, and accurate. I'm not talkin' top of the line... but something I wont feel like I'm shooting whitebox paintballs and hope that shot is the one that goes straight...lol.

I really know next to NOTHING about handguns/rifles/etc so any help is greatly appreciated. I mean seriously... the only experience I have with a handgun is growing up with DUCK HUNT and playing TIME CRISIS at the arcades when I was 16...lol. Its one of those things I was never interested in, but deep down it was that bubbling "what if" and now I want to look into things.

[Lohman446]

You can buy "Sig certified" used for in the $500 or a bit less range. I really like my P229. That being said I bought mine in 357SIG which is a little odd. They make them in 9mm as well. Extremely nice hand gun. I'm probably going to get strung up for suggesting it but Smith and Wesson made a Glock copy - the Sigma, which is a decent pistol for a decent price, though is not a top of the line pistol....

[skife]

digitard, you sound like you should go take some hunters safety classes or gun classes if thats all your expierence is, it would honestly help alot.

[Pacifist_Farmer]

Definitely take the hunters safety courses and/or other courses offered by a local fish and game club/shooting club.

I would suggest a "Neo" nice little pistol, .22 caliber, easy and comfortable to hold, start lite then if you do enjoy go out and work your way up

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/22_1211/

[REDRT]

Personally I like .45ACP or 10mm for home defence, but considering you and your wire are going to try something out I'd suggest 9mm or .40 being lighter recoiling for the wife to handle. There is plenty of affordable handguns in them calibers. I'd suggest you and your wife run down to the store(s) and handle many different ones. Find something that you both like and if your unsure report back here. Chances are someone here has experiance with what you might be looking at. Handgun fit is important to me. If doesn't fit my hand it won't be comfortable to shoot or the best for accuracy.

[TheAngryDrunkenRussian]

For what your talking about .40 cal is probably going to be one of your best bets. Several company's that I know of off the top of the head are

Glock
Berrreta
H&K
Springfield
Tarus
Kimberly
Sig
Smith and Wesson

Sry there is more but this is all I could come up with

[DSR75]

From my personal experience I like the .40 Baretta and the 9mm Glock. I have both. Both are easy to use. If the gun is to be used for safety (against intruders and what not) then you may want to consider a revolver. All you have to do it load it and pull the trigger. My mom actually has one. She never could grasp how to chamber a round w/ the Glock. She prefers the revolver b/c she doesn't have to worry about that part. She just has to aim and pull.

[Lohman446]

Don't under estimate the advantages of a revolver. A good 357 gives you one of the best power rounds for defense while allowing you or your wife to shoot much tamer 38 rounds for just shooting. I actually interchange pretty well between carrying my 357SIG and my 357 Mag revolver. You can also get very nice revolvers at good prices.

[digitard]

Dont worry about the safety class... thats already planned. We both plan on attending the various classes offered around before we bought anything. I'm simply wanting to get some feedback on various guns so I can do some research and make an educated buy when the time comes. I wouldn't dare buy a gun w/o taking classes first.

[Lohman446]

Most large ranges will allow you to rent guns. I would suggest narrowing down your options, then getting some range time in with the ones you want before buying

/Personally I just buy them
//If I don't like it it gives me a chacne to buy a new one

[DSR75]

Check around your local pawn shops. They usually have a large selection and most are in great condition. That's where my friend picked up a really nice .40 Barretta for only $250

[CleenSweep]

If your looking for home defense then your .357 and 10mm would be over-penetration. .357 sigs penetrate Gen 2 vests and 10mm was too much for the Secret Service (it is the equivalent of the .41 mag.). You want to hit the individual not your next door neighbor. Most handgun confrontations occur within only 25' and a magazine is usually emptied. This means that there are several rounds that miss the target entirely (due to nervousness, adrenaline and recoil). Safety first is a must.

Home defense = .40 cal. or .45 cal (even a .38). I have several handguns for various reasons what I use to stop a person personally is my Glock 22 (.40 cal) or Glock 27 (compact 40). I have my own loads that are 200 grain deep hollowpoints (perfect for stoping someone but not going too far through the wall. Hydrashocks work well too because they fragment.

My Glock can be loaded with 165 gr. fmj and it shoots great with little recoil. The main thing is get a trustworthy gun. I don't remember where I read it at (one of my magazines but they rated different caliber pistols (semi's), the one that struck my attention was the .40 cal. (personal preference).

Top to bottom:

Glock (1 overall 2nd most accurate)
Beretta
Sig P229 (most accurate)
HK (least reliable...yes it's true. also the most costly)

These are the mainstream ones that are not ultra high end or low end. I have shot everything from Springfield, Kimber (not Kimberly ), to Taurus (Beretta clone). I have to say I like my Glock better than the rest of my sidearms. However I have a friend that lives and dies by his Beretta 98, and another by his Sig. All are reliable and each cater to our individual tastes. I would recomend going to a shop (with a range) and trying different models. The one you pick up and say "Oh yeah" is probably the one you want.

Shooting should be fun as well!!

Sweep

[Lohman446]

If your looking for home defense then your .357 and 10mm would be over-penetration. .357 sigs penetrate Gen 2 vests and 10mm was too much for the Secret Service (it is the equivalent of the .41 mag.).

Thats a pretty blanket statement. A 9mm can overpentrate with the wrong rounds, as of course can a .45 or .40.

[CleenSweep]

Yes, but not as overpenetrating as your magnum rounds look at your fps in these (almost always over 1000 fps). 9mm, .40, and.45 are under. And add the fact that most people miss. Walls don't do much to stop anything for that matter so the slower the better.

[Lohman446]

Yes, but not as overpenetrating as your magnum rounds look at your fps in these (almost always over 1000 fps). 9mm, .40, and.45 are under. And add the fact that most people miss. Walls don't do much to stop anything for that matter so the slower the better.

There well over 1000FPS of high fragmentation bullets. I'm lost as to your overpenetration statement. Its broad, and well the 357 rounds do have some concerns there, careful load selection as should be done in all guns for the situation, minimizes this. What about the rounds that go so slow that they do not allow proper fragmentation?

Your statements are too broad. Well they may be concerns, they are not as simple as you make them out to be. I can find plenty of 9mm rounds that will overpenetrate, as well as 40 or 45.

PS - Secret Service currently uses 357SIG loads

Your wife will probably not appreciate the grips on the Sig. I love mine, my sister has shot it and hates it because the grips are wider then she likes.