Buying A Handgun

KopiKat

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You might want to wait until Trump's presidency; WASR's are expected to stop being so inflated in price since there will be no fear of gungrabbing and their plant will export more to US once their military contracts slow down.

We also may get genuine Saigas again from Izhmash factory if the trade embargo on Russian arms is lifted, which may or may not happen since the NRA and other gun lobbying groups would campaign hard against it, while Trump would be for it.

Encouraging - how are you so sure? and what about KalashnikovUSA? They were suppose to have commercially available products already. Thought they were working with former Saiga importer RWC. Several publications supposedly tested/reviewed some of their early US produced models with rave reviews. As if they've disappeared.
 

warrior-cat

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For home defense get a tactical shotgun in a 12 gauge with 00 buckshot
The sound of a shell being jacked when you pump is intimidating and it's easier for someone to use than a handgun. A Mossberg is reliable and not that expensive. A $200 handgun is not much of a gun, especially if your life depended on it. A .22 is not an appropriate caliber for self defense. The minimum would be a .380. That's my carry gun because of its size. If someone tries to break into my home they'll contend with the twelve gauge. With 00 buck this is equivalent to nine .32 caliber rounds which will stop anyone.
Yep, Mossberg Flex 590 tactical 12 gauge by my bed.
 
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Pope John Wall II

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Encouraging - how are you so sure? and what about KalashnikovUSA? They were suppose to have commercially available products already. Thought they were working with former Saiga importer RWC. Several publications supposedly tested/reviewed some of their early US produced models with rave reviews. As if they've disappeared.
KUSA bought like a whole **** ton of them right before the ban (maybe up to 200,000 weapons total) and was sitting on them for over a year. That's all. For when they run out, they have announced some rather ambitions plans to produce the rifles (and shotguns) themselves. However, without the Russian tooling and expertise, at best, it will be just another "meh" US AK, imo.
 

warrior-cat

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Exactly
40 years ago someone trod the door at my Grandpas
When he told them to leave and jacked a shell they took off running
Unless you are committed to practicing with a handgun it is not the weapon of choice
If they come into your house and hear the rack of a shotgun and they are not carrying, they are not staying so Z, use a little common sense here. You want them to go ahead and go into your kids room or would you not prefer scaring them off.
 

warrior-cat

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Shotgun vs rifle is really more a matter of preference than effectiveness. A shotgun is (usually) easier to operate and could potentially be easier to hit your target (the spread people think they will get at close range is usually not close to reality). A shotgun will also (usually) be: louder, heavier, produce a bigger muzzle flash - not great in darkness with sense heightened, bigger recoil potentially affecting your ability to fire a second or third shot, etc. A medium to large caliber rifle will have similar drawbacks, with the advantage being greater rate of fire. A pistol can be problematic because of the way waking up at 3AM and having your adreline pumping affects your ability to stabilize a handgun.

Honestly, a smaller pistol caliber carbine is probably the most effective home defense weapon. They have low recoil, can be fired rapidly, are lightweight, ammo is cheaper, and are accessible to women and children if necessary. People will scoff at a 10/22 (like someone in this thread), but it will do the job of defending your family against a run of the mill intruder, period. Even if the first round doesn't immeaditely kill them, most intruders aren't Rambo. If they get shot by anything they aren't going to stick around. It's also true that even if one doesn't incapacitate them, you're more likely to get multiple shots on target with a smaller caliber carbine than a handgun or shotgun (assuming novice shooter). If you're not convinced a .22 will work, something like a kel-tec sub 2000 in 9mm would be very effective for plinking and home defense.

JMO
Yes for women and children I agree, am buying my daughter a .22 for Christmas. Have not settled on make or model yet. I have several pistols around the house in various locations. Taurus 9mm, Glock 40, Rossi snub nosed 38, and a Taurus 1911 model 45 by my bed as well. Wife has Ruger .22 on her side of bed. But, I love my shotgun there as well, one shot will deter even if you miss if the sound of it racking did not do the trick first off.
 
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Raptureme

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Also, took my CC class from a former paratrooper and he said to carry Hornady Critical defense ammo
 

-LEK-

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Yes for women and children I agree, am buying my daughter a .22 for Christmas. Have not settled on make or model yet. I have several pistols around the house in various locations. Taurus 9mm, Glock 40, Rossi snub nosed 38, and a Taurus 1911 model 45 by my bed as well. Wife has Ruger .22 on her side of bed. But, I love my shotgun there as well, one shot will deter even if you miss if the sound of it racking did not do the trick first off.
Good man.

I have a pink handle on my .38 for my wife.
 

KopiKat

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KUSA bought like a whole **** ton of them right before the ban (maybe up to 200,000 weapons total) and was sitting on them for over a year. That's all. For when they run out, they have announced some rather ambitions plans to produce the rifles (and shotguns) themselves. However, without the Russian tooling and expertise, at best, it will be just another "meh" US AK, imo.

yeah, I have no hope for saiga quality ak produced in the states. The only way you will get that is a conversion pkg. Wasn't too many years ago you could still get them for around 350 in sporter configuration. What a steal looking back. Unbelievable quality.
 

Pope John Wall II

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yeah, I have no hope for saiga quality ak produced in the states. The only way you will get that is a conversion pkg. Wasn't too many years ago you could still get them for around 350 in sporter configuration. What a steal looking back. Unbelievable quality.
Yeah, I really don't see the Russian ban being lifted due to the heavy lobbying against it here in the states, unfortunately. I'm personally just going to wait for WASR prices to come back down to a reasonable level before I buy, which should be mid-next year.
 

KopiKat

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Yeah, I really don't see the Russian ban being lifted due to the heavy lobbying against it here in the states, unfortunately. I'm personally just going to wait for WASR prices to come back down to a reasonable level before I buy, which should be mid-next year.

well, you can do that. Avoid the underfolders. WASR is not saiga quality, closer to century in my opinion and that's just how it is. I don't know what your budget is, but you can manage, from time to time, on Armslist to find saigas - you will have more luck searching with criteria "arsenal" than with "saiga", and even then you have to be a bit careful as Arsenal has begun using other platforms (milled Bulgarian) since the saiga ban. Just not the same. Most will be 74 platforms due to the 5.54 debacle, which is another sh't story I'm sure you don't need me to tell you about.

Krebs is offering and hot package from the VEPR platform that is gaining a lot of attention. It isn't exactly entry level on the billfold, however.
 
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Timely thread, I'm getting ready to buy a handgun also. I've shot rifles and shotguns all my life, but never fooled with pistols much. I was considering the Hi-Point until I aimed one, man that thing was heavy. Tried an SCCY also. Much lighter, seemed to be a nice gun. Going to do a little more shopping and try some of them. Probably get the 9 mm, ammos not to costly.

As far as home defense, go with a 12 gauge, I prefer an automatic though.
 

trav55_rivals214556

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I defend my home with a flamethrower. I have a grenade launcher soldiered onto it. Strategic points in your home such as interior hallways and bathrooms make excellent hiding spots for claymore mines with hair trigger trip wires. You can't be too safe, nowdays.

But what if they have chuck Norris like skills and come through the ceiling?
 

Supreme Lord Z

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But what if they have chuck Norris like skills and come through the ceiling?
 

-LEK-

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Haven't read the entire thread but I agree, buy a shotgun. If you go with a pistol do not buy a 22 for home/self defense. If you want to defend your home and family, go the shotgun route.
I went the .38 route for home defense. Small enough to stay hidden from children, small enough wife can shoot it, big enough to put a giant hole is someone who isnt supposed to be there.

Have a good buddy, multiple tour vet, was at home one night with his wife and his wife's friend, when a guy on drugs (was bath salts) was banging on his doors and windows. He calmly told his wife and friend to go upstairs, and he went and got his 9 mm. Guy broke through the living room window and was trying to crawl into the home. Guy was bent out on drugs. My buddy said the window caught the guys arm and cut to the tendons, but the guy kept trying to crawl into the home. He said he tried telling the guy, "look, I am going to shoot you, do you even know what is going on? Why are you doing this?" Guy was crazed on drugs, so once he came in the house, he shot him in the head and chest.

Obviously, you hope you never have to use a gun, but as someone who was anti-gun 10 years ago, the need is obvious. If I never have to use my gun (other than practice), well worth the practice, but I am not taking the chance.

There is another poster on here, who had a home invasion, held at gunpoint with his wife. He thought he was dead.
 

warrior-cat

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I went the .38 route for home defense. Small enough to stay hidden from children, small enough wife can shoot it, big enough to put a giant hole is someone who isnt supposed to be there.

Have a good buddy, multiple tour vet, was at home one night with his wife and his wife's friend, when a guy on drugs (was bath salts) was banging on his doors and windows. He calmly told his wife and friend to go upstairs, and he went and got his 9 mm. Guy broke through the living room window and was trying to crawl into the home. Guy was bent out on drugs. My buddy said the window caught the guys arm and cut to the tendons, but the guy kept trying to crawl into the home. He said he tried telling the guy, "look, I am going to shoot you, do you even know what is going on? Why are you doing this?" Guy was crazed on drugs, so once he came in the house, he shot him in the head and chest.

Obviously, you hope you never have to use a gun, but as someone who was anti-gun 10 years ago, the need is obvious. If I never have to use my gun (other than practice), well worth the practice, but I am not taking the chance.

There is another poster on here, who had a home invasion, held at gunpoint with his wife. He thought he was dead.
I keep hollow points in my .38. That will do the trick.
 
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Supreme Lord Z

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That is bull ****.
You only have the legal right to fire until there is no longer a threat. You must be able to account for every shot. You shoot somebody in the chest and they fall to the ground then you double tap them then you are going to jail. Plainly and simply.

The poster said he shot the person in two different places. Head and chest. If he fired twice into the chest he would have a much easier time in explaining the 2nd shot that if he went chest/head. That is begging to be convicted.

Another way to look at it is that it will be MUCH easier to explain six shots in the chest than it will for one shot in the chest then another shot in the head.
 

Bill@ModernThirst

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Hard to argue with a S&W MP Shield when they're only $329. They are accurate and go "boom" when you pull the trigger. They can be purchase with or without the manual safety, depending on your preference. If I didn't already have a Gen4 Glock 26, I'd have that.

I like the LCP as well, or a .38sp +p revolver from any number of manufacturers (S&W, Taurus, Ruger, Etc).

I saw the S&W MP Bodyguard .380 mentioned, i think...I have one, but I'd avoid it if you ever want to enjoy yourself at the range. It has a painfully long trigger, and is tough to shoot accurately outside of close quarters without lots of practice.
 

warrior-cat

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You only have the legal right to fire until there is no longer a threat. You must be able to account for every shot. You shoot somebody in the chest and they fall to the ground then you double tap them then you are going to jail. Plainly and simply.

The poster said he shot the person in two different places. Head and chest. If he fired twice into the chest he would have a much easier time in explaining the 2nd shot that if he went chest/head. That is begging to be convicted.

Another way to look at it is that it will be MUCH easier to explain six shots in the chest than it will for one shot in the chest then another shot in the head.
Yes but, multiple shots can be explained as you simply firing until he/she went down.
 
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Johns721

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Ruger LCP, but doesn't have a safety, or S&W MP Shield. You wont go wrong, both 325 range

LCP is nowhere near $325 except maybe at Cabelas. Kentucky Gun Company, among others, has the LCP for $199, and the LCP Custom for $227.

Both are good carry guns, but the Custom has actual sights, unlike the standard LCP and its bump of a front sight. Trigger is much improved as well. The downside is that the front sight will snag on some holsters (mostly generic "small auto" ones), but companies are finally starting to make holsters specifically for the Custom that correct that issue. My wife and I both carry the LCP Custom - I normally pocket carry in a Desantis Nemesis, and she prefers the Desantis Sof-Tuck IWB, both of which are now made to fit the Custom.
 

UKserialkiller

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I'm almost 42 and never owned a gun. I would like to buy a gun, but my wife will think I'm buying it to kill her.

How you do reassure your wife that you aren't buying a gun to kill them?
 
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