OT: Yee ole handgun discussion

[boatsnhoes]

What other caliber pistol should you look at if you already have a sig sauer 9mm P226? I bought the sig off an FBI agent because they wereforced to go to glocks....so it hasbeen tricked out a bit and it has done a couple tours in iraq with said agent. It's like driving a cadillac.

Purpose......Self defense, in home, fun shooting, coolness factor, occational shooting a black bear.

My immediate thought was a glock .40 or glock .45. Tell me what you think. I hear a lot about .380's.

 

[boatsnhoes]

What other caliber pistol should you look at if you already have a sig sauer 9mm P226? I bought the sig off an FBI agent because they wereforced to go to glocks....so it hasbeen tricked out a bit and it has done a couple tours in iraq with said agent. It's like driving a cadillac.

Purpose......Self defense, in home, fun shooting, coolness factor, occational shooting a black bear.

My immediate thought was a glock .40 or glock .45. Tell me what you think. I hear a lot about .380's.

 

[boatsnhoes]

What other caliber pistol should you look at if you already have a sig sauer 9mm P226? I bought the sig off an FBI agent because they wereforced to go to glocks....so it hasbeen tricked out a bit and it has done a couple tours in iraq with said agent. It's like driving a cadillac.

Purpose......Self defense, in home, fun shooting, coolness factor, occational shooting a black bear.

My immediate thought was a glock .40 or glock .45. Tell me what you think. I hear a lot about .380's.

 

[boatsnhoes]

What other caliber pistol should you look at if you already have a sig sauer 9mm P226? I bought the sig off an FBI agent because they wereforced to go to glocks....so it hasbeen tricked out a bit and it has done a couple tours in iraq with said agent. It's like driving a cadillac.

Purpose......Self defense, in home, fun shooting, coolness factor, occational shooting a black bear.

My immediate thought was a glock .40 or glock .45. Tell me what you think. I hear a lot about .380's.

 

[GloryDawg]

It doesn't matter what kind of gun you have. If you shoot him with a 22 cal he is going to stop doing what ever he is doing. However for my home protection I have a 20 gauge shot gun. Remember this Tthehouse will be dark andyou will be nervous, your heart will be pumping, chances are you will be shaking. With all that going on you could very well miss with a hand gun. You will not miss with a shot gun. I am not saying not to havea hand gunbut a shot gun is much much better in a life or death siutation.

 

[therightway]

It is a 40 HK. It has a safety unlike a Glock and also hasdecocking lever. I have never liked a Glock because the only safety on the Glock is at the tip of the trigger.

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

this is the same thinking I have. No skillz required. I also like that my wife can use it if I happen to not be home. Again, no skillz required.<div>Beware, the powers-that-be now know that you have a gun! You must be an enemy of the state and must therefore be destroyed!!!!!****</div>

 

[MeridianDog]

Good for snakes, armadillos, backyard intruders, squirrels, raccoons, dogs, cats, bla bla bla

I'd buy a pump 20 ga but that's just me. You can get a pretty good used one for $300 on the interwebs and it will kill just as good as a brand new $1000 one.

Not much more satisfying than the sound of a pump chambering a round.

 

[boatsnhoes]

to add to the aresenal, and I am going to work on that. I want another hand gun though....lets say for fun. .40 or .45 are probably big rounds forself defense unless you are lets say military trained. I am a novice I'd say...middle of the road.

nash, preparring for when the gov turns on the people....lol.

 

[DerHntr]

get all of these things out of one gun and you want a pistol....

Purpose......Self defense, in home, fun shooting, coolness factor, occational
shooting a black bear.

then you may want to look into getting a Taurus Judge. The biggest downfall for self-defense would be the size of the gun but compared to the comments about having a 20 guage the Judge wins out. It has a rifled barrel so it is really accurate long range. We were literally shooting bowling pins a 100 yards with one over the holidays. The best I did was 2 for 5 but with a pistol it was fun as hell.At twentyyards it is extremely accurate. It also shoots .410 shotgun shells, including buckshot. The rifling makes the buckshot very innacurate though so it really isn't worth it except for target shooting.My buddy that has one keepstwo .410 shells in it first, and thenthree .45s in it. Knock em down with the shotgun shells and finish off with the rest.

It is absolutely good for self-defense, is fun to shoot, and is definitely cool when you bring it out to the range.

</p>

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

fine gun, but I could never get comfortable with the safety situation.

Therefore I have the H&K USP Compact 9

 

[starkvegasdawg]

I have a Beretta .40 that I really like. I was considering a 9mm, .40, or .45 at the time. A coworker of mine, who happened to be a former Marine, was in the same boat I was a few years ago. He was talking to a policeman he knew and the cop recommended the .40. He said in his experience in facing people stung out on who knows what the 9mm he carried at the time did not always have the stopping power he wanted and that some of the more agitated people that were under the influence were coming right through the 9mm and smaller calibers. Some switched to the .45 which had the needed knockdown but the complaint was the recoil could be too heavy for some. The compromise was the .40 which he said for him had the needed knock down of the .45 but was more recoil friendly like the 9mm. I shoot a 180 gr. hollow point and have a hard time thinking it would take more than one shot to change the intruder's mind.

I have heard a lot of people say the shotgun is an excellent home defense weapon for all the reasons listed by the Big D above. Another reason I heard is that if you use bird shot or other light load you have almost no chance of the pellets from going through an interior wall and injuring a family member in another room. My only concern is my paranoid fear that the intruder may already be in the house and be able to use a family member as a human shield. If that is the case a shotgun is not going to be of help but a pistol at least gives you a chance for a well-placed round.

 

[lariverdog]

What other caliber pistol should you look at if you already have a sig sauer 9mm P226? I bought the sig off an FBI agent because they wereforced to go to glocks....so it hasbeen tricked out a bit and it has done a couple tours in iraq with said agent. It's like driving a cadillac.

Purpose......Self defense, in home, fun shooting, coolness factor, occational shooting a black bear.

My immediate thought was a glock .40 or glock .45. Tell me what you think. I hear a lot about .380's.

I carry the Glock 23. I'm one of those pro glock people, so hear me out. I prefer the .40 because I get bonus points in competition with it. Nothing wrong with the .45, but I went with the .40. I agree, shotgunsdon't need to be aimed. But its hard to conceal one. Having said that, there must be a reason why so many glocks are issued worldwide.Not knocking theother players as they are fine guns for sure, but for me I'll stay withmy 23.
I strongly recommendshooting as many different handguns as you can to see which one "fits" you. The best choice is the one that YOU shoot the best.

 

[fishwater99]

It just depends on what you want, just remember the larger the caliber the more the ammo will cost you.

 

[MeridianDog]

You'd shoot a pistol at a guy who had your kid or wife in frontof him as a shield?

At that point, I'd drop the gun regardless of what I had.

 

[Shmuley]

"I got 'im."

 

[MeridianDog]

I'm a really good shot, but I'm smart enough to know I'm not that good.

Only in the movies should you try that move

edited to add:

Sorry - and you need to be 100% certain well ahead of time that you'd drop your weapon rather than risk killing your kid or wife.

I'm sure I'd charge the guy, but shoot? no...

 

[Maroon Flounder]

I think they call it the "Governor". Same premise....shoots .410 or .45 long colt....been wanting to shoot one and possibly purchase one...but I don't know anyone who has bought one yet.

I live out in the sticks, so it would be a good snake / critter gun...as well as self defense.

I just don't like Taurus...as far as a brand of handgun. Smith & Wesson...much better brand IMO.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

I'd recommend a Sig 229 in 357sig. If your wanting a .45, the HK45 is about the top of the pile right now.

 

[starkvegasdawg]

Meridian,

I would not want to. It would be the last thing I wanted to do. However, it would have to be a decision on whether or not you thought the person woudl kill your entire family if you dropped the gun or would be content in leaving your home and calling it even. I have heard that if someone breaks into your home when they know you are there then they are prepared to kill you in order to not leave a witness so that has to be considered. Again, pulling that trigger trying to hit something just inches from my wife or kids would be one of those decisions I hope no one ever has to make. That is why I have an alarm system on the house too. Maybe that changes their mind from even entering the house since they just alerted the whole neighborhood and the police...or in my case the sheriff. I just don't want to say I would 100% drop my gun if put in that position if I thought I just signed the death warants of my entire family by doing so.

 

[Big Sheep81]

I have several handguns, even a S&W .45 (wicked 17er). The revolver is simple, safe, and reliable. You can practice a lot with .38 Special ammo and polish your skills with the .357 rounds.

.357, because he cannot outrun 1500 feet per second.........

 

[DerHntr]

Having this as a snake gun may be a bit much. It is a damn big gun. I wouldn't have it on my hip for long without regretting it.

 

[MeridianDog]

but you need to think that through very carefully before it might possibly happen.

Shooting "inches from" your wife or kid would be a mistake. In my opinion."

Not saying I would do nothing. I qwould certainly attack the guy, but your getting killed would be better than killing your wife or a kid.

That is my opinion and one that I can live with.

 

[Carlton31698]

I have
3- 45 cal, one Colt, one S&W, and one Springfield
a S&W mp 9mm
Glock 10 mm
S&W 357 and Ruger service 6 357
a few 22's
Ruger 40 cal
and a S&W 500
Ruger 44 mag
45 long colt
and a few different shotguns/long guns
for home protection the shotgun is a good choice as others have stated. If you want a hand gun the best advice I can give is to pick one you can hit a target with. If you have less experience with hand guns a wheal gun is a good starter something in a 38 or 357. If you want a simiauto the 1911 45 cal is a great choice, there is a reason it is still being made 100 years after it was introduced. 380's are good as long as you get a quality brand. I keep the 9mm in my car, the 357 S&W by the bed. but carry the 1911 45's when I carry.

 

[LightninInside]

http://images.yuku.com/im...bb89841f7176b0581539.jpg

 

[olemissbydamn]

I had a Glock Model 20 10mm for over a decade until this past August when some punk broke into my truck in Memphis and took it and my ipod.

I like the stopping power of the 10mm, but I don't shoot it all the time like some. So the cost of ammo wasn't a big deal to me.

I'm about to replace it with the Glock Model 29SF.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Springfield xd .357 sig. Great protection round and you can buy a. 40 s&w barrel for target shooting and cheaper ammo. Also any glock in a 40 or 357 are interchangeable. If you want something nasty though go for the Smith & Wesson governor. 45 long 45 acp and 410 plus its a 6 shooter

 

[OrrDawg]

That is the best choice for home protection. Mine is a Remington 870 12 ga. I also have, among a few other handguns,a 1911 .45 that can make a lot of noise if nothing else.

 

[starkvegasdawg]

I agree with everything you are saying 100%. If I did pull the trigger and ended up killing my wife or one of my kids I would be hard pressed not to put the next round in my head. This is a situation I hope I never find myself in because until we do we really don't know how we would react. I do know that I would do everything in my power to ensure my family's safety...even if that meant I had to eat a round. I hope neither of us ever have to find out how we would react if we were in that situation. It is one of those events where there is not a happy outcome regardless of how it ends up.

 

[MeridianDog]

Peace to you.

 

[MStateFan22]

My next gun was gonna be a berretta 9mm. But after Sunday, that Glock might be the next gun I buy. Easy to shoot. Hit a paper plate 9 out of 10 at 25-30 steps. I'm not a seasoned pistal shooter either. Just felt good while shooting it plus Glocks are known for reliability.

 

[GerryBertier]

Buy a nice 1911 and be done with it.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

For a few hundred bucks (maybe up to 1k if you have a lot of doors) you can kickproof all your doors (and put in better locks) such that anyone breaking in will at least wake you up after a couple good kicks. If you start hearing a break-in, get your family to a safe room in your house (a room with access to a front-facing window is to your advantage here) and dial 911. If they cut the phone line, use a cell phone. If they brought a cell jammer, have some other form of radio communication available (I recommend a handheld ham radio with a local repeater programmed in, especially a repeater with a phone patch that can hook you up to 911). If they jam that, you're screwed anyways, in which case shooting becomes your best option if you can't escape out the front window of your safe room.

 

[MStateFan22]

For a few hundred bucks (maybe up to 1k if you have a lot of doors) you can kickproof all your doors (and put in better locks) such that anyone breaking in will at least wake you up after a couple good kicks. If you start hearing a break-in, get your family to a safe room in your house (a room with access to a front-facing window is to your advantage here) and dial 911. If they cut the phone line, use a cell phone. If they brought a cell jammer, have some other form of radio communication available (I recommend a handheld ham radio with a local repeater programmed in, especially a repeater with a phone patch that can hook you up to 911). If they jam that, you're screwed anyways, in which case shooting becomes your best option if you can't escape out the front window of your safe room.

You must have a vault in your house.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

But I already have a cell phone and radio so it's not a big deal for me. We just have a plan in case of the statistically unlikely chance of an armed home intruder, much like a plan for what to do if there's a fire. Engaging the intruder with a gun should be near the bottom of the list of options. Having a plan to gather in a specific room in order to communicate with police (or anyone who can help) is the way to avoid the situation where the intruder is using a family member as a human shield.

 

[weblow]

to get into an argument that will never end. I have everything from a 22,9,40,45 and like them all.

I will caution you with this. Your first gun is a Sig, as you said it is the Cadillac of pistols. The problem that you are going to have is picking up a lot of these other guns are going to feel like you are going from first class to coach.

I have Sig, Glock, HK, SW and the sig is in a league of its own.

The most important thing to look for is a reliable gun that points well. What I mean by that is when you pick up a pistol and point it, there is very little aiming required. It pretty much points pretty close to where you are aiming.

If you are not military or law enforcement where you can pick up a gun and train yourself to aim it well and point it well, then you need to buy a gun that points naturally for you.

I would stick with another Sig. A few more that I would consider since you like your sig are Kimber or a Beretta but I don't think you can beat a Sig.



I have a couple of Glocks and really like them but the guys that claim they can be thrown out of an airplane and shot are smoking something a little funny. I am certain they can do this but what the hell would you need a gun that can do that for?

Find one that points naturally for you and is drop dead reliable.

I vote for the .40 cal but I am not stepping into that debate, just my personal preference.

 

[weblow]

[No message]

 

[fishwater99]

[No message]

 

[DerHntr]

I keep the MRE's, gallon jugs of water, some canned goods, first aid kit, and some vodka (multiple uses of course) in the concrete storage room in my basement. We hide there for tornado warnings and I was also glad to have it when the house shook a few times from earthquakes at the end of last year. Also, my gunsafe and document/money/etc. safe are located in that room.

 

[exileddog]

As a Marine, you must not have spent much time using a shotgun in a house. The reality is that at the ranges typically found in a house, the pattern from your shotgun probably won't be much bigger than a grapefruit. If you think you can't miss with that then you are sadly mistaken. I don't care what Hollywood tells you. You can easily miss with a shotgun. People talk like a shotgun is some type of magical wand they can wave around and make bad guys disappear. Get out and get some training and see what that shotgun actually does up close. May wake you up to reality and scare the hell out of you.