Newbie - Looking for advise

[SteveK]

Hello everyone,

I have not owned a gun in over 25 years. i am considering the purchase of a pistol to keep in our home for protection, hoping that I never have to use it.

I have seen revolvers and semi-automatic that are within the $500 or less price I would like to spend.

Does anyone have a recomendation for a first gun?

[Gunners762]

Welcome steve.You might want to check out a Springfield XD-9. I recently had a chance to shoot the XD-9 and I thought it was a great handling auto that feels real good in the hand...The 15 Rd Magazine capacity is a plus.. -Springfield Armory - Products : http://www.springfield-armory.com/ Gunbroker Item:http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=70685249

[Gunners762]

http://discountgundealer.com/images/US822503-1.jpg

[Rich Z]

Hi Steve!

There are a lot of options out there, but most will depend on what you specifically have in mind. I carry a Glock model 33, but have also carried a Smith & Wesson Airweight, and various other guns in the past.

Are you planning to have a concealed weapon permit or is this something to sit next to the bed on a table?

Some people prefer revolvers over semi-autos and others the reverse.

There are a lot of good quality guns out there (Springfield does rate pretty highly), and others that are best used for throwing at people. $500 is a pretty good price point for a quality gun.

If there are any local gunshows in your area, try to attend them so you can handle a gun and just talk to vendors about them. There is one up here in Tallahassee this weekend if you feel like making the drive......

Anyway, throw questions at us and we'll try to help.

[krept]

Best advice that I can give is to take a little time and learn about the different options that you have. There are benefits to each platform as well as drawbacks, so it's important to go through the selection process and refine what you want. For example, you might want a handgun that has a manual safety that you manipulate or you might not want one. This will narrow down your choices.

Going to a gunshow or gunshop and feeling some of the ones that fall under your established criteria will also help you refine your search further. Finally, when you have a short list of, say 3-6 different possibilities, you would be wise to go to a gunshop and rent them to find out what really works for you.

At the end of this process, you will be able to be more comfortable with your purchase knowing you bought what was right for you.

[SteveK]

Thanks for the ideas.
I have stopped by a local gun shop and the owner was very pro revolver for dependability. Fewer things to go wrong in his opinion.

Can't make it to Tally this weekend Rich. But will be checking for some local shows to attend in the Space Coast area. Will more than likely get the CWP just to have it. Most of the time it will be locked up in the bedroom.

I will narrow the search and then run my selection by everyone here before I buy. It may be a month or two before i get one. Not looking to just jump into anything.

Steve

[Rich Z]

Actually, taking the concealed weapons course would be a good way to compare notes with other people to see what guns they bought. Of course, you may see someone acting silly by bringing a Desert Eagle to the class claiming that is his carry gun...... :rolleyes:

But if you gun is going to spend most of the time in the bedroom, then you have a whole lot more flexibility on the size of the gun to buy. Truth be know, concealed carry is a pain in the butt. The smaller and lighter the gun, the better, but that always means compromises on other features that may be important to you.

Effective stopping power caliber
Small and lightweight
Manageable recoil

Pick two............ :)

[brass hammer]

hey, steve k !,,,I'M thinkin' along the VERY same lines as that guy at the gunstore!!!, revolver,.38 or LARGER!

you wanna' know summtin' 'steve k' ?
I read/heard of a LEFT-HANDED PISTOL,,, being brought-out by CHARTER ARMS !
well , I went over to my 'favorite' shop just the other day asking about it
and the owner said "yeah!! I'VE READ ABOUT IT ,,,TOO![i.e. THERE AIN'T NO INFO!]
it's called the "southpaw",,,and I fer'ONE,,,am FENCE-RIPPIN' STOMP-SNORTIN' CRAZY-MAD!!! to wrap my left-hand AROUND ONE!!!{then I'LLcheck the price-tag] :dgrin:

[snakecatcher]

I recommend not a handgun at all but a CHEAP PUMP SHOTGUN of a caliber bigger than .410 Keep it loaded with real light shot and use low brass shells. It will still cut someone in half in the normal sized room, but will not nessisarily shoot through both layers of sheet-rock into the next room and kill non-intruders.
Just the sound of you racking it will make most folks reconsider and if you have to let it off just blow the first round into the ceiling or out a window if you know nothing is downrange in that direction. The sound of a shotgun going of inside a house will make the unprepared..ie those that didnt actually pull the trigger .. mess their britches and lose interest in much beyond retreat.
Harder for kids to use on themselves accidentally as well.

[BigEd63]

For a revolver a GP-100 .357 would be a good starter. Heavy for low recoil and you can start off with .38Specials for practice.

For pistols the XD, Ruger P Series, Used:Glock, S&W 3rd Gen, SIG 226,228,229 are all good choices in 9mm for relativel cheap practice.

Shotguns are okay IF used properly but they can be unhandy for the inexperienced. Also they do tend to penetrate walls more than some assume with bird shot. Even with an IC choke the shot spread is not much more than the bore dia in room distance found in your average home.

[Rich Z]

Just the sound of you racking it will make most folks reconsider and if you have to let it off just blow the first round into the ceiling or out a window if you know nothing is downrange in that direction.

Damn if I would destroy part of my house because of some perp, just to warn him. If the SOB is in MY house and I feel I need to fire a shot because the dumbass doesn't believe my resolve to use it, I'd rather use it to end HIS threat potential for good. We need new carpet anyway, so the bloodstains would be the incentive to get 'er done. :dgrin: Don't ever WASTE a shot.

[Terry G]

Absolutely, RIck. Cop school teaches you never, ever, fire a warning shot. It will alway's end up bad. It show's your a bad shot or not serious.

[brass hammer]

I saw a used sig-226 fer' a solid $500 ,,,TODAY!!!,,,ER,AH,,,IN A 'pawn-shop'



:roflmao1:

[BigEd63]

I haven't priced Sigs since I got mine but that's a bit on the high side for a used one.

Thouigh last time I did look for a SIG CPO, reconditioned factory trade in, they were getting hard to find.

I'm heading out for a gunshow to see how many of the scammers there I can PO. :duck: I'll have to look at what the prices are there.

[Coyote]

I recommend not a handgun at all but a CHEAP PUMP SHOTGUN of a caliber bigger than .410 Keep it loaded with real light shot and use low brass shells. It will still cut someone in half in the normal sized room, but will not nessisarily shoot through both layers of sheet-rock into the next room and kill non-intruders.
Just the sound of you racking it will make most folks reconsider and if you have to let it off just blow the first round into the ceiling or out a window if you know nothing is downrange in that direction. The sound of a shotgun going of inside a house will make the unprepared..ie those that didnt actually pull the trigger .. mess their britches and lose interest in much beyond retreat.
Harder for kids to use on themselves accidentally as well.

Dude... no!

Birdshot sucks, it CAN go through walls, (think about how sturdy sheetrock walls ACTUALLY are) but it's killing power is sketchy. Thick clothing, heavy musculature or excess body fat will make it difficult for it to reach a perps vitals. Remember Dick Cheney and his hunting accident?

You are better off loading up with buckshot or slugs, and just watching where you shoot (which incidentally would mean no random blasts out of your windows or into your furniture).

[brass hammer]

yet a 'load -o- SHOT' WILL **** 'YOU'-UP!!!,,,@10'[TRUST-ME/,,,or NOT.]


hell's-fire KIDS!,,,WE all got's de' "SHOTGUN" :dgrin: :rolleyes:

[OR ,for the legeal ASSCECPT],,,21 FEET. :nyah: